Low and middle-income earners are set to receive a de facto tax cut in the next budget through a raising of the threshold deciding when they pay higher rates to the State.

The BBC has responded to the chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee's suggestion that salaries of all the broadcaster's highest earners should be disclosed, regardless of the source of income.

Workers here earned €81bn in salaries last year, with 18% going straight to the Revenue Commissioners.