Sinn Féin's manifesto proposals could cause serious damage to the Irish economy, the Finance Minister has claimed.
The Sinn Féin manifesto has said the party would increase current spending by €14.3 billion and a further €41.8 billion for capital investment - while still running a budget surplus.
With nine days to go before polling day, Fianna Fáil’s Jack Chambers described the opposition party’s plan as a “recipe for recklessness” that posed a “serious risk” to the public finances.
Minister Chambers said Fianna Fáil would continue to put money aside into the two State funds that have been established.
“We've established two funds; the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund which is to give that buffer of certainty to the public finances in the long term,” he told Newstalk Breakfast.
“Sinn Féin's central economic proposal is to raid those funds and cut the contributions to the funds which I think would seriously undermine the economic progress for our country.
“They've also proposed higher levels of taxes on the Irish people and I think it would seriously undermine the economic model that has delivered record levels of employment to the Irish economy.”
Man with many bills or invoices and no money. Shortage, Bankruptcy, doing taxes, barely any money in his wallet, Alamy 2024Minister Chambers also said Sinn Féin plan to spend far too much of the Apple windfall money over the next Dáil term.
“One of the priority areas of the Fianna Fáil manifesto is to ensure we set aside a significant percentage of [the Apple tax money] aside for the Future Ireland Fund so that we protect Ireland's economy,” he said.
“That's why I'm raising serious concerns with the Sinn Féin manifesto.
"They're spending those windfall receipts rather than pulling the money aside.”
RTÉ review
Minister Chambers said he was 'shocked' by Sinn Féin's proposal to carry out an independent review into the objectivity of RTÉ's coverage of the situation in Gaza.
“It's a clear and outright interference in public service journalism,” he said.
“I think everyone is shocked by the images that we've seen in the Middle East - but to see Sinn Féin try and question the objectivity of our public service broadcaster as a central proposal in their manifesto is really worrying.
“It shows that their impulse is to control the narrative [and] undermine independence of our media and it's of serious concern to me.”
Minister Chambers is running for re-election in the Dublin West constituency.
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