Some very sound ideas there!! Pity the ordinary Irish citizens have no say- I think if the govt cared to read comments on here, letters in papers, twitter/Facebook suggestions, etc they would know what people r worried n upset about and they’d see some great suggestions and ideas too…. Unfortunately there’s so way to get them to listen!

I’m not as stupid as I look ;)

Seriously, as you may know, the gov.ie do pro actively monitor all media, especially sites that thrive on feedback/discussion, like this one. On Enda’s old facebook page (which he used to post on personally, with a smartphone presumably, usually in the early hours), he posted up a message one evening telling all and sundry that FG were setting up something like an “interactive” online presence, in that the younglings were being drafted in to “engage” as he put it, on social media. I questioned him on this, and in fairness, he responded at length, probably driven by the fact that he was on the campaign trail at the time. After about an hour of to-ing and fro-ing, he promised me FG would contact me in the morning, which they did. But after a boilerplate response from them, I gave up. I’d imagine this move was more about heading off any negativity at the pass, rather than anything else.

Suffice to say, they do read what goes on. Not that we’re going to change the world or anything, but it definitely ends up somewhere. And it’s far quicker and more effective than writing a letter to say, Mr. O’ Sullivan at the IT.

You hit it spot on – means testing. So little in this country is means tested, so that the people who get the worst deal are low-earning working people. Social welfare is comparatively generous (to other countries), but people who work and don’t earn much are getting more and more penalised.

I agree on the higher rate of tax for very high earners, it remains to be seen how much it would rake in.

I don’t understand why nobody talks about increasing the marginal tax rate. I would not be happy as it would increase my own tax bill, but it would protect the lower earners while at the same time it would be paid by many more people thus bringing a substantial amount.

Ordinary workers are the lifeblood of any economy, instead it looks like they are the worst treated.

hemp cars??

Yes Henry Ford built a car out of hemp. You didn’t know? http://www.hempcar.org/ It has been said by economists that Ireland does not have the comparative advantage to produce cars. Bullshit.

You must be joking Dave,Irish people stand up .

Best of luck making the move ! If I didn’t have ties (kids & mortgage) I’d be gone too ! Ireland’s not a great place to live at the moment – your lucky in a way that your in a position to leave !

A third level of taxation for individuals earning over 100k,52% until 2014 dropping to 48% after that. up to 2% wealth tax similiar to wealth tax in France,include a capital control measure like Iceland did. abolish USC.implement the mortgage plan put forward by New beginning freeing up peoples money so they can afford to spend again.lots of things can be done but sadly this government haven’t a clue.the situation is getting worse and will continue to do so as this column points out

Capital control measure,,, what will it mean in Ireland?

Scrap this whole IMF nonsense and burn the ECB. let the Germans pick up the tab. It was there shafting of Brian lenihan that meant we had to pay the losses of the German/Franco banks who leant to Anglo et al. And it was there need for low interest rate that contributed largely to the property bubble that wrecked this economy. I’m Not letting the government off for there gross mismanagement either.

Lisa the point isn’t that it covers the deficit, the point is that it prevents cuts on the most dependent in society and takes from those that can’t afford it. If €20M was raised it would be €20M less cut on health or social welfare

I don’t disagree with the idea, just would like to see what kind of money could be brought in. I suspect that similar cuts would still have to be made so its a bit of a red herring.

It is unfair that wealthy families are getting the same cuts as poorer families, it just shows how much means testing is needed for things like college fees and child benefit.

It’s a matter of basic fairness. All of these cuts have either been directly targeted at the lowest earners and those in receipt of social welfare. The wealthiest in society must pull their weight as well, in these “exceptional times”.

It’s also a matter of economics. Wealthy high income earners tend to hoard, tie up in unproductive assets or spend abroad far more than low income earners. We need more spending in the economy to restore growth. It won’t happen any other way. And the deficit will not be reduced by decreasing employment which brings in less direct & indirect taxes.

Ireland has managed to merely stagnate its economy thus far because of the bounce back from its relatively very large multinational export sector, and, to an extent, because its unemployment benefits were higher than other countries.

But the exports rebound is already slowing, & new austerity measures & stagnation (or contraction) in UK & Europe means there is no more growth to come.

Ireland will likely contract in 2012 & its deficit position become worse not better. The fantasy of growth magically leaping to 3% growth in 2013 from a removal of another €3.8 Billion from its economy in 2012, is just that – a fantasy.

Europe is being run by a financial oligarchy of creditor classes, represented by the ECB & ‘captured’ political leaders.

We are being bled dry slowly to make every repeated ‘turning the corner’ phrase sound plausible. Some in the middle incomes now, still with a job, are led to believe it’s not so bad, it’s manageable, you will be ok. But make no mistake, your turn is coming.

It need not be this way, at all. It is now recognised throughout Europe that Ireland’s casino bank losses – some €95 Billion, now the citizens’ debt – were the direct responsibilty of the Eurozone collectively thru’ flawed design, greed & non regulation. If it should be honoured at all this debt should be shared by all in the Eurozone – or better, simply extinguished by the currency issuing authority, the ECB.

According to Department of Finance figures, published in Sinn Féin’s pre-budget submission, a new tax rate of 48 per cent to kick in on individual salaries once they go over 100,000 would bring in 410 million euro.

As Daire points out, that’s 410 million that could be used to protect the most vulnerable, but I would agree with your point that a third rate of tax won’t cure everything, but it is part of a suite of options the Government has seen fit not to pursue which puts the emphasis more on investment and tax increases, and less on cuts.