Afternoon, folks. It’s Sean Murray here, following all the happenings at Leaders’ Questions. If you have any thoughts, comments, or opinions, you can leave a comment below or tweet us @thejournal_ie.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny faced questions from the other parties and political groupings inside Leinster House from 12pm.
Micheál Martin, Gerry Adams, Brendan Howlin and Bríd Smith posed the questions today.
Martin criticised the delay in the new system for senior garda appointments, while Adams attacked the Government’s policy on the cost of rent.
Kenny responded with a robust defence of the Government’s record on policing and judicial appointments, and highlighted the “challenging times” ahead when pushed on public sector pay increases.
Here’s what happened.
First, off we have Michéal Martin discussing the Gardaí’s proposed strikes.
He calls into question “the administration of justice” in the country and asks about the issue of senior vacancies within An Garda Síochana.
He asks why 8 members were not appointed to senior positions, when it was previously indicated that they would. He says we “have paralysis and indecision” when it comes to appointing Gardaí to senior positions.
Enda responds by saying that the Tanaíste has indicated that the new policing authority in charge of filing existing vacancies.
New legislation relating to senior positions transfers to the Policing Authority on the 31st December this year, he says.
Until then, it does remain a matter for Government.
Enda rebukes Martin for criticising Government appointing senior Gardaí in the past, and defends its record on the issue.
The number of vacancies in the senior ranks stands at 3, according to Kenny.
The independent Policing Authority are readying to handle these appointments from December.
Martin responds by attacking the Taoiseach for the delay of 12 months.
The Policing Authority act is “one we support”, says the Fianna Fáil leader.
“Why hasn’t it commenced yet?” he asks.
The current system of senior Garda appointments “damages morale” for the Gardaí, Martin says.
The independent Policing Authority is the “major significant change” to policing since the foundation of the State, says Kenny.
I’m sure the Authority will be in a position to make these appointments, he says.
He points to over 30 appointments made by Government, on the recommendation by the Garda Commissioner so far this year.
Gerry Adams up next.
He’s talking about public sector pay. This issue “isn’t going away”, he says.
“Refusing to engage is making the problem worse,” according to Adams.
“Do you think people are being greedy” by asking for pay rises, Adams asks.
These are justifiable claims, the Sinn Féin leader says.
He says unrest in private and public sector are driven by the cost of living crisis, especially the cost of rent.
“You’re failing these citizens,” Adams says.
“Will you commit to rent certainty linked to consumer price index?” Adams finishes.
The Taoiseach acknowledges the difficulties of the past. While the country is in a better situation than it was, there are still significant challenges ahead, according to Kenny.
He says the Government wants a “coordinated approach” to tackling these issues.
It’s very important that the country remains competitive, meaning keeping costs down for rent, housing, and public transport.
We’ve increased the minimum wage, and continue to focus on job creation, Kenny says.
You’ve raised serious issues, Kenny tells Adams. “We need to focus as a country on how best we can move forward”, he adds.
“I asked you to commit to rent certainty and you’ve ignored it,” Adams says.
He quotes film director Ken Loach, and says that “You’re both incompetent and unfit to be in Government.”
He says the Government is happy to change its rental strategy when it suits them.
The Minister has committed to bringing in a comprehensive rental strategy, Kenny responds.
Initiatives like build-to-rent are being looked into, he says. The issue will be discussed further in the coming weeks, he finishes.
Labour leader Brendan Howlin, next.
He says that Transport Minister Shane Ross has launched an attack on the judiciary with his plans for the sector.
I do hope you share my concern about Ross’s recent statements, Howlin tells Kenny.
The notion that “only a lay majority” should appoint judges is bizzare, Howlin claims.
“Will you publicly disassociate yourself” with Ross’s comments? he asks
I have the utmost respect for the judiciary and for judges, Kenny says.
Howlin responds by “welcoming [Kenny's] distancing” from Ross’s comments.
Would you agree with me that the expert panel that recommends to the Government appointments to the judiciary should be from a majority of expert judges.
This is always a balance on how to get right, Kenny tells Howlin.
Having people of expertise from the legal profession and “from life” on the basis of experience and qualifications is essential to appointing the right people.
All appointments should be made on merit, with all professions involved, he adds.
Bríd Smith, from the Anti-Austerity Alliance, is next.
She condemns Leo Varadkar’s assessment that raising public sector pay will hurt public services.
She points to private sector Luas drivers securing a pay rise of 18%. “All they want is 4%” she says.
No restoration of pay deals is “utter hypocrisy”, she says.
“A pay revolt is taking place and you can’t stomach it,” she adds.
Kenny responds that he never heard Smith mention that unemployment has dropped, or that thousands of jobs have been created in the last few years.
A “conveyor belt” of money to pay everybody doesn’t work. “We won’t be doing that again,” he says.
All of the public sector workers accepted sacrifices, he says.
What we have to do as a country is keep our costs down. We do not have the resources to do everything. “A well managed economy involves making choices,” he says.
I recognise worker’s sacrifices, he adds.
Smith says that Kenny doesn’t address the “fundamental inequality” at the heart of these arguments.
Jobs are no good, when people can’t afford to stay in their own homes, she says.
“We [TD's] are getting an extra €5,000. Why should others accept this?”
The Fiscal Space is there, she claims.
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