LABOUR CONFERENCE: Joan Burton dismisses alternatives as a coalition of chaos
Dismissing an alternative Sinn Féin-led administration as a “coalition of chaos”, a defiant Ms Burton said Labour had nothing to apologise for — and much to be proud of — after four years in power.
Portraying herself as a survivor of bullying by some elements of the anti-austerity campaign, Ms Burton said that Labour women could not be intimidated.
The Tánaiste condemned what she termed a small group of people who “hijacked” peaceful anti-water charge demonstrations.
“In a free society, that’s bullying. The Labour Party has a long history of standing up to bullies,” she said in her first address to the Labour conference as leader.
Ms Burton signalled an increase in child benefit in the next budget after Labour was heavily criticised for not saving the allowance from cuts when it went into government. She also said the minimum wage would go up if recommended by the new low-pay commission in July, and said she wanted to bring in two free pre-school years per child.
In an upbeat message, Ms Burton told delegates Labour had achieved much while in power.
“By the end of this year, we’ll set out the steps that will enable us to introduce two weeks’ paid paternity leave,” she said. “So that new mums and dads can both afford to spend precious time with their new baby mums and dads will also be able to bring their young children to the doctor for free.
“I want to ensure that before they start primary school, every child has a right to two years of free pre-school. This will be a key plank of our election platform.”
She insisted Labour could not have stayed out of government in 2011 because it had to put national interest ahead of narrow party gain.
“In highly unstable economic times, politicians have one critical role — to provide political stability. We have provided that stability and the country is recovering,” Ms Burton said.
The Labour leader was also scathing about the alternatives to coalition with Fine Gael.
“Fianna Fáil won’t enter government with Sinn Féin or Fine Gael,” she said. “Sinn Féin won’t enter government with either of them. The Independents can’t govern themselves. And the hard-left are opposed to governing.
“It’s a coalition of chaos —and the country simply cannot afford it.”
LABOUR CONFERENCE: Like dance of the macabre as listless liner drifts to disaster
