Independent TD Finian McGrath has questioned the motives behind Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s invitation to the Opposition to discuss the four-year budgetary plan.
Mr McGrath said the move was an attempt to get the parties “into the situation where they are going to have to agree to something they mightn’t necessarily normally go with”.
The Dublin North Central TD, who usually opposes the Coalition but has voted for it in some crucial divisions, told RTÉ's Morning Ireland he would be "very, very, cautious" about the gesture.
He said he felt the Government is elected to govern but “if they cannot govern over the next two years they should call a general election and get on with it”.
He said that as an elected member of the Dáil he should be “entitled” to look at the figures and be invited in.
“I’ve spent the last two and a half year fighting for example on the cystic fibrosis project at St Vincent’s Hospital and I’ve seen gross incompetence in relation to that and there’s no way I’m going to support any cuts to pensioner or people with disabilities so I would have certain guidelines," he said.
“Of course I’d like to make a contribution to resolving the economic crisis in the country but I’m not going to make the most vulnerable people pay for it.”
On the same programme, Independent Dublin Central TD Maureen O’Sullivan questioned whether the Government parties are able to put the interests of the country first before their own party political interests.
“I’m just wondering how people look on the motives. I would love to think that this is very altruistic and that it is really in the best interests of the country and not of the party," she said..
Independent Michael Lowry of Tipperary North who is expected to continue supporting the Coalition for the present said he believed the move to be a “genuine effort to reach out to the political establishment.”
In the event of an election, Mr Lowry said he believed that any incoming government should be “signed up” to the four-year plan.
“This, in my view, is a very decisive moment in our history and we need to be responsible and I believe the Taoiseach is doing that," he said. “I am quite confident from the utterances that I’ve heard from people like Michael Noonan and Joan Burton that the opposition are up for the challenge and that they will contribute in a meaningful way."
