“You simply do not get it” – Pearse Doherty launches fierce tirade over Budget 2024

"Why should a nurse be taxed more than a landlord?"

As Budget 2024 was laid out by ministers Paschal Donohoe and Michael McGrath to huge ovations by the coalition government, it wasn't long before the opposition had their say on this year's budget. First up was Pearse Doherty of Sinn Féin, who came out swinging immediately after the applause subsided. Pulling no punches, Doherty first laid into the decision by the government to give financial relief to landlords alongside the renter's tax credit. https://twitter.com/JOEdotie/status/1711747098545127523

Sinn Féin minister Pearse Doherty rips into Budget 2024 landlord tax relief

As part of the budget announcement this afternoon, Minister McGrath declared a temporary tax relief that will benefit small landlords. The tax relief means that next year, the first €3,000 of landlords' rental income will be tax-free. That will increase to €4,000 in 2025, and €5,000 in 2026 and 2027. However, landlords will only receive these benefits if they commit to staying in the market for four years, otherwise, the tax will be clawed back. https://twitter.com/rtenews/status/1711742574455640501?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

In his speech after the Budget announcement, Doherty said that the country "needed a budget for renters, instead we got a budget for landlords." He labelled the landlord tax relief in Budget 2024 as "one of the most stupid policies in recent memory".

"Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have caused the housing crisis and today's budget is further confirmation that they are not the ones to fix it. We needed a budget for renters, instead we got a budget for landlords. A Sinn Féin government would have introduced a budget that would have got to grips with the housing crisis.

[caption id="attachment_783779" align="alignnone" width="640"] Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance Pearse Doherty TD, as Sinn Féin launched their Alternative Budget 2023 in the Clayton Hotel, Dublin. Photograph: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie.[/caption] "The housing crisis is the government's greatest failure and ending the housing crisis is Sinn Fein's number one priority. "Under this government, entire generations of people have been locked out of home ownership. More than two-thirds of young people are forced to live with their parents and more of them are reaching the conclusion that their future is not here but elsewhere." Doherty went on to highlight that the housing minister Darragh O'Brien has "missed every single target on affordable housing." Once again, Doherty brought up landlords, saying that the current government are "always on the side of the landlords" "Why should a nurse be taxed more than a landlord?" Read next - Budget Day 2024: Follow live as Government announce spending plan.

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