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THE NEW DEPUTY Leader of the Labour Party, Alan Kelly, said his focus is now on people who do an honest day’s work.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1 the Junior Transport Minister said that Labour achieved the majority of the programme for Government but didn’t emphasise their achievements enough.
He also spoke about his ambitions for the future of Labour and quashed the idea of Labour going into government with Sinn Féin in the near future.
Speaking about the 30-50 age group, he said: “A lot of people who bought houses with large mortgages…they have childcare costs, commuting costs – by the end of the week they don’t have much disposable income.
“We need to look at ways to lower the burden on those people.
I’d like to look at having a second free childcare year in the future- if we could afford it.
When asked by Richard Crowley on RTÉs This Week for something that he thinks is achievable for the October budget, he said:
“From a tax point of view, we need to look and ways to ensure that we can put money back in their pockets. That should be achievable.”
Government
The Junior Transport Minister also added that he believes the majority of the programme for Government was achieved.
“Most governments review their priorities mid stream and this is no different.
You have to take election results on the head, they were very difficult and we have to learn huge lessons from them.
He added, “We didn’t get to emphasise our achievements enough.
“But now we need to refocus on workers. An honest day’s work for an honest day’s wage.”
With change comes opportunity and there’s an opportunity now for the government to reset priorities, there’s an opportunity for the Labour party with new leadership to reprioritise our role in government and what our main ambitions are.
When asked about his main ambitions, Kelly replied “My main ambition really is to ensure that working people and those who are looking for work- that they are at the top of the agenda and that we can give something back.”
Sinn Féin
Kelly was asked for his opinion on whether Sinn Fein could potentially be a suitable coalition partner in the near future for Labour.
He said: “I think they’re not a suitable coalition partner… I think Sinn Féin have a road to travel.
I think the connection with the past there in relation to the troubles needs to move on before a lot of people would be comfortable being in government with them and I certainly stand in that position.
“Sinn Fein are not a left wing party, they’re a populist movement with a very authoritarian style.”
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I think another contract by an outsourced development team, contracted by another provider, who can consult on the other contractors contract is required. Or has ESB not done this? Recognition of the Union and pay them fairly. Outsourcing is a race to the bottom by corporations. Keep it cheap for technicians while management lick the cream off the profit’s.
@Twitruser2021: the ESB is a semi-state I’m afraid – whatever profits are made don’t go to “management”.
Existing ESB unions are poison as it is, milking the lot of us. No surprise they don’t want to recognise a new one.
@Pseud O’Nym: = naivety at its greatest
@Twitruser2021: bull one of the best paid employees in the country. Greed that is all it is. Unions = dysfunctional
@john s: get a job with them so!
What the ESB are saying is the will only negotiate with “Approved Unions “ those who the company deem appropriate . The day the employer tells the worker who can and Cannot represent them is a bad day for workers everywhere .
@Airwave81: not true, you will fine that it is the original union that won’t let employers recognise competion unions.
Why don’t the company engage in talks with the union? The union is willing to meet them on the matter but they refuse!
@Bull McCabe: I would guess the other unions don’t want a new union infringing on their patch. The official unions will want to be the only workers representatives. Management would be the same, It be a nightmare if dozens of unions popped up and they all want to negotiate separately.
Power to the people
This is a union battle, does ictu recognise this union. I knew sliptru would be involved. I hope the ESB go to the wrc. They have significant members and should be recognised..
Effectively what they are saying is we have no way to influence this union so we won’t speak to them.
@Ciaran Burke: no what they are saying is the other unions won’t let them talk to them
One of the best paid group of employees in the country with pensions to match going on strike,many large european economies have better systems in place with one union representing all company employees, multible unions representing a few thousand employees is ridiculous that no employer wants to have to deal with.
@Richard Mccarthy: The Esb don’t pay the Electrical rate so no they are not the best paid in the country .
@Terry O Shea: bull, these are probably getting more and they have a big pension
have your say