Coalition at loggerheads over cuts to pensioners

The Coalition clash over how hard pensioners should be hit in the budget escalated yesterday as the Tánaiste warned ministers to stop worrying the elderly.

The intervention came as Labour’s Joan Burton, the social protection minister, again slapped down junior finance minister Brian Hayes of Fine Gael for indicating that wealthier pensioners needed to pay more and receive less in benefits.

Eamon Gilmore tried to draw a line under the public spat after ministers appeared to ignore his call last week not to fight budget battles in the open.