The Minister for Finance says the Universal Social Charge is now a permanent tax.
Michael Noonan says the charge isn't likely to be abolished because it takes in too much cash.
The charge brings in over 4-point-5 billion euro a year, which the minister says Ireland can't afford to give up.
And he says that although the tax was meant to be temporary, it's now the only way to get money from those on lower incomes:
