SF: 'Cruel and futile' budget will deepen recession

Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has described Budget 2012 as "both cruel and futile".

The party's Health & Children spokesperson said the measures would penalise hundreds of thousands of citizens and would not even begin to turn the economy around.

“It will actually deepen recession by cutting people’s spending and cutting jobs,” said the Cavan-Monaghan TD.

Deputy Ó Caoláin said that the new household charge and the cuts to social welfare payments would impose a “massive burden” on struggling families.

“This budget is futile as well as cruel," he said.

"It is the latest in a succession of austerity budgets that have resulted in an increase in unemployment to 450,000.

"The measures brought in this week will further depress the economy and worsen the recession. It is a recipe for further unemployment and emigration."