asked the Minister for Finance the number of old age pensioners paying income tax on their pensions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensioners.
32.
Any person whose sole income arises from an old age pension under the Social Welfare Acts is not liable to income tax. As regards social welfare pensioners who have other income, or pensioners in receipt of pensions from other sources, statistics are not available which would indicate how many of them are liable to income tax.
Is it not a strange society that makes people pay tax on their pensions, most of which are meagre, when the primary concern of the Government is to alleviate tax on wealth?
The question is in connection with old age pensioners.
The Minister has no facts or figures because basically he does not care about this matter.
The Minister was asked if old age pensioners are liable to income tax.
The Minister does not know the number involved. He did not bother to count.
We must not have argument now. We are making some progress.
That is a matter of opinion.