Fianna Fáil calls for ‘unforgiving’ USC to be reduced

The Department of Finance should consider reducing the "unforgiving" universal social charge because the stabilisation of the economy means it may no longer be needed.

Fianna Fáil’s finance spokesman Michael McGrath said changing the cost of the levy is a “logical” place to start in terms of any tax system reform.

Since the deeply unpopular measure — which takes between 2% and 7% of a person’s income — was introduced by Fianna Fáil in 2010, it has brought in almost €16bn.