McDonald: Croke Park II 'anything but' fair and equitable
The Sinn Féin Ard Fheis has heard a blistering personal attack on the Minister for Public Expenditure.
It came from spokesperson Mary Lou McDonald.
She was critical of the coalition's failure to impose even more pension cuts on former office holders like John Bruton, Dick Spring and Brian Cowen.
And she got personal about Brendan Howlin's warning to public servants on Croke Park 2.
"As we meet this weekend the process of balloting public sector workers across the state on the Croke Park 2 deal is drawing to a conclusion," Deputy McDonald said.
"This deal which aims to cut a further €1bn from the public sector pay bill has been described by
Government as equitable and fair - In truth, it is anything but."
"The Government yet again has failed the fairness test; treating those at the top on excessive pay with kid gloves while dipping its hand into the pockets of low and middle income workers yet again," Deputy McDonald added.
"The reality is over a third of our public servants earn the average wage or less. 85% of the public sector work force is made up low and middle income workers."
Deputy McDonald added that there was a "small number at the top of the public service" that are overpaid and over pensioned, citing "an Taoiseach or an Tánaiste", "the Ministerial ranks and their Secretaries General" for ample evidence of that.
"Croke Park 2 was an opportunity for government once and for all to deal with excessive pay at the top," she told party supporters at the gathering Castlebar, Co Mayo.
"This was their chance and they blew it."
Great session @ Ard Fheis broadcast live on RTE. Attendance growing as day goes by. Mayo giving us a great fáilte. pic.twitter.com/ofHgJZhFA7
— Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) April 13, 2013
Earlier, Sinn Féin vowed to launch a massive campaign to axe the property tax over the coming months.
"We will force a debate and a vote on this matter over the coming months," the party's finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said.
"And we will ask the public to support our campaign to axe this tax.
"We are giving a clear commitment to the people from this ard fheis - if elected to Government, we will abolish the family home tax."
