Parties at odds over tax change preferences

The stability of the government support deal between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil may be at risk with both parties differing on tax change preferences for next month’s budget.

Fine Gael ministers are keen to widen the bands at which basic income tax is charged, but Fianna Fáil believes more workers will benefit with a straight cut of the Universal Social Charge rates.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin laid down a marker at his party’s pre-Dáil meeting in Longford where he stressed that the confidence and supply deal between both parties had agreed on USC cuts.