Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When the Minister of State dismissed the ESRI study, I asked myself where I had heard that before. The last Government did not listen to voices that did not agree with it. We must learn the lessons from the crisis. We must listen to people who do not agree with us and accuse us of doing certain things. We cannot just say that the Christmas bonus was brought back in and that it was terrible when it was abolished by Fianna Fáil. People should read the ESRI study, which goes through the entire list of austerity measures that were introduced from the budget of October 2008 onwards. Significant income tax changes were made. The progressive tax measures that were introduced had the hardest effects on the wealthiest people. The hated universal social charge is a progressive tax measure that hits the wealthiest the hardest. The elimination of the PRSI ceiling by this Government hit all workers exactly the same, regardless of whether they are wealthy. That is the difference. That is how that happened. I could also mention the changes in welfare rates and the reduction in child benefit rates from that period. I meant to refer to the removal of the PRSI allowance. I probably confused the Minister of State. That is my fault.