Cabinet in accord on labour proposals, insists Taoiseach

REFORM OF the joint labour committees had been agreed in principle between Fine Gael and Labour, Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil.

Denying a claim by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin that there were differences between Ministers, he said the Cabinet had a preliminary discussion on the issue on Tuesday. “There was no conclusion to the discussion because it was preliminary,” he added.

Mr Martin said Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton had told the media the proposed changes would significantly increase welfare costs and she had been supported in this by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore. In reply, staff speaking on behalf of Minister for Jobs and Enterprise Richard Bruton had replied that he was bravely facing down the Labour Party, the Fianna Fáil leader said.

“When will this end?” asked Mr Martin. “Is the Taoiseach going to stand by while the Minister tries to present himself as the tough guy of the new Government by ignoring an independent report and briefing against his Coalition partners?”

Mr Kenny said he had every confidence in every Minister in the Government. “Unlike the deputy’s crowd of not long ago, we will not find them outside buildings saying the IMF are not there . . .,” he added.

Instead of scoring points, he said, Mr Martin should understand that the Government was concerned about creating jobs and employment for the maximum number of people in the State.

Mr Kenny said the CSO statistics for the first quarter of this year had confirmed a continuing drop in employment in the sectors most affected by the joint labour committee system.

“The retail category saw 5,700 fewer people in employment between the end of last year and the first quarter of this year,” he added. “The same period saw 9,000 fewer people employed in accommodation and food services.”

Mr Martin said it was not a small issue, given that it affected 200,000 people working in businesses throughout the State.

He claimed there had been no progress on the issue since Mr Bruton briefed the media on plans to go well beyond the recommendations in the Duffy-Walsh report to the Government.

Mr Kenny said Mr Bruton was doing his job. “He has prepared his memo,” he added.

“He wrote to Ibec, Ictu and CIF with copies of the report. He has had discussions with the social partners.” It was obvious, said Mr Kenny, people would have a range of views on any discussion that took place on such a sensitive issue.

“What we are concentrating on is making a situation fair, not locking out people from employment and ensuring the maximum number can be employed in these and other sectors.”