MINISTER FOR Enterprise Richard Bruton is on a collision course with backbench Labour TDs and with unions over his proposals to cut Sunday and overtime rates for 200,000 workers.
Mr Bruton yesterday denied that the two Coalition parties were divided over what he described as his radical proposals to reform wage-setting mechanisms for tens of thousands of workers in hotels, restaurants, retailing and other sectors.
“I do not believe that there will be a rift between Labour and Fine Gael. All parties recognised there is a need for radical reform,” he said.
But in the first public expression of dissent from the Government backbenches since the Coalition was formed, a large number of Labour Party TDs yesterday expressed strong criticism of the proposals and portrayed Mr Bruton’s initiative as a solo run that had neither been fully discussed nor approved by Cabinet.
A number, including Dublin TD Tommy Broughan, asserted that there had been no consultation before Mr Bruton made public his proposals on changes to employment regulation orders and the joint labour committee system, both of which govern pay and conditions.
This view seems to have been given substance by comments from Taoiseach Enda Kenny who said that Mr Bruton was pursuing a “personal agenda” on this matter and no Government decision had yet been made. However, that was later clarified by Government which emphasised that Cabinet had agreed that Mr Bruton would make proposals arising out of a report on wage-setting mechanisms published last week.
Government sources from Fine Gael and Labour confirmed Ministers from both parties would have been fully aware of Mr Bruton’s views before he put his proposals into the public domain. The sources pointed out that it did not mean there was agreement on his views.
Asked had there been discussions with his Labour Party colleagues, Mr Bruton said: “We had full discussions on the report and the possibilities and it was agreed that I would meet with the parties and put forward proposals that I believe were the best way to deal with it and come back to Government with a decision.”
One source said: “These are the Minister’s proposals. This is his agenda. He recognises that other parties will attack aspects of the proposals but he is determined to deliver much-needed reform. That’s what he has been talking about for 10 years.”
However, a succession of Labour TDs and union leaders said they would resist the proposals as they stand. Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin also signalled that there is no Cabinet agreement. Speaking in the Dáil he said that Mr Bruton’s initiatives were his own proposals and as yet there were “no predetermined outcomes to discussions on the issue”.
Mr Broughan was one of several Labour TDs who castigated the proposals. He said that agreement that protected vulnerable workers was a “red-line issue” for his party. Cork South Central TD Ciarán Lynch was also highly critical of the Minister’s decision to make the matter public.
