Today’s Morning Focus was jam-packed as we discussed the reactions to the 2020 Budget.
Dep Pat Breen, FG Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection and Dep Timmy Dooley, FF TD for Clare joined Gavin on air following yesterday’s Budget for a discussion of some of the issues the Budget has raised.
Firstly, clarity is certainly needed over the inclusion of communities in Clare in the ‘Just Transition’ fund to support those whose jobs are at risk because of climate change measures. The Budget includes a €31 million fund, but this appears to be exclusively targetted at Bord na Móna workers in the Midlands.
Also, Yesterday (Tue, Oct 8) as part of Budget 2020, Pascal Donohoe announced a 1.2 billion euro budget package to prepare for a no-deal Brexit. The other major talking points were carbon tax increases and a large jump in the health budget.
However, there won’t be large tax cuts or welfare increases.
If you missed the discussion you can listen back below:
Next, Willie Hanrahan, Clare IFA Chair joined Gavin on air to discuss the new agri-environmental schemes set to pilot in 2020 with an aim of reducing emissions in the sector and that Farm restructuring relief is to be extended until 2022.
We also heard from Eugene Drennan of Spa Transport, Lisdoonvarna, with regards to the 2 cent increase to a litre of petrol or diesel, that the Budget has brought in. That represents an increase of about €36 per year in fuel costs for the average motorist and has been met with anger from those in the haulage sector.
You can listen back to their discussion below:
Next on the show, reacting to the climate action measures in Budget 2020, Cllr Roisín Garvey, Green Party member of Ennistymon LEA, Clare Co Co joined us on air as she believes the document gives very little and just ‘treads water’ in terms of environmental protection measures.
You can listen back below:
Lastly, to wrap up today’s show and our Budget 2020 discussions, Fergal Cahill, Managing Director and founder of Cahill Taxation Services, Ennis joined Gavin in studio to give tax-payers a simple breakdown of the 2020 Budget.
If you missed it, you can listen back below:
