UNIONS:LABOUR LEADER Eamon Gilmore said he was "surprised" that Fine Gael appeared to be including unions when referring to taking on vested interests such as bankers and developers.
The Irish Congress of Trade Uions has asked that a line on the party’s website and election material referring to Fine Gael taking on the “vested interests including builders, developers, bankers and trade unions” be removed.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny admitted while “some elements” of the party might not have a great connection with unions, he had “built a very good working relationship” with Ictu general secretary David Begg.
“I was disappointed, I must say, that Fine Gael have taken that kind of abusive position towards trade unions,” Mr Gilmore said while canvassing in Dundalk, Co Louth.
Asked if the finance portfolio would be a must for Labour in any coalition, he said the party “hasn’t given any consideration to who has what portfolio” because it was concentrating on the election.
Asked if Labour could work with a Fine Gael finance minister, Mr Gilmore said: “We would work with Fine Gael if there’s a programme for government and the individuals who occupy portfolios; that’s not something that’s of concern to us.”
On Metro North, which he previously wanted to defer, he said Labour in government would draw up a revised national development plan and a decision on the Metro North project would be based on its “capacity to generate employment”.
Politicians did not usually comment on opinion polls, but Mr Gilmore said he was “very pleased” with the figures in yesterday’s Irish Times which showed himself and running mate Senator Ivana Bacik taking two seats in Dún Laoghaire.
