Politics

Fianna Fáil claims SF and Labour promises ‘erode politics’

Party proposes extending €100 benefit for water charges and recruiting 500 gardaí

Fianna Fáil TDs Michael McGrath, Sean Fleming and Dara Calleary announcing the party’s pre-budget proposals today. Photograph: Cyril Byrne / The Irish Times

Fiach Kelly
Fri Oct 10 2014 - 15:37

Sinn Féin are following the example of the Labour Party before they entered Government, with the unrealistic promises of both furthering "the erosion of politics", Fianna Fáil has claimed.

Fianna Fáil jobs spokesman Dara Calleary said his party will not go "down the road" of telling voters what they want to hear, but will be realistic in their approach.

Mr Calleary was speaking at the publication of Fianna Fáil’s alternative budget proposals, which call for an adjustment of €220 million to bring the deficit “comfortably below” the 3 per cent target.

Michael McGrath, the party’s finance spokesman, claimed that while the budget prepared by Government “may be fiscally neutral, it is unlikely to be socially balanced”.

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Fianna Fáil’s proposals include reducing the threshold for the drugs payment scheme from €144 to €120 per month, extending the extra €100 for water charges added to household benefits to an additional 211,000 people in receipt of fuel allowance, and the recruitment of 500 extra gardaí.

Mr McGrath says water charges and the property tax will be retained, although their structures will be reviewed. He said Fianna Fáil would not be engaging in “auction politics”, and would not immediately reduce the marginal 52 per cent rate of income tax.

Mr Calleary said Sinn Féin, in comparison, are “telling you what you want to hear”.

“Sinn Féin are to 2014 what Labour were to 2010,” the Mayo TD said. “Sinn Féin are the party telling you what you want to hear. The same way Labour told you wanted to hear in 2010.

“Look what that did to politics post 2011, when they went in [to Government] and turned their backs on every single commitment and promise they made. The erosion of politics in this country continued. We could go down that road, we’re not going down that road.”

Mr Calleary, Mr McGrath and public expenditure spokesman Seán Fleming all insisted Micheál Martin's leadership is not an issue following a poor Fianna Fáil showing in this week's Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI opinion poll.

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