Poor better off under PDs, claims McDowell

Progressive Democrat leader Michael McDowell has claimed the weak and vulnerable in Irish society are better off with his party in office than with Labour in government.

In an address to the Small Firms Association in Dublin today, Mr McDowell said the level of jobs growth under the currnent Government was stronger than any other administration and this had made a massive contribution to the fight against poverty.

He said his party had also introduced the minimum wage and that welfare payments had increased more under the current Government than under the Rainbow Coalition.

"It is not just those who can look after themselves who are better off under this Government. The weak and the vulnerable are also considerably better off under this government," he said.

"While Labour may have an advantage in terms of public demonstrations of compassion, in terms of actual delivery to those who need it, Labour falls far short," he claimed.

But Labour leader Pat Rabbitte rejected Mr McDowell's comments, saying it was "entirely hypocritical for the leader of a small niche party that has shamelessly promoted the interests of the well off to now try and portray himself as the champion of the poor".

Mr Rabbitte said the PD leader has promoted and defended the idea that inequality was necessary to drive our economy.

"If Minister McDowell wants to find out something about the reality of life for the poor in this country after almost ten years of Fianna Fáil/PD rule then he should talk to the St Vincent de Paul who earlier this week said that they had spent €1 million assisting families who had their gas and electricity supplies disconnected.

"This speech is another exercise in self promotion by Michael McDowell and a crude attempt to rewrite our recent political history," he added.

In his speech, Mr McDowell said the next election is as much between the Progressive Democrats and Labour as it is between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.