Congress General Secretary David Begg has urged Government to change course and use the coming budget to forge a "route to recovery based on growth, hope and jobs."
Speaking at the launch of the Congress Pre–Budget Submission Mr Begg said December's budget must rebalance the adjustment in favour of working people and raise more revenue from those with greater resources.
Mr Begg said: "Even the IMF has conceded that the approach adopted in Ireland was based on flawed calculations and therefore destined to fail. Almost 360,000 people have lost their jobs since the crisis began – that's 360,000 compelling reasons to change course now and forge a route to recovery based on growth, hope and jobs."
He said Congress believed the period of adjustment should be extended to 2017 - 'to allow the economy room to breathe" - and a comprehensive investment programme introduced to promote growth and create jobs.
"Congress has already costed a programme that would invest as much as €3 billion a year and create almost 100,000 jobs, over three years," he said.
Referring to the Congress submission, Mr Begg said it contained a menu of possible options on how Government could raise up to €3.4 billion in new revenue.
"Over three out of every five euro raised in new taxes since 2009 has come from working people, which helps explain why domestic demand has literally collapsed. That has to change."
He said that among the budgetary measures being proposed by Congress were:
- A new 48% tax rate for individual incomes over €100,000
- A 1% Wealth Tax
- In common with many other EU countries, introduce a Financial Transaction Tax which could raise €500 million annually
- Profitable corporations should pay more
- We must deal effectively and comprehensively with the Pensions Crisis
- Broaden the Apprenticeship system and provide a Youth Guarantee to link young people to skills training and the workplace
- Increase monitoring of employment standards to stop the loss of tax revenue due to misguided public procurement practices
- Address Poverty Traps and growing inequality
For a full copy of the Congress proposals and to view a short film clip on the submission visit www.ictu.ie
