Kenny defends Government record

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was criticised in the Dáil today over the Government's stance on the Croke Park II talks and its position on the row over turf cutting rights.

Speaking during leader’s question time which was conducted largely in Irish to mark Seachtain na Gaeilge, Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin questioned the fairness of the terms of the Croke Park proposals.

Citing issues with Garda morale which he said was "lower than ever" and the recent vote of no-confidence in Minister for Justice Alan Shatter by the GRA, Mr Martin asked whether it was fair that prison officers should receive double pay for working on Sundays when gardaí would not.

Mr Kenny responded by saying the Fianna Fáil leader was concentrating on gardaí when the "wider picture" needs to be taken into account.

Responding to a claim by Mr Martin that Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin was refusing to meet with Garda representatives, Mr Kenny accused the Fianna Fáil leader of not dealing with the same issues when he was in government.

He said the proposals made by the Government at the outset of the talks were reduced in severity by the time the Croke Park negotiations had concluded and he went on to defend the Coalition's record in Government which he said had led to pressure being placed on the banks to engage with the wider public.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams rejected Mr Kenny's claim. "There is no pressure on the banks - the pressure is on ordinary citizens," he said. Mr Adams used his time to question the Government's commitment to resolving differences with turf cutters over cutting rights on the country's raised bogs.

Speaking in Irish, Mr Adams said an all-party motion committed the government to engage actively with the EU and the turf cutters on an agreed restoration plan ""exactly one year ago" and asked Mr Kenny why the plan had not materialised.

The Sinn Féin leader mentioned the case of four turf cutters due to appear in court in Co Galway today on charges relating to cutting turf and said there was a need for "a comprehensive and credible plan" to deal with the 53 bogs designated as special areas of conversation".

Mr Kenny said he could not comment on cases that are before the courts but said Minister for Heritage Jimmy Deenihan's scheme to compensate turf cutters was "doing well".

Independent TD Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach why the Government was going after the little people rather than those earning more.

The Tipperary South TD said during leaders questions in the Dáil that public sector employees earning between 40,000 and 50,000 faced overall cuts in pay of 8 per cent while higher civil servants and public sector workers faced 5 per cent reductions.

It was unacceptable he said, speaking in both Irish and English.

Mr McGrath said there was no justification or comparison between a 10 per cent cut on a person earning 150,000 and a 5 per cent cut for somebody on 40,000 to 50,000.

He said people who left the talks were being singled out and victimised by some Cabinet Ministers. He said An Garda were waiting for the crumbs from the table, because they were not invited to the talks. The gardaí were being unjustly treated the people who we need to keep that 'líne beag' that separates us from anarchy in this country.

"Ministers were saying those outside the talks would not be penalised but the fellas inside are being rewarded. That's not a just system Taoiseach," Mr McGrath said.

He claimed the Government did not go after the high earners, those on more than €100,000, former taoisigh, ministers and senior public servants.

But Mr Kenny pointed out that there were cuts of up to 10 per cent and former politicians would be affected in the new agreement.

He said the trade unions had time now to consult the document on the negotiations to consider how they would vote in the forthcoming ballot.