DONEGAL TD., Pearse Doherty has described as
“shameful” the Taoiseach's defence of ministers
claiming a second home tax break.
During Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil today, Deputy
Doherty challenged Mr Kenny to justify 13 Government
ministers' writing off thousands of euro from their
income tax bill on their second homes while at the
same time asking people to pay more tax on their
family home.
“This tax break is exclusively for ministers. It
allows those from outside Dublin to write off €6,500
from their tax bill if they have a second home in
Dublin without providing a single receipt."
The Sinn Féin finance spokesman added: “If they stay
in a hotel they can write off €3,500 from their tax
bill to cover the cost of laundry and again without
providing a single receipt.
“When in opposition Enda Kenny criticised Fianna
Fáil for availing of this tax lavish break and
promised to abolish it.
“Yet far from abolishing it, since Fine Gael and
Labour have taken office, the cost of this tax break
has jumped by a massive 30% to over €112,000.
“I asked (the Taoiseach) how he could justify, to
people who will be hit with the property tax, that
it is fair for Government ministers to write off
thousands of euro from their income tax bill on
their second homes while at the same time asking
people to pay more tax on their family home.
“Enda Kenny’s defence of this tax break was
shameful. His failure to answer the question shows
just how embarrassed he is by his failure to keep
his promise and abolish the tax break," added Deputy
Doherty.
Mr Kenny said Mr Doherty claimed overnight
allowances that were a multiple of what any minister
would claim because ministers did not receive them.
He said the matters raised were all part of what was
being considered in next week's budget. |
