REACTION:Budget 2003, delivered by the Minister for Finance Mr McCreevy, has been described as "genetically flawed" by Fine Gael.
The party's spokesman on Finance, Mr Richard Bruton, said the Budget had its "genesis in a flawed vision".
"It has betrayed everything that was promised," he concluded.
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He said the Government had "politically blundered" by deceiving the electorate about the State's finances prior to the General Election. Mr Bruton said the Government was in the business of self-preservation.
He was also critical of the mortgage relief for first-time house buyers, introduced by Mr McCreevy, saying that it amounted to €2,000 over seven years.
The first-time buyers grant had been €3,800 before it was abolished.
Labour's spokeswoman on Finance Ms Joan Burton said the Budget was "shameful, socially irressponsible and mean-spirited."
"Minister your budget is an attack on the least well off in Irish society," she added.
She said the Budget was "devoid of compassion" and lacked "ambition and courage".
Describing the Budget as "mean spirited" she said that there had never been a Budget that failed to meet the needs of the marginalised as badly as this year's.
She added that the €186 million given back through income tax reform would be taken away with the €83 million levy on benefit-in-kind and the €52 million on stamp duty for credit cards and cheques plus the added excise on cigarettes, alcohol and petrol.
Mr Dan Boyle the Green Party's spokesman on Finance said that Mr McCreevy and the Government were involved in the "Enronisation of the national economy". He told the Dáil that he expected the €900 million deficit figure to "rise further and further".
Sinn Féin's Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said that four days before the General election the Government said there were "no overruns or hidden cutbacks".
"It seems it's a long, long way from May to December," said Mr Ó Caoláin.
Focusing on the widening gap between rich and poor the Socialist TD, Mr Joe Higgins told the Dáil that in 1987 wages and salaries of workers were 59 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while rents and profits were 41 per cent of GDP.
"Today, just 17 years later, workers wages are only 46 per cent of GDP, while profits and rents account for 54 per cent," said Mr Higgins.
The Tánaiste, Ms Harney said that the Budget ensured "prudent management of the public finances while still looking after the most vulnerable people in society".
She said the "Progressive Democrats are honouring their promises to this country's workers, pensioners and parents".
This year's increase of €10 in the old age pension brings the weekly payment to €157. With this measure, we have taken the first significant step towards our pension target of €200 per week, within the lifetime of this government," she said.