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JUNIOR MINISTER SEÁN Sherlock has laughed off talk of a split between Fine Gael and Labour over the lucrative Jobs portfolio describing it as less of a tug of war but “more like a tug of love”.
Sherlock was speaking at the launch of Enterprise Ireland’s annual report for 2013 where ministers faced questions about the ongoing negotiations between the Taoiseach and new Tánaiste about the reshuffle.
It’s been widely reported that Labour is demanding the Department of Jobs in the Cabinet reshuffle but that Fine Gael, whose minister Richard Bruton currenty occupies the post, is reluctant to give it up.
“It’s less of a tug of war, it’s more like a tug of love at this stage. That’s all I’ll say for now,” Sherlock said to laughter from the audience at the Department of Jobs this afternoon.
Bruton said that he was focused ”on the task that I have been given” as he refused to be drawn on the apparent dispute.
Coalition negotiations are now in their fourth day and still no sign of an announcement of the government’s priorities for its remaining time in office and the hotly-anticipated reshuffle.
But Bruton, who has been linked with a move to the Department of Health, insisted there is “no particular time pressure” on Enda Kenny and Joan Burton to conclude their talks.
“I think the Taoiseach has indicated that. We continue to work. I think we have a very strong, functioning government,” he said.
“We’re actually delivering really strong performance on many fronts. I think that will continue and I think the two leaders will make their decisions in a timely way and obviously that will be important for the next chapter of our government.”
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‘Tug of love’
Isn’t that what some lads do on their own some times ;)
Spot on
gripping
There are people going hungry and people losing their jobs and their homes and these greedy politicians are worried about Garth Brookes says it all realy about their sense of reality!
And the 50million euro boost the concerts were bringing to Dublin is worth fighting for on all fronts
And to hell with the law. Thats only for the little people
Ming in Brussels yesterday, talking about what really matters. #Bankdebt Not really reported on strangely. .
http://youtu.be/vaMJlLDbSFo
It wasn’t a law it was an agreement. Yes they shouldn’t have broke it but people will lose jobs over these cancellations and that will be the bigger cost of them
“€50 million to the economy is worth fighting for on all fronts”!?
Where the hell was Enda when we needed him to fight for the retrospective write down on odious private banking debt?? Where was his seismic shift then? Not another red cent to the bondholders ect ect.
No Enda decided to follow FF footsteps and converted it into sovereign debt TO THE TUNE OF BILLIONS, THAT WE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR DECADES TO COME!
Gareth brooks, Aiken and Enda Kenny can shove that €50 million where the sun don’t shine.
If the c
Apologies, I was going to continue with a rant. But what’s the point, the people of this country have their heads up their arse!
And Gareth brooks music is shoite IMHO.
Jill
Excellent comment….vote buying from all parties…its an absolute disgrace
This story isn’t even about him. Let it go people!
Sean Sherlock is the polar opposite of Innovative
But he did do sterling work for the multi nationals threatening to jail kids for downloading their favourite songs. And then disappearing for a year until he needed publicity recently.
Tug of love is fairly unfortunate phrase.. Ew
With it being the only good news position in government I’m not surprised FG want to hold onto it… Too late for Lab anyway.
Does Joan think she will win voters back just because she’s in ? Well isn’t she in for surprise . That is just a portfolio & if they can’t agree on which to put it into well I’m afraid there’s little for those 2 idiots , they are more concerned about Gareth brooks than the running of country & informing us who will be doing what for next 17 mths il give them 6 mths & labour pains will be very painfull
It is because this a great portfolio to be in that they both want it.
The economy is really coming around fast, certainly faster than anyone expected.
Joan wants to be associated with some good news for a change. While Bruton thinks it is his baby and he wants to rear it.
It would be fairly sad if they weren’t going for this.
Richard Bruton doing a great job there for the second time, leave him there doing what he is good at
Er Coming around fast? Its another property bubble fuelled drive. Jobs are not as “out there” as they claim. Things are getting dearer and wages are not increasing in line with this.
Economy doing well ??? Im in retail it’s not improving people are not spending so don’t think retail sector is growing whatever bout economy I’m not convinced on it’s growth , it’s going wrong direction with house prices & retail high rent still an issue the lack of intervention from goverment on this shows they are very shamefully bad shows they are weak .
Proof if ever needed that a recovery is underway.
If things were still going bad Labour wouldn’t want this job for anything.
In what way is the Jobs Portfolio “lucrative”? Is there something we should be told?
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