Hi all Letter to be mailed to shane ross, pearse Doherty and michael McGrath. Opinions welcomed Dear Deputy, I am writing to you directly in your capacity as Finance spokesman ahead of this weeks Dail vote on the Finance Bill. I am sure that, by now, you have seen some of my recent correspondence in relation to the Government proposal to remove the Single Parent Tax Credit. I cannot overstate my opposition to this move on a number of grounds. I have put a number of serious points of concern to the Minister for Finance who has yet to answer. I hope that, after reading this letter, you will be aware of the crippling and discriminatory impact of this measure and that you could raise some of these questions directly later this week. The first point is relatively straightforward and relates to the repeatedly stated fact that the Programme for Government cannot and does not provide for an increase in income tax. I have pointed out to the Minister that any removal of any portion of the tax credit and/or extended tax band will de facto amount to an increase in income tax payable therefore breaching directly the Programme for Government. The second point relates to discrimination on gender grounds. The initial budgetary proposal to remove all benefits from the secondary carer was unavoidably discriminatory by operation as, in 97% of cases, the primary carer is the mother of the child. This was further supported by the fact that the default position is that the primary carer is the one in receipt of Child Benefit. To willingly implement a provision which is so discriminatory is appalling at a time where the same government is considering a further referendum to further support equality in Ireland. The third point raised was the impact that this measure will have on Separated families. It is no secret that our economic situation has forced many of our citizens to their knees of late. Separated families are no exception to this, in fact, they are doubly victims insofar as they have two households to run - two sets of rising fuel costs, two sets of rising utility costs and two sets of rising food costs. The credit was introduced to offset this and aid workforce participation whilst acknowledging the additional financial burdens faced by separated households. To withdraw this, even from one parent, will have a knock on and massively detrimental impact on separated parents and, most worryingly, on our children. This move will force parents around the country to reopen old wounds, clog up our courts and legal aid system to squabble over money that is used to support our own children. Maintenance payments will have to be revisited, this will in many cases result in an increase having to be paid to the lone parents allowance. This move cannot be defended by a purely monetary motivation - there is much more to be lost here in terms of family stability and living relationships than there is to be saved in revenue. The fourth area of concern relates to what can only be described as segregation by legislation if this move is carried, or government will effectively be promoting discrimination of children of separated parents and creating a thus far non-existent division in society. Our abilities, as separated parents, to care for our own children will be removed from us. In one fell swoop, our government will have deemed 50% of separated parents to be secondary and then removed all fiscal recognition of the contribution that we willingly make on a daily basis, to the future generation of this state. I, cannot, by conscience, stand back and watch this happen. As carers, parents, confidantes, mentors, financial supporters and taxpayers, we should be rewarded an acknowledged by the State - not maligned and victimised. The Minster may well try to save face this week by announcing that they are willing to retain the tax band and allow the credit to be split amongst parents. This is nothing but a political fudge. It will still result in an increase in income tax payable and, moreover, it will be unworkable. To whom will the credit be allocated initially? We have to assume that it will be the primary carer (as the revenue will have no means of identifying the father) immediately, this is discriminatory on gender grounds. How will the credit be split - in many cases, the relationship between both parents will not support a cooperative approach. In some cases, one parent may not be willing to reallocate a portion. This will still lead to courts involvement in maintenance adjustment orders. What will happen where the primary carer is now remarried and not in receipt of the credit? What will happen where the primary carer has children with more than one partner abs is separated from two or more of them? I am earnestly pleading with you Deputy as a proud and willing parent, taxpayer and citizen, to call the government to count on this issue. To challenge them on the above issues and to insist that they answer the points raised. I have written to the Dept of finance seeking the costing information that the commission on taxation should have carried out as part of this recommendation - they have not responded. I firmly believe that this was a poorly thought out, badly costed attempt to profit from the misfortune of separated parents and our children. It will amount to an immoral profiteering by the State from family separation. Freud once said If you can work and love, you can live By forcing us back down an adversarial route and taking away or ability to provide for our children, Minister Noonan is preparing to take away my ability to lead a fulfilling life as a parent. I cannot and will not stand for this and hope that you will support me. Kind regards,
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 19:24:20 +0000
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