Fianna Fáil is using the controversy over Minister Michael Smith as a "smokescreen" to deflect attention from the "dishonest" cuts in the Estimates, the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, has claimed.
Mr Kenny accused Fianna Fáil of a "cynical exercise" for "producing" a controversy when the real issue was the "anti-social, anti-community and anti-family" Estimates cuts. Up to €160 million out of €200 million in cuts were targeted on the marginalised and vulnerable, Mr Kenny said.
It was "grossly immoral" for the Government to pretend that it could sort out declining public service and value for money for citizens by increasing taxes, Mr Kenny told RTÉ's This Week programme yesterday.
A strong economy could not be built on the back of stealth taxes and the mismanagement of public infrastructural projects. The Government had turned a €5 billion surplus into a €4 billion deficit over the past three years, he said.
Mr Kenny said the benchmarking deal should not be paid until it was renegotiated and there were "real and verifiable" increases in service.
He said the Cabinet was "all over the place" on the matter of collective responsibility. It was "cynical and hypocritical" for ministers to accept the seal of office and then deny their collective responsibilities.
