Giveaway budget claims are nothing more than opposition electioneering – Corcoran Kennedy

Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Jobs Committee, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, has said that claims that the Government is planning a giveaway budget are completely false and can only be explained as electioneering.

“The Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, has been very clear since the publication of the Spring Statement that the Government will have between €1.2 and €1.5 billion to divide between tax relief and spending in the upcoming Budget. This has not changed.

“Now, following too many years where families have had to make cutbacks and reduce their spending, the Government is in a position to make their lives a little bit easier. I struggle to understand why anyone would have a problem with this?

“As confirmed today by the OECD Economic Survey of Ireland, Ireland’s economy is the fastest growing of the 31 OECD states, but this has come about gradually and thanks to the determined policy efforts of the Government.

“This Government is making prudent, sensible budgetary decisions. Up until now there have been no giveaways and that will remain the case. We want to build a strong and sustainable economy, one that will last and that will benefit all parts of the country.

“This Budget will see up to €1.5 billion go towards reducing the taxes of hard working people and investing in much needed services across the country. I can understand that candidates are trying to build their profiles, but claims that the Government will be overseeing a giveaway budget are simply false.”