A PROPOSAL TO increase the Universal Social Charge for those earning over €100,000 per year has been floated by a number of Labour backbenchers over the weekend.

The proposal – first reported in the Sunday Times – calls for a rise of three percentage points in the USC to 10 per cent on income over €100,000, a measure that would raise just over €70 million and has the support of some Labour backbenchers and ministers.

However one Fine Gael minister, Lucinda Creighton, has raised issues with the proposal pointing out there have already been hikes in DIRT and capital gains taxes. While opposition parties including Sinn Féin and the Socialist Party have said the government needs to go further with the former arguing for the introduction of a third rate of tax for high earners.

So today we want to know: Would you favour an increase in the Universal Social Charge for those earning over €100,000?

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