Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

The Minister of State is embarrassed to stand up and say that. This legislation is completely unjust and unfair. It is attacking the lowest income earners. It is not about their income. I understand they will take a larger decrease in terms of euro but in terms of percentage, when we compare one pay cheque against the next, the fact is the higher income earner is paying tax at the higher rate and will take less of a percentage decrease than those earning under €20,000. That is the reality. If the Minister of State wants to defend and pass the legislation, he should stand up and say "Yes. We have done it, and that is it."