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TWO OF THE five independent senators who were nominees of Taoiseach Enda Kenny to the Seanad this year have turned a critical eye on Budget 2012.
Senator Katherine Zappone, writing today in TheJournal.ie, claimed that the “focus of the multiple cuts” in this Budget could be seen as the Government bowing to pressure of the bailout troika’s “external agenda”. She expressed disappointment that the Government decided to look for €3.8bn in cuts in 2012 instead of sticking to their original €3.6bn target, again citing “pressure to go higher” at the expense of the people.
She wrote:
While we do need policies of austerity up to a point, these are being distorted by inordinate efforts to ‘save’ the banks at great personal cost to Irish citizens.
Zappone was nominated by Kenny to the Seanad in May on the recommendation of Tanaiste and Labour party leader Eamon Gilmore. Her thoughts on Budget 2012 can be read here.
Her criticism comes just a day after Senator Jillian van Turnhout, also a Taoiseach nominee to the Seanad, criticised of Budget 2012 in her role as outgoing CEO of the Children’s Rights Alliance. She stated that “Budget 2012 is not child-friendly”. She said:
The parents of our poorest children will feel this Budget the most – contrary to the principles of the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child.
She identified the cuts in back-to-school allowances, changes to the one-parent-family payment, doubling of school transport costs, a 20 per cent cut to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs’ policy and legislation budget and the cut to child benefit to larger families as key negatives.
However, she did praise the allocation of €3m for the referendum on Children’s Rights in 2012, a €10m figure earmarked to improve student literacy and numeracy, capital investment in school buildings and €35m dedicated to building community mental health teams.
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They have more understanding of the everyday people’s needs then any of the spineless back benchers
Have to say it was one of Enda’s best decisions so far in that he nominated people who’d speak out against the government like this, rather than the “Yes” men and women (all FF party members) Bertie nominated. All but one of the nominees were independent as far as I know.
@Aiden.
Anal retention?
They are women. I wouldnt even listen to them.
Millions of years of evolution…
And your an ass …..
Jokin.
The whole party system should be done away with, why would any sane person go into politics.. To get any power you have to join a big party.. And when you get a seat your forced to vote the way of your party.. How can any of them honestly say their representing their constituents when they’re not even representing their own views! Glad the independents done well but i’d love to see some big names in the partys go independent, the only way we’ll ever have a government other than FG or FF….
have your say