Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Finance Pearse Doherty has hit back at claims made by Fianna Fáil that Sinn Féin is ‘a high tax party’.
Deputy Doherty said his party will not raise taxes for anyone earning less than €100,000 and in fact 2.1 million taxpayers would be better off with Sinn Féin because they would abolish the Universal Social Charge.
Doherty said: “Claims by Fianna Fáil that Sinn Féin is ‘a high tax party’ are nonsense. Sinn Féin is a fair tax party and we are committed to reforming the taxation system whereby those who have most pay most.
“Under Sinn Féin plans ordinary working families will pay less in income tax and 2.1 million taxpayers would be better off as we would abolish the draconian Universal Social Charge as implemented by Fianna Fáil.
“Our better, fairer proposals would place the onus on the wealthy to pay their fair share as opposed to placing the burden on low and middle income earners. We would not raise taxes on anyone earning less than €100,000.
“We would implement a wealth tax on those with assets worth over €1 million excluding working farmland, as well as a new 48% rate of tax on people earning over €100,000. We would save €1 billion by capping public sector salaries at €100,000.
“Fianna Fáil should stop spouting nonsense about Sinn Féin’s tax policies. We are very clear on where we stand on these issues. They would be better spent reflecting on their own bad tax policies than getting upset about others.”