Margaret is 30, single and lives in Dublin. She works for an advertising company and earns an annual salary of €35,000. She has the use of a company car, valued at €25,000.

Her business mileage is 8,500 per annum and she pays all the car running costs herself. PAYE, PRSI and the health levy are deducted through the payroll on her company car. She found that this reduced her net pay quite significantly in 2004.

Margaret owns a two-bed apartment in Dublin. She lets one of the rooms in her home to a friend for €350 per month. She avails of the rent-a-room relief and therefore does not have to pay income tax on the rental income. She also claims mortgage interest relief, which is given at source by the lender. Margaret hopes that the two reliefs remain in place.

Margaret is a smoker and is worried that the Minister will increase the price of a packet of cigarettes further.