Increases will be cancelled by charges, say FG

Leader of the Fine Gael party Enda Kenny says that all the beneficial increases introduced in today's Budget will be wiped away when local charges are introduced next year.

Deputy Kenny says that the local health charges and the local government service charges will cause this affect in April and May next year.

The Fine Gael leader has accused the Government of introducing a budget of desperation.

The news ahead, according to TD Enda Kenny, is that 2003 will be a miserable year for Irish industries, businesses and competitiveness in general.