Sinn Féin running scared from publishing their full Budget – Burke

The country’s main opposition party will not publish their full alternative Budget as assured during the week as they are afraid of scrutiny, a Fine Gael Minister has said.

Minster Peter Burke said after demanding an early Budget earlier this year, Sinn Féin have failed to bring forward their own full proposals which they claim will solve all issues and problems.

“On RTÉ Radio 1 on Tuesday, Mary Lou McDonald said they would publish their alternative Budget in full on Friday. Neither did she contradict the same assertion when it was put to her on the Tonight Show on Virgin Media One on Thursday.

“They have not published their full Budget as they don’t want it scrutinised. It probably has more holes than swiss cheese. They published a health section today (Friday) but not their full Budget as they said they would?

“What are Pearse Doherty and Mary Lou McDonald afraid of? I’ll tell you what, afraid of being found out. Again.

“By the time Sinn Féin get around to publishing it, all eyes will be on the real Budget. They simply do not want to be scrutinised and exposed.

“We already know Sinn Féin are a high tax party and want to increase income taxes on hard-pressed middle-income families. Sinn Féin are anti-jobs and business and want to increase employers’ PRSI making it harder for businesses to thrive and employ more. Mary Lou McDonald wants to make it more expensive to retain jobs, let alone create new ones.

“The opposition party wants to lower the threshold on inheritances and raise taxes on the same people who have worked all their lives to provide for their families. They had a ridiculous proposal to increase jobseekers allowance by €50 a week when employers are desperately seeking workers.

“Sinn Féin are hypocritical and dishonest and will wreck our economy,” Minister Burke said.

The Midlands Minister said in comparison to Sinn Féin, Fine Gael wants to put more money back in the pockets of all families who are struggling with the cost of living.

“That is why it is important we have both targeted and universal payments to put more money back in people’s pockets.

“We will support pensioners, carers and the most vulnerable. We will help those on disability allowance, lone parents’ allowance and all who rely on social welfare who are being hit hardest by the cost of living crisis.

“And we will support families who are working hard and contributing with their taxes, but are struggling with childcare fees, energy bills and their mortgage or rent.

“Fine Gael will always stand up for the squeezed middle who pay their taxes and often get little in return.

“Mary Lou McDonald doesn’t care about many of these working people and is once again pursuing divisive politics.”