Sinn Féin’s only resolution for 2015 is to wreck the recovery – Harris

“Sinn Féin is a high tax, high spend Party, obsessed with taxing work and putting the economic recovery in jeopardy,” says Simon Harris, Fine Gael TD for Wicklow/ East Carlow and Minister of State at the Department of Finance. 

“Sinn Féin policies would kill jobs. Their most recent alternative budget proposed €1.6 billion in new taxes on work, enterprise and entrepreneurship. 

“A new third rate of income tax would leave a total top tax rate of 60%, while their proposal to increase employers’ PRSI is literally a tax on jobs.  A wealth tax will result in money, investment and jobs leaving the country. 

“Sinn Féin opposed the recent tax cuts in the Finance Bill. In contrast Fine Gael is the only Party that wants to reduce income tax—we believe lower income taxes will create more jobs. Our tax and USC cuts for all workers will be repeated next year and the year after that.

“The fact is that Sinn Féin’s policies are an attack on low and middle income earners.  In Gerry and Mary-Lou’s world, people earning over €32,800 are high earners. Their budgetary proposals would hit middle Ireland by stealth. For example their plan to abolish the marginal tax relief on pensions would cut pay for all public servants. 

“They have displayed unbelievable hypocrisy in their policy stances north and south of the border. In the North, where they have to face up to the responsibilities of government, Sinn Féin have maintained and increased a high level of property tax, imposed public sector pay freezes and a range of other cuts.

“The combined opposition of Sinn Féin with their plans to massively raise tax and Fianna Fáil with no plans at all, means that the only alternative to Fine Gael in Government is a fragmented opposition intent on raising taxes, creating instability and uncertainty and putting the economic recovery at risk.”