Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)

Carers save the State €20 billion a year and for a fraction of that, we can ensure that every carer gets the financial recognition and support they need and that their selfless work deserves. Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil’s manifestos have variations of commitments in that direction. Incremental increases to income disregards are all well and good, and welcome, but we need to do more. I acknowledge the progress announced today. Labour also agrees that there are additional costs to living with a disability. There was nothing about that today from the Minister, Deputy Chambers. There is plenty of guff in the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil manifestos. We would ensure an additional payment of €25 is made, to be brought in over two years, to recognise that reality. I say it every single year. A sign of our maturity as a country would be to agree that social protection rates need to be benchmarked and increased every year based on a mix of wage growth and a measurement of inflation. We should legislate for this, make that decision and wear it as a badge of honour of a decent society that wants to do better. We should do the same on income tax, too.

For many years now, Ministers have been warning us about the vulnerabilities of our tax base. The concentration risks associated with corporation tax are well rehearsed. When we strip away the corporation tax froth, we are in the red to the tune of about €7 billion. When the music stops, as it inevitably will, it is not the well-heeled but the less well-off who will pay the price. The same Ministers again refuse to take their own advice. Looking at the budget presented today, several billion in windfall revenue will be spent next year. Corporation tax is actually bailing us out. Labour is a patriotic party. We want Ireland to succeed, but we must learn. We feel entitled to critique. We supported the setting up of the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. These funds are important to insulate us against an uncertain future, but more can be done today to help protect our tomorrow.

Professor Barra Roantree said two years ago that among the stupidest of tax reliefs in a competitive field was help to buy. This year, thanks to the Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, and his solemn promise made on the stump, that stupid tax wheeze and others are now being extended to 2030 to provide "certainty to developers". The only certainty in all of this is that it will keep doing what it always does, add fuel to the house inflation fire. Well, this stupid relief has very serious competition this year. Say hello to the 9% reduced VAT rate for hospitality, a massive transfer of close to €700 million in a full year, from PAYE workers----

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