SF criticises 'budget of broken promises'
Mary Lou McDonald
Sinn Féin has accused the Government of targeting the vulnerable and low and middle income families with the same failed austerity budgetary measures as pursued by Fianna Fáil.
Hitting out at what she labelled the “budget of broken promises” the party's public expenditure and reform spokesperson Mary Lou McDonald said: “Last night An Taoiseach told struggling families and working people that they were are not responsible for the crisis yet today the government has begun to deliver a budget targeting these very same people for a crisis not of their making.
“Budget 2012 is totally at one with the last failed government," Deputy McDonald said.
"Fine Gael and Labour promised change. Today’s budget consigns all of these promises to the dustbin of two faced, sleeveen politics."
Deputy McDonald said the decision to cut fuel allowance was "scandalous" and will cost lives.
"By cutting fuel allowance, child benefit for 3rd and 4th children, payments for lone parents on CE and some job seekers’ payments the Minister is sucking €475m out of local economies," she said.
"This cut will hit older people and those with disabilities worst."
She said that increasing the student contribution fee by €250 "will make education the preserve of the elite".
“The budget deficit must be reduced. That is a given. There is no easy way out of this crisis. But there are different choices to be made," Deputy McDonald added.
“Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore insist that the State must pay out billions of euro to unguaranteed bondholders. The reality remains that this debt is unsustainable. The burden of private bank debt must be lifted from the shoulders of citizens. It is not their debt."
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