Irish Finance Bill Tax Breaks Criticised By Opposition Parties

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

13 February 2004

Following the unveiling of the Finance Bill 2004 last week, opposition parties in Ireland have criticised tax breaks included by Finance Minister, Charlie McCreevy, dubbing the bill a "charter for artificial tax avoidance".

Speaking in the Dail this week, Fine Gael finance spokesman, Richard Bruton argued that:

"It does nothing for ordinary workers and their families. It extends and tweaks generous tax breaks for the well-off without any justification being offered."

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the Labour Party, Joan Burton suggested that:

"It would appear that there is a conscious strategy on the part of the Minister for Finance and Fianna Fail to make artificial tax avoidance so attractive that there is no longer any need to indulge in tax evasion."

"There are questions to be answered by the Minister as to why, at a time when so many PAYE tax payers are so hard pressed he should be so exceptionally generous to the wealthy in Irish society," she continued.

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