Shortall: ‘Stop protecting the wealthy’

Former Labour minister Roisín Shortall has warned that high earners should not be “the untouchables” in the budget.

Her comments are primarily aimed at Fine Gael, which opposed a Labour demand for a 3% increase in the universal social charge for those earning over €100,000.

However, Ms Shortall’s remarks may also serve to further expose Labour’s weaknesses in the Coalition and its perceived inability to get key policy proposals implemented.