The Taoiseach and the current coalition government have been heavily criticized by oposition parties who have accused the government of trying to buy the next general election. The accusations come after a series of talks have been held between the Taoiseach and the European Commission to relax the current strict fiscal rules.
The accusations come as the Taoiseach Enda Kenny has recently raised the prospect of further tax cuts in October’s budget on the back of successful negotiations with the commission on the though issue. The Taoiseach said: “Hopefully we can continue to reduce the taxation burden so that people next year will continue to see another modest increase in their take-home pay,” he said at the end of the second day of the European Union summit in Brussels yesterday. “We accept the rules of the European Commission
, but the fact that we’re in a very different position than we were four years ago; how best can we interpret the rules with the commission.”
The rather controversial move has seemingly outraged the countries oposition parties who claim that Mr Kenny and his deputies are using unfair tactics in order to secure the votes of the Irish public next spring. Ministers from Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have described the campaign as a clear attempt by the Government to be allowed to draft a giveaway electoral budget in October and both warned of its severe consequences.
Michael McGrath of Fianna Fail strongly argued that the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) should be consulted before any relaxation of European Commission rules was sought.