Budget 2022 must bring with it a new urgency of ensuring taxpayers resources are spent properly, guaranteeing punishment for those who do wrong, and bringing forth equity and fairness in how we treat our most vulnerable. Those are the measures of a true republic, according to the Rural Independent TDs.
Launching their pre-budget submission at Leinster House, the Rural Independent TDs have called for a raft of measures to support the following: rural economy, pensioners, carers, farmers, fishers, fast-tracked value-for-money infrastructural delivery, eliminating chronic health waiting lists, delivery of a substantially boosted recovery deal from Europe and blocking any further carbon tax increases.
Speaking ahead of today’s launch, the group leader, Deputy Mattie Mc Grath, stated:
“Our practical pre-budget submission is focused on supporting rural communities and addressing the mounting challenges facing every citizen.”
“For far too long, rural areas have been forgotten, due to mismatched policies adopted by successive governments. Unfortunately, this has manifested into the creation of a two-tier economy and society in Ireland. This was demonstrated, even during the pandemic, when our large multinational corporations were shielded from economic pain.”
“Thus, it is crucial that any post pandemic recovery is fair and leaves no community or citizen behind.”
“We believe the 2022 budgetary measures must provide a concrete commitment to rural and regional equity and terminate government-inflicted urban bias, which compromises the scope of regional economies to exploit their potential and adapt to current and future challenges.”
“There has been chronic under-investment in infrastructure across our regions, which now jeopardises and undermines the prospects for a post-pandemic recovery. To address this, we recommend increasing funding to €5 billion under the NDP Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, currently insufficient at a mere €1 billion over seven years.”
“Undoubtedly, we believe the government’s energy policies and carbon tax measures are already having, and will continue to have, a crippling impact on every low to medium income Irish households, as well as farmers and small businesses. Therefore, we are recommending a zero increase in the carbon tax in Budget 2022. The government’s reckless plan to add a further €7 per tonne or a staggering 21 per cent to the cost of carbon in 2022, during an energy price crisis, would hike costs even further.”
“Furthermore, to tangibly assist households to reduce energy costs, we are recommending that VAT on all insulation products be reduced to zero and the SEAI grant schemes bolstered, with backlogs cleared. Surely, if the government is serious about climate change, then this should be done.”
“Our most vulnerable and those that have fallen on hard times must be protected in this budget. That is why we are recommending a universal €10 increase in all core social welfare payments, including the old age pension. Ultimately, this would set Ireland on the correct path to benchmark social welfare rates to 27.5 per cent average weekly earnings over a two-year period, which was the standard set in 2007.”
“Also, the social protection discrimination against our young people must cease. Thus, the jobseeker’s rates for all those under 25 should be increased to the full rate.”
“Similarly, to support our Agri-food sector, we are seeking €2 billion, ring fenced for agriculture from the carbon tax fund, to be treated separately from CAP pillar II funding. We are also seeking proper funding for the suckler and sheep sectors and for farmlands of natural restraint.”
“Our fishermen and women must be treated with dignity and respect by a complete renegotiation of the Brexit deal. It is unacceptable to allow a deal where the Irish catch decreased from €251.6 million per annum to €208.6 million per annum to remain in place. This deal must be renegotiated immediately.”
“At the same time, the waiting list scandal blighting our public health service must be tackled with urgency and resources. The fact that one in five citizens (almost 1 million) are on a public health waiting list is truly shameful. We are also seeking an increased budget of €85 million for mental health and a strategy of how Ireland will move from a position of under 6 per cent spend (of overall health expenditure) to 12 per cent by 2024.”
“Simultaneously, the Government cannot remain insulated from the pressures felt by ordinary people. That is why we are seeking a full independent review, identifying cost savings of €2 million per annum, from the salaries paid to Ministerial advisors. For instance, this year alone, at least €5 million is being paid to these appointed advisors, who are available to government Ministers and Ministers of State. A maximum cap of two advisors per cabinet member, including party leaders, is long overdue.”
“Accordingly, to fund all additional identified investment measures, we are seeking a much better deal than a 0.12 percent share of the €800 billion EU Recovery Fund and a new €28 Billion European solidarity Bond, where borrowing costs are guaranteed to rollover for 50 years or into perpetuity at current rates and not to exceed 0.1 percent interest.”
“Every citizen in our country deserves equal access to broadband, health services, housing, public transportation and a social safety net, when they experience illness, old age or fall on hard times. Our budget proposals encompass these equality principles,” concluded Deputy Mc Grath.
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