Labour leader Joan Burton brands Micheál Martin ‘smug’

Tánaiste Joan Burton has warned voters against electing “the most conservative government in recent decades” by default and accused Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin of displaying “smugness with a smile”.

Ms Burton said public opinion was probably more progressive and more liberal than at any time in the past. The polls indicated an arrangement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail could be struck after the election, however.

“There is a possibility, I would say a danger, that we will end up with a government in a couple of weeks which apparently nobody wants,” she said.

“We could stumble by accident into the most conservative government of recent decades.”

Ms Burton acknowledged some people who voted Labour in 2011 had been disappointed by certain decisions the party had taken in coalition with Fine Gael, but she said the current government should be returned.

“I am not offering some kind of immediate workers’ utopia or some liberal nirvana. But I’m offering solid, sustained progress and reform as part of a coalition government,” she said.

“I saw last night and all of this week the return of a certain smugness to Fianna Fail. Smugness with a smile, in the case of Micheál Martin. Old wine in new bottles, the new Micheál bottles.”

Asked about the prospect of an alternative government made up of Fianna Fail, Labour, the Social Democrats and Renua, as suggested by Fianna Fail’s Sean Fleming, Ms Burton said the prospect did not attract her. “I couldn’t see that bird flying at all,” she added.

She said “progressive” voters who were “dabbling with the idea” of voting for a small party or Independent should opt for Labour on Friday.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin said all 32 Labour TDs were in a battle to retain their seats. “Everybody knows every Labour deputy is fighting for their political lives,” he said.

Mr Howlin said Fianna Fail would never willingly “play second fiddle” to Fine Gael. “The dogs on the street know that.”

He suggested Fianna Fail might support a Fine Gael minority government until it was “bruised sufficiently” for the opposition party to take electoral advantage.

Defending Labour’s record in Government, he said Fine Gael had wanted “to make the most horrendous adjustment” in terms of cuts but was persauded not to by his party.

Minister for Communications Alex White insisted only Labour would deliver a referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment, which he described as a “top priority”.

The 1983 Amendment, which governs the State’s abortion laws, enshrined that right in the Constitution.

“It is inconceivable that an arrangement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will result in any progress on the 8th taking place in the next half decade,” Mr White said.

He said Labour had a track record of negotiating with reluctant coalition partners.

He said parties of the so-called Left who said they would never compromise were effectively declaring that they did not intend to be in government.

“People don’t necessarily make the link between the social change that they want and the party that delivers it,” he said.