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FIANNA FÁIL’S BARRY Cowen has accused Fine Gael and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of “pure electioneering” as coalition tensions continued today.
Speaking to the Irish Times yesterday, Varadkar said that ‘middle Ireland’ continues to be his priority as he stands firm on Fine Gael’s demands in coalition.
Varadkar said that the tax package in the next budget must be “as good or bigger” than the last. Looking out for middle Ireland is “part of Fine Gael’s identity”, he said.
His comments came after tensions in the coalition earlier this week. On Monday Fine Gael junior ministers Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Martin Heydon and Peter Burke co-wrote an article for the Irish Independent that called for a “well-earned” tax break for workers.
The proposal is estimated to cost in the region of €1.5 billion. This approach did not go down well with Fine Gael’s coalition partners.
On Wednesday, Fianna Fáil Finance Minister Michael McGrath called it an “unusual move”, and insisted he would not be bullied into acceding to Budget demands.
Speaking today to RTÉ’s This Week programme, Barry Cowen said Fine Gael were “trying to create a divide”.
“The Taoiseach and his office should be above party politics and he should call a halt to the posturing rather than adding to it,” Cowen said.
It’s pure electioneering and playing to a base, and it’s seeking to create a divide, firmly positioning Fine Gael on a side in that divide.
Acting Justice Minister Simon Harris said that it was appropriate for Fine Gael to “make political points”.
“I don’t think there is much of a row here quite frankly and I’m a little perplexed at how it’s gotten to this point.
“The Government is working very well together, there are three parties in the coalition Government, but we are separate and distinct parties and it is entirely appropriate for a political party to make political points.
You don’t give up your right to be a political party when you enter government.
Harris said that the government was “very stable”.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein finance spokesman TD Pearse Doherty said the government was orchestrating a “fake fight” in response to poor polling figures.
“We have to remember that this is a government now – and it’s been played out in the public – a government who’s more interested in getting one over each other in terms of op-eds and so on than actually dealing with the crisis that people face now,” he also told RTE.
He added:
So what we have is a fake fight orchestrated by Fine Gael. Why? Because of their disastrous polling numbers.
With reporting from Mairead Maguire and Press Association
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We don’t believe you Cowen, this is all being orchestrated to appear like a split so as FFG can revert to being FF & FG again before the next GE. Sorry but its too late.
@Nialler Quinlan: yeah we can see right through them. They are the same and should merge. No difference whatsoever.
@Brian Madden: At the rate SF are moving to the centre they might as well join them.
Can anyone point to the policy differences as I can’t see them.
@Justin Gillespie: yeah let’s make this about SF with your juvenile reverse psychology.
@M Bowe: Not able to find any policy differences then?
@Nialler Quinlan:
Who do we want?
Anyone else!
When do we want it?
Now!
Leo doesn’t like the common people, if you get up early in the morning as a health care assistant, it doesn’t matter.
Martin will not be happy with Cowen…After all Martin had spent his time defending Varadkar, Knowing full well Martin’s political life depends on Varadkar . That’s what happens when you become more Blueshirt than the Blueshirts.
@Donal Desmond: and yet Martin consistently has a higher approval rating than Varadkar and normally similar to Mary Lou.
Me, I think we deserve better choices, none are worthy of my vote at present.
@Tipper Irie: Who you vote for is your choice. As far as Martin’s popularity is concerned being ahead of Varadkar is nothing to brag about. It’s the FF ratings that should concern Martin. Seems there is no room in the FG lifeboat for Martin or FF..
@Donal Desmond: pretty much level with Mary Lou, odd that, perhaps SF shouldn’t boast either, but they keep telling us how popular she is.
@Tipper Irie: Was at the count Cork South Central at the last election. SF topped the poll. Martin was elected for the second seat after the sixth count…Used to be that Martin got the first seat especially since it’s in his own backyard.
So what they are pretending now to be different parties. I’ve seen less clowns in Fossetts Circus
@Shaun Gallagher:
the Brits couldn’t catch your avatar because he was hiding and or running away then his own people shot him . LOL
@GERARD KENNELLY: Do you hum Rule, Britannia to yourself while out for a drive Gerry?
25% of the workforce earn enough to put them into the higher tax bracket
40% pay the standard rate only
The remaining don’t pay PAYE at all.
Leo only wants a break for the top earning 25%. He couldn’t give a sod about anyone else
@Barry Donnelly: so basically 75% of the working population got a max of €2.88 per week and anyone earning more than €40,000 got €15.19 extra a week. And why are wage increases nearly always negotiated as percentage increases, again favouring the higher paid.
Barry wouldn’t dream of doing anything like that
Barry loves the sound of his own voice
No marks for intelligence Barry. It always is electioneering!
Are them lads squabbling, Mary Lou will be happy.
The rats are literally eating each other in FFG government….and it’s beautiful to watch
when you get into bed with the Blue shirts arrogantly wealthy boys and girls led by a narcissist on the same level as Trump and Johnson what did you expect.
Varadker is a clone.. you really believe this is the same person as back in 2011
https://irishelectionliterature.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/leoden11b.png?w=644&h=973
.. And SF are #fakeopposition Pearse
@a politicians promise is as good as a lie: absolutely. Another market oriented party. No different. Don’t want my tax money pissed away on a United ireland to keep the lads happy. A double whammy.
All they are doing is shooting themselves in the foot and handing support to S. F.
@John O Mahony:
shooting and SF in the same sentence
@GERARD KENNELLY: Sounds like you have the shinners living rent free like so many…..its sad and funny to watch cos when they get in, there will be a collective meltdown
@GERARD KENNELLY: like leo S.F are living in your head lol
The uniparty hates you.
have your say