Pre-Brexit election not in national interest, Fianna Fáil TD says

It would not be in the national interest to have a general election before Britain leaves the European Union in March, Fianna Fáil's finance spokesperson Michael McGrath has said.

Mr McGrath said his party gave a commitment to the country under the confidence and supply agreement with Fine Gael, which underpins the minority Government, and that it was important the public's trust in politics is restored.

He said talks between the leaders of the two parties would probably commence after October’s budget is announced and could continue until the end of the year.

Fianna Fáil agreed to support the Government in delivering three budget's, the third of which will be in October.

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"The hard talking will begin between the budget and the end of the year. We've been very clear that we will support three budgets," Mr McGrath told RTÉ's Today with Miriam.

Seeing through changes to the budget through the Finance Bill and Social Welfare Bill would take until the end of the year, he noted.

Access to affordable housing will be the priority for Fianna Fáil in the budget process, said Mr McGrath.

“We make no apology that this is our priority, for the people who are above the threshold for rent supplement, but below the level at which they would get a mortgage.”

Under the confidence and supply agreement, Fianna Fáil secured a commitment to a reduction in the Universal Social Charge (USC) and Mr McGrath said he expected that would continue in this budget too.

Tax bands

Mr McGrath warned that if there was not a change in tax bands, then it would in effect be a tax increase.

“We want to give people a break. We need to tackle the issues and ensure that people keep as much as possible of their hard earned income.”

He also warned that the country could be facing “potential economic headwinds”, with Brexit due to happen on March 29th, and that there should also be more progress on “balancing the books”.

Fianna Fáil will enter pre-budget negotiations in good faith, he said, with reinvigorating rural Ireland also a priority for the party.

He said he was not in the business of “laying down red lines” but felt it was important to flag the party’s priority in having a budget that is pro-business.

Asked about a notion mention by Minister for Transport Shane Ross for a so-called ‘granny grant’, which would reward relatives for providing childcare, Mr McGrath said he would need to see more detail before he could comment. He said there was no question that grandparents played an invaluable role.

“We don’t know how the proposal would work, we need more detail about the safeguards and about who would qualify.”