Dublin South West TD, Seán Crowe, has welcomed reports today that Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin believes scrapping the Universal Social Charge (USC) makes no sense.

The Sinn Féin TD claimed that Martin’s remarks on the issue are an admission that his manifesto for last year’s general election was based on a populist and highly questionable fiscal policy and signalled another policy U-turn.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Fresh out of the controversy over Fianna Fáil’s back down on water charges and their capitulation to Fine Gael, recent revelations by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin on the USC highlights once again their lack of any firm commitment when it comes to key policy decisions.

“His bald admission that his party’s manifesto was based on a populist commitment to abolish 90% of the revenue generated by the USC should come as no surprise.

“Micheál Martin’s comments are another reminder that there is very little in policy difference between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. They both tried to peddle the myth that quality public services can be somehow delivered while hacking away at the country’s tax base.

“Last year Fianna Fáil candidates stood on an election platform that would have supposedly cut €2.64bn of the USC.

“My party, Sinn Féin, said that this was not possible if you wanted to make the necessary investment to tackle the ongoing crises in our public services .It didn’t add up and Micheál Martin now admits that.

“By 2021 the USC will be delivering €5.2bn of funding to our infrastructure and public spending. The ideological commitment of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to abolish that income never made sense but they jockeyed each other to lie to the electorate.

“Abolishing the USC would have soaked up 40% of the available fiscal space over the coming years and would have had to be replaced  by some other tax.

“While I welcome Fianna Fáil’s move away from this populist and irresponsible policy, as we have seen on water charges and other issues, Fianna Fáil’s continues to lack any firm commitment when it comes to key policy decisions. They will say or do anything to get elected and then row back on commitments when they get into office.”

ENDS