Budget for burger barons and big builders, says Louth TD

Labour’s Finance Spokesperson Ged Nash TD has sharply criticised the Government’s 2026 Budget, describing it as a “budget for burger barons and big builders.” 

Speaking in response to the Budget announcements, the Louth TD claimed the measures unveiled leave working people behind. 

Deputy Nash said:

“€536million on tax relief for apartment builders - with no strings attached - and cash boosts for the bottom line of burger barons, are being paid for by PAYE workers. Plain and simple. 

"As a consequence of FF and FG's decision not to index tax bands and rates, middle income workers who will get small pay hikes next year will see the benefit going to the Exchequer, and not their take home pay. 

"As it already stands there is too much month at the end of the month and the failure to index tax bands and credits will start to bite from next January. FF and FG TDs have some explaining to do to the people who get up early in the morning, who they have left behind. 

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"They have broken their promise on indexation and have failed to deliver the kind of increases to core weekly welfare payments that would help pensioners meet the rising costs of energy and groceries. 

"FG and FF spent billions of our own money buying last year's election with the biggest and most brazen binge of pre-election bribes in Irish political history.

"The election may be over, but the crisis for working families isn't. Budgets are about choices and we now know with certainty which side this government is on."