Leo Varadkar TD an influential Fine Gael politician has called for the implementation of the entire McCarthy report in the coming budget, the introduction of a water tax and the expanding the tax net to take money from low paid workers.

Varadkar  believes that by cutting savagely now, the government can impress the international money markets  and get cheaper credit, to enable the government to bail out the banking system.  The target for the cuts would be health services that the elderly, the poor and the sick depend on, the education system and the welfare payments that are keeping many families just above the breadline.  He also advocated expanding the tax net so that low paid workers who currently pay no direct tax on their wages would be made liable for tax. 

He did not advocate any real effort to tax the top 1% of the population who control 34% of  the country’s wealth.   Leo Varadkar is regarded by many as a potential future leader of Fine Gael.

WORDS: James McBarron