Mayo Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

MURRAY CONDEMNS EXCLUSION OF FARMING COMMUNITY FROM BUDGET CONCESSIONS

Published: 28 August, 2006

Sinn Féin's General Election candidate Councillor Gerry Murray has condemned the exclusion of the farming community from concessions that were made to pensioners in the Government's budget last January. Cllr. Murray said that in the 2006 budget the Government clearly stated that the first €100 per week would be disregarded for non contributory pensioners who wish to continue working.

Cllr. Murray stated, "It now transpires that this concession will not apply to non-contributory pensioners who are actively engaged in farming, needless to say I have been contacted by numerous pensioners in this self employed farming category who are extremely disappointed at their exclusion. I have written to the Minister asking him to tell me as to why this particular category have been excluded and to clarify as to whether their exclusion does not contravene Irish and European law.

"In any event it is extremely unfair that the Government has decided to exclude Ireland's farming community from such a significant concession. It is extremely disappointing that the I.F.A. did not sort this problem out at the table of social partnership in order to ensure that the farming community would not be exclude in such a fashion. I have personally asked both Gerry Adams and Martin Ferris to immediately intervene in this matter on behalf of all farmers who are in receipt of non contributory pensions."