“Budget ‘21 a missed opportunity to help workers, families & small business owners.” – Chris MacManus MEP

Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus, a member of the EU Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee has said the government’s budget measures fail to help those who needed it the most at this time.

The Sligo native said, “It’s disappointing. A missed opportunity for sure. Today should’ve been a day for real action but what did we get? More of the same unfortunately. No relief for people who saw their PUP payment cut, no relief for renters, no right to a pension at 65.”

“I see nothing here for families who are paying the highest childcare costs in Europe. Nowhere near enough to help small businesses survive. Yet we’re going to see more new money for developers and landlords and another increase in the cost of living for people across rural Ireland with carbon taxes and motor taxes. It beggars belief.” 

MacManus confirmed that Sinn Féin would’ve done things very differently, “If we were in government we would have given certainty to workers, families and small business so that they can better manage to get through this crisis.  We would have delivered affordable housing on a scale not seen before.  We would have built up capacity in our health service beyond what had already been committed.  And critically we would have started the work to rebuild our country in a better, fairer, stronger way.”

The Midlands Northwest MEP concluded with a word of praise for the Government’s Shared Island Unit proposals. “I welcome the Government commitment of €100m a year over next five years.  We had proposed €140million in 2021, a €65m on top of €75m already agreed by government but I am glad to see at least some progress being made by the government on this important issue.” ENDS