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TDs to be told that 'higher taxes' are necessary to offset the economic fallout from Covid-19

A number of organisations and government departments will update TDs on the fallout from Covid-19 today.

IT IS TOO difficult to predict how the economy will look in a year’s time due to ongoing uncertainty around the trajectory of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ESRI will tell an Oireachtas committee today, while also adding that in a worst case scenario GDP could decline by as much as 17%. 

The Economic and Social Research Institute will outline a number of scenarios to TDs on the Special Committee on the Covid-19 response and will warn that the growing cost of the pandemic to the Irish economy “will have to mean higher taxes”. 

In one scenario, where the lockdown restrictions continue to ease based on the Government’s roadmap, there will be a fall in GDP, which is used to measure the size and growth of the economy, by around 12%. Investment will also decline by 13%. 

In a scenario where there is a second wave of the virus in the final quarter of 2020, GDP could decline by as much as 17%, and in a more optimistic scenario, where the pandemic is suppressed for the remainder of the year with the return to pre-Covid conditions, there would be a decline of around 9%. 

In the better of the three scenarios, where GDP declines by 9%, it would represent a deficit of €28 billion to the Irish economy compared to pre-Covid forecasts.

Director of the ESRI Alan Barrett is expected to tell the committee that “there was simply too much uncertainty” to determine how the economy will look in a year’s time, and will add that “we expect a deficit to remain in 2021 even in the context of a likely recovery.”

He will caution, however, that the role of the state in strengthening sectors such as childcare and health will “have to mean higher taxes”. 

In recent days, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party have been engaging in late night talks to agree a Programme for Government for the next four years. 

Speaking after the programme was signed off by the three party leaders yesterday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar insisted there would be no increase in income tax rates in the short-term, at least until the economy returns to growth. 

A number of other speakers from Government departments will also address TDs today, with Robert Watt, secretary general at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform warning that “the substantial emergency measures introduced in the early stages of this crisis have had a significant expenditure impact”.

John McKeon, secretary general at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is to advise that his department is likely to exceed its budget for the year by over €10 billion and that “for every €1 that is forecast to be raised in income tax this year, we will spend about €1.60 on social welfare”. 

Money borrowed to fund the increase in social welfare payments, and the associated interest which will run into the billions, will need to be repaid in the coming years. 

Latest figures show that almost 500,000 people are still in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment at a cost of €175 million to the State.

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    May 20th 2017, 12:16 AM

    It is important that An Garda Siochana are subject to the law as the rest of us are. The rule of law is an important part of any democracy.

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    Mute dead right
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    May 20th 2017, 9:12 AM

    @Tony Daly: we have a truly rotten police force from the top to the poor lad just out of templemore who apparently has to sleep in his car eating pot noodle.

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    Mute Ben Moten
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    May 20th 2017, 11:50 AM

    @Tony Daly:

    Of course you are right. However, and I don’t mean this in any disparaging way, this comment is much like what a politician would say and then leave it hanging in mid air.

    We all know what is needed but if the leader of our country, the minister for justice and all the other political groups do nothing about the corruption which permeates our country, we will just have to put up with it. That is if we as citizens don’t do something ourselves.
    Regards.

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    Mute booby sandwiches
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    May 20th 2017, 1:15 PM

    @Tony Daly: large pich of slat required with anything a shinner says… you couldnt trust them to tell the time never mind the truth

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    Mute #Right2change
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    May 20th 2017, 12:30 AM

    Democracy is crumbling in front of all our eyes!! FF/FG ignore will of Irish people when it came to water and now ignore parliamentary vote on AIB shares. Are we to believe they even care about the crumbling Gardai ?

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    Mute Tim Brennan
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    May 20th 2017, 12:27 AM

    I’m exhausted as to how this ministers incompetence is seen as one of those things and tonight she will bed Leo to keep her job

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    Mute booby sandwiches
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    May 20th 2017, 12:09 AM

    if true its sound like the gardai were doing some fantastic work, long may it continue

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    Mute iluvkief/Tá mé dom
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    May 20th 2017, 7:05 AM

    @booby sandwiches: a good job by what setting up the competition?or some fella because the cop fancies his girlfriend?or someone who didn’t give up his seat in the pub? or beat him in darts? You must be a member of stackers

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    Mute booby sandwiches
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    May 20th 2017, 1:16 PM

    @iluvkief/Tá mé dom: your inferiority complex is alarming but very amusing :D

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    May 20th 2017, 6:51 AM

    It all boils down to the fact that a corrupt government needs a corrupt police force, and that a corrupt police force needs a corrupt government, or neither will thrive.
    The government are not interested in Gardai corruption and the Gardai have no interest in investigating the wholesale corruption in the government and those who surround government.

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    Mute alphanautica
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    May 20th 2017, 7:55 AM

    @Dave Doyle: identify one case evidencing ‘wholesale corruption’ in government of illegal or criminal behaviour and you get a lifetime’s supply of tin foil

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    Mute booby sandwiches
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    May 20th 2017, 11:17 AM

    @Dave Doyle: does that apply to northern ireland also, SF in government, corruption is rife, fake research companies anyone??

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    Mute alphanautica
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    May 20th 2017, 7:49 AM

    What’s wrong with:
    engaged active criminals as informants
    used informants they have control over to entrap and prosecute people

    Is that not the whole point in Gardai infiltrating criminal networks?

    Heartwarming that Sinn Fein are concerned about such things.

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    Mute booby sandwiches
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    May 20th 2017, 11:18 AM

    @alphanautica: exactly it sound like the polic are doing a fantastic job if everything that shinner is saying is true. but its a shinner so its most likely all lies

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    Mute Bennythekid
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    May 20th 2017, 4:47 AM

    is Michelle (author) on first name terms with the Sinn Fein deputy referring to him at one stage as Martin while no such courtesy applies to the minister.-just proves i read the article.

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    Mute Joe Burns
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    May 20th 2017, 11:02 AM

    But don’t worry folks, keep voting FG/FF and it will all get sorted. Sure aren’t we in recovery? The fastest growing economy in Europe, lots of jobs for people who want to work and 280,000 empty houses out there to rent. Keep the recovery going and the EU and IMF will look after us.

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    Mute Brian O Reilly
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    May 20th 2017, 7:48 AM

    Beware the ,”Long finger of the Law”

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    May 20th 2017, 9:40 AM

    The Shinners minding their own again !

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    Mute Grainne Kelly
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    May 20th 2017, 11:05 AM

    That’s why she is not on the leader ticket. Costly friendship! !

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    Mute booby sandwiches
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    May 20th 2017, 1:20 PM

    that shinner should get used to being ignored, it is going to have to deal with it daily for the rest of its life :D

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