Commentary on Irish political economy by Michael Taft, Researcher for SIPTU
Joined August 2009
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Last call for Tressell Tickets
Saturday in the RDS, Ireland’s premier political and union festival is happening. Tickets here: eventbrite.ie/e/robert-tress…
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Despite claims to the contrary, Irish personal tax rates for middle-income earners are not high. In fact, they are at the lower end of the EU. We need an evidence-based debate. If the middle is being squeezed, it is not tax that is doing the squeezing: tinyurl.com/mtjh6mzc
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Despite claims to the contrary, Irish personal tax rates for middle-income earners are not high. In fact, they are at the lower end of the EU. We need an evidence-based debate. If the middle is being squeezed, it is not tax that is doing the squeezing. tinyurl.com/mtjh6mzc
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Apr 27
The Irish haulage sector is a low-productivity, low-investment, and ultra-low waged sector compared to our EU peer group. Instead of reforming it, the Government is subsidising poor performance. We need to negotiate and plan a productive haulage sector: tinyurl.com/53rwvpn9
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Apr 27
The Irish haulage sector is a low-productivity, low-investment, and ultra-low waged sector compared to our EU peer group. Instead of reforming it, the Government is subsidising poor performance. We need to negotiate and plan a productive haulage sector. tinyurl.com/53rwvpn9
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Apr 12
How do you spend €500 million on an energy support package to so little effect? You have to really, really try.
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Mar 23
The Taoiseach wants to cut capital gains tax. This is yet another example of ‘doing-something-so-that-you’re-seen-to-be-doing-something’. It will have little impact on the productive economy but it will be expensive, wasteful, unnecessary, and regressive. tinyurl.com/mrx8kc2e
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Mar 19
The only thing keeping a weakened US economy afloat is AI capital spending (mostly data centres). What happens if the AI bubble bursts? To the US economy? And the Irish economy?
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Mar 18
Progressives should oppose regressive cuts in VAT and Excise as part of a household energy support package. A combination of a new electricity credit and social protection measures would be far more progressive. We need evidence-based policy making. tinyurl.com/y3exyxt3
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Mar 18
Progressives should oppose regressive cuts in VAT and Excise as part of a household energy support package. A combination of a new electricity credit and social protection measures would be far more progressive. We need evidence-based policy making: tinyurl.com/y3exyxt3
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Mar 13
We can’t control global prices. But we can introduce energy price accountability with new powers to allow the Regulator to end price-gouging and opportunistic pricing. A little bit of democracy could help a whole lot: tinyurl.com/5e9ytbub
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Mar 13
We can’t control global prices. But we can introduce energy price accountability with new powers to allow the Regulator to end price-gouging and opportunistic pricing. A little bit of democracy could help a whole lot. tinyurl.com/5e9ytbub
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Feb 27
So let me get this straight. Government policy is that rents must rise in order for rents to fall. And if rents don't fall? Another round of rent rises? What a hamster wheel.
Minister for Housing expects rents to fall after recent reform of rules irishtimes.com/politics/2026…
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Michael Taft retweeted
Feb 23
25% of working 25 year olds in the top 20% of the earnings distribution have difficultly making ends meet
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If employment is a good indicator of economic health, we might be getting a bit under the weather. The private sector generated no new net jobs in the last year and overall job growth is falling towards zero. We need to debate how to maintain job growth: tinyurl.com/6dap783e
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If employment is a good indicator of economic health, we might be getting a bit under the weather. The private sector generated no new net jobs in the last year and overall job growth is falling towards zero. We need to debate how to maintain job growth. notesonthefront.org/2026/02/…
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Jan 23
Solidarity with the people of Minnesota and the fantastic turnout in opposition to ICE. #ICEOUT
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Jan 12
Progressive parties and civil society groups should jointly campaign to force the Government to abandon any visit to the White House on St. Patrick’s Day. This would clearly highlight Ireland’s support for the international rule of law. tinyurl.com/2fy9hfvz
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Jan 12
Progressive parties and civil society groups should jointly campaign to force the Government to abandon any visit to the White House on St. Patrick’s Day. This would clearly highlight Ireland’s support for the international rule of law: tinyurl.com/2fy9hfvz
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'Fawning, sycophantic, obsequious, self-emasculation': its long past time for Europe - and Ireland - to stand up to the US.
Europe needs to toughen up and stop curtsying to Trump irishtimes.com/business/econ…
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