SF urges Dáil recall over public finance ‘crisis’

SINN FÉIN has called for the Dáil to be recalled early to deal with what it described as “an unprecedented public finance crisis”.

Speaking at the second day of the party’s annual think-in, SF chairwoman and Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said the country is in a state of “suspended animation” as there is no political leadership on issues facing the country.

Ms McDonald was speaking at the party conference in Howth, Dublin, just hours before the Government announced it would hold next year’s budget six weeks ahead of schedule. Ms McDonald said: “We’re in the throes of an unprecedented public finance crisis of the Government’s own making, people are under very severe pressure.”

Speaking as the cabinet meeting took place, she said Taoiseach Brian Cowen needed to become more visible in addressing the economic situation and also said that society’s poor must not be made pay for the Government’s mistakes.

“We want the cabinet to make very clear to low-paid people, to people that are struggling to get by, that they will not be asked again to carry the can for the Government’s incompetence.

“They need to find a way out of this crisis that is fair and equitable, and in a way that does not yet again ask PAYE workers, low-paid people or people on welfare to carry the can for their mess up,” said Ms McDonald.

Responding to the publication of the exchequer figures for August and Central Statistic Office figures that show that unemployment has risen to about 250,000, she said: “I think it has not been lost that the summer has just drifted by and we are in a state of almost suspended animation.

“We are in the eye of the storm and yet where has the political leadership been? It has simply been absent.”