Rabbitte warning on PD ‘selfish agenda’

LABOUR leader Pat Rabbitte last night accused Tánaiste Michael McDowell of wanting to build a “selfish society” that would strip Ireland of social justice.

Opening his party’s two-day summit in Cork, Mr Rabbitte pledged to launch a crackdown on crime, renew the health service and improve childcare.

Mr Rabbitte also moved to reassure those in Labour ranks — uncomfortable with the closeness of the party’s alliance with Fine Gael — that a Rainbow government would be firmly of the “centre-left”.

Mr Rabbitte dismissed PD leader Mr McDowell’s promise to cut taxes as a political ploy intended to promote a selfish agenda.

The Labour leader said only a multi-layered approach to crime fighting would deal with situations, like the recent upsurge of violence in Limerick.

Mr Rabbitte said extra gardaí were urgently needed to patrol communities so that criminal ringleaders could be dealt with.

But he also stressed social fabric was important with attention being given to how estates were laid out and putting a break on early school drop-outs.

He insisted reform of the gardaí would be a priority for an incoming Rainbow government following damning revelations about the force, such as in the Morris inquiry.

Under the slogan “Ireland can do better”, Mr Rabbitte told the gathering of TDs and senators the Government had lost control of the health service.

He said Labour would make the health service its number one priority in Government and would partly tackle the A&E crisis by introducing “fast track” queues for people with minor injuries so they can been treated quickly.

Labour will also provide one year’s free pre-school education for children.