A Budget without hope, Doherty claims; Ó Caoláin calls it 'a day of shame' for Labour
Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty said the budget implements the same failed policies that were seen when Fianna Fáil were in power.
He also said it was a budget without hope.
"I could have been listening to Brian Cowen or the late Brian Lenihan delivering that same speech," he said.
"They proposed and implemented many of the decisions announced today. Fine Gael and Labour have swallowed hook, line and sinker the failed policies of Fianna Fáil on the economy and are now implementing them with gusto."
Sinn Féin Health and Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD added: “Budget Day 2013 will go down in history as a day of shame for the Labour Party.
“They campaigned up and down the country on the slogan ‘Protect Child Benefit – Vote Labour’. Today they have cut the rate of Child Benefit by €10 per month for the first and second child, with increased cuts for third and subsequent children. That’s a €58 monthly cut for a family of four and €98 for a family of six."
“This budget is a recipe for deeper poverty and poorer health, especially for low to middle income families with children and for older people.”
