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20/10/2008
Cowen To Cave On Contentious Clauses
Speculation is mounting that the Taoiseach Brian Cowen is preparing a u-turn on some of the Budget's most controversial aspects.
A major climb down on the withdrawal of the automatic medical card for over-70s was announced on Sunday following savage criticism.
Meanwhile, it is believed the new 1% tax levy on workers could also be scrapped following ferocious debates in the Daíl and a string of meetings between Cabinet officials and union leaders.
It has emerged the Cabinet would discuss changes to the 1% income levy on Tuesday, and could possibly lead to exempting the low paid from the tax.
The issue is a highly embarrassing u-turn on one of the budgets core policies to try and lift Ireland out of a worsening financial state.
Mr Cowen has postponed a trip to China to devote his energies to quelling the internal backlash over the medical card crisis.
Fine Gael Front Bench Spokesman Alan Shatter described the reversal as "grandstanding" by the Government.
"I welcome the belated recognition by some members of the Fianna Fáil and Green parliamentary parties and their independent supporters that depriving the over 70s of the medical card is an unnecessary and cruel act which has caused widespread alarm and upset," he said.
Mr Shatter added: "The truth, however, is that those TDs who have publicly distanced themselves from this measure wholeheartedly supported this week's Budget in a succession of Dáil votes and gave Brian Lenihan a standing ovation."
(DW)
A major climb down on the withdrawal of the automatic medical card for over-70s was announced on Sunday following savage criticism.
Meanwhile, it is believed the new 1% tax levy on workers could also be scrapped following ferocious debates in the Daíl and a string of meetings between Cabinet officials and union leaders.
It has emerged the Cabinet would discuss changes to the 1% income levy on Tuesday, and could possibly lead to exempting the low paid from the tax.
The issue is a highly embarrassing u-turn on one of the budgets core policies to try and lift Ireland out of a worsening financial state.
Mr Cowen has postponed a trip to China to devote his energies to quelling the internal backlash over the medical card crisis.
Fine Gael Front Bench Spokesman Alan Shatter described the reversal as "grandstanding" by the Government.
"I welcome the belated recognition by some members of the Fianna Fáil and Green parliamentary parties and their independent supporters that depriving the over 70s of the medical card is an unnecessary and cruel act which has caused widespread alarm and upset," he said.
Mr Shatter added: "The truth, however, is that those TDs who have publicly distanced themselves from this measure wholeheartedly supported this week's Budget in a succession of Dáil votes and gave Brian Lenihan a standing ovation."
(DW)
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