INDEPENDENT TDs:INDEPENDENT TDs Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy-Rae have yet to make up their minds on how they will vote in next week's budget, they said yesterday.
There were indications, however, that they will support the Government. Mr Lowry stressed the necessity to put the national interest before political considerations, while Mr Healy-Rae said he was keeping an “open mind”, despite pressure from constituents to oppose the budget.
Mr Lowry and Mr Healy-Rae have formed a close political liaison in dealing with the Government and are expected to agree to a unified approach in advance of next week’s crucial vote.
The loss of the Fianna Fáil seat in Donegal South West to Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty last week has reduced the Government’s majority to two votes, leaving it more reliant on Mr Lowry and Mr Healy-Rae.
Assuming Government backbenchers were on-side, the support of the two Independents would see the budget passed.
Mr Lowry, who represents Tipperary North, said he would not abstain in the vote under any circumstances.
“Abstaining would be a weak response to a serious situation,” he said. “I will either vote for or against the budget.”
Mr Lowry said he would meet Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan on Thursday to discuss the issue.
“I am conscious that the national interest is at stake,” he added. “We have signed up for a massive loan, and failing to cross the first hurdle, which is the budget, would do untold damage to our already tarnished reputation.”
Mr Lowry said that Fine Gael and Labour, as the likely next government, should not shirk their responsibility to reach a consensus with the outgoing Government on the budgetary situation.
“Unfortunately, they have given no indication at all that they are prepared to put the common good ahead of their own political advantage,” he added.
“The fact that the passing of the budget now rests with Deputy Healy-Rae and myself illustrates the abject failure of Fine Gael and Labour to show leadership at a time of crisis.”
Mr Healy-Rae, who represents Kerry South, said: “I am coming under desperate pressure in my constituency to vote against the budget, but I still have an open mind on the matter.”
Mr Lowry and Mr Healy-Rae have said in the past they would consider reducing the old-age pension and putting an excessive financial burden on third-level students would be socially unjust. Those are among the issues expected to surface in talks with Mr Lenihan and in other Government contacts this week.
Mr Lowry said yesterday that while members of the Oireachtas had taken significant pay cuts, he would expect that Ministers, TDs, Senators, chief executives of semi-State bodies and members of the judiciary should take further salary reductions.
Dublin North Central Independent TD Finian McGrath said yesterday he was consulting with his constituency organisation about his approach to the budget.
“I have to say that my supporters are furious about the state of the economy,” he added.
