Notes on the Front

Commentary on Irish Political Economy by Michael Taft, researcher for SIPTU

  • Four Stories about the State of Childcare Today

    Here are four stories about childcare provision in Ireland today. The first comes from Elaine Dunne, a childcare provider and spokesperson for the Federation of Early Childcare Providers.  She was…

  • Workin’ Overtime

    The latest tax-cut kite comes courtesy of Michael Healy-Rae, TD.  He proposes that income tax on overtime earnings be capped at 20%.  Currently, if you are in the top tax…

  • What is the Point of the Summer Economic Statement

    The only point of the Summer Economic Statement is to provide four numbers: 1. The total fiscal package for 2027 will be €8.5 billion 2. Current (day-to-day) spending will rise…

  • Setting the Record Straight on Personal Taxation

    You know we’re getting closer to budget day.  Misinformation and ill-informed commentary about tax rates proliferate.  In particular, the claims that middle-income earners are highly-taxed, more than most other EU…

  • Subsidising Inefficiency

    The economy benefits from productive companies:  investment, wages, pricing and environmental sustainability.  In times of crisis they are more resilient with fiscal buffers, reliable sources of capital and the ability…

  • Doing Something so that you’re Seen to be Doing Something

    Taoiseach Micheal Martin wants to ‘slash’ capital gains tax. On the front page of the Business Post: ‘Capital gains tax should be slashed to encourage more Irish people to invest,…

  • Searching the Evidence

    Demands for cutting taxes on energy are growing. And the Government appears to be listening. ‘The Taoiseach has strongly hinted that cuts to excise duty on fuel are being considered…

  • Democratic Accountability in the Energy Market

    It’s not as if the Government didn’t have time.  With Covid and subsequent supply-chain interruptions, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the 12-day bombing of Iran last year – there are…

  • Falling Towards Zero

    Minister Peter Bourke was out recently lauding the record of job creation.  However, the Irish Times took a more nuanced approach: ‘ . . . there is a risk here…

  • Abandon Paddy’s Day

    Progressive parties and civil society groups should jointly campaign to force the Government to drop the annual St. Patrick Day’s visit to the White House.  There is almost nothing to…

  • Electricity, Prices and Millionaires

    The Taoiseach recently criticised the demand for new electricity credits.  Addressing Sinn Fein in the Dail: “You want to add another €2 billion to it in terms of a short-term…

  • The Perverse Logic of the Government’s Immigration Policy

    The Government’s narrative is that asylum seekers are a cost that must be reduced – by making Ireland an unattractive place for those seeking international protection.  This ignores that fact…

  • The Affordability Deficit

    We have an affordability deficit.  Even with low unemployment, solid job creation, relatively low inflation and reasonable economic growth, nearly half of households are finding it difficult making ends meet.…

  • Profits and Threats in the Irish Housing Market

    While the VAT cut on food services was farcical, the tax cuts for property developers was insidious. It was framed as necessary measures to increase apartment construction viability.  But the…

  • Some Facts to Help You Survive the Budget

    There is always a lot of noise and numbers in the run-up to the budget.  Here are a few facts that might help you wade through this forest of assertions,…

  • Wasteful Spending, Irrational Policy

    In order to assist restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, the Government intends to cut VAT in the upcoming budget at a cost of nearly €700 million.  There’s one problem:  restaurants,…

  • Unpackaging Tax Cuts

    In the debate over the ‘tax package’ in the upcoming budget there is an assumption that the tax base should be further reduced, overall tax revenue should be cut, that…

  • The Small Business Excuse

    A number of measures have been justified on the basis of their impact on small business.  Postponing the Living Wage – impact on small business.  Postponing the extension of statutory…

  • Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum: The Summer Economic Statement’s Magic Beans

    The Government’s fiscal policy is high risk to the point of irresponsibility.  The recently published Summer Economic Statement (SES) attempts to mask this.  According to the  Irish Fiscal Advisory Council…

  • We’re Not Spending Enough

    Voices are growing louder. Government spending is getting out of control:  ‘surging public spending’, ‘rising faster than planned’, ‘fiscal incontinence’; and the killer punch:  public spending has doubled over the…

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Commentary on Irish Political Economy by Michael Taft, researcher for SIPTU