TDs’ office and constituency staff exempt from levy

CONSTITUENCY and office staff of TDs will join the President and judges in being exempt from the public service pension levy, which is expected to be passed into law tomorrow.

Workers on the minimum wage, however, will have to pay the tax from next month after Finance Minister Brian Lenihan refused an amendment to the legislation to exempt those earning below e18,000 a year.

The Financial Emergency Measure in the Public Interest Bill will go to the Seanad today after being rushed through the Dáil last night. The Government says the levy will save e1.4 billion in public spending next year.