Irish taxes are low, but poverty rates soaring

Ireland has the second lowest tax-to-GDP ratio of all eurozone states, but its poverty rates are soaring, the European Commission has warned.

While Ireland’s progress in implementing the austerity programme was praised, more health service reform is needed, the banking system is still not functioning to create jobs and the mortgage problems have to be sorted out.

Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso pleaded with countries to agree and pull together to turn around the EU so that it emerges from crisis and starts to grow and create employment.