SIPTU has condemned the Government for not using Budget 2017 as an “opportunity to repair the damage inflicted on the country by the economic collapse.”
SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor, said: “Unfortunately, the measures outlined by the Government today do not advance these aims and do nothing to seriously address the problems of societal decay we face.”
Mr O Connor went on to say there was no rational reason beyond “mere political opportunism for cutting taxes.”
“Rather than investing in increasing the quality of life for our society as a whole this Budget largely panders to a short term populist agenda. The Government has failed to heed the ICTU call for a €1 billion investment in new measures to tackle the housing emergency we face in this country. Neither is there the necessary levels of investment in key services, infrastructure and social necessitates such as childcare.”
Mr O’Connor added that he thinks the Budget shows no evidence of serious planning for the challenges that our society have to face in the coming months.
[media=twitter]2705462[/media]SIPTU has repeatedly called for an increase in job seekers benefit at 65 as a temporary measure to deal with this problem.
Such a provision would cost as little as €5m a year to cover those forced to retire at 65 and just €25m for all 65 year olds who are dependent on the Social Welfare system.”
