Pre-election promises made by the Government are now nothing more than a "pipe dream" opposition politicians said in response to the Pre-Budget Outlook published by the Minister for Finance Brian Cowen today.
Pre-election promises made by the Government are now nothing more than a "pipe dream" opposition politicians said in response to the Pre-Budget Outlook published by the Minister for Finance Brian Cowen today.
Fine Gael's Richard Bruton predicted a "rocky ride" ahead as the Government's "debt-fuelled property boom" comes to an end.
Mr Bruton said: "It is now entirely clear that Fianna Fáil's promises made before the last General Election are only a pipe dream..the €2 billion needed to pay for them in 2008 is not there."
"This again will be a Government of broken promises, just as its predecessor was," he added.
The Labour Party's Joan Burton said the slowing economy would test Fianna Fail's priorities and the Government's ability to make hard decisions.
"It means that the era of the pre-election splurge is well and truly over," Ms Burton said.
"We all know that so far as 2008 is concerned, the real Government choices about health, education, social welfare and housing have not been made, or if they have been made, will not be announced until Budget day."