Bruton criticised by Labour over Sunday payments

MINISTER FOR Enterprise Richard Bruton was subjected to sustained criticism by Labour deputies yesterday over his proposals to change the law on Sunday premium payments for workers in certain sectors.

There was also private satisfaction in Labour circles over the Taoiseach’s comment that Mr Bruton was pursuing a “personal agenda” although Mr Kenny later played down his remark.

The first open rift between the Coalition parties since taking office on March 9th reflected growing Labour resentment over statements made on a variety of issues by Fine Gael Ministers recently. Mr Bruton sent proposals for reform of the Sunday premium payments in such sectors as retail, hospitality, security and hairdressing last Wednesday evening to the employers and trade unions. These proposals were revealed in The Irish Times the following day.

Labour deputies Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Colm Keaveney promptly raised the issue on the order of business in the Dáil.

Speaking in Brussels, Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte said people should be “very careful” if they were to tamper with the pay of low-paid workers.

He said the Cabinet gave Mr Bruton approval to publish the Duffy-Walsh report on proposed reforms, but the only decision was to release the report.

Ministers awaited a formal proposal from Mr Bruton at the end of a short consultation with employers and unions, he added.

He said Mr Bruton had left his colleagues in no doubt that he had views on the matter himself and would “guide” the discussion.

“He’s the Minister seized of the issue and let him come back to Government with whatever proposals he thinks are right – and the Government will assess them and decide,” Mr Rabbitte said.

Speaking privately, a senior Labour source expressed satisfaction that Mr Kenny with his comment on Mr Bruton’s “personal agenda” had, as this source saw it, “cut him off at the knees”.

At a news conference yesterday morning, arranged at short notice, Mr Bruton denied the Taoiseach’s comment was “a slap on the wrist” and added: “I have a huge personal commitment in this area”.

The Taoiseach said at Dublin airport yesterday that “people should not be reading things” into his remark of the previous day.

Later on The Late Late Show, Mr Kenny insisted he and Mr Bruton were "singing off the same hymn-sheet".

A well-placed Labour source said Mr Bruton’s decision to issue his own proposals had been only the latest in a series of actions by Fine Gael Ministers that annoyed the smaller Coalition party.

Other examples cited included statements by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan on introducing a household utility charge and reducing the number of Dáil deputies; and a statement by Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar in advance of the jobs initiative regarded as premature.

“This particular solo run by a Minister is pre-empting a process of consultation with the social partners and we [in the Labour Party] are very conscious of the needs of those who are on the lowest wages,” Mr Ó Ríordáin said.