Lobby groups continue to digest tax proposals

Lobby groups representing all sectors of society are continuing to digest the wide-ranging proposals on tax reform published by the Government yesterday.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has already expressed concern that already hard-pressed workers will face an increased burden as a result of the recommendations from the Commission on Taxation.

The commission has proposed the introduction of a property tax, carbon taxes, water charges and a tax on child benefit.

It says these should be offset by tax cuts elsewhere to ensure the overall burden of taxation within the economy is not increased.

However, ICTU says the overall tax burden has to increase in order to plug the massive hole in the public finances and there is a real fear that the Government will target ordinary citizens to raise this money.

The Children's Right's Alliance, meanwhile, is calling for the Government to target wealthy people with new taxes rather than introducing a tax on child benefit.

It says the taxation of child benefit would pose significant challenges requiring a complete overhaul of the tax and welfare systems.