Ireland has 5 Nobel prizes for Literature and none for economics. It’s interesting however, that while average income in Northern Ireland is €22,442, below the UK’s average €29,876, both are well-below the Republic’s £50,808 at current exchange rates. Is it possible that the reality of £s and €s will overcome religious and patriotic scruples in solving the ‘Irish question’? OK, probably not, as it hasn’t for the past 500 years. But speaking as a descendent of Ulster protestants who is now an Irish passport holder…interesting times.
“Why most won’t need to worry about IHT on pensions”
Many a government has made the point that only a minority will be affected by this or that tax change or tinker. It is, however, both perception and aspiration which are important, and they are what makes IHT the ‘most hated’ of all taxes – along with all the others, of course.
