A Fine Gael spokesperson said: 'Cllr McManus’ views are not consistent with Fine Gael policy. Fine Gael supports, and has always supported, universal child benefit'
Fine Gael has said that the Councillor's views are not consistent with party policy. Image: Screengrab/Twitter Fine Gael has said that the Councillor's views are not consistent with party policy. Image: Screengrab/Twitter FINE GAEL HAS distanced itself from comments made by a party councillor who claimed paying child benefit to high earners is like a “subsidy for them to have sex”.
Defending his words, he said they were “evocative and a figure of speech”. He added that the comments “may cause offence, but that was not my intention”. He child benefit is an “essential benefit” for low and middle-income families, but said “money is scarce” and it should be targeted at those who really need it.
#Open journalism No news is bad news Support The Journal Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you“Our party leader, Leo Varadkar, confirmed his commitment to the universal nature of the payment when he was Minister for Social Protection in the last Government, and at that time Fine Gael reversed the cuts to the Child Benefit that had been implemented after the economic crash.