FF denies Burton’s claim on taxing those earning over €35,000

Fianna Fáil has accused Tánaiste Joan Burton of a "spectacular misrepresentation" of its tax policies during the Labour Party national conference in Killarney last weekend.

In a number of interviews over the weekend, Ms Burton claimed Fianna Fáil was in favour of increasing income tax for everybody earning more than €35,000 per annum.

This has been denied vigorously by Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Michael McGrath. He said not only did the claim not represent his party’s view, but it was the exact opposite of the position of Fianna Fáil, which opposed any increase in taxes for middle-income earners, including those earning above €35,000.

In an RTÉ interview, Ms Burton ruled out any alliance with Fianna Fáil on the basis it would impose “massive tax hikes” on anybody earning more than €35,000.

Motion

The row stemmed from a Private Members’ motion on wage equality, brought by the technical group representing non-aligned TDs and smaller parties, which was debated for two days in the Dáil last week. It called for everybody earning more than €35,000 to be taxed.

The Government tabled amendments to the motion, essentially reversing that key point. Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin both voted against the Government amendment.

Fianna Fáil said it was fanciful of the Labour Party leader to equate the party voting against the Government amendment with the party actually supporting the motion brought by the technical group.

“The party voted against the Government amendment because it was self-serving and self-congratulatory,” said Mr McGrath. “There was no vote on the technical group motion. If there had been, we made it clear we would be voting against it.”

In his speech, Mr McGrath said of the motion sponsored by Richard Boyd Barrett: "It seems to be fixated on a level of income at €35,000; those earning below that would be entitled to a range of exemptions but people even marginally above that level would not be entitled to such exemptions. The way out of our economic difficulties is not to tax to death people who create wealth in this country."