Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ireland has one of the highest rates of low pay in the European Union. That did not happen by accident. It happened as a result of Government policy. We would support businesses' transition from lower wage employment with a PRSI rebate of €250 million targeted at the employers most impacted by increases to the minimum wage.

The Minister did not say anything about gold-plated pensions. He snuck that out in a press release last week. I have been responding to budgets for 14 years and never once has there been a bigger tax break for an individual in those 14 years. This Government has given a massive tax break to people with gold-plated pensions, increasing the standard fund threshold to give tax breaks on pension pots of up to €2.8 million. This gives an individual a tax break of €320,000. Neither in my time nor, I am guessing, before has there been a tax change that benefits certain individuals so much. Who are the only people who can benefit? Who are the only people in that golden club who will benefit from that change? It is people who already have a pension pot in excess of €2 million. They are the only people who will benefit from the Government's €320,000 tax break. I expect that sums it all up. It is a question of sneaking it out a week before the budget so the Minister does not have to be embarrassed standing up here to announce €320,000 for the wealthiest in Ireland. It is disgraceful.

Our three banks made over €2 billion in profit in the first six months of this year and yet, despite the billions of euro in windfall profits they are making, there is no increase in the banking levy. The public sees very clearly where the Government's priorities lie. Fine Gael was out in the media and issuing a lot of press statements recently. It was very upset that Sinn Féin wanted to tax luxury private jets but its Members gave a standing ovation to the Minister who is going to increase the price of petrol and diesel for ordinary workers, people who want to drop their kids to school or go to work or who need to go to a hospital appointment. Perhaps they do not know this but the reality is that the richest 1% are responsible for more carbon emissions than all middle and low-income workers together. Despite this, they are not being asked to bear their fair share of the burden. The Government just jacks up the carbon tax over and over again. This is a regressive tax that hits low-income and rural houses the hardest. We already have one of the highest carbon taxes in Europe. There are tax cuts for some and carbon taxes for everyone else. Sinn Féin's plan for funding the green transition fairly is very clear.

If you ever wanted an example of a government incapable of delivering change, you need only look to this Government's record on health. It is absolutely heartbreaking. I am sure Government Members know these patients as well as we do. It is heartbreaking to see what is going on. There are children in pain or forced to eat through feeding tubes. There are children whose condition is deteriorating and others who have to wait months for life-changing surgeries. As we know, money is not the issue. We have been running surpluses for years. Time is not the issue either because Fine Gael has been in government for 14 years. For God's sake, the Taoiseach was the Minister for Health for four of those years. The issue is not time or money but the Government. That is the issue. That is why we have the health service we have. There are no more excuses. The new children's hospital, the contract for which was signed by the Taoiseach, Deputy Harris, is still not open.

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