United Alliance Against Cuts Press Conference on Budget 2010 (December 11th 2009)
In a statement today the People Before Profit Alliance said the budget must be resisted. It represents an unprecedented assault on the living standards of the most vulnerable in society.
Councillor Richard Boyd Barrett said “This heartless government have shown yet again that it’s determined to punish the poor and those on low and modest incomes for the failures of bankers, developers and the politicians. Throughout the country many people are facing the prospect of a miserable Christmas. This government has decided to impoverish large numbers of people. There was load cheering in board rooms and trophy homes on Wednesday as the government failed yet again to lay a finger on the superrich.
The budget is an unprecedented assault on public sector workers including those on very low incomes. This is at the behest of employers who want to drive ages down across the economy.”
Councillor Joan Collins said “This budget has lots of cuts for workers and the poor. What it does not contain is a wealth levy, the closing down of a tax breaks for the rich or a higher rate of tax for top earners.
Cuts in job seekers allowance for young people will lead to mass emigration. There are no jobs in this budget yet the government wants to pretend that young people are out of work because welfare rates are too high. It is now clear that this government lives in a parallel universe far removed from the problems of ordinary people who just can’t make ends meet.
Cuts in income will seriously deflate the economy and lead to a lengthening of dole queues.
Its time to get rid of this government. The trade unions must now lead a wide campaign involving determined strike action to drive this government from office. We are calling on our supporters to turn out in huge numbers on Saturday to march against the budget.”
For more information Eddie Conlon 087 6775468
Whats in the budget?
For workers and those on social welfare:
• Pay cuts for all public sector workers including the 180,000 earning less than €30,000
• Cuts in all social welfare rates for the unemployed the sick and the disabled at a saving of €425 m
• Cuts in job seekers allowance for the young with a saving of €197m
• Cuts in child benefit with a saving of €221m
• Prescription charges with a saving of €25m
• Cuts in education support grants including Youthreach with a saving of €13m
For the rich
• Effective rate of tax to be increased to be increased from 20 to 30% for those benefiting from tax breaks and earning over €125,000 to raise an extra €55m
• Levy on tax exiles to raise an unknown amount of revenue. Perhaps nothing.
What not in the budget?
• A wealth levy on the assets of the superrich 5% who are estimated to have €250 b in assets
• The elimination of tax breaks which are estimated to cost €7.4b
• A third rate of income tax on 47,000 people earning over €100,000
• A stimulus package to create jobs