Government unfair in ‘sharing’ the wealth

Regarding the UN committee’s examination of Ireland’s human rights mechanisms, the chances of getting straight answers from the Government seem remote, given the testimony of Sean Sherlock, TD, at the hearing.

In defending the claims of gross unfairness by the Government in how it shared the burden of the fiscal problems, Sherlock stated: “The spend on social protection measures, as a proportion of the total Government budget, increased by 37% between 2007 and 2015.”

The starting point of 2007 is not only irrelevant in terms of explaining the Government’s action, it is also misleading.

Expenditure for 2007 was €15.5bn, which increased to €20.5bn in 2009 (under the previous administration). From there, the expenditure flat-lined under the present government and, in 2013, dropped below the 2009 spend, to €20.2bn, despite the massive hike in unemployment in that period.

These facts show that, under the present Government, welfare spending has dramatically fallen in a period when demand for support has mushroomed, making Mr Sherlock’s assertions nothing more than patter.

Jim O’Sullivan,

Rathedmond,

Sligo