Mary Lou McDonald accuses Government of propaganda

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has accused Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton of embarking on a “propaganda initiative” with their contributions to newspapers on Monday.

Ms Burton, writing in The Irish Times, said Labour would help those still in the grip of recession, while Mr Kenny, in the Irish Independent, said the threshold for paying the universal social charge (USC) would be raised.

“I think at this stage the Taoiseach and, indeed, the Tánaiste will probably promise to do just about anything if it will see a bounce in their poll ratings,” Ms McDonald said.

“The Taoiseach and the Government should understand that if they want to do one single thing now that would be of assistance to low- and middle-income families they should just scrap the water charges.”

Speaking at her constituency office on Amiens Street in Dublin, Ms McDonald said: “I think what we’re seeing playing out now is more a propaganda initiative rather than any change of heart by this Government.”

General election

She said the Government parties’ attention had clearly turned to the next general election.

“In that context they need to understand that the issue of water charges hasn’t gone away.

“They would be very foolish to imagine that that were the case.”

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil’s finance spokesman, Michael McGrath, said the Labour Party had squandered its opportunity to improve people’s living standards.

“The Labour Party has presided over four successive regressive budgets which disproportionately hit people on low and middle incomes.

“It won’t cut much ice with those voters that the Labour Party says it is hoping to do something for them in the last budget. They have had their opportunity, and they have blown it.”

Turning to Fine Gael and Mr Kenny’s comments about the USC, Mr McGrath said the Government had introduced a tax-cutting package in the last budget that benefited higher earners most.

Difference

“If they want to make a difference on the USC they should change the level at which low- and middle-income workers hit the 7 per cent rate,” Mr McGrath said.

“That would be a better use of resources than seeking to increase the number of people you take out of the tax net entirely.”

Ms McDonald, when asked on Monday about possible coalition options in the aftermath of the next general election, said her preference would be for Sinn Féin to participate in a “distinctively left government”.

She said Sinn Féin would have “very fundamental differences” with Fine Gael values, policy and approach, and would have “issues” with Fianna Fáil.

She called on the two parties to “kiss and make up”, adding that she believed Civil War politics was over.

“I would like to see Sinn Féin in government as the larger party in any coalition arrangement.

“My personal view is that would be the only way in which we would guarantee we would have sufficient influence and sufficient clout,” she said.

She said that in “any other set of circumstances” the smaller party in any coalition arrangements “kind of gets done over”.