Sinn Féin would “cripple” economy, claims Carroll MacNeill

Fine Gael Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has claimed that Sinn Féin’s economic proposals would “cripple” the Irish economy.

The Dún Laoghaire TD claimed that the party would mismanage Ireland’s public finances and that proposed “tax hikes” would “short-change everyone and leave us facing an employment crisis.”

She said that increased personal tax rates would have “serious implications for all in this country.”

“What Mary Lou McDonald or Pearse Doherty don’t realise is that senior figures in multinational companies, that are deciding to bring or keep those companies here and employ thousands of people across the island, pay tax in a system which is one of the most progressive in the OECD.”

“Personal tax comes up in my IDA and business meetings abroad with companies whom we are hoping will expand or invest in jobs in Ireland. It is already an issue which is why Fine Gael advocates reducing personal tax rates across the board to make Ireland more competitive in a very tight labour market. It is one of many reasons Fine Gael rebalanced it as recent budgets have proven.”

She said that Sinn Féin would do the “complete opposite to Fine Gael” in Government, arguing that they would increase employer PRSI, incresae tax on small medium enterprises, worsen personal tax credits, and increase personal tax rates.

“Sinn Féin will make Ireland less competitive, harder to attract jobs and keep existing jobs. They will cripple the domestic economy and innovation; home grown companies will find harder to hire people and the knock on effects to all industries will be frightening,” she asserted.

“They are pulling the wool over someone’s eyes – either telling themselves and their supporters their policies will work while also promising radical change and at the same time, telling businesses and corporate decision-makers there will be no change whatsoever.”

She dubbed the party “populists who are reckless and irresponsible and play every side of the argument with no clear vision and ultimately stand for nothing.”

“Fine Gael are intent on putting more money back in your pockets, money that Sinn Féin wants to take back out.”

“Ireland’s society is going to look different in the next five to ten years as our demographics change and people live longer, so it is essential that we have a responsible Government who will plan for future shocks.

“We could have acted recklessly as Sinn Féin would have done and spent our budget surpluses immediately, but we didn’t. Had we done what Sinn Féin wanted by emptying the State coffers, we would be in a far more precarious position.”

Despite Caroll MacNeill’s assertions, her claims may fall on deaf ears as the cost of living crisis is among the most pressing issues on voters minds, and voters appearing to favour heavier state intervention to combat the crisis as opposed to Fine Gael’s market-based philosophy.

The most recent Sunday Independent/ Ireland Thinks poll shows that the cost of living crisis is the 2nd most important issue among voters, ranking above housing, healthcare and the economy at large, with 28% of those polled citing it as a major concern.

Parties which have presided over the cost of living crisis have declined in the polls across Europe, with the governing Conservatives, Germany’s Social Democratic Party and France’s En Marche all losing ground as a result of the cost of living crisis biting at consumers and their spending power.

By way of conversion, Sinn Féin’s communications that they would take strong measures to alleviate the cost of living crisis appears to be more popular with voters, with the party 10% ahead of Fine Gael in the most recent polling.