Government accused of copying old administration EU policies

OPPOSITION parties united in agreement that the new Government was just copying the old administration’s IMF/EU bailout policies — but divided sharply on whether that was a good or bad thing.

Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Brian Lenihan accused Fine Gael and Labour of embracing the deal they condemned during the election campaign — but bolting on a secret tax hike/service cuts package to it.

Sinn Féin and the United Left Alliance rounded on the Government for “abandoning” the most vulnerable in Irish society in order to please the IMF.