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FIANNA FÁIL SAYS it will not accept a major delay in an increase to the state pension, which is to be promised as part of Budget 2017.
It’s understood the government has been considering delaying the increase by several months so that it doesn’t kick in until mid-2017.
The government thinking behind postponing the rise is to allow other possible increases to be given to those on social welfare, such as disabled people, carers, blind people and widows.
However, Fianna Fáil Finance spokesperson Michael McGrath and Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary said today that a six-month delay was “out of order”.
McGrath said Fine Gael is doing a Budget for 2017, “not half of 2017″.
“Starting in June or July does not seem to be credible or realistic to us,” he said.
“We won’t be rolled over”
When asked to clarify if the six-month lead-in was not a runner, Calleary said “absolutely”. He said he will be flexible so that benefits can spread to everyone.
“But we have priorities and we won’t be rolled over on them,” he added.
A government source said delaying the increase ”is about fairness and social justice”.
Nobody should be left behind. As Leo [Varadkar] highlighted in the Dail, the aim is to give carers, disabled, blind, and widows the same increase as pensioners. These groups had their payments cut by €16 a week by Fianna Fáil and have had no restoration. The only way we can possibly afford this is to defer the payments until after January.
Despite McGrath stating that negotiations with Fine Gael so far have been “business-like”, there appears to be some tensions mounting between the two parties.
“Some in Fine Gael have had a Damascus-like conversion to caring in recent days… I don’t buy this,” said Calleary.
“Leo likes to make you think he is all cuddly”
He didn’t hold back there. It was put to him that the €5 increase in the pension (which was Fianna Fáil’s Budget demand) is stopping Social Protection minister Leo Varadkar from increasing other social welfare payments.
Calleary was asked what he would do if he were in Varadkar’s position.
I certainly would never go down a route Leo is going down. Leo likes to make you think he is all cuddly and caring and that he suddenly walked into a phone box and walked out with a cape of fairness – that’s not Leo. The Fine Gael way for doing things was deleted on the 26 February.
The Fine Gael way is taking medical cards off families that need them and that is a position he stood by while a minister and minister for health… I am not convinced by the sudden caring, sharing, cuddly Leo Varadkar.
He said Fianna Fáil are of the view that there is considerable old age poverty and that is why they are seeking an increase – one which McGrath said has not happened in over eight years.
McGrath said his party’s stamp is all over Budget 2017, claiming a number of key items would not be included if it weren’t for Fianna Fáil.
“We helped shape the it,” said McGrath, who went on to say his party argued for the pension hike, changes in the inheritance tax so that it benefits children as well as near relatives, the provision of a home care tax credit and no increase on excise for fuel.
Extra money
However, all is not well in the partnership agreement between the two parties.
McGrath said the party was told for the last number of weeks there was only €1 billion to be spent. However, late last night it heard an extra €200 million had been found.
“The Budget parameters are changing late in the day,” he said.
When asked by TheJournal.ie if the party felt underappreciated by government for not informing them of the extra fiscal space, McGrath said:
I am not making any accusations to the government… but it seems this is the way it works, very late in the day, when all the numbers are joined up, something falls out and others move in. There are moving parts, eventually they arrive at a final figure.
…Reassurances had been given and repeated constantly, publicly, that the space was a billion, that was locked in, that it wouldn’t change – that appears to be not quite the case. From our point of view, it just means, we have to be careful.
We are going to honour our side – the alternative is another general election.
However, while McGrath said Fianna Fáil are willing to support this Budget, it won’t do it “at all costs” and the party won’t “sleep walk” into it either.
The party also has concerns about Fine Gael’s much-publicised first-time buyers grant. McGrath said he would prefer to see a full assessment of its impact, but concluded:
“It is not something we will be bringing the government down on.”
Separately, Labour has criticised Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for playing games on the pension increase.
“Any move to bring the increase back to March or April would mean a real increase of only €2.50 a week in 2017,” said Labour senator Kevin Humphreys.
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Leo trying to make us think he’s cuddly and caring.
FF trying to make us think they’re powerless in gov.
Kenny trying to make us think he’s the big man in europe.
Noonan trying to make us think he’s the financial whizz.
FF and FG trying to make us think this budget is make or break and could bring down the gov, but none of them want an election now so that won’t happen.
FF and FG trying to make us believe we’ve got new politics but its the same bunch of useless morons we’ve got.
FF and FG trying to make us think there’d be massive instability if they weren’t around.
