“Spending cuts are the only way out of recession”

Stephen Kearon is married with two children and works as the Technical Director of an IT company in Dublin. His income bracket is in the region of €55 – 75,000.

He is a member of Fianna Fáil and agrees with the Four Year Plan – but he is nevertheless concerned about tax rises. He feels that spending cuts – specifically in the areas of public sector pay, pensions and long term welfare – are the only credible way to lift the country out of recession.

Stephen feels that the budget has begun the process of correcting the public finances:

The Budget creates conditions for an equitable tax system for those at work; it commences the very necessary reforms, already outlined in the Croke Park agreement, with respect to greater efficiencies throughout the public service… And it acknowledges the very serious difficulties within the Irish banking system, in line with the measures announced in the joint funding programme between Ireland and the IMF/EU.

He added:

Borrowing €50 million a day, every day, and handing the bill to our children is not a suitable nor acceptable legacy for this generation. So, I support our government’s ongoing commitment to attracting investment from firms in the fields of medicine, pharmaceutical development, high tech and other services.

Read about how a lone parent relying social welfare feels about the budget >