Madam, - I note that changes to taxable benefits-in-kind, which are to be taxed at source from January 2004, specifically exclude employer-provided car parking in Dublin city centre, private use of company mobile phones and subsidised canteen facilities.
Could this decision possibly have been affected by the fact that civil servants, including Government Ministers, also have these benefits, and they are not benefits that are exclusive to the private sector?
The changes introduced for the most part appear to affect the net pay of private sector employees, and have very little if any impact on public sector net pay. The Minister has therefore avoided confrontation with the public sector and chosen the soft target.
Why have these taxes now been introduced? Might it be in part because of the significantly increased burden of funding unwarranted increases in public sector pay, including increases in the pay of Government Ministers?
The introduction of a city-centre car parking tax would help to ease congestion. Of course, as I understand it, the majority of private car parking tax would help to ease congestion. Of course, as I understand it, the majority of private car parking spaces within Dublin City Centre are state-provided for free use by civil servants (and these include free spaces provided for current and former members of Leinster House).
Who regulates the regulators? - Yours, etc.,
EOIN REYNOLDS, Rose Hall, Templeogue Village Dublin 6W.