None of this is working.
I agree with all them points Adrian but in fairness to Noonan…..he isnt doing a bad job at all.He’s turned the screw for the economy after the can of worms he was dealt…….and this is when everyone can see he isn’t a well man at all in terms of health.In my eyes he’s the only guy up there that has done his job properly
@Irin Flynn: Have you been in a coma for the last while or maybe in outer Mongolia with no internet access? You obviously haven’t heard of Noonan, Nama and Project Eagle
Mr Dow Jones himself Noonan.
@Anne Marie Devlin: I tried to add a little more to that, but it’s not allowed. Why you can’t tell the truth about politicians and their record is beyond me.
@Anne Marie Devlin: Otherwise known as “The Noonan Experience”
@Irin Flynn: I agree with you, but it remains to be seen over overdue pension increases whether it will be Fianna Fail’s way, or Noonans way….
How many of these political spats and soundbites fix any of the challenges facing this Country?
Ask as a citizen, taxpayer and father…
https://trickstersworld.com/2016/10/07/philosophical-gossip/
@Tony….that ‘soundbite’ sounds very like pre-electioneering to me! Nothing more, nothing less. Let them give back their €6000 rise and put that into restoring some sense of fairness to those on disability and carers pensions. But we will never see that because not one of them could give a continental.
You would think these two parties give a fiddlers about the old ,sick , elderly, disabled. Where were they last year when disabled people had to protest outside the dail after suffering cuts for years to services etc. Funny enough it was almost the same amount that they gave out in the water bribe. As the bribe was hitting people’s banks accounts, the disabled were outsude dail eireann having a protest. Talking about the elderly over a measly €5 increase after they gave themselves over €6000 payrise. They are shameful. Everything is just throw a few crumbs to shut people up.
FF populist gobshi**’s … it’s all about the party not what’s right for the Irish people
@Michael Gerard Hayes: Absolutely Michael but Calleary was right on the money with the quote below. It’s about time somebody came straight out and said it. Varadkar is not to be trusted but sadly he has plenty of people fooled.
“The Fine Gael way is taking medical cards off families that need them and that is a position he stood by while a minister and minister for health… I am not convinced by the sudden caring, sharing, cuddly Leo Varadkar.”
Yeah yeah politicians left or right are all in it for themselves there are no st Vincent de Paul’s in Leinster house and all this left and right wing is really a choice between who will mess up our lives more or less.
Opposite cheeks of the same sleveen backside arguing about who smells worse.
Is it just me or does the new politics look tremendously like the old politics?
Leo is as big a snake as the rest of them.
Well if that’s what Leo is doing it ain’t working.
FF down 7 in the last poll and all of a sudden the tough talk and spiteful personal attacks start. Pathetic.
Nothing to do polls. Everything to do with FF mobilising the grey vote in their favour in the next election. The elderly are more inclined to vote than carers or the disabled I bet.
@Brent Weaver: Correct Brent. FFs main focus is to look after the demographic most likely to vote, followed by months of shaking hands at funerals, followed promptly by an election.
Call my cynical.
Leo is about as cuddly as a cactus
Two cheeks of the same treacherous arse Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.They have consistently stuffed their pockets at the expense of the Irish Citizens.
@For Connolly: What’s his/her number?
Leo might be all sweetness and light and can do no wrong in the eyes of the LBTG community but strip away the cuddly TV persona and underneath there’s a nasty neo liberal Thatcherite who believes that privatization is the answer to all society’s ills.
If Leo ever becomes the leader of Fine Tory, and there’s a strong likelihood given he’s the darling of the Irish liberal press, then we’ll edge ever closer to an American style capitalist society where it’s every man for himself, dogs eat dogs and no sucker will ever be given an even break.
Public Beware.
They have us fighting over the left over crumbs that the eu allow us to divide amongst ourselves. It’s actually our money all the fighting is over. We’d see that if we all went on strike as a nation for a week and expose them as the emperors with no cloths on. It’s up to us to change the place as you can be certain they won’t.
And if there was an election in the morning Aoife what is the electorate to do,there is no viable alternative…
I guess that they have done themselves well Tommy. Created a place where there’s no alternative. I remember fianna fail in power saying the same thing. That there was no alternative to their policy’s. Better to stay with the crap we know I suppose. I take my hat off to the ladies in Poland last week. If we all went on strike for a week the house of cards would fall down.
