FG call on the Govt to allow all parties play a central role

[hiding behind a poster]

or have they seen the polls that show an increase in support for FF ?

And what polls would they be?

[FutureTaoiseach]

I'm increasingly of the view that a FF-FG govt, excluding the other parties, may be the only answer to this crisis before the next election. Leftwing parties like the Greens, SF, Labour and a section of the FF backbenches are obstacles to reform of the public-sector, notably with Labour's links to the unions and the ideological committment of the other parties to the two-tier labour force where the private-sector are treated as the poor-relations while the public-sector are fattened and molly-coddled with 6% pay rises (admittedly delayed but no scrapped) at a time of deflation and benchmarking at a time when public-sector pay on average exceeds that of the private-sector by 20%. I would prefer parties with a rightwing economic message on competition, taxation and public-sector work-practices but in the absence of that, 2 centrist parties is a lesser evil than a govt dictated to by collectivist ideology of the kind that has always failed throughout history going back to Chairman Mao, Josef Stalin, the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc regimes.

[lostexpectation]

how many times can they beg?

[wombat]

Its noticeable that the cronies were the 1st ones to be consulted about the govt's proposals rather than the Dail. If FG agree with proposals when they are finally revealed, they should support them, otherwise they need to push their alternative plans - its not enough to oppose, they need to continue to propose different options.

[meriwether2]

Listening to the news last night about the pay talks, it was brought home to me how clueless the Government is.

The partnes went in, and instead of being told what the polices were, or what a list of possible policies were, they were asked to submit their own policies, and some official wrote them down, and compared them to the other partners policies. I can imagine some bald man hurriedly writing down various off the wall suggestions from David Begg, and muttering to himself 'Oh IBEC wont like that at all at all' and vice versa.

Where is the leadership?
IBEC and the ICTU has its own interests at heart. Who is the government representing? The country.
Is it guaranteed that a deal that employers and workers strike (those that are represented at the negotiations anyway) will actually benefit the country as a whole?

Cowen is clueless. He has no balls, no backbone. He is incapable of taking tough decisions, rather he wants to continue the complete sham that is partnership. Governance by outsourcing.

So it becomes apparent that 'consensus' among the parties in some sort of Tallaght stragegy Mark II is not the answer.
The answer is the removal of Cowen, Lenihan and Coughlan from power.

They dont know what they are doing.
They have no will to make the tough decisions.

Time to go.

[KATHY]

Thank you for correcting my spelling mistake you are so kind .

Tell us what FG are proposing to do to get us out of this crisis?

Unlike the current bunch of idiots in Government Fine Gael published a detailed and costed economic plan last July, and again before the Budget. Despite the obvious merits contained in the 'Recovery through Reform' document FF refused to take it on board. So for all their talk of patriotism, their refusal to accept the need for radical change only served to highlight FF’s absolute inability to put the country before their beloved party and their behaviour is nothing short of gross hypocrisy.

I would suggest that if they genuinely want cross party support in the National interest, they should have the courage to accept and acknowledge cross party proposals in the National interest.

[Rocky]

I'm increasingly of the view that a FF-FG govt, excluding the other parties, may be the only answer to this crisis before the next election. Leftwing parties like the Greens, SF, Labour and a section of the FF backbenches are obstacles to reform of the public-sector, notably with Labour's links to the unions and the ideological committment of the other parties to the two-tier labour force where the private-sector are treated as the poor-relations while the public-sector are fattened and molly-coddled with 6% pay rises (admittedly delayed but no scrapped) at a time of deflation and benchmarking at a time when public-sector pay on average exceeds that of the private-sector by 20%. I would prefer parties with a rightwing economic message on competition, taxation and public-sector work-practices but in the absence of that, 2 centrist parties is a lesser evil that a govt dictated to by collectivist ideology of the kind that has always failed throughout history going back to Chairman Mao, Josef Stalin, the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc regimes.

That's even bad for you FT, Labour are not Communists. I do agree with some of your points about Labour though, but I think FF don't have a clue what they are doing and have to be got rid of and I'd far prefer Labour over them, although a FG majority government would definitly be best, but that is sadly very unlikely to happen.

[Eurocitizen]

And what polls would they be?

And I thought you were well connected . well it shows what I said about you is all true .
Nothing constructive to say , abuser of posters, and absolutly no political credibility .

[Eurocitizen]

Unlike you I am public about who I am and what age I am. Either admit you're lying or for all our sakes feck off.

Lying about what ?

[inspired]

In an effort to identify the fairest and most effective way of dealing with the disastrous state of the country’s finances, FG today called on the Government to allow all parties in the Dail play a central role ....... but with a little sting in the tale.

"In the week that we celebrated the first sitting of the Dáil the Government must ensure that members of the Oireachtas, who represent citizens and taxpayers, are involved in any economic rescue plans”

"This must start with a presentation by Government to the Dáil of all the cutback options considered, together with a cost-benefit assessment of the impact of each option on front-line services. This should include the publication of 2009 Annual Output Statements by each Department, before and after the proposed cutbacks. What must not happen is for Government to repeat the mistakes of the October Budget: protecting the big public sector bureaucracies like the HSE and FÁS, while cutting back on front-line services in health, education and training and on the vital investments in infrastructure needed for economic recovery”.

Based on their performance to date, I would be under no illusion that this Government are willing or able to produce the level of detail requested above, (most of which, much to their shame, probably hasn't even dawned on them.) But by publicly acknowledging that all parties have a role to play, are FG now calling the Government’s bluff on the National Governmemt/Tallaght Strategy style solution suggested by a number of Government representatives recently to divert attention away from their own abysmal performance.

Another ahead of the curve move by Fine Gael, following benchmarking, reform, Anglo, public sector pay etc. Another example of team FG playing to its strengths -Kenny on Monday, now Bruton.

This call from Bruton is completely in line with Kenny's speech at the Mansion House which was well received by commentators.

It illustrates the folly of being hidebound by Partnership and of diminishing the role of the Dail.

If the Gov had balls they would do as FG ask and put it up to them.

That is if the Taoiseach is over his "sleep apnea" (see Today's I Times)