Next Budget must forge 'route to recovery based on growth, hope and jobs'
Congress General Secretary David Begg has urged Government to change course and use the coming budget to forge a ‘route to recovery based on growth, hope and jobs.’ Speaking at the launch of the Congress Pre–Budget Submission on Wednesday (7th November) Begg said December’s budget must rebalance the adjustment in favour of working people and raise more revenue from those with greater resources.
“Even the IMF has conceded that the approach adopted in Ireland was based on flawed calculations and therefore destined to fail. Almost 360,000 people have lost their jobs since the crisis began – that’s 360,000 compelling reasons to change course now and forge a route to recovery based on growth, hope and jobs.”
He said Congress believed the period of adjustment should be extended to 2017 - “to allow the economy room to breathe” - and a comprehensive investment programme introduced to promote growth and create jobs.
“Congress has already costed a programme that would invest as much as €3 billion a year and create almost 100,000 jobs, over three years,” he said.
Referring to the Congress submission, Begg said it contained a menu of possible options on how Government could raise up to €3.4 billion in new revenue.
“Over three out of every five euro raised in new taxes since 2009 has come from working people, which helps explain why domestic demand has literally collapsed. That has to change.”
He said that among the budgetary measures being proposed by Congress were:
A new 48% tax rate for individual incomes over €100,000
A 1% Wealth Tax
In common with many other EU countries, a Financial Transaction Tax which could raise €500 million annually
Profitable corporations should pay more
We must deal effectively and comprehensively with the Pensions Crisis
Broaden the Apprenticeship system and provide a Youth Guarantee to link young people to skills training and the workplace
Increase monitoring of employment standards to stop the loss of tax revenue due to misguided public procurement practices
Address Poverty Traps and growing inequality
For a full copy of the Congress proposals and to view a short film clip on the submission visit www.ictu.ie
Liberty Online is produced by the Communications Department of SIPTU. Liberty Online is distributed on a regular basis to members who are on the SIPTU e-mail data base. In order to maximize circulation of this news bulletin and other messages and statements we urgently ask recipients to gather the e-mail addresses of other SIPTU members who are not already on the data base. Please forward e-mail addresses to communicationsdepartment@siptu.ie
SIPTU Head Office | Liberty Hall | Dublin 1 | Ireland