Opposition claims troika's gold star is award for cutbacks

DÁIL SKETCH:The Government is upbeat about its troika results but Opposition deputy suggests a B-

MINISTERS WERE in an upbeat mood about the imminent publication of their fiscal examination results by the troika when the Dáil met yesterday.

However, the mood was not shared by the examiners on the Opposition benches. “B-,” scoffed Independent TD and former teacher Finian McGrath.

Anticipating the press conferences later, Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald was sure the Coalition would achieve high grades. But there was a sting in the tail.

“I, for one, have no doubt it will place a big gold star on the Government’s copybook in recognition of its policy of cutbacks and the ongoing assault on the livelihoods of low- and middle-income earners.”

The domestic economy was in a heap, growth forecasts were routinely revised downwards, unemployment was higher than when the Government came into office and thousands of young people were emigrating, she said.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore outlined the background against which the Government had sat the troika’s examination.

Fine Gael and Labour had inherited the biggest economic mess confronting any incoming government, he declared.

Fianna Fáil TDs bowed their heads in the manner of scolded schoolboys, but later recovered their voices to heckle the Tánaiste.

Gilmore said the Government was taking the country to recovery and making progress, although the path travelled was painful for people.

The troika’s assessment, he said, was not about gold stars in copybooks. “As far as we are concerned, it is another milestone on the way to recovery.”

For the first time in four years the economy was growing again, he said.

The Tánaiste suggested McDonald put on the green jersey and assist the Government in dealing with negotiations with the troika.

“Like the Tánaiste did,” said Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary, as he muttered about road to Damascus conversions when recalling Gilmore’s opposition days.

“The country is banjaxed,” said a voice deep in the Opposition benches.

Gilmore continued on the road of a spirited defence of the Government, aided by backbenchers and some scribbled notes from Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte.

Opposition examiner McDonald remained unimpressed and referred to the “sheer boredom and tedium” of the Tánaiste’s words.

Pointing in the Tánaiste’s direction, she declared: “This is his gig and all of this is happening on his watch.”

Fianna Fáil’s Éamon Ó Cuív wanted to confer the Government with a literary award, but again there was a sting in the tail.

Ó Cuív suggested that the Government’s list of priority legislation would be eligible for a nomination for the Booker prize for fiction.

“Like Deputy Ó Cuív’s government,” observed Minister for Health Dr James Reilly.

Gilmore said he would happily compare the Government’s legislative programme with that produced by Fianna Fáil over 14 years in power. Then they could see where the prize for fiction went.

Backbenchers beamed, giving Gilmore a gold star for his Dáil performance.

After that it was back to the non-fiction of Dáil business, which included questions on education cutbacks.