Fine Gael: Pay deal does not go far enough

THE national pay deal is “one small cheer” but does not go far enough, according to Fine Gael, which pledged to step up its criticism of the Government’s handling of the economy.

Party leader Enda Kenny promised a “vigorous prosecution” of the Government in the forthcoming Dáil term over what he described as the “wilful and deliberate neglect” of the economy.

Speaking at the party’s annual think-in near Limerick city, finance spokesman Richard Bruton said the pay deal agreed yesterday was not the answer to the challenges facing the economy.