[Sinn Fein]

24th November 1999


Budget 2000 must be a Budget for Equality

Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD speaking at the launch of the party's pre-budget submission.

No government in this history of the 26 County State has had such a large budget surplus as that which the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats Coalition now possesses, the third such surplus since it took office. Once again it has a huge opportunity to create fundamental and lasting change, the change from inequality to equality in Irish society.

The ongoing economic upturn is happening in an economy which is warped by structural inequalities. The Celtic Tiger hype ignores these inequalities but they persist. The improved conditions for many sections of our society, and the conspicuous luxury enjoyed by a minority, contrasts sharply with the plight of those who have not been allowed to benefit.

To establish a secure future for the children of the nation structural inequalities must be removed. This means that government policy must shift from merely modifying the excesses of the market to becoming the main driving force leading to a new society on our island.

Sinn Fein believes that in Budget 2000 the government must use its unprecedented resources to:

Sinn Fein refuses to join the simplistic chorus which calls for giveaway tax cuts in this Budget and which thereby spurns the opportunity of the current economic climate to make real social progress. What we need is taxation justice.

This year the government should devote funds for income tax cuts to increasing the personal tax allowances of workers. All workers would benefit from this and low paid workers would finally begin to see the real benefit of tax reform.

On agriculture and rural development Sinn Fein proposes:

We need to see:


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