Budget reaction: 'I feel like a feudal peasant. I can take no more'

It seems to me that there are many extra taxes specifically targeted at the better off, such as property (wealth) tax, increased universal social charge on those with generous pension annuities, capping tax relief for those contributing to large pension pots, increased capital gains tax on large inheritances, increased Dirt tax on those lucky enough to have savings, etc etc.

These “revenue-raising” measures seem to more than dwarf any cutbacks in welfare payments, so I’m not quite sure where this high level of indignation is coming from? The fact that the top 5 per cent of society here pay more than 50 per cent of the taxes in this country, and that Ireland still has fairly generous welfare and public pay rates by EU standards, seems to have been lost sight of in something of a knee-jerk reaction in the media and on these pages.

Spending on average €12 billion more than we collect in taxes every year for the past five years is not the definition of “austerity” . . . it’s actually called “living beyond our means”. I know it’s not a popular thing to say on these pages, but we actually need to stop increasing taxes and instead accelerate our efforts in reducing costs. Politicians and commentators who suggest otherwise are charlatans preying on people’s anger and disillusionment . . . and judging by the comments here, they are having a field day. RonanFurlong

Yeah, what a beautiful Budget, hammering the low and middle income, when at the same time high Cs and high earners are just a bit requested to participate to the mess that some of them brought in. Meanwhile, the lump sums, handshake, bonuses and retirement with massive benefits keeps going on, and all the guys asleep at the wheel before the crisis enjoy their financial security. TessierFrancois

It’s the same old story: the rich and powerful protect their lavish lifestyles on the backs of the poor. But history shows there’s a breaking point: witness the French, Russian and American Revolutions. Dear Marie Antoinette saying, “Let them eat cake” to the masses who lacked even bread literally cost her her head on the guillotine. When that breaking point will come in Ireland, no one knows. The economic stranglehold of the Brits on the Irish finally led to the Brits being driven out. When people are hungry, they have nothing to lose. “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” “Take the money from the poor pensioners, but leave my big pay cheque and Government limousine and expense accounts alone.” Put Enda and the rest of the crowd on the average pensioner’s income. It’s a crying shame that many fought and died for independence, only to have the country fall into the hands of these pariahs, who’ve never done an honest day’s work. ArthurCholakis

There we are! €1 on top of the €1.965 = €2.965 duty! Include 23 per cent VAT. A bottle at €7 means €4.27 in tax on a bottle. Until, midnight tonight I am an independent wine retailer in a dying sector. 50,000 jobs have already been lost. The late Brian Lenihan had brought back the duty to manageable levels after increasing it by 20 per cent in 2008. He had “learned from his lesson,” he explained a year later. It is now a race to the bottom. In a contracting economy margins keep the smallest of businesses just about alive. essomeric

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