Burton: People who can afford to pay more taxes should do so

A senior Labour minister says her party stands on the principle that people who can afford to pay more taxes should do so.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton made the comments after three renegade Labour party members launched a campaign calling for a range of new taxes on the wealthy in December's budget.

Patrick Nulty and Tommy Broughan, both of whom resigned from the Labour parliamentary party, and MEP Nessa Childers who remains a member, want a wealth tax, a bankers tax and a new 48% tax on incomes over €100,000.

Minister Burton says she hasn't examined the proposals and warns that the tax system should not be overburdensome but she says people who can afford to pay more should do so.