Election Promises on Hold - Deja Vu, again??

[floatingvote]

Election promises on hold for Budget
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Go Monday September 03 2007

FIANNA Fail's general election promises are likely to be put on the backburner after a grim assessment of the economic outlook for next year by Department of Finance mandarins.

A series of planned giveaways will be postponed at the next Budget in light of the advice.

Householders are facing a tough Budget, with little scope for new reliefs, according to initial warnings to Government departments.

But the government is still committed to reducing the top rate of tax from 42pc to 41pc as promised.

However, the recruitment of additional nurses, teachers and gardai could be hit, with a prediction yesterday of an embargo on public service recruitment.

Fianna Fail had promised to employ thousands of new service providers -- but initial assessments by Finance officials are that the general economy can't afford it.

Department of Finance mandarins want to keep increases in public spending in line with inflation next year. That means an expected 5pc increase, ending the double-digit spending growth of recent years.

With tax rake-ins likely to be down in some categories next year, the overall rate of increase in revenues is expected to fall significantly.

Ministers are being advised that any costly new schemes they want to introduce will have to be at least part-funded by efficiencies elsewhere in their departments.

The various arms of government had until last Friday to respond to initial Department of Finance soundings on spending plans next year, although the serious horse-trading of the Estimates process has yet to begin.

Fine Gael's finance spokesman Richard Bruton said yesterday it was "going to be a difficult Budget" with growing economic stormclouds on the international economic horizon.

But he said that Finance Minister Mr Brian Cowen should resist doing "what Fianna Fail did on the last occasion," by introducing a series of stealth cutbacks in an attempt to batten down the hatches. These had done more harm than good in 2002, he said.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news ... 70377.html

Note, the top rate of tax has already been reduced to 41%, so presumably they mean to continue with plans to reduce it to 40%?
Other than that, is this just 2002 all over again - how many times will they get away with this stunt before the public catch on?

[zakalwe]

have i stepped back in time to 2002?
think i'll go buy a few shares in bebo and youtube.

[Kf]

So more tax cuts and less Garda and Nurses.

Unbelievable!

The Irish herd once again trots into the slaughter pens.

[Abaddon]

Ah well, it'll be all forgotten about by the time the next GE comes around and FF will the only party (once again ) that can lead and steer Ireland to the capitalist promised land.

I wonder if this is the start of the annual pre-budget leaks preparing the public for a grim budget?

[floatingvote]

So more tax cuts and less Garda and Nurses.

Unbelievable!

The Irish herd once again trots into the slaughter pens.

Yeah, sure in the next leaders debate, when Enda gets mixed up on the numbers of extra gardai and nurses being promised, he can just point out that empty promises are exactly that, regardless of the quantity promised.

[kerrynorth]

I have been pointing out for sometime that this was going to happen.

[tonys]

So more tax cuts and less Garda and Nurses.

Unbelievable!

The Irish herd once again trots into the slaughter pens.

No, the only Government you can refer to when using the words “less”, “Garda” & “Nurses” in the same sentence is the last FG lead government and even then it was Dick Spring who lead them there, the Irish herd hasn't gone to that particular slaughter pen for 25 years or more, sensible folk

[Maximus]

It’s about being responsible with the economy.

It’s widely acknowledged the restraint shown with expenditure in 02/03 helped Ireland sail through that period of economic instability.

The reaction of partisan commentators here says a lot about why voters don’t trust their parties with their jobs!

[hiding behind a poster]

It’s about being responsible with the economy.

It’s widely acknowledged the restraint shown with expenditure in 02/03 helped Ireland sail through that period of economic instability.

The reaction of partisan commentators here says a lot about why voters don’t trust their parties with their jobs!

Idiot. Are you saying its purely a coincidence that "being responsible with the economy" means regularly having double-digit spending increases in election year, followed by jamming on the brakes afterwards?

[Rebel CNC]

To be honest, I'd say FF are expecting a couple of bad years but know that if they keep their collective head down and take the flak; chances are there will be a bit of an upturn closer to the next election. They will then have the nerve to say they managed to steer the country through tough times.

At the end of the day, whatever FF or any other party say or promise means zilch as we are completely at the mercy of global events.