Siptu boss: Ending USC not ‘fanciful’

The statement by former Labour cabinet minister Pat Rabbitte that abolishing the universal social charge (USC) is a "fanciful" notion has been attacked by Siptu president Jack O’Connor.

Mr Rabbitte made the claim after demands from Labour and some Fine Gael TDs to lessen the impact of the tax, which was imposed at the height of the financial crisis during the previous Fianna Fáil/Green administration.

Sources close to Tánaiste Joan Burton said the Labour leadership broadly agreed with Mr Rabbitte’s analysis, as their aim was to reform the levy, not extinguish it.