Déjà vu strikes Labour as FF call for belt-tightening

LABOUR leader Eamon Gilmore last night said it was utterly predictable that Fianna Fáil would this week announce the need to “tighten belts” just months after promising massive spending in its general election manifesto.

“Four months after the general election, and here comes Brian Cowen again to tighten our belts. It is all so predictable,” he said.

“Five years ago, when reckless pre-election spending had to be reined in, the Government picked on the easy targets: aid to the developing world, cuts in the health service and the ‘Savage 16’ social welfare cuts,” Mr Gilmore added.