Noonan: 'Untouchables' of society caused economic problems
Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said that Ireland has to get away from the system of "untouchables" in society who were allowed do what they liked.
Michael Noonan made the comments at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis, where he promised that budget after budget of this Government will be fair.
He says the most vulnerable - the elderly and children - will be protected while those who can afford to pay will do so.
Speaking at the event in Dublin's Convention Centre today attended by up to 4,000 party delegates,
Minister Noonan said the situation of a few in society benefitting at the expense of the many will not be allowed again.
"We have emerged from a previous administration where it was demonstrably unfair, and you had 'untouchables' in society who were allowed, more or less, do what they liked to enrich themselves.
"We have to get away from that - that was the cause of the problems."
He said global societies who deal best with their problems are those that "treat all of the children of the nation equally".
The Finance Minister also said his next budget will force those who earn more money to pay the most.
"The burden will have to fall evenly on people," he said.
"Those that are strongest will have to contribute most and those that are weakest in society will have to be protected."
Earlier Jobs Minister Richard Bruton said that the challenge facing the country is to create an economy built on enterprise, and not speculation.
Minister Bruton said people need to know that difficult times remain - but that a better economy is possible.
“Yes, we are on a difficult road; we are facing a daunting task; there will be setbacks – but we can travel with confidence," the Minister said.
“We have the capability to deliver a transformed economy that will create employment opportunities for our young people.
“We can put to an end the period that we have just been through, when so many young people have lost their jobs and so many have had no choice but to go abroad."
