Kenny says Coughlan 'all over the place' on pay deal

THE TÁNAISTE has been accused in the Dáil of sending out “conflicting messages” and of being “ambiguous” about renegotiation of the national pay deal.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny had accused the Government of being “all over the place” on this issue and claimed “there is no clarity”. He then asked Mary Coughlan to say “if the national pay deal is set in stone or is up for renegotiation”.

Ms Coughlan told him: “The national pay deal is not up for negotiation, but there is constant interaction between all members of the Government and the social partners, most particularly in the context of the current economic difficulties.”

Mr Kenny challenged her again, claiming this “sends out conflicting messages”, accusing her of evasiveness and asking again if the Government intended to renegotiate the pay deal.

Insisting that she had answered, Ms Coughlan said: “The answer is no. Perhaps the deputy just does not understand these little words like yes and no.”

Labour leader Éamon Gilmore said he was “somewhat surprised by the Tánaiste’s ambiguous reply to Deputy Kenny”.

“The Tánaiste in her capacity as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment was the lead Minister in respect of industrial relations and therefore her response is all the more surprising.

“It appears the Government does not know if it is talking to the social partners at all or if it is doing so, what it is talking to them about.”

Mr Kenny had originally raised the issue claiming there was no Government clarity.

On Wednesday the Minister for Finance “gave a strong hint that the national pay deal may be renegotiated” and the Taoiseach in the Dáil had said “a conclusion would be arrived at in negotiation with social partnership”. Then a statement had been issued on Wednesday night from the Taoiseach, which said that in a meeting with the social partners, “the question of review of the national pay agreement did not arise”.

Ms Coughlan repeated that on “the specific issue of the national pay deal, it is not up for negotiations. However, I am delighted we are in Government because at least the social partners will be fully au fait with the fact that we respect their role.”

She added: “Following the flippant way in which the leader of the Opposition treats the social partners, I am sure they will outline their views to him in due course. We have always been of the view that the role of social partners within our economy has been pivotal and will continue to be so.

“The Taoiseach has met the congress and Ibec representatives to discuss the current economic situation. I have likewise interacted with them, as have my Ministers of State, on a constant basis.”

Mr Kenny said the Government was “fully entitled to deal with the social partners with regard to the circumstances in which the nation finds itself”. He respected the part social partnership played in stability and economic growth over the past 20 years.

He asked again: “Irrespective of the discussions taking place between the social partners and members of the Cabinet, is the Tánaiste telling me that the Government will pay the national pay deal as agreed?”

Ms Coughlan said there was “no legislation proposed on the national pay awards”.