Sir, - Having listened and read over the past few days to Democratic Left complaining about the Budget submissions made by the various bodies representing business and industry, who called for reductions in income tax on the low paid worker to help increase employment, I would like to point out that one does not need a long memory to recall when Mr De Rossa and Mr Rabbitte were constantly using the media to get their socialist message across to the masses. Now that the shoe is on the other foot and the heat in the kitchen is getting too hot for them, they appear to be crying wolf.
These are the people who have it in their power to reduce taxes on the employed, particularly the lower income groups whom they represent. But it would appear that they would prefer to increase social welfare payments instead of using the current surplus of money to decrease the taxes which deter employment.
While the economy is growing, unemployment has increased and this only goes to hammer home the point that a tax on employment is definitely a disincentive to employers to increase their workforce. It is far cheaper to spend capital on equipment which will reduce employment numbers.
Let's hope that by the time Democratic Left is finished playing around with the economy, we still have an economy left for any future incoming administration to tackle the taxation system, and make it more profitable to work than remain unemployed.
Yours, etc.,
Pro Master Builder's and Contractor's Association,
Richmond Avenue,
Fairview,
Dublin 3.