David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The same question was put to the Taoiseach in the Dáil yesterday and this morning. An individual earning more than €70,000 per year will gain €746 under the budget. A couple earning €30,000 per year gains €174. This means that Government Senators and the Taoiseach will benefit four times more than the couple. Again, the Government has gone for an unfair and regressive budget. It had the opportunity to scrap water charges and the property tax and to put €800 million back into the pockets of working families across the State, which in turn would have boosted the economy. Instead, it gave the greatest relief to the highest paid earners.