Game of musical chairs sees tough questions - and quick sidestepping

DÁIL SKETCH:IT WAS almost like a game of musical chairs in the Dáil yesterday.

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton stood in for Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, who normally stands in on a Thursday for the Taoiseach, both of whom are in the US trying up to drum up jobs.

Sinn Féin’s former Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin was standing in for deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, who usually stands in on a Thursday for party leader Gerry Adams. And he was getting lots of banter from the Government benches with quips of “welcome back” and “the real leader of Sinn Féin”.

And Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Michael McGrath stood in for deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív, who also usually stands in for his party leader Micheál Martin on a Thursday.

Mr Ó Cuív’s mother, Emer Í Chuív, died yesterday. Aged 93, she was the last surviving daughter of Éamon de Valera, the party’s founder and Ireland’s first taoiseach.

In his debut as “leader” the Cork South Central TD showed his knowledge of some important statistics as he criticised the Government over its handling of the early retirement of thousands of public servants. When the Government took office last year it knew that thousands of public servants would be leaving at the end of February this year.

But he was very precise. “When the Government took office 11 months ago today” . . . mark that first anniversary in the diary and get ready for the report card! He railed at the “shambolic” approach of the Government waiting until two weeks before the deadline to set up those transition teams, and the staff incentivised to leave would be rehired the next day to do their old job.

Or as Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins later put it when he referred to the HSE: “Hundreds of vital health service staff who are being induced to leave will actually meet themselves on the way back in to fill the same jobs.”

The Government had been ducking and diving on the numbers leaving, and the way things were in the Dáil yesterday there was more of the same on the savings to be achieved from this exodus.

Michael wanted precise clarity, particularly on the gross payroll savings from the early retirements. He also wanted the net payroll savings and the cost of the lump sums for 2012.

Ever good at provoking her opponents, Joan said the special retirement scheme was introduced last year by the late Brian Lenihan and “therefore, the deputy’s mystification about it now is a little odd. Perhaps he did not understand it at the time and that is the reason he is now befuddled.” Cue a burst of relieved laughter from her Government supporters and a barrage of barracking from Fianna Fáil. “You had 12 months to sort it out,” shouted Fianna Fáil’s Timmy Dooley.

“Give us a ball park figure,” called Niall Collins.

Deputy McGrath repeatedly pushed for her to answer his questions and described her prevarications as “beyond belief”.

But the wily Minister diverted from the issue and spoke at length. “We have a very good idea now of what is likely to happen . . . but what has happened on other occasions . . . is that some people have not proceeded with their retirement. While unfortunately I cannot be exact and Deputy Michael McGrath will appreciate that my powers are limited to forecasting . . . in terms of an exact number.” In other words – she didn’t answer the question.