A united opposition rounds on ‘equal opportunities butcher’

PUBLIC Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin was declared the “equal opportunities butcher” as opposition parties fell in line and declared the Coalition’s first budget an attack on the vulnerable.

Fine Gael and Labour were accused of winning the election by deceiving young people and parents after the Government did a U-turn and left families facing higher costs for education and children.

Fianna Fáil said the Government was “protecting cronies” in high places by instead hitting families and the young with budget cuts.