‘Pyramid’ bank matters more than the needy

THE recent budget brought into sharp relief the priorities of the Government and some of those independents who back them like Deputy Noel Grealish here in Galway West.

They had no problem backing a budget that cut supports for blind people, carers and social welfare recipients while at the same time rescuing the toxic bank, Anglo Irish.

The Government has already put €4 billion into Anglo. Now we learn this is not enough as the same amount is required in the next year.

Yet nowhere did this figure appear in the budget. Most expert opinion now believes the bank should have been let go the wall as it was not a bank in the normal sense, but a pyramid-style operation for those builders and developers who frequented the tent at the Galway races where each year – as those of us who live locally know – the number of choppers in the sky resembled a gaggle of crows.

Winding down Anglo Irish was also the view of Fine Gael as expressed many times by our finance spokesman, Richard Bruton.

And while there were some international factors involved, Fianna Fáil in government for 20 out of the past 22 years must shoulder the lion’s share of responsibility for the financial mess we find ourselves in.

Those who started the fire should not take credit for putting it out.

And to assuage the independent conscience in voting for this budget, Mr Grealish said he got a new bypass for Claregalway.

How many times have we heard this before? This is a fig-leaf and I wonder what Eamon O Cuiv and Frank Fahey have to say about it.

It is like Jackie Healy Rae saying he has got a new 40-bed hospital for Kenmare – something that was promised several years ago.

The real question is do those FF and so-called independent deputies support the cuts on the weakest section of our society or do they give priority to the life support machine for Anglo Irish. That is the question that must be asked when next time they appear in their constituencies. Make no mistake their vote for the budget showed they supported Anglo Irish over the disabled, the needy, the vulnerable and the low paid in our society

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames

Harrmack House

Tuam Road

Galway