Rival parties accuse FF of 'blatant' lies in battle of taxes
Brian Cowen said yesterday 71,000 single income families will do better from FG-Labour tax cuts, but he insisted 97pc of taxpayers would benefit more from FF proposals.
Related Articles
Tuesday May 22 2007
FINE Gael and Labour yesterday clashed head-on with Fianna Fail on tax cuts, accusing them of "downright lies" about the alternative government's policies.
The claim came from Fine Gael finance spokesman Richard Bruton and Labour's enterprise spokesman Ruairi Quinn as they hit back at Fianna Fail for "unleashing a relentlessly negative and untruthful campaign about Fine Gael and Labour's plans".
They attacked Fianna Fail in particular for an advertisement yesterday which claimed that, while 97pc would benefit from its tax cuts, only 3pc would benefit from Fine Gael's tax cuts.
Mr Bruton said anyone who knew anything about even primary school maths "knows that the reality is completely different".
Earlier, Finance Minister Brian Cowen admitted that 71,000 single-income families would do better from Fine Gael-Labour tax cuts than Fianna Fail. But he insisted 97pc of taxpayers would benefit more from Fianna Fail tax proposals. He said said Enda Kenny's 'contract' "is a sham". "It is riddled with holes and is designed to mislead. It claims concern for ordinary workers, but gives the highest benefit to only 3pc of earners," he said.
Crisis
Mr Cowen said only three specific categories of taxpayers would do better under Fine Gael and Labour. They were "71,000 single-income families earning over €60,000 per annum, single workers earning more than €250,000, and married workers earning more than €500,000".
But Mr Bruton and Mr Quinn said: "In the final days of their dying government, Fianna Fail have moved from misrepresentations to outright lies about our policies."
They hit out at Fianna Fail as the "Can't Do" party, adding: "They have thrown in the towel."
Mr Bruton said: "All they offer is fear of change and more of the same. All of their attacks reveal one thing: they don't see the problems and they don't believe things can be better than they are today."
Pointing out that the Taoiseach had said on the leaders' debate that he did not accept that health care was in crisis, Mr Bruton said: "He has said that people should congratulate him for the state of the health service.
"Does that sound like someone who is going to lead the charge for a better health service? No, it's someone who simply does not think that things can be better."
Mr Quinn said while Fine Gael and Labour had a "specific, realistic plan to deliver the 2,300 beds everyone agrees we need", Fianna Fail were saying it was impossible.
"They have twisted around from excuse to excuse," he said.
- Gene McKenna and Fionnan Sheahan
