State’s ‘shameful’ savings

A FIERCE backlash against plans to scrap the Christmas welfare bonus and slash child allowance hit the Government last night as it was accused of deliberate “meanness”.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore branded the Taoiseach’s stance “shameful” as Brian Cowen confirmed the Government would withdraw the annual yuletide payment to save €223 million.

The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) warned the Government had an “obsessive focus” on cutting child benefit which would see cash-strapped families pay the cost of bailing out banks like Anglo Irish.