Cracks in FF/Green coalition over Budget 2011?

[OceanFrog]

It looks like cracks are already appearing in the coalition with Dan Boyle wondering aloud about the public appetite for another "difficult budget" in December.

Boyle has publicly put himself at odds with government policy, which is to to bring down the deficit in line with EU rules by 2014. Boyle has asked whether this was socially and politically possible. "Seeing that we have had three-and-a-half years of really difficult budgets, I do not see the public appetite continuing. It could be that we have neutral budgets for a period," he said. However, the Green Party gave a rapid assurance that Boyle was speaking on a personal basis, and not for the party.

Boyle also said his party’s contribution to budgetary preparations would not be confined to the Department of the Environment and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources – the two portfolios held by Green Ministers.

He was quoted as saying, "Things we’d be most concerned about would be maintaining social welfare rates and education expenditure. Also on the capital side our priority would be infrastructure relating to public transport and water services".

Is Dan Boyle proposing an election budget because he realizes that this is probably the last budget before the next GE? I think he might be ...

Sources:
Boyle sends out wrong signals - Editorial, Opinion - Independent.ie
Government meeting to discuss how to cut €3bn from budget - The Irish Times - Mon, Jul 19, 2010
Boyle won't back down on budget warnings - National News, Frontpage - Independent.ie




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[RahenyFG]

The FF-Green coalition has withstood very tough budgets, particularly Budget 2009 produced in late 2008 which I thought would be the end of the coalition.

Senator Dan Boyle merely is thinking of the Greens taking part in a positive budget pre-election so that his party isn't completely wiped out in the next election.

[tomybhoy]

The Greens are going to be completely wiped out and Dan can do nothing about it, he would be as well off booking a tummy stapling operation for early next year.