Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty has announced that the party will include a €1.5 billion personal income tax package in its upcoming alternative budget, centered on abolishing the Universal Social Charge (USC) on the first €40,000 earned by all workers.

Speaking at Sinn Féin’s annual parliamentary think-in at the Grand Hotel in Malahide, County Dublin, Doherty stated that the proposal aims to deliver direct tax relief across the workforce ahead of the government's forthcoming official budget announcement.

Doherty argued that eliminating the USC up to the €40,000 threshold would provide broader benefits to low- and middle-income earners compared to government proposals focused on raising the entry point for the higher rate of income tax. He noted that workers earning €40,000 or less would not see significant gains from increases to higher tax bands.

Addressing the event, Doherty also criticized previous coalition budget decisions, accusing the government of favoring developers, institutional investors, and banks while leaving ordinary workers exposed to cost-of-living pressures.

In response to the proposal, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, speaking at Government Buildings, characterized plans to abolish the USC on the first €40,000 as unrealistic.

The think-in brought together Sinn Féin TDs and Senators, led by party president Mary Lou McDonald, to map out legislative priorities ahead of the new Dáil term.