Labour document highlights 50 'stealth' taxes

The Labour Party has accused the Government of imposing more than 50 "stealth" taxes since the last election.

In a document launched yesterday the Labour Party said there had been 16 "stealth" taxes introduced in the areas of health and welfare, 13 in the area of transport and nine in the utilities.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said that the analysis of more than 50 "stealth" charges carried out by his party "nailed the myth" that the Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrat administration was the Government of low taxes.

"The facts are that Fianna Fáil and the PDs have more than offset their claims to being low tax parties through increases in more than 50 'stealth' taxes during their time in power.

"Headline taxation numbers may look lower, but the reality in terms of what people have to pay for public services - sometimes of a deteriorating quality - is different because of these creeping, 'stealth' increases in public fees and charges", the Labour Party document states.

Among the "stealth" taxes identified by the Labour Party are the capping of rent allowance for social welfare recipients in private rented accommodation, the abolition of the State grant for first-time house buyers and three increases in the TV licence fee sanctioned by the Government.

The Labour Party said that third-level registration fees had been increased on two occasions, as had the State examination charges for Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate students.

The Labour Party document also highlights several increases in the threshold for reclaiming expenditure on medicines under the Drug Payment Scheme, as well as a number of rises in the charges for visiting accident and emergency departments and for overnight accommodation in hospitals.

The Labour Party said that there had also been four increases in VHI subscriptions between 2002 and 2005.

The Labour Party document maintained that tax bands had not been index-linked by the Government in 2003 and 2004. It said that stamp duty had also been increased on cheques, credit cards and Laser cards.

Labour also maintain that there had been several increases in electricity, gas and telephone charges.

The party document also said that there had been a number of rises in motor taxation, passport charges and in fuel excise duties.

The Labour Party said that passengers on public transport services also faced higher fares and that drivers had seen increases in toll charges, the price of the national car test and in vehicle registration tax.

Mr Rabbitte said that "in a successful economy, with buoyant revenues, there is no need to increase taxation and Labour has no intention of doing so".