Deering: Irish Examiner article is a widespread view throughout FG

on 15/10/2012 10:10:55

A Fine Gael TD says he believes his concerns about the Croke Park deal are being felt on a wider scale in the party.

Pat Deering is one of eight deputies behind an Irish Examiner article today demanding that pay increases for higher paid public sector workers be put back on the table 'if we are serious about correcting the budget deficit'.

They are insisting that protecting core pay doesn't mean protecting those pay rises, and what they call 'unnecessary allowances' for top earners.

The Carlow Kilkenny TD says the government can't let this opportunity for reform go to waste.

"If we cannot tackle Croke Park, we will not be able to reduce the deficit within a period of time. We have the opportunity of a lifetime to reform the situation we're in at the moment. If we miss it, we'll have missed the opportunity of a lifetime.

"Eight of us wrote this piece and I would be of the opinion that is a widespread view within the party. This is a conversation we are starting in order to focus people's minds on where we are at the moment."