FG TDs criticise Howlin on failure to cut allowances

A NUMBER of Fine Gael TDs have strongly criticised the failed attempt by Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin to cut public sector allowances.

The criticisms were voiced at the weekly meeting of the party’s TDs and Senators last night.

Up to a dozen TDs and Senators expressed dismay at the outcome of the year-long process.

Mr Howlin admitted on Tuesday only €3.5 million of the target of €75 million in cuts had been achieved and that only one allowance out of the total of 1,100 had been abolished.

Opposition spokesmen have described the allowances review as a shambles.

Last night, five of the younger Fine Gael backbench TDs were outspoken in their criticism of the process, describing it as a failure and and a flop.

All spoke at the end of the meeting, which was attended by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Among the most critical were Dublin South East TD Eoghan Murphy, Brendan Griffin from Kerry South and Seán Conlon from Cavan-Monaghan.

The Galway East TD Paul Connaughton and the Kildare South TD Anthony Lawlor were also scathing, according to colleagues who attended the meeting.

They contended that the Labour Minister had acquiesced to public sector unions because of threats to derail the Croke Park agreement.

Some of the five TDs have already expressed disquiet about the Croke Park agreement, which they believe has been too generous to public sector unions.

Mr Kenny addressed the meeting and emphasised his drive to ensure that the Croke Park agreement was worked to its fullest possible extent.

He told TDs that he expected to receive reports of cost-cutting measures and efficiencies from each Government department this weekend.

Earlier, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan said the Government did not need to make great savings on public service allowances this year because it was already on target to meet its objectives on public service pay.

Speaking in Limerick yesterday he signalled that the Government could look at making savings on allowances in talks with public service unions next year.

Meanwhile the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said it would be seeking immediate retrospective payment of allowances that had been stopped at the beginning of the year pending the review, but that have now been approved for continued payment by the Government.