He is reported to have said that street traders should not be hassled by the Revenue Commissioners about making returns, that they are out in all weathers etc. To me, that was putting these traders apart from the rest of us; I was not aware that you could use the hardships of your profession as an excuse for not paying taxes.
It is quite clear that Mr Costello was merely pandering to his electorate, but it is inexcusable and irresponsible for a TD to make these kinds of statements. Tax is something we all have to pay, and exceptions on the basis of hardship are not part of the tax code. If the traders are not making profits, then a tax return will show that and they will not have to pay anything. To suggest that the Revenue Commissioners should somehow ignore the traders is not the kind of standards I expect from our TDs.