LABOUR LEADER Eamon Gilmore has repeated his party’s willingness to talk to the Government about reaching a consensus on the economy.
“If the Government, at any time, wants to talk to the Labour Party about proposals and solutions for solving the country’s economic problems, we are willing to engage constructively and positively with them,” he said.
“The difficulty we have is that the Government has not talked to us. I have had discussions with the Taoiseach on a number of issues of national concern, such as Europe and the Lisbon Treaty, but he has never talked to me about the economy, other than across the floor of the Dáil.’’
Mr Gilmore said he had already offered to be very supportive of any strategy which the Government might bring forward to create jobs. He urged the Government to publish its taxation proposals soon.
“I think everybody knows and understands that changes in taxation are going to be part of the solution to the problem of the public finances and our economic difficulties. The Government needs to bring forward these proposals sooner rather than later.
“It is very difficult these days for families to budget in circumstances where the bad news is coming incrementally.’’
Mr Gilmore said the impressive opinion poll results were an indication of a positive reaction among voters to his determination to give the electorate a third option by building Labour as a separate and distinct party that could compete on equal terms with both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
“Labour’s rise in the opinion polls presents us with both opportunities and challenges. The positive reaction from the public is most encouraging and we have momentum behind us at the moment. But we must continue to provide leadership and policies that are realistic and credible.
“We have to show the public that Labour cannot just provide the best opposition but also the best government.”
Mr Gilmore was speaking at a convention in Liberty Hall, which chose outgoing MEP Proinsias De Rossa as the party’s candidate in Dublin in the European elections.
Mr De Rossa said that the Dáil should be involved in the selection of Ireland’s next EU commissioner. “Neither Ireland nor Europe can afford a second Charlie McCreevy in Europe.
“We need new procedures to be put in place so that the Dáil can participate in the selection of Ireland’s nominee to the commission later this year. Mr McCreevy’s beloved ‘market’ has imploded, not just in Ireland, Europe and the USA, but globally.
“It has been brought down by blind faith in unregulated markets which, generation after generation, has plunged people into poverty and despair in various corners of the world. The difference today is that the collapse is global.”
Mr De Rossa said the State must borrow and raise revenue for a recovery programme based on job retention and investment.
