Budget scrapes through first vote
The Government has scraped over the first hurdle in its attempts to put Budget 2011 into law.
After securing the support of two independents in a last-minute trade-off, the Finance Bill passed its first vote.
The controversial legislation – the final act of the Government – now looks set to go through the Dáil and impose the range of measures outlined in the December Budget.
An 11th-hour meeting between Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan and Independents Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy Rae ensured the Bill’s safe passage.
Tipperary North TD Lowry, and Kerry South TD Healy Rae got assurances from the Government on three fronts – a supertax on bankers’ bonuses, revised tax relief for parents paying student fees, and the deadline for filing tax returns will not be brought back a month to September 30 as outlined in last Friday’s Finance Bill.
The Government had already caved in over the rate of the universal social charge, which has now been reduced for medical-card holders.
Yesterday Mr Lowry demanded an immediate general election and warned that both he and Mr Healy-Rae were unlikely to support the Finance Bill.
