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| Cllr. Ted Tynan speaking at the Workers Party Ard Fheis last weekend. |
Workers’
Party Councillor Ted Tynan has described this week’s budget as a con trick
which claims to have given a little to everyone when in fact it has
overwhelmingly benefitted the better off.
Cllr. Tynan
said that the government had thrown crumbs at workers and the least well off
with one eye on the election but when examined more closely it leaves the
working class still in a worse position than they were a decade ago.
“There has
been a lot of noise made about the 75% Christmas Bonus this year and the €2.50
increase in the fuel allowance but these bring cold comfort to families facing
into another winter. The fuel allowance
increase will barely buy a bag of kindling with which to light a fire, let a one
keep it going for a day.”, said Cllr. Tynan.
For all the
talk of fairness this government was able to find €750 million to cut tax for
large corporations instead of putting the money into vital services like health
and education. Relying on NAMA and the
same speculators who caused the economy to go bust is no solution to the
housing crisis and it is notable than 90% of the promised new homes will be in
the Greater Dublin area. Barely a
handful of additional social housing units will be built by this government
which is a shocking indictment of Fine Gael and the Labour Party”
“Where is the cancellation of the hospital bed
charges introduced over the last few years or in the prescription charges? For all the talk of job creation this
government is once again throwing money at corporations who are more interested
in creating profit for themselves than creating jobs.” said Cllr. Tynan
The Workers
Party councillor said that the budget was a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing
when it came to fairness. “This budget will merely maintain and indeed widen
the gap between rich and poor in this country.
A few crumbs for working class people will not decrease the anger of
people at the policies of this government and its Fianna Fáil / Green
predecessors who have impoverished families the length and breadth of the
country and who see no light at the end
of the tunnel in this budget.”, said Cllr. Tynan.
