Speaking in the Dail yesterday as his party put a motion forward to abolish the Universal Social Charge, Gerry Adams called on members of other parties to join Sinn Féin TDs "in supporting a motion which, if implemented, can make a real and positive difference in people’s lives."
"The universal social charge is basically a flat tax: everyone with an income above €16,000 pays it at the same rate of 7%," Mr Adams said, "It also brings people who earn as little as €77 a week into the tax net. As such it breaches the fundamental principal of progressive taxation – that those who have more, should pay more."
While admitting that the new government had promised a review of the USC, fellow SF TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said that such a review is not necessary, and that the USC should be abolish immediately.
Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty repeated the appeal for TDs to vote in favour of the SF motion to abolish the USC immediately stating that it is an issue which demands the full support of each elected representative in the Dáil.
"It is little more than a tax on the working poor," Deputy Doherty said, "This tax needs to be abolished and instead the Government should work on building a fairer tax system by creating a progressive tax base that taxes fairly and equalises wealth."
“Fine Gael and Labour have said that they will ‘review’ the Universal Social Charge. They have also proposed at least 32 other reviews in the Programme for Government. A review is not good enough. Fine Gael and Labour should make a stand for the people and abolish this grossly unfair tax.”
No comments:
Post a Comment