Taoiseach denies ‘abandoning the less well-off’

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday defended the Budget and denied the Government was right-wing and catered only for the better-off.

Addressing the Dáil yesterday, Mr Ahern deflected budget criticism, saying it would benefit the less well-off. “The benefit of the Budget changes are concentrated on people and families in lower income groups,” he said

Mr Ahern said Ireland’s public finances were the envy of Europe and that the Budget presented by Charlie McCreevy was a budget for a strongly growing economy.