Sir, – Media coverage suggests that a draft report by the Pensions Commission recommends raising the rate of PRSI on the self-employed to 11 per cent from 4 per cent. Not surprisingly the commission is mainly populated by those in the pay of the State.
The self-employed make up around 15 per cent of the workforce and employ collectively about a further 50 per cent. The SME sector is accordingly the largest sector in the State with State employees and employees of big business, mainly multinationals, making up the balance of 35 per cent.
The self-employed collect tax for the State with no credit for this obligation; they create jobs for themselves and others; they have huge compliance obligations from many State regulations to protect others and of course took the brunt of the financial loss of the Covid crisis while others were protected.
One of the greatest challenges of Government is to levy taxes and allocate tax payers’ money ignoring pressures from those who shout the loudest. In Ireland the SME sector has no voice while others use their monopoly power to shout very loud to garner State resources. Is there any TD out there willing to stand up for the self employed who employ the majority of the taxpayers?
– Yours, etc,
JOSEPH M DODDY,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.