asked the Minister for Finance if he will disregard for income tax purposes the fire brigade earnings of men who are part-time members of fire brigades and who are doing such important work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Part-Time Firemen's Earnings.
10.
The answer is in the negative.
Perhaps we could get away from the sum of £200,000 and consider a matter of merely a few shillings. Would the Minister not consider that these men who risk their lives fighting fires as part-time firemen are entitled to income tax relief in the same way as are, for instance, artists? When an exception is made in one case, can it not be made also in another?
I do not agree that that follows. Furthermore, the Deputy will realise that some of the part-time firemen concerned do not have to pay tax when account is taken of the various allowances to which they are entitled. These people would not benefit at all by the concession suggested by the Deputy. This is not the appropriate way to deal with the problem.
I wish the Minister would tell the House what is the appropriate way. I have tried numerous ways but in every case the result was negative. I ask the Minister to reconsider this matter. Only a small amount would be involved in so far as the State is concerned but this would be a big amount to the people engaged in this work.
I repeat that the remission of income tax is not the appropriate way of dealing with this problem.
Will the Minister say how it can be dealt with?