Varadkar says Adams confused on economics

FINE GAEL TD Leo Varadkar has accused Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams of being “very confused” about politics and economic matters in the Republic.

Mr Adams said he did not know the rate of VAT or child benefit when responding to questions from a reporter outside Leinster House and broadcast on BBC Northern Ireland on Wednesday.

“The cut in child benefit across social welfare if Fine Gael have their way will be €18 right across all of that. Everybody that’s earning less than around 80 per cent is going to be hit by this new charge that they have brought in,” he said.

Asked if he knew what the rate of child benefit was at present, Mr Adams said: “No I don’t.” Asked if he knew what the current VAT rate was, he said: “I don’t, no.”

Mr Varadkar said Fine Gael had no proposals to reduce child benefit. “Gerry Adams is very confused about the economy and about politics in the Republic of Ireland. He doesn’t know our VAT rate, he doesn’t know our child benefit rate, and clearly he doesn’t know that Fianna Fáil is the party in government and not Fine Gael,” Mr Varadkar said.

A Sinn Féin spokesman last night said the party had credible, fully costed economic proposals.