Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move recommendation No. 1:

In page 9, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:"2. The Minister shall, within one month of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on options available for removing the USC liability for all workers earning less than €17,543 a year from the USC net.".

The recommendation requires the Minister to lay before the House a report on options in respect of the universal social charge, USC. Removing liability for the universal social charge from those earning less than €17,543 would cost approximately €138 million and would provide significant relief for all of those who earn less than the minimum wage. The cost of the measure would be offset by people spending the savings in the economy. The measure would also have a considerable impact on tackling poverty.
While several positive measures on the universal social charge were introduced in the budget, liability for the charge should be removed entirely from those earning below €17,543. The best way to mitigate the effects of the USC would be to start from the bottom up in removing liability for the charge. All of those earning the minimum wage or less should be removed from the USC net, as proposed in the recommendation.