Fitzmaurice: Budget ‘a blow to working people, farmers, SMEs’
Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice has sharply criticised the Government’s 2025 Budget, accusing Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of prioritising electioneering over addressing the needs of working people, farmers, and small businesses. He said the Budget favours political expediency over economic fairness.
Fitzmaurice was unequivocal in his criticism: “This is not a Budget for working people. It is not a Budget for farmers. And it is certainly not a Budget for businesses, especially those in hospitality, which are already on their knees”.
There had been significant speculation leading up to the Budget regarding a potential compromise VAT rate of 11% for the hospitality sector, despite industry campaigning for the 9% they had survived with for over a decade, which the Government called a “temporary measure” at the time it was withdrawn. However, despite internal Cabinet debates, no such reduction materialised, leaving the industry bitterly disappointed.
Deputy Fitzmaurice condemned this decision, warning of severe consequences for an industry still reeling from the economic shocks of recent years. “At the eleventh hour, the Department of Finance dug in its heels, and what we got was no reduction of any description for hospitality. This is going to push many struggling businesses over the edge” he said.
Small businesses ‘facing closure’
While the retention of the 9% VAT rate on gas and electricity has been welcomed in some quarters, Deputy Fitzmaurice argued that this measure alone is insufficient to stave off an impending wave of closures across small businesses.
“Keeping the VAT rate at 9% for gas and electricity is welcome, but it’s not going to save the hundreds of small businesses that are hanging by a thread” Fitzmaurice stated. “Hospitality, in particular, have been thrown to the wolves”.
Election over economy
Fitzmaurice went further in his critique of the Government, accusing both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of being more interested in securing votes ahead of the next election than in safeguarding the future of Ireland’s economy.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael seem more concerned with buying an election with the hard-earned money of those who generate the wealth and pay taxes than they are with saving the very businesses that keep this country going,” he said.
According to Deputy Fitzmaurice, the Budget reflects a Government more focused on short-term political gains than the long-term health of the economy.
“They are choosing to ignore the fact that without thriving businesses, there won’t be the tax income they so depend on. This Government is throwing away the foundations of our economy just to win votes,” he remarked.
In closing, Fitzmaurice called on the Government to rethink its priorities: “Working people, farmers, and small businesses deserve far better than this. The Budget should be about securing the future, not securing votes”.
