Government using economic crisis to ‘settle scores’

THE Government is using the economic crisis to “settle scores” by looking to shut down State agencies that have criticised it in the past, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has claimed.

Citing as an example the proposals to subsume the Combat Poverty Agency back into the Department of Social Affairs, he labelled the Government’s actions “deplorable”.

“The Government dithered all summer long as the economic situation deteriorated. In July, they gave us a package of cuts, when what was needed was a recovery package,” Mr Gilmore said.

“It is particularly deplorable that the Government appears to be using the economic crisis to settle scores by closing down organisations that performed a watchdog role and that may have caused ministers some embarrassment.

“The plan to subsume the Combat Poverty Agency back into Mary Hanafin’s department is particularly deplorable at a time when so many people have lost their jobs and are facing a renewed threat of poverty.”

Mr Gilmore was speaking at a press conference in the Mullingar Park Hotel to announce it as the venue for next year’s Labour party conference.

He said the Combat Poverty Agency had played a very valuable role for more than two decades in identifying and analysing the causes of poverty and in providing a framework for addressing these problems.

“It may be embarrassing for Minister Hanafin and for the Taoiseach to be reminded from time to time by the Combat Poverty Agency that after 11 years of this Government, there are still 300,000 people living in consistent poverty, but this does not provide any justification for the plan to neuter the agency by making it a creature of the department,” Mr Gilmore said.

“Of all of the State boards and bodies, the Combat Poverty Agency must be allowed to retain its independent status and continue to provide an independent and authoritative critique of Government policies.

“If it is brought back within the direct remit of the Department of Social and Family Affairs, it will be robbed of its independence and become just become another mouthpiece for the minister.”