'Santa Cowen turns into Scrooge'

The Children’s Rights Alliance has disagreed with Brian Cowen that 'important thresholds have been met' with regard to eliminating child poverty in this afternoon's Budget.

The Alliance said: "If the Tánaiste was serious about eliminating consistent child poverty, a promise already broken this year, he would have targeted the most vulnerable children in our society in today’s budget. We do not agree with the Tánaiste that ‘important thresholds have been met’ as he has failed to protect the ‘poor and vulnerable’; the one in nine children living in consistent poverty."