Budget 2017: Fianna Fail: We didn’t get everything we want
The party’s finance spokesperson, Michael McGrath, and public expenditure spokes-person Dara Calleary outlined the position in the Dáil while also stressing they are responsible for a number of achievements in the document.
Responding to the budget details yesterday afternoon, Mr McGrath said Fianna Fáil has made “a significant achievement in certain areas” through negotiations with Fine Gael “we didn’t get everything we want”.
The Cork South Central TD welcomed the €5 pension increase, which will only be introduced in March, USC cuts for the worse off, the return of the National Treatment Purchase Fund in health, and tax breaks for the self-employed, the latter of which he said amounts to “real progress” in tackling the “unjust social protection system”.
However, despite the fact Fianna Fáil will not block the budget plans and was key to its formation, Mr McGrath also moved to distance his party from a series of Fine Gael-imposed measures.
Mr McGrath branded the Government’s Brexit-defence packages for farmers, workers, businesses, and the tourist industry as “pathetic, absolutely pathetic” and said the €20,000 home buyers support will cause more damage to the sector as it will force further price hikes.
Criticising the controversial policy, he asked: “This scheme also raises fundamental issues of fairness. If you are a returning emigrant and you haven’t paid taxes in Ireland in recent years, are you denied the right to benefit from the scheme?
“If you want to remain in your local community and there happens to be no new housing supply there, are you denied the right to benefit from the scheme because you’re forced to buy a second- hand home?
Mr McGrath raised further concerns over the fact Fianna Fáil was only informed of the fiscal space increase from €1bn days before the budget, saying it makes “a mockery” of the new politics system.
While acknowledging his party “influenced” the document, he said pointedly “we didn’t write this budget”.
