Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This Finance Bill will give effect to many of the measures contained in the budget published by this Government at the end of last year. This means it is an instrument for the implementation of further policies rooted in unfairness, in equality and austerity. The Bill also contains some good measures.

This Government has introduced two budgets. Thankfully, it was forced to review some of the most odious provisions of the first budget following huge public outcry. This has not, unfortunately, been the case in the intervening weeks since announcement of its second budget. Despite the U-turns the Government's first budget hurt ordinary people hard. The cut to rent supplement has had a damaging affect on the lives of many people across this State and is exacerbated by the failed housing policies of this and previous Fianna Fáil-led Governments. Owing to a lack of political desire or will to create a sustainable housing system, coupled with a seemingly strong motivation to subsidise private profit, the past few decades have seen unrelenting attacks on the public housing stock and a slow decay of structures which allowed for permanent social housing provision. This means that almost 100,000 people wishing to put a roof over their heads and those of children must rely on rent allowance. The cost in this regard, when combined with the cost of the RAS scheme, is €500 million. Following the budget, these people are now paying more for their accommodation, which is often of poor standard, cramped and poorly managed. Far too many landlords have asked for money under the table. Some people have lost their homes while others, having already had it tough, struggle harder so that this Government can make a small saving in comparison to what could have been saved from the missed opportunities which characterised that budget.

Despite the need for revitalisation of Limerick, Dublin and Cork, funding for regeneration projects has also been slashed. Will this Bill result in better outcomes for people? The answer is, it will not. While it contains some positive measures for businesses, which I welcome, it will result in less spending by people in the local economy and a reduction in the amount of money in the pockets of those who spend the highest proportion of their income. Most low paid people lost out in the last budget. Everybody earning more than €18,000 lost €264 per annum and many were also hit by the reduction in child benefit. It is now increasingly likely that child benefit will be further cut by this Government. Parents, workers over the PRSI threshold and homeowners, many of whom are up to their eyes in debt, have been hit hard by the recent budget. It is not surprising that those who earn up to €100,000 per annum do not understand what a few less euro at the end of the week means for others. However, this is putting families under serious pressure and making life in Ireland hard and difficult for young and qualified people whose friends have already emigrated and are wondering what is here for them besides mistreatment and more of the same.

In its jobs creation plan and budget submission Sinn Féin put forward alternatives which would be fair and based on equality. It also called for an equality budgeting process similar to that which operates in the Scottish Parliament. The Minister for Finance in Scotland works with groups dedicated to creating a more equal society to ensure that budgetary measures do not target the most vulnerable and essential services are retained. Once again, Sinn Féin was ignored. Once again, the rich escaped pretty much unscathed by this budget. There are more millionaires in Ireland now than there were last year. There are more people with huge amounts and liquid assets yet this Government continues to focus on cuts to those who can least afford them and have already paid their fair share of tax.

On top of all the aforementioned cuts, the Government proposes the introduction of water, household and septic tank charges, all of which will impact heavily on people. This Bill should address the needs of the economy and the people in a realistic way. It should also take into account ability to pay. That is the way it should be proofed.

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