Labour blasts ‘stupid’ handling of botched talks

THE Government’s handling of the botched social partnership talks has been branded as “stupid” by Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore.

He said the Government had compromised the opportunity to get long-term reform of the public service in exchange for “short-term political popularity”.

He asked why the negotiations had been left until the last minute, before next week’s budget, and did not begin immediately after the publication of Colm McCarthy Bord Snip Nua report.