Fine Gael policies are not a low tax party and their hidden charges will damage the economy, the Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan has alleged.
In a wide-ranging attack at a Fianna Fáil news conference this morning, Mr Lenihan claimed that Fine Gael's policy would damage economic growth, as they contained many unspecified stealth taxes.
"Fine Gael portray themselves as low tax economy. But they have hidden taxes every where else. In local government there is a large amount of unspecified charges and a lack of clarity."
On several occasions at the conference, Mr Lenihan repeated his claim that Fine Gael's policy reflected not the political reality but what its focus groups were saying.
"It is giving this Focus group illusion that Fine Gael is a low-tax party," he said. He also said that the continuing row between Fine Gael and Labour over their respective financial plans gave rise to deep concern.
"This Government has already implemented adjustments of €20 billon. Fine Gael and Labour are having a squabble abut the remaining €10 billion," he said.
Asked was it too late for Fianna Fáil, Mr Lenihan responded that the next week would be crucial. "I do accept the point that signs of recovery are clear and compelling but we are [only] at the beginning of a recovery. That has political implications," he said.
He also said that Fianna Fáil faced a very difficult challenge in Dublin "There are great difficulties for the party in putting the message across and explaining the position. Our candidates are fighting very hard," he said.
The Ministers claimed his party’s policy of €15 billion cuts over four years was the only fully costed plan for recovery. “It is focused solely on the achievement of sustainable economic growth,” he said. “It has not been designed around voter appeal. It is realistic and it is credible. Our programme in the next Dáil will be the implementation of the plan.”