Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We do not need a report from Grant Thornton to tell us we have had an economic collapse. However, that report directly contradicts what the Tánaiste said to Deputy Michael McGrath about last year's budget being fair. In fact, it states very clearly that those with the least have been asked to contribute the most.

I asked the Tánaiste two questions. First, will the Government, when it brings forward the budget, provide all Members of the Dáil with an analysis examining the distributional effects of the proposals, thus assisting us in deciding how we will vote? Second, if this analysis shows that the distributional effects are such that those who have the least are being asked to contribute the most, will the Tánaiste withhold the Labour Party's support for the budget? I am sometimes described - wrongly, in my opinion - as a right-wing neoliberal-----

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