Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Enda Kenny hints at cut to top tax rate

“First step in a multi-annual plan…”

PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY this evening told business leaders that Tuesday’s Budget would be the “first step” towards lowering the highest income tax rate.

In a speech at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner tonight, Kenny said the previous Fianna Fáil-led government’s introduction of the 52% rate was “anti-employment and anti-enterprise.”

Next week’s budget will be the first step of a multi-annual plan to reduce the 52% rate on low and middle-incomes.
It will improve the competitiveness of our tax regime in a way that strengthens the economic recovery.

An “easing of the burden” on ‘middle Ireland’ has been hinted at by government ministers in previous weeks.

DubChamberDinner13 Enda Kenny with Alex Ferguson tonight, as well as Gina Quinn (Dublin Chamber CEO) and Martin Murphy (Dublin Chamber President) Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography / Fennell Photography

This evening’s statement from the Taoiseach, however, suggests it will come in the former of lowering the top tax rate, rather than an adjustment of tax bands.

Kenny did not specify which of the three components of the 52% rate – income tax, PRSI and the universal social charge – would be affected.

Joined on the stage by former Manchester United football manager Alex Ferguson, Kenny also firmly committed to keeping the 12.5% corporate tax rate.

As international tax loopholes progressively get closed down, our low general corporation tax rate will become even more attractive to business.

Read: The government says they’ll cut our taxes in the Budget, but how are they going to do it?>

Here are 7 things we know about the Budget so far>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
104 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Business Cat
    Favourite Business Cat
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 3:38 PM

    Where would the hacks be if there was no twitter?

    125
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darren Norris
    Favourite Darren Norris
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 9:19 PM

    I live facing the bridge, lots of helicopters etc al recording it and huge area shit down, blast lasted a second as they where stunt flames, people just being dramatic as usual

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute colin
    Favourite colin
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 3:57 PM

    Fuking stop with this clickbait shite

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Radburn
    Favourite Paul Radburn
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 3:54 PM

    Another attention seeking headline

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute An Observer
    Favourite An Observer
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 3:57 PM

    Paul, could you not have realised that it was a movie stunt from the * in the headline? Seriously,I mean it was practically spoon-fed to us….

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Radburn
    Favourite Paul Radburn
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 6:10 PM

    Oh, ok, the Brazil team were all, killed in a plane crash*

    2
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Radburn
    Favourite Paul Radburn
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 6:10 PM

    * means it’s not true

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán J. Troy
    Favourite Seán J. Troy
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 5:03 PM

    “The Foreigner” An action packed film starring Nigel Farage blowing up buses full of Syrian refugees.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall
    Favourite Niall
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 6:27 PM

    Sap!

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnneary
    Favourite Johnneary
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 11:27 PM

    The victims and the victims families of the 7/7 bombing must be disgusted with this stunt.
    Quite a sick stunt to terrorise the men, women, children and oaps of London
    and try to accustom them to being under attack by the terrorists that their (bought and paid for) government radicalise and invite in from behind the safety of the bulletproof glass installed in their ivory towers.
    Sad
    So Sad.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnneary
    Favourite Johnneary
    Report
    Feb 8th 2016, 12:46 AM

    Video games have taken to the streets.
    Soon no one will know (or care about) the difference between a real terrorist attack and a fake one.
    How desensitised people have become.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas O' Donnell
    Favourite Thomas O' Donnell
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 9:18 PM

    This whole thing has been blown out of all proportion!

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry Whitehead
    Favourite Harry Whitehead
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 10:18 PM

    The outrage bus has exploded.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Gorman
    Favourite Pat Gorman
    Report
    Feb 8th 2016, 9:09 AM

    I am surprised that they had to use the real Lambeth Bridge in this day and age.
    Surely this could have been done in a film studio with the assistance of CGI (Computer Generated Imagery).
    That bus exploding would certainly have looked like a real terrorist attack to a casual unsuspecting observer.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Gorman
    Favourite Pat Gorman
    Report
    Feb 8th 2016, 9:13 AM

    P.S.
    Are the film company going to compensate the disrupted commuters?
    Pigs might fly.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jacqueline McMahon
    Favourite Jacqueline McMahon
    Report
    Feb 8th 2016, 2:36 PM

    God some people just look for a way to be offended!!

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds