Kenny: Silly season is over
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said "silly season is over" as he entered Government Buildings for the Cabinet's first meeting since the summer break today.
Mr Kenny was responding to questions about tensions between the Coalition parties over a number of issues, including €130m worth of health cuts.
Some Labour Ministers and backbenchers have said they were kept in the dark over the cuts, something which Fine Gael has strongly denied.
The Cabinet meets this afternoon for the first time since the summer break and the Taoiseach said the Government is getting back down to business.
Mr Kenny said: "Silly season is over. The Government have a really packed agenda of very difficult decisions and choices to make in the challenging times ahead.
"We have a reform programme to roll out and prepare for, we have to prepare for the European Presidency, we have to prepare for the budget.
"I made it perfectly clear before the summer, that the 2013 budget will be the most challenging of this Government's period, and let me repeat again, the silly season is now over."
The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said the Health Minister James Reilly will ensure that a balance is struck between meeting budget targets and meeting the needs of people.
Mr Gilmore also said that Fianna Fáil has a "hard neck" to criticise the cuts.
Mr Gilmore said: "We know that there is a target that has to be met, there is a balance that always has to be struck between meeting the budget targets and ensuring that the needs of the people are met.
"James Reilly is the Minister for Health who will ensure that that is done."
