@j636 - that's an incredibly narrow view about tax rates. The reality is people had less money in their pockets after budget 2012. Motor tax increase, local property tax introduced, maternity benefit now taxable, removal of weekly PRSI allowance, standard rates of USC now apply to those over 70, CAT and CGT increased to 33%, VRT increased, excise rates increased, DIRT tax increased - and they are all just on the tax side. On welfare, you have child benefit dropped, jobseekers benefit reduced, household benefits package reduced.......need I go on!?
The Government do not have €2bn to "play with". As one commentator put it yesterday people (including your argument) are debating how to spend money we don't have. Yes our deficit improved by 1% in 2012 but it was still 7.6%!!!!! We need to get it down to 3%........