Questions have been raised over whether Fine Gael policy will help the people it says it’s targeting.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar restated Fine Gael’s commitment to looking after ‘middle Ireland.'
His renewed focus on the “squeezed middle” comes after junior ministers called for a “well-earned” tax break for workers – a move that sparked tension within the coalition.
In the co- written op-ed, Kildare South TD Martin Heydon, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Peter Burke said that in Budget 2024, they want to see a full-time worker on €52,000 get cashback of more than €1,000.
The proposal would likely cost somewhere in the region of €1.5 billion.
Some have highlighted dissonance between Fine Gael’s championing of ‘the middle’ and the impact party policy would actually have.
The "squeezed middle" doesn't have specific meaning. A poll by the Journal showed just how self-selecting the phrase can be.
The results showed that 67.2% of respondents did consider themselves to be part of ‘middle Ireland’, 21.1% did not and 11.8% said they either weren’t sure or didn’t care.
Mairead Maguire, Journalist, The Journal joined Eoin Beatty on Wednesday morning's Kildare Today, listen back;
Housing Dept. Unable To Publish Latest Homeless Figures Due To Industrial Action
Motorway Toll Price Hikes Announced For January
Gardaí To Engage In Work-To-Rule During EU Meetings Next Month
Kfm's Local Hero 'Sitting Room' Shines At Irish Music Month National Finale
Tánaiste Won't Be "Pointing Fingers" After Anonymous Comments About Culture Minister
Funeral Of Renowned Musician Dónal Lunny To Take Place In Newbridge This Saturday
"Strong Possibility" Of Attack At Upcoming EU Meetings In Dublin, Says Gardaí
Two Sinn Féin TDs To Be Questioned Over Garvaghy Road Protest
