'Alarming' tax statistics dismissed by Taoiseach

The Taoiseach has dismissed figures published today which imply that income tax per family has gone up by over €9,000.

Speaking at a function in Croke Park, Bertie Ahern dismissed the figures in today's newspapers as nothing more than silly charts by Fine Gael.

On a separate issue, he said reform of the health service will go ahead despite the decision of Professor Aidan Halligan not to take up his post as chief executive of the Health Service Executive.