Brid Smith TD on Sean O Rourke show 21.9.18
Brid was on the Sean O Rourke radio show 21.9.18, debating on a number of topics: Corporation Tax, the recent Garda report, and the occupations around Dublin and beyond in protest at the housing crisis
Brid was on the Sean O Rourke radio show 21.9.18, debating on a number of topics: Corporation Tax, the recent Garda report, and the occupations around Dublin and beyond in protest at the housing crisis
RURAL IRELAND DONE DOWN. I was on the Late Debate radio programme the other evening and spoke about the ‘great initiative’ from Minister Humphries last year, that meant diddly squat to most rural communities. ‘And where would we get the money?’ is the constant cry, when People Before Profit says ‘support our communities’. Tax the wealth of the corporations, we say, MAKE THEM PAY THEIR TAXES.
Brid makes the point that instead of scrambling for the crumbs while the rich walk away with the cake – there are other options.Tax the corporations for the full amount – tax the rich – 300 of Irelands’ wealthiest people have €100 Billion between them.
A bank that had a 2 euro billion hole in its accounts has collapsed in Dublin – but there is barely a word about it in the Irish media. They do not want to embarrass the government before a General Election.
Back in 2008, a single person could earn €35,400 before being hit with the top rate of income tax. Now it is €33,800.
People Before Profit wants to re-distribute the wealth so that we are not continually subsidising the wealthy. One way we can do this is to abolish the water and property tax and transfer the tax burden to the financial sector.
Brid Smith from people Before Profit explained
Apple boss Tim Cook flew into Brussels on Thursday to lobby the EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestage over a landmark judgement that could see the company forced to pay billions in back taxes to the Irish government.
Bloomberg Intelligence estimates that the potential windfall for the Irish Revenue Commissioners could be €8 billion while JP Morgan suggests that Apple could have to pay €19 billion.
Cllr Brid Smith from People Before Profit said,
“You would think that the Irish government would be delighted with getting this huge amount of money. It would allow them to end the chaos in Irish hospitals because they could recruit more staff. They also could use the money to build the tens of thousands of social housing units that are desperately needed.
“But, tragically, Apple has enlisted the Irish government as one of its chief lobbyists in derailing an EU judgement. It has said that it does not want the money and that if the EU commissioner makes a ruling for back taxes they will appeal the decision.
“One immediate result of Irish government lobbying is that the announcement of the EU judgement has been postponed until after the General Election. We are being forced to fight such an election on a ‘how much does your promise cost’ basis without knowing the full extent of back taxes.
“Irish taxpayers’ money should not be used to send officials to Brussels to lobby against the Irish people receiving taxes that have been dodged for over ten years.
“The Apple scandal shows where the culture of multi-national blackmail leads. We have been told repeatedly that we must give them a low tax regime because they ‘create jobs’. Every proposal to make them pay a modest tax has been dismissed as ‘wrecking the economy’.
“Now we have finally arrived at the greatest absurdity of all – a government that is spending money to ensure that its’ own people do not receive the huge sums they are owed”.
For more information- Cllr Bríd Smith ( 087 909 0166)
Twitter- @bridsmith