Denne idé er blevet modsagt af den økonomiske virkelighed i de nuværende medlemsstater - og også af andre medlemsstaters præstationer såsom bl.a. mit eget land - Irland, hvor en aggressiv nedsættelse af skatterne, der nedbringer arbejdsomkostningerne og indkomstskatteopkrævningen og sikrer, at erhvervslivet kan overleve i et miljø med harmoniske arbejdsmarkedsforhold, og hvor hovedparten af arbejdstagernes indtjening går i deres egne lommer og ikke til skatter, og samtidig øges de beskyttelsesniveauer, der er til rådighed for de mest sårbare i vores samfund, og investeringerne i uddannelse og sundhed øges.
That idea has been turned on its head by the economic realities of existing Member States - also by the performances of other Member States, such as in my own country in particular - Ireland, where an aggressive reduction in taxation policy, reducing the cost of labour and the income tax levy and ensuring that business can survive in a harmonious industrial relations environment with the majority of the earnings that the workers are getting going into their pocket and not going into taxation; while at the same time, increasing the levels of protection that are available for those who are most vulnerable within our society and increasing investments in education and health.