Burton's Budget analysis.
national |
politics / elections |
opinion/analysis 
Wednesday December 06, 2006 19:20
by Queen of Clubs
Kyoto ignored (and other things)
A few things happened on 'Budget day', Minister Mc Dowell wasn't in the house
(at least for the analysis) - and why should he be? his very public campaign
to abolish Stamp Duty for first time buyers was ignored by the wealthy FF party.
That is humiliating now isn't it? Kyoto was ignored- indeed , hats off to Joan Burton
and her engaging quip-"he,Mnister in charge of climate change cannot even get the electoral
register right."
FF/PD have ignored the ramifications of climate change completely in the budget.
They do not exist. They would rather pay millions in fines- out of the public purse
than effect simple changes. This is Joan Burton and she is right.
The home situation is also disregarded. There is mortgage relief for the first time
buyer and it is retrospective but there are 6000 people on the housing list- largely
composed of low income families and single parents. In the Last nine years
the minister for Housing -Bertie'sBrother has not taken on the issue with
anything like courage. People are unable to afford homes in the communities where
they were raised. Noel Ahern has failed the people of Ireland. Old communities
like St Michaels', Fatima and Ballymun are being bought out by venture capitalists
who nod to the social housing problem by providing the absolute minimum
and selling the space to retail outlets and privatised leisure interests.
It's Budget Day but the analysis is saying that the wage increases will just
allow a people who are already on commutes, with heavy mortages to continue
as they are and in fact hidden increases will bring more people into the upper
tax bands, therby penalising them further.
Burton said that the issue of 'generoisity' has to be read against the problem of the
merciless take which has impoverished many and created a two- tier system.
Money is been thrown at health but the consultant strangulation of hospital
politics mean that its heading down the drain. some people will get retros[pective
tax returns on their homes but the quality of life issues are not going away.
it is Alice in Wondeland and the white rabbit went down the Hole- where was Minister
Mc Dowell today when Minister Cowen sought to smack his face on the stamp
duty issue- Minister Mc Dowell was going to put the abolition of stamp duty all over
the PD election literature.