ICTU wants taxes on high earners to maintain services

THE state will find it difficult to maintain public services unless it starts profiting from the elimination of “regressive” tax breaks that disproportionately benefit the rich allowing high earners to minimise their tax bill.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions said that despite the prolonged economic boom coming to an end, increased public services were strongly justified and could be achieved by a more equitable tax system.

It said the best solution was to put an end to a system that barely taxed money gained from “speculation, inheritance and capital gains” compared with money earned from work.