Madam, – I am a secondary teacher and my net salary this year has already been reduced by almost 13 per cent. If the threatened pay cuts in the budget goes ahead my salary could be down by 20 per cent.
I live in a small town and I have calculated that, taking teachers employed at all levels in the town and surrounding areas, this results in at least €4 million being removed from the local economy. The consequences for local businesses are clear for all to see. Shops have closed, pubs and restaurants have closed, car dealers and travel agents have either let workers go or closed down.This 20 per cent reduction for middle- and lower-income earners is surely a more than adequate contribution to the ailing economy of this country.
But have Brian Cowen and the Government thought out the long-term effects on the local economy? How will this predicted improvement come about? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – You might consider republishing the table for projected income distribution for taxpayers for 2008. A total of 2.5 million workers earned €101 billion and paid €15.6 billion in income tax. If a sliding scale of tax increases starting at 1 per cent on incomes over €30,000 per annum was introduced in the budget, an extra €2.25 billion of income tax could be found. By playing around with the percentages much more could be found.
The actual income tax take for 2009 is almost €12 billion. The revised extra take is approximately €1.75 billion.
This would be fair as all income taxpayers would contribute. The more they would earn the more they would pay. What surprises me is the fact that this has not been highlighted instead of focusing on the public service as the sole source of savings. The obscenity of people earning more than €200,000 (the projection showed the number to be 30,000) not paying, and those earning less than €30,000 being hit, as well as social welfare being cut, makes one wonder what game the Government is playing. I presume the bondholders and the ECB couldn’t care less where the money comes from. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – At this time of global discussion and action, I think it is opportune to ask whether paying child benefit is an environmentally and morally sound policy.
Overpopulation is a recognised global issue by the UN and yet we encourage our people to procreate with a State safety net.
Personal responsibility for one’s own actions is key to solving global environmental and social issues and states could start by abolishing child benefit. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The Taoiseach is to suffer a pay cut of €57,000, leaving him with just €228,500 to get by on, a mere €4,394 per week (December 7th). Welfare recipients will receive €195 per week following the proposed cut of 4 per cent. Of course we are all in this together! – Yours, etc,
Madam, On Wednesday we will know our fate! No Cash Cowen just a Lean Lenihan? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – May I suggest one tax cut that could benefit our whole society both immediately and in the long term? If all taxation were to be withdrawn from books and from other related publications such as journals, magazines and newspapers in Wednesday’s budget, giving all of these a “zero-rating” VAT-wise, it would be immensely beneficial to everyone involved in the education sector. It would give a major fillip to the “knowledge society” we hope to create here, as well as signalling clearly the value we place on education as the way forward for a better future for our people. In addition, it would help our book trade and our newspaper industry, both of which have been badly hit by the recession here as elsewhere, as well as providing a much-needed boost to the finances of younger people studying or contemplating doing so.
If the Minister were to declare as a principle that there will be “no taxation of education” (despite his pressing need to raise money where he can in order to rescue the State finances), it would surely represent a powerful statement of intent as to the Government’s plans for our future economic development and send a clear message around the world as to our core values in Ireland (at least on a par with the giving of tax-free status to artists in an earlier time).
I wouldn’t have the temerity to claim that such a tax cut would be “self-financing”, but if it could boost our economic recovery and the morale of our now so-put-upon younger generation and if the Minister could make up the shortfall elsewhere, then surely it is worth considering as one bloom amidst all the gloom of budget day 2009? – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Hands up all those who have mental reservations that the forthcoming carbon tax, no matter how well dressed up, is not just another tax on us all? – Is mise