Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

After his nomination on 9 March the Taoiseach said in the Dáil, "Honesty is not alone our best policy but our only policy." What is honest about the cynical kite flying by half of the Cabinet in the last week, in manipulating the media and the people with stories of horror cuts and charges in order that when they are a little less when they bring them in, the hope is the people might accept them? Will the Taoiseach prove he believes honesty is the only policy by answering a simple question? A week before the general election the Tánaiste and leader of the Labour Party, Deputy Gilmore, said, "The Labour Party will not agree to having child benefit cut; Fine Gael needs to drop its plans to cut it." Will the Taoiseach make an honest man of the Tánaiste this morning and, more importantly, on budget day? The programme for Government states the Government "will maintain social welfare rates". Will the Taoiseach make an honest woman of the Minister for Social Protection this morning and, more importantly, on budget day? The Labour Party manifesto states, "Labour believes the €500 increase in student service charges to €2,000 is a step too far. Labour will reverse the increase". Will the Taoiseach make an honest party of the Labour Party on budget day? Will he insist on honesty prevailing on budget day?

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