We are left in a terrible situation Aoife, can’t trust any political party, current elected politicians are all self serving to better their party and themselves. Would wonder why people would bother voting at all…
Isn’t that what they tend to do. To paraphrase pat the oily whale rabbitte. It’s the politics of fear in action, keep the electorate scared of change, catastrophe is only around the corner after all. Just keep working till you drop.
Election close , very close ☺
Sure what TD is cuddly
@Derek hutchings:Ted Danson
Didn’t expect US style politico-bitching to arrive here quite so soon!
Michael D was fairly cuddly, it can happen.
Cuddly in a ‘here’s €1.75 million for 7 years in the Aras’ sort of way.
I think ,subconsciously, the 2 lads just want a cuddley hug off Leo !
At the end of the day old people carers really the people who built and continue to care for our elderly are getting a fiver while our ministers and elected officials get an increase of between 6 and 12k a year. Blood disgraceful Leo and Michael McGrath!!
FF have backed down on Irish Water they have backed down on removing Kenny if they back down on this their credibility is gone. Is it any wonder they are loosing support.
Never forget FF self serving wasters bankrupted this country … they are up to their same old tricks e5 for pensioners … ohh … yeah that’s really important …. no real leadership … not prepared to make them real decisions the tough calls .. . Same oul FF …. never forget
Get over yourself man
FF are losing support daily with this farce for a government in place.
Hopefully more money invested in public services rather than a budget aimed at tax cuts.
You’re not in the squeezed middle I’m guessing.
Of course I am Peter. But their is a choice tax cuts or investment. I’m on the investment side.
Broadband infrastructure all over the country. Business will pick up throughout the land with decent interent.
Why not take to the streets everybody and bring down the government ourselves instead of waiting on FF to do it.
Its interesting to wonder why the situation from 2008 onwards led to the formation of mass movements in other countries but nothing similar in Ireland. Why? Genuine question.
@Mark Andrew Salmon: Fluoride.
We know one thing . If FIanna Fail are talking they are probably telling lies
Michael likes to make you think he is intelligent and articulate. That’s not him.
Imagine if Leo was one of us Irish I mean he would be a bigger c– — this
When Kenny was elected as Taoiseach the first thing he did was had power over to Noonan under the guise that he was getting assistance from Gilmore Burton. Clearly not fit for the job.
FF Taoiseach, Cowan was reported to have an addiction problem which he displayed on Radio and tried to bat away on Late Late. Did he have ” a couple of pints” the day and night of bank guarantee? And other days?
Ahern was flat to the boards in front of a tribunal telling unbelievable stories about horses, houses, bank accounts etc.
Burton said it was the happiest day of his life when Prince Charles came to Ireland.
Is there any wonder why the country is in the mess it’s in.
Reynolds/Major started the peace process in the North. Othess like Blair and Ahern hijacked it.
If half of the chronic moaners in this forum actually joined the parties they complain about they could participate and make a difference.
Instead they support turncoat independents who’ll change their colours quicker than Sinn Fein change their policies.
Why would any self respecting forward thinking person join those corrupt conservative me feiner parties FG/FF???
@alphanautica: Chronic defenders of establishment political parties, whose only interest is corporations and banks, mired in corruption and greed, whinge like fk about the spin and lies not being believed.
The independents have had their chance, they won’t get another.
@alphanautica: I joined the party I admired, has a few problems with its “Only ppl like us” attitude and I got thrown out. Parties DON’T WANT to change and make really sure the only ppl who succeed are the one’s who will fight tooth and nail to make sure as little as possible change(especially for ppl not like them, unless its a negative change). My conclusion is ….. tackle candidates on the door step/email or fb them your needs/wants, vote for those who do their jobs, vote strategically and most of all VOTE every time.
Leave Leo alone Michael McGrath, Leo Varadkar is cuddly and caring. Greatest minister out there.
@Jack…your great craic!
@Jack Bowden:
Why? How?
I actually met him today and shuck his hand. He looks ‘cuddly’ and he looks so young in person. He is caring because he cares about the struggling workers in this country, the squeezed middle. Others seem to just care about the voting pensioners.
@Jack Bowden:
Sounds like you typed that in crayon. Fair enough JB, fair enough.
Not probably definately
If FF are so worried about being included in all budget negotiations and calculations, why didn’t they form a coalition from day one. This joke of an arrangement is doing FG no favours, FF take the credit for any favourable moves and FG get blamed for anything the masses don’t like.
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