Dublin Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Féin and Fine Gael to jointly opppose Dublin City budget

Published: 24 November, 2008

Following a meeting of Fine Gael and Sinn Féin councillors in Dublin
yesterday the two parties issued a joint statement where they declared
their intention to oppose the 2009 Budget for Dublin City Council.

In the joint statement issued by Cllrs. Gerry Breen on behalf of Fine Gael
and Daithí Doolan on behalf of Sinn Féin they said:

"The people of Dublin City are being asked to pay a heavy price for the
economic failures of the Government. The budget presented before us will
have a dramatically negative impact on the City in terms of expenditure
cutbacks and increases in rates.

"Even before this budget Dublin City was underfunded when it came to its
share of the Local Government Fund. A further 6.8% cut in this funding,
announced by Minister John Gormley, will mean that Dublin City will fall
even further behind.

"We appreciate the difficulties faced by the City Manager in trying to
frame a budget in these economically challenging times. However, we are
not prepared to be part of a process whereby we the elected
representatives of Dublin are forced to implement the national Governments
slash and burn budget cuts.

"Fine Gael and Sinn Féin will therefore be opposing the budget at
tonight's annual budget meeting at Dublin City Council. It will be up to
Labour and Fianna Fáil as the ruling coalition on the Council to implement
the Governments and Minister John Gormley's cuts."