Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

It has betrayed every single one of them. The eagerness with which the party is pursuing its new cuts agenda is deeply shocking. So proud is the Minister, Deputy Howlin, of the pain and misery he is to impose on citizens that he has abandoned budget tradition and demanded a day all to himself in order that he can set out over €2 billion worth of cuts. What is he thinking? It beggars belief that in his quest to make the Labour Party seem like an equal partner in government he has grabbed the announcement of "Howlin's cuts" with such gusto. The Fine Gael Party certainly owe him one.

Let me be clear again, the budget deficit must be reduced. This reduction can be made by way of fair taxation.

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