Sinn Féin would increase tax revenue without 'overheating' the economy, says Doherty

Vivienne Clarke

Sinn Féin’s finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty has said that his party has proposals that would increase tax revenue without “overheating” the economy.

Mr Doherty was speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland where he was responding to a question about whether he disagreed with the Central Bank which had indicated that the tax base should be broadened.

“I think that we are looking at ensuring that we do not reduce the tax take, we are one of the few parties that actually shows how you will actually have more revenue in tax and compared to what the government is doing.

“We're going to raise taxes, you talked about overheating the economy, people who are on €140,000 and more than that will pay a three percent solidarity tax that actually reduces inflation not overheats it.

"There's issues like that where we believe that tax should be gathered, but to do that it allows us to reduce the USC, to scrap the USC, abolish the USC for the first €40,000 that people earn.

"It allows us to end the property tax, it allows us to make sure that the government doesn't proceed next week with increasing tax on petrol and diesel.”

Mr Doherty added that the net effect between the tax cuts proposed by Sinn Féin and measures such as targeting institutional investors and scrapping the landlord’s tax would generate €700 million in additional tax.

Presidential election

Mr Doherty has defended presidential candidate Catherine Connolly and the controversy over her alleged attempts to hire an administrative support who did not have garda clearance because she had been convicted of a gun crime.

Mr Doherty told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that Ms Connolly was “a fantastic candidate” and he had witnessed “the genuineness and the authenticity that oozes from Catherine Connolly.

“She attempted to employ somebody who's highly qualified, went through the process and complied with the process, I don't think this is an issue, but I'm sure that Catherine Connolly will address any concerns that anybody may have.”