You cannot have European Social Democratic Services (free health, free college, mass social housing, public transport on that level, big state pensions etc) with Irish taxes. I want us to have a European social democratic system, and the parties arguing for a centre left state (basically everyone but FF and FG) are lying and being nothing but populist without being honest about this. Water charges is a great example, we decided to underfund our water services to avoid paying for it as a community. Thats not a left wing policy, its Trumpian.
Please educate yourselves on how low taxes are in Ireland and how we have inferior services as a result
Even with USC a person on 30,000 in Ireland pays 5000 less in tax a year than a German on the same income. I’m talking about take home pay
We are, with the exception of Switzerland, the lowest tax country in Western Europe
Someone on 30,000 in Belgium takes home €22,147 after all taxes
In Germany they take home €20,787
In Ireland they take home €25,683
On 40,000 Germany take home pay is €26,457
In Belgium it’s €26,926
In Ireland it’s €32,073
Our taxes including usc etc are so low someone on €30,000 in Ireland comes out with pretty much the same as someone on €40,000 in Germany
Under Bertie’s FF govt we cut taxes down to the bone