Centre left parties have accused Fine Gael leader Simon Harris of the “height of arrogance” after he ruled out a Coalition with a multiparty left wing alliance.
Also targeting what he said were risky spending plans, Labour’s finance spokesman Ged Nash rounded on Mr Harris.
“I’ve a message for Simon Harris - and for Micheál Martin - the election is taking place next Friday. And it is arrogant in the extreme for him to simply predict and anticipate the outcome of an election before the people have spoken,” he said.
“We hear a lot about Simon Harris’ new energy - with those reckless fiscal proposals he is at risk of electrocuting the country and electrocuting the public finances,” he said at the launch of Labour’s proposals for workplace reform.
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“We’ve been here before, when unfunded tax cutting promises have been made at the same time as pledges to develop public services and that did not end well. The Irish people of the next government should include adults in the room and we believe the Labour Party are those adults,” he said.
Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy also said it is the “height of arrogance” for Mr Harris to dismiss her party.
While Mr Harris praised the Green Party and Labour Party on The Irish Times Inside Politics podcast, he was critical of the Social Democrats for ruling out tax cuts, saying “that’s the equivalent of saying there will be tax rises”.
Speaking on Friday morning alongside Cllr Aidan Farrelly, who is running to hold her seat in Kildare North as she is due to retire from politics, Ms Murphy said: “In relation to Simon Harris, I’d like to invite him to read our manifesto, because, in actual fact, there is tax index-linking in our manifesto. And I think it’s the height of arrogance to be dismissing people before one vote has been cast. I can send him a copy of it, if he hasn’t got it, but he should read it.
“We’re not going to be a soft touch. We have a very well thought out manifesto.”
[ Simon Harris rejects coalition with multi-party left-wing allianceOpens in new window ]
Asked about Labour leader Ivana Bacik’s idea of a left-wing, post-election alliance of parties, Ms Murphy said: “I also listened to Alan Kelly telling us that he’s going to be a Cabinet minister. So I’m a little bit confused with the Labour Party to be perfectly honest with you. We will certainly talk to everyone after the election, but we will wait until people cast their votes, and we’re very hopeful that they will deliver us a strong mandate, so that we will be in a more powerful position.”
The Social Democrats were launching their youth policy in Dublin on Friday morning.
Cllr Farrelly, who was a youth worker for 16 years, said that “some political parties think that a few TikTok posts will impress a generation that have been abandoned by policy, but we know that young people in Ireland want substance, they want policy.”
“Youth mental health services and supports are at breaking point throughout this country, with long waiting lists. We want to create a €150 sports and culture activity voucher for children aged six to 18.”
He said the party wants to full resource CAMHS teams, and set up 16 new intellectual disability teams.
“We will reduce third level fees by phasing out the student contribution charge and increase funding to the Susi scheme. Also, I think it’s really important that we review the CAO point system. It’s dysfunctional, and we need to do this in partnership with young people, teachers and higher education institutions to develop a fairer framework for third level admissions.
“The Social Democrats will also resource a Taoiseach Youth Council, which will be an advisory structure to the Department of the Taoiseach on issues of real importance to young people in Ireland. And finally, given that young people are mature enough to inform themselves on issues affecting their lives and engage in the political system, consideration should be given to lowering the voting age for local and national elections. Sixteen is the age that young people gain many rights and responsibilities in society.”
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