Calls to use €900m extra tax take to help families
Labour spokesperson on health, jobs, enterprise and innovation Alan Kelly raised the issue in the Dáil yesterday, saying the money must be spent on water refunds, transport improvements and public sector pay hikes if Fine Gael really wants to spread the recovery.
Speaking during the latest leaders questions debate, the former minister said Finance Minister Michael Noonan has told Fine Gael TDs and senators that the Exchequer returns for November are €280m ahead of schedule.
Coupled with the €680m above-expectations rate for the first 10 months of the year, Mr Kelly said the full year increase is likely to be over €900m, before asking how the Government intends to spend the extra resources.
“There is room to help people. Given the flawed, highly political and legally unsound water commission report, you could provide refunds costing €140m, which would appease back-benchers.
“You could put money into transport. You could give a commitment to address public sector pay,” he said, citing a series of issues which are continuing to cause the Government serious difficulties.
Responding to the suggestion on behalf of Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who is in the US on government business, Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald said the bigger picture is that the economy is improving and accused Mr Kelly of asking a “very general” question for political point-scoring reasons.
However, the Labour TD hit back, saying “people in work today are looking at the cost of living in this county and need to be given something back”.
The row took place during a leaders questions debate which also heard Fianna Fáil Rural Affairs spokesperson Éamon Ó Cuív heavily criticise the Government over concerns that a ferry needed by 900 Aran Island residents is being scrapped until March 17.
The situation has been caused by an 80c per passenger increased cost for the company running the ferry.
