No amount of spin will disguise the fact that Fine Gael and Labour have reneged on a litany of election promises within their first 100 days in office, according to Donegal Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill
Senator Ó Domhnaill said, “The Fine Gael/Labour Government set themselves the deadline of 100 days for the delivery of a series of election promises. It was the Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny who set the time-frame of 100 days, in which his Government could be judged on their performance. But now we are 100 days on and a litany of promises, which were unleashed to secure the maximum number of votes, have been broken.
“Over the past 100 days, we have seen some spectacular u-turns from Ministers who were elected to office on the basis of the promises they made. There has been immense public concern about Finance Minister Michael Noonan’s refusal to rule out hikes in income tax, Education Minister Ruairí Quinn’s u-turn on college fees, and the confusion over extra household and water charges next year.
“The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has rowed back on protecting social welfare rates and child benefit, causing serious concern among Donegal families who are fearful of cuts to payments next year. Despite the clear pledge in the Programme for Government that Fine Gael and Labour would protect social welfare rates, Minister Burton refused to stand by this commitment when questioned in the Dáil by Fianna Fáil this week.
“On jobs, Fine Gael and Labour also promised to set up a New Era company with billions in funding and ready to create 100,000 jobs. Where have these promises disappeared to?
“These issues affect every single family in the country, and each of them represents a key promise made by Fine Gael and Labour during the general election campaign in a bid to win votes. Now that they are in Government, they are only too willing to forget these promises.
“In reality, it is early days. We would not be judging this Government on its first 100 days in office if they hadn’t set this deadline themselves. Enda Kenny set out a list of 25 solemn promises for delivery in 100 days, and unfortunately he and his Government colleagues have ignored most of them.”
Posted: Jun 16, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized