Reducing income tax for the squeezed middle will be a key Fine Gael policy ahead of the next General Election, the Finance Minister has said. While Pashcal Donohoe left workers disappointed when he failed to make changes to the Universal Social Charge (USC) or income tax bands in this month's Brexit-focused budget, he wants to reduce the amount of tax paid in the coming years. "And if and when we get to a point of an election being called in Ireland I'll be continuing to emphasis that," Mr Donohoe said. However, speaking in Dublin, Mr Donohoe played down election rumours this side of Christmas. "Budget 2020 is absolutely the right Budget and the right economic strategy for Ireland given all the uncertainty that we are dealing with and given the uncertain status of Brexit a the moment.

Source: Irish Examiner October 16, 2019 11:48 UTC