Income levy a blatant abuse of power

THE 1% income levy introduced in the budget is a blatant abuse of power.

It will require those worst affected by the recession to bear the burden of bailing out the Government’s failed economic policies, the banks and the building sector.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen and corporate executives do not seem to have done much to prevent the Irish aspect of the global downturn.

Quite apart from the international credit crunch, they stood by and allowed the Irish economy to become dangerously dependent on one element.

Now they want people who did not get huge bonuses, who cannot avail of perks from political office, to hand over more of their hard-earned money to those who have already failed properly to manage the economy.

If a levy is going to be pushed through by the Government, then at the very least changes should be made.

A suggestion: single workers earning less than €25,000 annually, and families with less than €35,000, should be exempt.

For high-income groups a levy of 2.25% could apply to single peoples’ income above €250,000 and this percentage could also apply to combined incomes above €350,000.

If TDs could have a free vote on the levy, would it pass?

And If the Government had to seek reelection now based on this issue alone, would it win?

Dan Donovan

Shandon Street

Dungarvan

Co Waterford