Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. There is one element of the budget, which I pointed out to Senator Barrett earlier, which I find deeply disturbing. I am referring to the universal social charge, which we all have on all of our earnings. If one earns between €12,000 and €17,500 one pays 3.5% in universal social charge. If one earns between €17,500 and €70,000 one pays 7%. I find it deeply disturbing that anybody earning €20,000, €21,000, €25,000, €30,000, €31,000, €40,000 or €41,000 pays 7% and if one earns €70,000 one also pays 7%. Where is the progression? Why is this happening? Those earning between €70,000 and €100,000 pay only 8%. If one earns €17,500 or €70,000 one pays 7% universal social charge. This is disgraceful and I would like an explanation as to why this is and why there is not a progression with regard to earnings.

I agree with Senator Craughwell on the abandonment of postgraduate education. I have spoken about it for the past two or three weeks. Postgraduates are being abandoned financially by the Government and then throttled and beggared by the banks which are doubling the interest rates for our young doctors and postgraduates who are running out of the country.