DONEGAL Deputy Pearse Doherty has again called for a tax on Ireland’s richest people in a bid to tackle the unemployment crisis.
The Sinn Fein finance spokesman made his call on RTE’s ‘Prime Time’ programme last night during a debate with Jobs Minister Richard Bruton.
“I would love to see this Government reduce the tax burden on people on low and middle incomes but what we have seen has been the opposite,” Doherty told Pat Kenny.
The Donegal TD said a whole raft of new taxes including the home tax, water charges and higher VAT were hitting the vulnerable.
Mr Bruton argued that bringing in higher taxes for high earners – especially for high earners who might want to bring jobs to Ireland – had the potential to put them off.
But a member of the audience challenged this view, saying countries like Germany, Holland and Finland had 10% higher taxes on high income earners yet they didn’t have the same unemployment levels.
The Donegal TD said there is scope for higher taxes on those earning more than €100k.
Meanwhile Doherty will publish his submission to the review of the code of conduct for mortgage arrears today at Leinster House.
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