Kilkenny councillor hits out at 'totally unjustified' charge on taxpayer
Cllr McGuinness to raise issue at the next plenary meeting of Kilkenny County Council...
Councillor Eugene McGuinness (Indepedent - Kilkenny City MD) is set to table a motion at July’s plenary meeting of Kilkenny County Council calling on the Minister for Finance (the Tánaiste) and the Taoiseach to abolish the Universal Social Change (USC).
Mr McGuinness had intended for the motion to be heard at this month’s plenary meeting however due to time constraints, the notices of motion scheduled to be heard at the meeting were adjourned.
“The USC was first introduced 15 years ago as a temporary emergency measure when this country was on its knees financially but now if our political masters are to be believed, our country has never been in a stronger financial position,” he said.
“The USC is a totally unjustified burden on the Irish taxpayer, punishing the most vulnerable, acting as a disincentive for workers to put in those extra hours or take that promotion and should be abolished without delay.
“Government’s attempt to convince us that we already get this back through various schemes and supports is a falsehood, election snake oil used to deceive.
“Their so called supports are a web of red tape, difficult to navigate, complex in nature and only return a fraction of what is being taken.
“Simon Harris himself said before the 2016 election and I quote: ‘It is an absolute commitment of the Fine Gael Party to abolish this much hated USC charge’ but now ten years after making that promise the taxpayers of this country are still no better off.”
Cllr McGuinness also highlighted challenges being faced at present by taxpayers in Kilkenny and across Ireland.
“This country is now in a cost of living crisis, and there are difficulties accessing housing, childcare as well as escalating insurance costs.
“Energy prices jumped another 8% in the last number of weeks too so it is beyond time that our frontline workers, the backbone of this country get a well-earned pay rise by abolishing this unfair tax and I would call on all councillors to support this motion.”