Dan Boyle (Green Party)

Every Member of this House was least affected by the tax burden through the 1% increase in the income levy. All of the other increases — the 4% and 6% bands, the lowering of the thresholds from €250,000 to €175,000 and from €100,000 to €75,000 and the raising of the PRSI ceiling and the health levy — affect people who earn incomes greater than ours. When Senators discuss a middle income, they should put things in perspective and learn the reality with which people are living every day.