McDowell wants radical tax reforms

Taking people out of the tax net and improving public infrastructure will be Progressive Democrats’ future priorities in Government, it was claimed today.

Speaking ahead of the party’s autumn think-in, new leader Michael McDowell said Ireland’s jobs boom and competitiveness must be continued into the future.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, who is addressing his eight TDs and five Senators for the first time, also predicted doubling Dáil seats to 16 after the next General Election.

“I’m talking about putting a challenging agenda before the Irish people, visionary projects to get Ireland up and running, to make up our infrastructural deficit.

“To make Ireland a competitive place to do business internationally, we are talking about radical tax reform. We will be talking about getting agriculture, which is now in the doldrums post EU reforms, to provide alternative energy sources.”

The party is expected to today make policy announcements on infrastructure projects like Dublin Port.

Mr McDowell continued: “We’re talking about taking more people out of the 40% tax band. We’re talking about getting as many people as possible into a position where they pay as little as possible income tax so that the beneficial effect that the country has had from taking a low share of the payroll will be continued into the future.”

The Dublin South East TD ruled out suggestions by the pensions industry to have a compulsory levy on paycheques to finance retirement packages.

Of the Opposition, he said: “I don’t want Irish people to sleepwalk into a slump coalition made up of Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens and far left independent deputies – and that is what is on offer.

“If you want to keep the cranes on the skylines, if you want to keep Ireland working, if you want an Ireland where your kids will have as good an opportunity in five or 10 years of working, you should vote for the policies and the philosophies that have brought us to this point.”

The one-day PD event is intended to boost the general election campaign of Dublin North candidate, Senator Tom Morrissey.

Meanwhile Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny will address Labour’s two-day think-in to reciprocate last week’s gesture by Pat Rabbitte.

After an address by Mr Rabbitte, afternoon sessions will focus on strategy and policy development. Councillors will also be allowed to participate.

Former Northern Ireland Policing Board vice-chairman, Denis Bradley, will speak on crime and policing reform tomorrow before the event winds up at lunchtime.