Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has rounded on Sinn Féin in the Dáil for its economic policies amid sharp exchanges.

Declaring that the economy was growing dramatically, the Minister advised Sinn Féin: “If you want to be a serious force in this parliament, will you at least get background people who understand economics and who can add.’’

Earlier, Sinn Féin’s Pádraig MacLochlainn accused the Government of not being aware of the distress of those affected by austerity.

He said that every year Sinn Féin gave the Government detailed and costed budget proposals but Fine Gael continued to protect the wealthy.

Mr Noonan, who was deputising for Taoiseach Enda Kenny at Leaders’ Questions today, said he was making light of Sinn Féin’s “pretend economics’’.

Sinn Féin, he said, had decided in its costed submissions that 85 per cent of the correction in the State’s finances should be made by way of tax increases.

The total proposal in tax increases was over €7 billion, which the State could not take as an extra burden.

Mr MacLochlainn said Ministers were involved in “kite flying’’ and there was party “shadow boxing’’ while families hoped there was going to be an end to austerity.

He urged the Government to withdraw plans for water charges.

Mr Noonan said Sinn Féin had opposed every measure to get the country back on an even keel, adding that the the party continued to introduce “red line’’ issues for participation in government.

“Nobody is rushing to join you in government…. Putting down a red line issue is like an old fellow walking up and down the boundaries of the ballroom of romance saying that he won’t dance with any of those women over there,’’ Mr Noonan added.

“Nobody wants to dance with him.’’