Fianna Fáil will not pull down the Government over the budget, but meaningful increases in the State pension must be included, the party leader has said.
Micheál Martin claimed he would not be in a position to veto policy proposals contained in the budget, but expected improvements in the area of education and rural Ireland.
He said those expecting him to withdraw support should “cop on” claiming his party will fully uphold their part of the confidence and supply arrangement.
Speaking in Co Carlow, at his party’s annual away day, the party leader said he would not be writing the budget but expected there to be no surprises contained in it.
Fianna Fáil, he said, would be prioritising pensioners who he claimed had been unfairly targeted by the previous government. “There has to be a meaningful increase [in the pension] this year that would reflect the commitments we made in our manifesto.”
The party had pledged a €30 increase in the pension over a five-year period.
Fianna Fáil’s position was that changes to the universal social charge should be focused on low and middle-income earners.
Questions
Mr Martin also said he wanted to be taoiseach, but claimed there was a “long way to go” before this could happen.
Later yesterday, the party leader attempted to dampen the expectations of Fianna Fáil TDs over what could be achieved by them in the budget.
Mr Martin said Fianna Fáil was not in Government and they could only have so much influence over the budget.
However, he insisted the party would hold Fine Gael rigorously to the confidence and supply arrangement reached. “Their lack of a majority in the Dáil does not stop them proposing policy. It does not stop their Ministers using the enormous resources available to them to set out a strategic direction. So far, they are just carrying on regardless and refusing to offer any new departure.”
Mr Martin said the Government has been out of touch and reactive on a range of essential issues including Brexit and the Apple tax judgment.
The party leader also told TDs they must be “relentless” in ensuring the Government’s housing policy is implemented.
He said the Government must publish the legislation to back up the policy proposals included in the plan.
However, Mr Martin confirmed the party will not support a Dáil motion to scrap water charges despite being in favour of their abolition.
Optics
Mr Martin said a motion could not abolish water charges and supporting the Sinn Féin proposal was pointless.
“We are not into optics. We are into action. We are the only party that has effected an outcome on water, ie the ending of the water-charging regime as we know it because our decision to enter into an agreement with Fine Gael to ensure that would happen. The only way water charges can be reintroduced is through legislation and that is unlikely.”
Mr Martin said Fianna Fáil was the only one to bring about change, insisting it was far more effective politics than those practised by Sinn Féin. “You need to be honest with people. The only way you can get rid of water charges is with a money Bill – in other words, legislation. Only governments can bring in a money Bill – not opposition.”
The think-in continues today and will focus on the implications of Brexit.
