Text of yesterday's Government statement on "Taxation and Programme for Prosperity and Fairness":
"The PPF provides that there will be increases in net take-home pay, including pay increases, of up to 25 per cent or more.
Government Statement
"The programme covers Budgets 2001-'3 inclusive. The effects of Budget 2000 will, in addition, produce significant increases in take-home pay during the period of the programme, but these are not part of the programme's terms.
"The PPF sets out the agreed priorities of Government and the social partners for taxation policy, including the objective that, over time, all those earning the minimum wage will be removed from the tax net. While a specific tax package was not set out in the programme, in the light of experience under previous agreements, and the prospects under the new programme, the ICTU judged that the average taxpayer would receive increases of 10 per cent in take-home pay arising from tax changes in the next three budgets. The Government agree that that judgment is reasonable, having regard to these considerations."