Cutting Welfare will enhance recession conditions – Crowe

Responding to calls from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to cut the dole, medical cards and child benefit local Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has argued that cutting Welfare will actually enhance  recession conditions and make it worse.

Deputy Crowe said:

“The IMF representatives are plain wrong in their calls for cuts to the dole, medical cards and child benefit.

“It is ludicrous to suggest that  ‘low exit rates’ from the dole is the fault of ‘over generous’ welfare payments  rather than the bald facts that there are approxmately fifty jobseekers for every single job vacancy.

“In reality, the social welfare cuts made to date have further shrunk demand in the local economy leading to even more and more business closures and job losses.

“You only have to walk around areas like Tallaght and see the boarded up shops,  the empty factories units or talk to  business owners who are operating on the last of their savings to see the real impact on he local economy

“It is understandable for many trying to survive on low incomes  to direct their anger at the IMF and these ill considered remarks

“But  people should  also direct their anger at this inept Government. They are the ones  implementing the policies of deprivation and hardship to the applause of their european ringmasters.

“The IMF is lining up the ducks,but they are essentially telling the Coalition government what they want to hear.

“When Sinn Féin met the Troika earlier this month it was made clear that the reason they are suggesting social welfare cuts at all is because the Government have actually chosen to pursue deficit reduction with spending cuts rather than by raising revenue from the wealthy.

“Cuts to  Social Welfare and Child Benefit  may happen following this latest International Monetory Fund statement but  it appears it will only happen if it suits the failed policies and wharped thinking of the current Government.”