'Your Budget Is A Mess' Says Opposition

A heated debate in the Daíl yesterday saw the Fianna Fail's Budget described as a "shambles" by Labour Leader Eamonn Gilmore, as a raft of reversals was announced.

Following yesterday's announcement of a reeling of the proposals to means test medical card's for the over 70s, the government has announced a major amendment to the proposed 1% income levy, leading to the Labour leader claiming his budget proposals were falling like a house of cards.

"Taoiseach, you are now in a position where you cannot get the budget announced here last Tuesday through this house. You have been forced into a situation where you will have to make changes to the income levy, and soon you'll have to make changes in the proposals for education and social welfare," said Mr Gilmore before adding: "Your Budget is a mess."

The Labour Party has already announced they also plan to table a motion calling for a reversal on the education proposals in the Budget, which they claim will increase class sizes.

Mr Gilmore said: "The full extent of the Budget cuts in the education sector is now only becoming clear to parents and teachers and I believe that when the full impact is realised it will produce a backlash every bit as potent as that which forced the government to make concessions on their plan to withdraw the medical card from those over 70."

The Labour Leader added that his party was announcing our intentions well in advance so that teachers and parents will have the time to lobby all TDs and urge them to support the motion.

(DW)