Budget will protect future generations: Cowen

The Budget took unprecedented decisions to protect the current and future generations of Irish people, Taoiseach Brian Cowen today told the Dáil.

Opposition parties claimed the Government had bungled the boom and was now forcing people to pay the price with dozens of indiscriminate taxes and levies.

Rival TDs earlier clashed in the Dáil as they debated Budget 2009, considered to be the toughest in two decades.

Mr Cowen said: “The global economic and financial climate means we face stark choices. If we do not make the right ones it will be catastrophic consequences for the future prospects of the economy and will threaten the livelihoods of current and future generations of Irish people.”

Mr Cowen also said Budget 2009 was the most crucial package of economic measures in modern times.

Environment Minister and Greens leader John Gormley is due to unveil his second Carbon Budget later today.

“We must deal with realities as they are, and not as we would want them to be,” Mr Cowen added.

The Government is likely to suffer the biggest backlash over the 1% income levy on all salaries under €100,100 and the withdrawal of automatic medical cards for over-70s.

The Taoiseach also told the Dáil that public sector reform strategy tackling staffing levels will be announced in coming weeks.