Taoiseach not as popular as toys

HE beat Jedward and the Rose of Tralee, but Taoiseach Enda Kenny could not trounce the nation’s love affair with the Late Late Toy Show.

Mr Kenny’s one man, two flag show still attracted 1.2 million viewers, making it the second most watched television event of the year.

Ryan Tubridy’s jumper, 130 children and a set packed with toys made up the most watched show in 17 years, with an audience of 1.4m.

RTÉ figures also showed that at 9.30pm on Sunday, three out of five viewers tuned in to hear Mr Kenny.

TV3 offered the leaders of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group the chance to address the nation. Here is a snapshot of their views:

* Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin admitted savings were “necessary”, but said the Coalition was being unfair by failing to “help job creation” or “give priority to families under pressure”.

“These are decisions that will cost jobs, not create them. An immediate 2% increase in VAT is not necessary. It will cost jobs. It is being demanded by no one.”

* Sinn Féin accused the Government of penalising the most vulnerable in a budget it said failed to deliver on pre-election promises of fairness, equality and an end to cronyism.

Party president Gerry Adams said that those at the top had not made sacrifices.

“Instead, our young and elderly, citizens with special needs, our carers, our sick, lone parents, women, citizens on low and middle incomes and the unemployed are expected to pay for the greed of the golden circles, the political elites, the developers and bankers,” he said.

* The United Left Alliance described Mr Kenny’s speech as a “pointless and condescending prologue and introduction to the budget”.

Donegal South West TD Thomas Pringle said the Government seemed unable to take new ideas or use critical thinking.

“Increasing carbon taxes when thousands of families and elderly people are in fuel poverty. Increasing VAT when retail sales have declined for 44 months in a row. We live in a country that is on its knees and inequality is growing year on year and each austerity budget will increase that inequality,” he said.

* Additional reporting by Catherine Shanahan, Jennifer Hough and Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.