THERE has been a mixed
reaction to Budget 2008 from across the sectors in
Irish society.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions accused the
Government of pandering to the business agenda while
Fr. Sean Healy, the director of the Conference of
Religious of Ireland 's Justice Commission, said the
working poor, who head a third of all households at
risk of poverty, have not benefited from Brian
Cowen's fourth Budget.
There was a welcome from Fianna Fáil representatives
in Donegal for many of the measures while Opposition
parties including Sinn Féin viewed the Budget as a
wasted opportunity. Below are some of the political
reactions in the county this week.
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 Fianna
Fáil Senator Cecilia Keaveney: "A 30c increase on
the excise duty on cigarettes is designed to promote
a more health conscious society. This increase in
the price of cigarettes is part of a larger
Government policy to foster a sense of individual
responsibility to health. The most effective way to
maximize good health is to prevent illness and to do
that we must do everything in our power to
discourage people from taking up a habit that is
known to be so harmful to our health.
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 Sinn
Féin Councillor Padraig MacLochlainn: "Increases in
social welfare are too low to keep families faced
with sharp increases in the cost of living out of
poverty. Nor did the Minister do anything innovative
in terms of encouraging people out of welfare and
into
work. What has been gained from the widening of the
standard rate tax band, while welcome, will be
quickly lost with cost of living increases. And the
Minister reneged on commitments in the Programme for
Government to expand medical card eligibility, a key
priority for Sinn Féin. It was also very
disappointing that they failed to tackle the
childcare issue, particularly
childcare infrastructure.".
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 Fianna
Fáil Deputy Niall Blaney: "I welcome the 9 per cent
increase in health funding announced in Budget 2008.
The funding will be used to give extra priority to
key areas such as the cancer control strategy,
services for older people, and people with
disabilities, according to Deputy Blaney. Budget
2008 provides an additional €344 million current and
€52 million capital for health services. This level
of funding is very high by international standards
and high by references in Ireland in the 1990s.
Minister Harney will meet with the HSE to agree the
details of the extra services to be provided under
the different headings, but we do know the funding
allocations for the key areas are as follows."
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 Sinn
Féin Senator Pearse Doherty: “There are positive
initiatives in the Budget but no major increases in
resource allocations. An increased allocation of €95
million for education will provide only for the
extra 13,000 pupils who have come to this country
and require a school place next year.
The pay increases that has been given to three
Ministers is equal to the same increase we gave to
120 pensioners. That demonstrates where the
Government's commitment is in this Budget. It was
not for the most vulnerable or the weakest in
society. We could have done much more and it is a
missed opportunity.”
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Fianna Fáil Senator
Brian O Domhnaill: "This Government is continuing to
prioritise young families with practical measures
that improve their lives by increasing financial
supports. The Child benefit rates have increased €6
to €166 per month for the first and second children
and up €8 to €203 for the third and subsequent
child. Maternity and Adoptive benefit is also
increasing to €221.80.
Our first priority is to ensure that the most
vulnerable in our society are protected and to look
after the most disadvantaged.
I know that young families often face increasing
financial pressures and I know that these increases
will be welcomed."
Sinn Féin Councillor Padraig MacLochlainn: "Where is
the commitment to a substantial social housing
programme that would have ensured the end of social
housing waiting list, and would have had the
additional benefit of boosting the construction
sector? Where are the long overdue steps towards the
creation of a state pre-school system?
The measures on childcare do not go nearly far
enough to assist families unable to cope with
childcare costs equal to a second mortgage."
Fianna Fáil Deputy Niall Blaney: “Cars that emit
more CO2 will be taxed higher than environmentally
friendly cars, or electric cars. It represents the
most fundamental reform of VRT since its inception
in 1993. The VRT rate applicable to cars registered
on or after 1 July 2008 will be determined by the
CO2 emission rating of the car and will no longer be
related to engine size. Seven VRT rates, ranging
from 14 per cent to 36 per cent, depending on the
car's CO2 emission level, will continue to be
applied to the Open Market Selling Price of the
car.”
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