Fiscal watchdog supports wide range of tax hikes

Ifac said Commission on Tax and Welfare proposals would boost tax revenues by a significant amount

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council said 'increases in taxation on this scale' would mean Ireland would move away from being a relatively low-tax State in European terms.      

The fiscal watchdog has given its support to controversial proposals for a broad range of tax increases to help the Government to prepare for climate change and wean itself off its dependence on the huge corporation tax receipts from the multinationals.  

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac) said the recent proposals from the Commission on Tax and Welfare would boost tax revenues by a significant amount to help the Government to also meet other challenges it faces from an ageing population.