THE proposal to abolish the employee PRSI contribution was a "fatal flaw" at the heart of the Progressive Democrats' tax policy, according to Minister of State Ms Joan Burton.
This suggestion, she said, showed an incredible disregard for rights which had been fought for and defended over many years by working people.
The abolition of PRSI contributions would result in the wholesale abandonment of the contributory principle in social welfare payments. It was that principle that conferred the right to payment of the contributory old age pension, contributory widow's and widower's pension, unemployment benefit, sickness benefit and invalidity pension as well as a whole series of other PRSI related benefits, Ms Burton stated.