Bruton: Recession a risk

BAD decisions taken by the Government in yesterday’s budget risked turning the country’s recession into a depression, Fine Gael warned.

Finance spokesman Richard Bruton said the tax hikes and cutbacks in capital investment announced would be self-defeating because they would discourage consumer confidence and enterprise.

“They will further depress consumer spending, raise the cost of living, cut into our competitiveness and undermine incentives for work, investment and entrepreneurship. It is the greatest job destruction budget in 25 years.” he said.