SF Manifesto 'Double-Hit On Public Sector Workers' - FG

Fine Gael have described Sinn Féin's manifesto as a "double-hit on public sector workers".

Making the criticism, Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan said: "For the past ten years, Sinn Féin have proposed cutting the tax relief available on pension contributions from 40% to 20%. They have proposed it again in their 2020 manifesto, but they've slipped it in by the back door in their costings section.

"Public sector workers automatically contribute to their pensions and rightly expect that they will continue to benefit from this tax relief at source. Sinn Fein's proposals equate to an automatic pay cut for hard-pressed teachers, guards and nurses across the country.

"Sinn Fein are not being up front with public sector workers, or the hundreds of thousands of private sector workers putting away hard earned income towards their occupational pensions. Sinn Fein have a responsibility to clarify their position.

"Far from the 'gold-plated' pensions Sinn Fein say they are, these are the modest pensions many families will rely on decades from now.

"This is not the only hit on public sector workers. Sinn Fein's manifesto fails to provide one cent for a new public sector pay deal from 2022 onwards. Although they claim to have an extra €22 billion to spend on public services – far beyond the €11 billion set out by the Department of Finance – they can't find one cent for public sector workers. What has Sinn Fein got against public sector workers?"

(MH/CM)