FG opposes budget strategy vital for economic recovery - Minister Micheál Martin

In the last two days Fine Gael has formally abandoned any pretence of supporting economic policies vital for our recovery. Enda Kenny and his colleagues confirmed that Fine Gael will not abide by Ireland’s agreement with the EU for controlling borrowing – a policy which would immediately drive up borrowing costs if it were implemented.

On Saturday Fine Gael announced that it would abandon the timetable for budget cuts next years and also put forward a long list of promises for extra spending including a new health system, tax cuts and various spending increases.

Over the last year the tough action to control borrowing has been central to bringing down the cost of financing the national debt and Ireland is being widely praised for being serious about tackling its problems. This was repeated by a wide range of important business and political leaders in the United States only last week.

Fine Gael’s embracing of policies which would destroy all of this progress shows that they are only interested in political posturing rather than offering a real plan for Ireland’s future.