TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny failed to answer Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams when asked if he agreed remarks by Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton about people making a “lifestyle choice” to go on the dole were disgraceful.

Mr Adams claimed the remarks, made at the weekend, “smack of the conservatism of Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s” and he called on the Taoiseach to ask the Minister “not to demonise those she is supposed to protect”.

He said: “Have the people on trolleys, those who are emigrating, the low-paid and people without accident and emergency services made that choice? Are the lifestyle choices of our people being made by the Government?”

The Louth TD said the Government had made a “lifestyle choice” to put billions of euro into toxic banks rather than job creation or public services. “When it looks to introduce universal social charges, water charges, property taxes and other cuts that are on the way, the Government makes that lifestyle choice,” he added. He asked Mr Kenny if he agreed the Minister’s remarks were “entirely inappropriate and should be withdrawn”.

The Taoiseach said Sinn Féin was living in a “land of fantasy and unreality” with its banking policy. “The answer to unemployment is employment, job creation and work, which is the focus of this Government. There should be no undue pressures on employment and work, even within the constraints of the loan fund repayment, and we must bring about a stimulus of confidence within our economy,” he said.

He added that “the focus of the Government will be to continue to bring about a position where employment can be created”. That was the solution to all employment issues. “It will give an opportunity for people to get on the ladder to choose different options, such as retraining, upskilling or new opportunities,” he said.

Mr Adams said he had asked the Taoiseach “about the inappropriateness of the Minister’s remarks but he did not answer.” He asked the Taoiseach to assure the Dáil that “those on social welfare or on low pay will not have benefits or pay cut further. Will he ask the Minister for Social Protection not to demonise those she is supposed to protect?”

Mr Kenny replied that “in so far as it is possible, the opportunities for people here to have gainful employment and to carve out careers should be achieved”.