THE Minister for Finance massaged the unemployment figures in the Budget as part of a panic response to the unemployment problem, the Green Party said last night.
The party spokesman, Mr Trevor Sargent, said the Government's lack of ideas had driven them to pay employers £80 to take people off the Live Register. He said employment should be of advantage to employer and employee and not the result of State payments to the employer.
The TD said the reduction in Corporation Tax to 30 per cent would give unfair advantages to incorporated companies and discriminate against sole traders and employees. He said the top rate of tax should be the same for all income earners.
Mr Sargent gave a guarded welcomed to the Minister's proposal to extend the Back to Work allowance whereby unemployed people can retain benefits after taking up work. He welcomed indications that an environmental tax policy would be delivered in the 1997 Budget through a tax levy on limited resources.
However, he criticised the introduction of relief for people using their cars around the city and said £1.7 million of taxpayers money could be better invested in public transport.