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Bishop Hegarty appeals for courage
31.03.09
THE BISHOP of Derry, Dr
Seamus Hegarty has urged the Government to "show
courage" and not target the poorest and most
vulnerable in next week's budget.
Aware of the hardships faced by many Inishowen
parishioners, Bishop Hegarty urged against taxing
essential goods and services.
In a statement yesterday on the economic crisis, Dr
Hegarty acknowledged that "difficult and
unpalatable" decisions had to be made. But he said
these decisions must not be made at the expense of
children, the elderly or the sick.
"I acknowledge that hard choices, difficult and
unpalatable decisions have to be made in the
upcoming budget in the face of growing deficits, but
I hope that the Government will not focus on
indirect taxes, as it is the vulnerable and those on
low income who will bear the burden
disproportionately," said Bishop Hegarty. |
He echoed the words of
Cardinal Séan Brady, who at the weekend, said that
if indirect taxation was needed, non-essential goods
and services should be the target and not essential
goods and services such as food, healthcare and
necessary utilities.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen and the Cabinet met at the
weekend for further deliberations on measures to be
included in the April 7 supplementary budget.
Mr Cowen said the Government would |
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try to be fair and was
trying to get the balance right between expenditure
cuts and increased taxation.
Meanwhile, against a backdrop of the nearly 4,500
people unemployed in Inishowen, Bishop Hegarty
appealed to Mr Cowen and his Finance Minister, Brian
Lenihan, not to cut services to the "weakest and
most vulnerable in society".
"The elderly, the sick and the young are among those
perceived to have the least voice in society and,
because of this, should not be seen as easy targets
when it comes to reducing public spending," he said.
"Sacrifices will have to be made, but the sick and
vulnerable are not in a position to make those
sacrifices.
"It is a time when we need courage and as a society
the test is how we treat the vulnerable and less
well off," he added. |
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