The government imposes a rain of millions on its citizens

Generally, the budget is a balancing act between raising and lowering taxes, balancing spending, and preventing the deficit from skyrocketing. There is no such problem in Ireland: the budget announced today has showered millions on the country’s citizens, thanks to the huge tax outlay made by technology multinationals, with Apple at the top. Free money for all, paid for by Silicon Valley.

Dublin has a huge surplus of 8% of GDP, so much so that it could give all citizens an ‘extra salary’ of €4,000 in cash, and still have money left over. The main reason for this is the 13,000 million euro fine imposed on Apple for non-payment of taxes, which was ordered by the European Court of Justice after the rejection of the Irish government. His defeats in the courts left him with a pile of money, which increased his wealth. surplus of more than 10,000 million euros that it already hadGiven the increase in profits announced by Dublin-based multinationals. The combination of English, one of the lowest corporate taxes in the bloc and its proximity to the great continental powers makes Ireland the preferred location for large companies in the EU.

And taking advantage of the fact that they are on the eve of elections scheduled for early 2025, the Finance Minister, Pascal Donohoe, Has decided to throw money at citizens as if he were a royal page throwing candy at his convoyIn one fell swoop, Minimum salary of more than 1,000 euros per yearhas announced that it will deliver 250 euros to all citizens To pay electricity bills, it has frozen VAT on electricity at 9%, Income tax brackets have been lowered (that is, it would be necessary to charge more in advance to pay the highest rates), the tax on ‘bonuses’ for workers of less than 1,500 euros has been abolished and Social contribution has decreased by 3%,

There is an addition to this Providing assistance to all types of people: 200 euros for people living alone, rental assistance, 400 euros for low-income families with children, 400 euros for the disabled, double payment for dependencies, textbooks and free meals for children in compulsory education, underage Free public transport for children of 10 and over 70, and an increase of 650 euros in unemployment and pensions.

As if that wasn’t enough, there will be an even stronger 10% increase in health budget500 to build new beds, improve ambulances and pay for in vitro fertilization sessions and hormonal therapy. They will also finance the construction of 10,000 new social homes and 6,4000 affordable homes, the construction of 350 new schools and the hiring of more than 2,300 teachers.

This perfect storm of spending and tax cuts would be wonderful in itself. But Donohoe also promised Save Apple’s 13 billion in a special fundA kind of ‘sovereign fund’, and uses all that money and the profitability from it over the years to finance Renovation of the country’s infrastructure.

Throwing money indiscriminately could be a significant boost for the government before the next elections. The centrist coalition between the two big traditional parties of the center and centre-right (Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael) and the Greens is once again close to an absolute majority in the election. In contrast, leftist Sinn Féin, which was leading in the polls by a wide margin two years ago, has slipped to third place. Ruling and budgeting aren’t so hard when you have extra money.

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