Des Geraghty,'Whether or not Budget is rewritten is a matter for the politicians'
Union leaders have indicated that they will not be pressing the Government to recast the Budget, despite claims by the Opposition that it is fatally flawed and will not get through the Dáil in its present form. After a pre-Christmas row over low pay that almost brought these talks to a sudden end in their first weeks, the social partners were back at Government Buildings today, but the unprecedented Budget controversy has not gone away. Fine Gael says that the Budget must be totally recast. Labour says that it will not get through the Dáil when it comes to the Finance Bill next month.
However, union leaders, returning to the talks following personal assurances from the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, say that whether or not the Budget is rewritten and re-launched is an issue for the politicians. The SIPTU president, Des Geraghty, said that his union was returning in the expectation of measures to help the low-paid emerging from the negotiations themselves and in the Finance Bill.
Charlie McCreevy will be glad that the unions are not adding their voice to the clamour for a new budget. However, he will also be aware their leaders now believe their position has been strengthened, and will be not only be expecting help for low-paid workers, but also a childcare package and tax relief for profit sharing.
