Seamus Healy TD—Leaders Questions Thursday April 10
Link: http://wp.me/p1Uvd5-B0
Minister Brendan Howlin , Labour, holds the second most senior economic ministry.
At leaders questions, Seamus Healy TD took the Labour Party to task for bringing in regressive Budgets which hit the poor harder than the rich (See ESRI Report on recent budgets http://www.esri.ie/UserFiles/publications/QEC2013Win_SA_Callan.pdf)
The 2014 budget was more unfair to the poor than the FF/Green budgets. He sought the restoration of the respite grant for carers, cuts in home heating allowances and child benefit. He called for increased taxes on the 10,000 who earn on average 595,000 per year each (Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan in reply to a parliamentary question on Oct 3, 2012). Deputy Healy pointed out that the total gross financial assets of households (324 Billion) are now back above the peak 2006 level (Table 3 Institutional Sector Accounts Central Statistics Office 2013)
The bulk of these assets are held by the top 10% of the population (all those with mortgages and/or credit card debt have negative financial assets- houses, farms and business premises are not financial assets). Deputy Healy sought that a wealth tax be placed on very large financial assets of the super-rich.
The arrogant response of Minister Howlin (standing in for Eamonn Gilmore) was to describe the question as “drivel” and to accuse Deputy Healy of proposing “fantasy taxes” He suggested that an increase in income tax on those on 595,000 would not yield significant revenue (Conservative friends of the rich have been making this argument for centuries) . He claimed that the local property tax which leaves the financial assets of the wealthy untouched and applies to the unemployed was an adequate response.
Any reasonably numerate person can calculate that an extra tax on the total of 5.95 Billion earned each year by the top 10,000 income recipients and on the 324 billion in financial assets would bring significant extra revenue to the state. Howlin and the Labour Party do not want to listen. They attack the poor and those on middle incomes instead. That is why the Labour Party is heading for wipe-out and oblivion.
Seamus Healy TD
Irish Examiner Friday April 11 Juno McEnroe
Independent TD Seamus Healy yesterday called on the Government to introduce an asset or wealth tax in the next budget.
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil, Mr Healy pointed to ESRI findings that the last budget had the greatest impact on low-income groups.
Labour had reneged on election pledges in 2011 and cut payments for the vulnerable, including child benefit, he said.
“It made promises with full knowledge of the situation in 2011. The assets of the super rich are back above peak levels in 2006, according to the Central Statistics Office,” Mr Healy said.
He called on the Coalition to introduce a wealth tax on those who earn over €595,000 a year.
Brendan Howlin, the public expenditure minister, rejected his criticism and said the TD engaged in “fantasy” taxes.
Minister Burton Refuses Healy Request To Restore Fuel Allowances Despite Cold Weather while Minister Rabitte(Labour) Sheds Crocodile Tears for those being Cut Off!
1200 unnecessary deaths on the island of Ireland due to fuel poverty each year
Minister Alan Kelly must intervene now to save lives!
In a reply to a parliamentary question, which I had tabled last week, Minister Burton (Labour Party Deputy leader) refused to restore the cuts in fuel allowances to the old and the poor which she had implemented since coming to office despite the cold weather. To-day, at the energy conference, her fellow Labour Minister cried crocodile tears for those whose heating is being cut off.
At the same conference, academics pointed out once again that there are 1200 unnecessary deaths on the island of Ireland due to fuel poverty each year. The cuts in heating units and in the heating period are cruel and unnecessary.
In my question I had pointed out that the Minister for Finance had told me recently in a reply that the top 1% of income recipients had a gross income of 8.74 billion Euro per year and an average income of €404,000 each and an after-tax income of €249,000 each per year. A tiny tax increase on these would pay for the restoration of cuts in fuel allowances. They would not even notice the change!
In addition the Government claims to be saving 1 billion per year due to the promissory note deal. But like Margaret Thatcher, Minister Burton was not for turning.
This is the centenary year of the formation in Clonmel of a political wing of the trade union movement on the proposal of James Connolly and Jim Larkin. What would they have thought of the actions of the current Deputy Leader?
I call on Minister Alan Kelly, MEP Phil Prendergast, Senator Landy and all Labour Party representatives to force Minister Burton to change her mind immediately and to come to the assistance of those who are shivering in their homes.
Statement By Seamus Healy TD 087-2802199
Workers & Unemployed Action 