CORI, C of I `Gazette' criticise Budget

The Conference of Religious of Ireland and the Church of Ireland Gazette have both strongly criticised the Budget.

The Justice Commission of the CORI has said the poorest people in Ireland have been betrayed. An editorial in the Gazette has accused the Government of being "irresponsible" for introducing a give-away Budget at a time of rising inflation.

"Rather than standing on its record, a Government that indulges in a give-away Budget is making a blatant effort to buy voters' affections and their votes," the editorial said.

It also said that in the present economic climate, many workers felt they had lost out. "The wage rises they have negotiated have lost their value due to inflation" and "the quality of life appears to have few demonstrable improvements".

CORI said that despite having the resources available to eliminate income poverty am ong children and adults, the Government had chosen instead "to give these resources in superabundance to those who were already better off".

It continued: "This Government's legacy after four budgets is to have substantially widened the rich/poor gap".

The Budget had increased divisions in Irish society and had continued "the present Government's distinguishing between `deserving' and `undeserving' poor. It even created divisions among those most in need as it helped some of these at the expense of others," it said.

As examples, it said single people who are long-term unemployed would be £8 a week better off, while those on £15,000 a year would be £26.50 a week better off. And people on £40,000 a year would be £64 a week better off.

Where couples were concerned, those who are long-term unemployed will be £15 a week better off. Those with one income of £15,000 a year will be £28 a week better off, while couples with an income of £40,000 will be £57 a week better off.

Double-income couples earning a total £15,000 a year would be £31 a week better off, while those with two incomes totalling £40,000 will be £81 a week better off.

"Instead of giving priority to building an inclusive society where everyone is respected and has sufficient resources to live life with dignity, the Government chose, instead, to further solidify the social exclusion being experienced by the poorest people in Irish society."