Gilmore hits back at venue criticism

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has hit back at criticism over Labour’s choice of a luxury venue for its annual party think-in.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has hit back at criticism over Labour’s choice of a luxury venue for its annual party think-in.

The Labour leader said people should focus on the parliamentary party’s work at the Carton House Hotel in Maynooth, Co Kildare, rather than the plush trimmings.

“I think substance is more important than optics,” Mr Gilmore said. “They should look at what it is we are doing here this week.”

A number of Labour senators boycotted the two-day meeting at the 12,000-acre estate, once home to Lord FitzGerald and host to renowned sports teams like Real Madrid, because they did not want to be seen to be living it up on taxpayers’ money.

James Heffernan, Denis Landy and John Kelly said the five-star location was “all wrong” given the economic situation.

Mr Landy said there were suitable facilities in Leinster House to stage the event.

“We’re sending out the wrong signal to people who are struggling in their everyday life by going to a five-star resort hotel to discuss a future budget which is inevitably going to cause further difficulties for ordinary working class people in this country,” he told RTE Radio.

But the Tánaiste insisted the work at Carton House was more important than the senator’s complaints about the location.

“We’re discussing here the issues that confront the people of this country, the job of work that our Government has to do which is to bring about economic recovery, to get employment, to get people back to work, to get investment into this country,” he said.

“We have a level of unemployment in this country that’s far too high. We need to get employment in order to get people back to work. That’s what our job of economic recovery is about. That’s what we’re talking about here this week.”

Fine Gael, which wrapped up its annual think-in yesterday, also came under fire for its chosen location.

The parliamentary party travelled to Westport, Co Mayo, and spent two days in the plush Knockranny House Hotel.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny defended the party’s decision to host its meeting in the four-star hotel, saying there had been signs of economic recovery – particularly in the hotel industry over the last year.

The Labour session will continue with the children’s rights referendum on the agenda.

Children’s Minister and Fine Gael TD Frances Fitzgerald will give a talk to Labour members at Carton House to discuss developments on the planned public vote, which is due some time in the autumn.

Her address takes place as a group of Labour grassroots members prepared to launch a campaign tomorrow to promote alternatives to government cuts.

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