Labour Party Posturing Undermining International Message – FF Leader

Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin TD has called on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to do more to prevent Ministers undermining the message to the international community that Ireland is committed to recovery.

He commented, “The international coverage sparked by Minister Pat Rabbitte’s musings are not helpful to Ireland’s reputation abroad at a crucial time in the Eurozone.

“The commitments made in the EU/IMF funding package were made in the interests of getting Ireland back on the road to recovery and creating jobs.  The last government did the heavy lifting in the last three years to enable our economy to stabilise, finding ways to deliver €21 Billion of a €30 Billion deficit reduction.

“These difficult but correct decisions have proved to be critically important to Ireland’s recovery and are now being recognised as such.  It is ironic that the Taoiseach is accepting praise from President Barroso for decisions he didn’t take and policies he opposed.

“However, it is potentially very damaging to watch the Taoiseach reassure the international community that the Government is sticking with the plan, while back in Ireland members of his cabinet are ignoring recommendations of the Fiscal Council and being evasive in relation to the commitment to meeting the country’s targets in budget 2012.

“Minister Rabbitte needs to be told to stop the Labour Party posturing and the Cabinet needs to be unanimous and clear in its commitment to meet the 8.6% target.”