SIPTU president urges Taoiseach to introduce pensions tax sooner

In a letter to Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Jack O’Connor says that introducing the 41 per cent rate on pensions over €60,000 sooner would obviate the need for certain cuts.

By Hugh O'Connell Saturday 8 Dec 2012, 1:09 PM

Dec 8th 2012, 1:09 PM 5,296 Views 34 Comments

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Jack O'Connor

Image: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

Jack O'Connor

Image: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

SIPTU GENERAL PRESIDENT Jack O’Connor has written to Taoiseach Enda Kenny urging him to bring forward plans to limit the tax relief on pensioners earning over €60,000 annually.

In a letter (published in full below) O’Connor says that implementing the measure next year rather than the year after, as the government has said, would generate an extra €125 million for the Exchequer.

The government plans to claim 41 per cent of the value of pension payments in excess of €60,000 per year but the measure will not come into effect until 2014 due to legal issues.

O’Connor has asked Kenny to intervene in the matter personally and says that all of the arrangements could be put in place for the measure to be implemented by the 1 July next year, negating the need for some cuts to services.

He said that it “would also serve to go some way towards contributing to social cohesion at this crucial moment in our history”.

Read the letter in full:

Read: SIPTU condemns ‘fascist behaviour’ at austerity protest

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SIPTU president urges Taoiseach to introduce pensions tax sooner

In a letter to Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Jack O’Connor says that introducing the 41 per cent rate on pensions over €60,000 sooner would obviate the need for certain cuts.