'We all suffer, but bankers are okay'
Thursday December 10 2009
John Wolfe (71) predicts that there won't be 'silver power' protests, but is annoyed that further cuts to ministers' pay was not made.
"We've done well in relation to the pension, but the Government are still hitting the most vulnerable," he said. "The 50c on prescriptions will affect elderly people on medical cards. I know some people who have four or six prescriptions a week."
John, who founded the Senior Citizens Party in the wake of swingeing cuts in the last supplementary Budget, said that the Minister for Finance didn't cut the Government pay bill.
"I'm disgusted at Brian Lenihan," he said. "He never touched the bankers.
"In relation to the 15pc pay cut for TDs, they will be able to get that back in unvouched expenses. I assumed they were going to stop that. They also never took off the secretarial allowance of €41,000 a year for ministers."
John believes that there could have been more effective measures to obtaining tax. "With the tax exiles, they have been himming and hawing," he said. "I have suggested that their passports be withdrawn forthwith."
And John said that while the last Budget targeted the older people, this one would affect the young.
"We are taking the money of the young people of Ireland," he said. "It's disgraceful, young people are our future. There is no stimulus for job creation and the dole money is going to be reduced. All the young people are leaving the country. It's very disappointing."
