Government’s tangled web of deceit

Nobody doubts Government spending will be up this year, so Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has a point when he says the media is wrong in referring to spending cuts when expenditure will actually increase on last year.

In fact, he said he listened with amusement to the reports about cuts when Government spending will actually be up by at least 14%, which is “more than any other country in the European Union”.

Spending on health will go up by €1 billion, or 17%, while expenditure on social welfare will also be increased by 1bn, which amounts to a 25% increase.