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Patrick Nulty with Labour leader Eamon Gilmore on his first day in the Dáil last month Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

Column I will vote against the government on the Budget tonight - here's why

Labour Party TD Patrick Nulty will be voting against the government and his party over the Budget. Here, in an exclusive piece for TheJournal.ie, he explains why he disagrees with this ‘unjust’ approach.

DECIDING TO VOTE against the Budget tonight was not a decision that I took lightly. It is not easy to take a position independent of my colleagues in the Labour Party. However I believe that this budget is fundamentally flawed for four main reasons:

  • It is unjust – it hits people on low and average incomes disproportionately
  • It damages our prospects of economic recovery
  • Instead of creating jobs it will lead to higher levels of unemployment
  • It attacks the marginalised, the sick, the elderly and young people with disabilities

I will explain these in further detail:

Unjust Budget
The household charge combined with the increase in VAT is deeply regressive, unfair and ultimately counterproductive. People on low and average incomes will be disproportionately affected while the wealthy benefit from flat rate taxation levied in this manner.

Damages our Prospects of Recovery
The budget by hitting people on low and average incomes hinders our prospects for economic recovery. Because people on low incomes spend, rather than save or invest, these measures take money directly out of the local economy and hit jobs in the already hard pressed retail sector.

There is an alternative to austerity which I have outlined in some detail over the last ten days.  TASC, Social Justice Ireland and ICTU have put forward well-researched proposals that can raise billions from the wealthy. I am disappointed that the Government has not taken these proposals on board. Irish concentration of wealth is one of the highest in the EU-15.  28 per cent of all wealth – housing and financial wealth – is owned by the top 1 per cent of adults. The Government should target this wealth.

Increases Unemployment Directly
The Government decision to further cut the number of jobs is the last thing we need with soaring levels of unemployment. Specifically they have decided to cut 7,500 jobs from the economy next year, due to cuts in capital spending, and to reduce public sector employment by a further 6,000.

Attacks the young, the sick and the marginalised
The decision to cut child benefit for the 3rd and 4th child is a very clear breach of the pledge by the Labour Party in the last general election to protect this payment from cuts. Larger families are more at risk from poverty so this is an unjust decision.

Other measures that are particularly regressive include:

  • The cuts to the fuel allowance and back to school allowance which will hit vulnerable old and young people.
  • Cuts of €543 million from health which will have a devastating effect.
  • The decision to increase public transport fares which will again hit people on low and average incomes disproportionately hard.
  • The 47% cut in disability allowance for young people with disabilities who cannot find work.

I remain committed to the values and principles of the Irish Labour Party. I put forward a number of constructive proposals in advance of the budget that outlined how the Government could increase revenues to narrow the budget deficit as required. I am disappointed that these were not implemented.

I am not prepared to support measures which damage our economic recovery while attacking the weak, the sick, the marginalised and the vulnerable.

Patrick Nulty is a Labour TD for Dublin West

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97 Comments
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    Mute Joe Doyle
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:28 PM

    and the majority of them will not take wheelchair jobs, I know from trying to get one several times

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:39 PM

    Now the hard part, getting them to pick up wheelchair users!

    55
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    Mute Sickof thisshit
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:05 PM

    A lot of these are going to be put up for sale shortly after. Free money

    38
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    Mute Kevvy kerrr
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:15 PM

    @Sickof thisshit: basically, that’s it …the trust of the article seems to be those whinging & bitching they weren’t quick enough on the keyboard…… ‘ early bird + worm’ comes to mind

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    Mute Gerard Carey
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:57 PM

    @Sickof thisshit: Except you can’t sell them.

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    See 3 more replies ▾
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    Mute Nigel McAtamney
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    Jan 7th 2025, 8:04 PM

    @Gerard Carey: exactly, they have to be held for 5 years in the case of private ownership, slightly longer for commercial

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    Mute Richard Hennessy
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    Jan 8th 2025, 8:41 AM

    @Sickof thisshit: nope u can’t sell em.

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    Mute Niamh Fennessy
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    Jan 8th 2025, 9:11 AM

    @Sickof thisshit: no they will not be it’s simply not possible. Sorry to leave facts stand in your way.

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:44 PM

    Amazing how little understanding or support for the disability community shown by the posters on here.
    Actually it is not when I think about it.
    Usual Ableist comments from people with not an ounce of empathy!

    32
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    Mute Scott Masterson
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    Jan 7th 2025, 9:03 PM

    The question Peadar and the minister for transport minister need to be asking is how are 6 people at present advertising on donedeal that they have (4)251 WAV taxis soon to be here for €375 per week. How did these manage to get numerous grants in others names and then fleece lads who want to be taxi drivers….

    Existing taxi drivers with plates are now cashing in on the ridiculous situation created by idiots in NTA and DOT.
    They have started to rent their plates out for €6000 per year on donedeal(check if don’t believe me) and are then applying for new WAV license for €175 and this means even more people applying for the WAV grant.
    The 6k per year pays for the new car minus grant over 5/6 years

    30
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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Jan 8th 2025, 12:35 AM

    The NTA should abolish the 10 year rule as this is a big strain on drivers to scrap perfectly good cars and have to spend 40k plus replacing them.

    12
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    Mute Richard Hennessy
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    Jan 8th 2025, 8:43 AM

    @Dave G Doe: I would if I needed a taxi and it was clean. Seen taxis imabroad nearly 20 yo in mint condition

    13
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    Mute pauley870
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    Jan 8th 2025, 7:33 AM

    I think you will find very little Irish will get the new licence, that’s why the portal closed after 15 minutes

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    Mute Marc Power
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    Jan 8th 2025, 4:54 PM

    @pauley870: all the Muhammad’s will have cleaned them up

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    Mute Thomas Brophy
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    Jan 8th 2025, 8:02 AM

    What about the other vehicle owners they don’t get handouts they have to pay vrt & yat a bit of a joke

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    Mute Scott Masterson
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    Jan 8th 2025, 12:46 PM

    @Thomas Brophy: Other taxi drivers?
    Grant is open to all taxi drivers. The older drivers are the lucky ones who can avail of the €25k grant for a new electric vehicle. Put a brand new Tesla on the road for €25k after grant and spend €6 a night charging rather than dragging a dirty diesel around and spending €30 a day.

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    Mute Marc Power
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    Jan 8th 2025, 4:53 PM

    Greed

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