Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Come on. The Government is reducing tax for workers. We are reducing income tax for workers and we reduced the universal social charge last year. The focus has been on reducing income tax to give people more disposable income and enable them to spend at their discretion. That has been the focus of the Government over the last four years. We have also reduced the cost of services in terms of transport and education, and the free books scheme has been a tremendous help to parents with regard to school expenditure. We have abolished hospital admission charges and have dramatically increased access to GP care - the biggest increase in access to GP care ever - which, again, reduces costs. The drugs payment scheme cost has reduced. There is a whole range of reductions in the cost of public services parallel with consistent reductions in personal taxation.

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