Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While the Minister of State was speaking, I read to the bottom of his statement. It is an extremely comprehensive answer and outlines in detail the Revenue Commissioners' treatment of the TWSS. The reality is that people who stayed working during the Covid pandemic and provided essential services for us are now paying a larger proportion of their wages in tax, making up for what happened during the pandemic. While the Minister of State's written statement is extremely clear, it states that "the Government has been clear from the outset that TWSS payments are taxable and in the interests of equity for all taxpayers, there are no plans to change this approach".

There is an affected section of workers who provided essential services. We rightly made a payment to health workers and other front-line workers, whether they were putting bread on the shelves in the supermarkets or doing other services. Irrespective of the service, they continued to work during the pandemic. Now, when they examine their pay packets, they find the tax credits are reduced and the amount of tax has increased.

The Minister of State's explanation is very clear, comprehensive and precise but I ask him to talk to the Revenue Commissioners to determine whether they will recognise the unprecedented circumstances in which workers worked. They were out and about providing essential services and then going home to their families. They now feel an increased tax burden at a time when the cost of living has increased due to the war in Ukraine.

See this speech in context