Politics

Howlin denies pact with FF to defeat Government motions

Fine Gael concerned FF and Labour had done deal to co-operate on important motions

Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin: party has announced its new-look front bench. Photograph: Gareth Chaney Collins
Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin: party has announced its new-look front bench. Photograph: Gareth Chaney Collins
Sarah Bardon
Thu Jun 09 2016 - 01:00

Labour

leader

Brendan Howlin

has denied his party has done a deal with Fianna Fáil to ensure the Government is defeated on certain Dáil motions.

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Mr Howlin insisted there was no basis to speculation about an arrangement with his counterpart Micheál Martin and that Labour was “going to work with everybody”.

There is concern in Fine Gael that the two parties had done a deal with each other on important motions.

“In the new dispensation that is so-called new politics we will work with every progressive force that wants to advance progressive issues,” he said.

Fianna Fáil had last week been anticipated to abstain in a Labour motion on workers’ rights. However, the party voted for the motion forcing the Government to suffer its first defeat.

Labour has also agreed to support Fianna Fáil TD Pat “the Cope” Gallagher for Leas Ceann Comhairle. Mr Howlin said he had reached out to Fianna Fáil but had also reached out to Fine Gael and Independents to support Labour.

The party leader unveiled his shadow cabinet yesterday with the portfolios of health and jobs allocated to Alan Kelly.

Former leader Joan Burton was designated finance and education spokeswoman, former minister for education Jan O'Sullivan will shadow the Minister for Children and Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Seán Sherlock will be spokesman on communications, climate change and natural resources and spokesman on public expenditure and reform.

Former TDs Joe Costello, Ciarán Lynch, Alex White, Joanna Tuffy and Michael McNamara will also take positions for the party.

“Today, I am also writing to all 50 Labour councillors. They too will be asked to share in the leadership of our party,” Mr Howlin said. Elected representatives and the broader membership “across the length and breadth of the country will begin working to revive a radical policy agenda for the party”.