Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

This is a stealth tax increase on ordinary workers. It has not been subject to anywhere near enough media scrutiny and public discussion. The Government is, with one hand, taking money from ordinary low-paid workers and, with the other, putting money into the pockets of businesses through the employers' PRSI tax break it has given businesses through the business support package. A full-time worker on the minimum wage will face paying almost €180 extra in PRSI and a worker on the average wage will face paying almost €350 extra. Therefore, the Government is taking money from workers' pockets to give it to employers. This is at a time when people are to be hammered with increases in excise and carbon tax on petrol and diesel, which are planned for later this year. They will be hit again and hit by the cost-of-living crisis in every single way. The Minister is planning to increase taxes on ordinary workers and should withdraw this proposal.

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