Deputy O'Brien urged the government not to introduce a property tax in next week's budget and instead give consideration to Sinn Féin's wealth tax proposal.
Deputy O'Brien said: "Even at this late hour the government should re-consider its property tax proposal. This is a deeply flawed proposal that will put further unnecessary hardship on ordinary families who are already bearing the brunt of the crisis.
-- Advertisement --
"Unlike other parties who oppose for the sake of opposition, Sinn Féin has put forward an alternative to the government’s property tax and this week our Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty published legislation for a wealth tax which would ensure that those who can afford to pay more are made to do so.
"This is the proposal that should be on the table. The government should be doing all in its power to protect ordinary families from this economic crisis.
"Mícheál Martin's opposition to the property tax is nothing more than cynical opportunism. This is the tax that Fianna Fáil promised to introduce in its four year plan for government. When Mícheál Martin says it’s the wrong time to introduce this tax what he really means is that his party is not in government at this time and therefore he will oppose his own proposal for the sake of opposition."
(CD/GK)
