Sinn Féin highlight unfair budget cuts at Brendan Howlin’s constituency clinic.

Wexford Sinn Féin held a public engagement outside the office of Brendan Howlin TD during his clinic last Saturday morning (26th) to highlight the unfair budget cuts planned by the Fine Gael/Labour coalition government. A similar event was held outside Fine Gael TD Paul Kehoe’s office in Enniscorthy.

Speaking at the event, Cllr Anthony Kelly said;

“The government is continuing to perpetuate the myth that they have no choices in this budget. The truth is that they do have choices. Sinn Féin’s pre-budget submission has shown that choices can be made that do not punish those already on social welfare, the working poor and low income families."

“Fine Gael and Labour are following in the footsteps of their predecessors Fianna Fail, who also tried, and failed, to reduce our deficit through and slash and burn policy. They are doing this despite being elected on a mandate to do the exact opposite. This budget they are planning to deliver will not only create more hardships for families across this state, but will also fail to lead us to economic recovery.”

“You cannot cut your way out if a recession. That is an evident truth. Sinn Féin believes that the only way out of this mess is through creating jobs, putting people back to work and rebuilding our shattered tax intake. Our colleagues in the Labour party used to believe this as well but alas, their time in government as caused them to forget everything that went before the last general election.”

“Our government is busy telling the people that these coming cuts are unfortunate but necessary. They are either lying or economically illiterate. There are real alternatives. For example, a 48% third rate of tax on incomes in excess of €100,000 would raise €410 million and a wealth tax of 1% on assets worth more than €1 million, excluding working farmland and business assets, would raise €800 million. If we stopped corporations trading their profits and losses to avoid paying the correct tax, the state would raise an extra €108 million annually. It’s a question of political choice."

“Sinn Féin in County Wexford will be holding constant public engagements in the weeks ahead to remind our government TDs of the promises they are breaking and the constituents they are betraying with these austere measures. I hope the people of the county will come out too and put extreme pressure on our elected reps to do the right thing.”