Joan Burton tells of troika’s ‘vicious bluntness’

The troika told Joan Burton Ireland would “have to give us everything you have” in a flash of “vicious bluntness” the Tánaiste revealed.

She also told the MacGill Summer School she would “practise and preach the religion of socialism” in the run up to the election.

The Tánaiste expressed concern at the attitude of the troika when the bailout began.

“The banking collapse and subsequent bailout led to a total loss of independence. I got a graphic illustration of that in late 2010 when I met with the troika in my then role as Labour’s finance spokesperson.

“One member of the troika team was viciously blunt in telling me what would be expected of Ireland in return for the bailout. ‘Ms Burton,’ he said, ‘you will have to give us everything you have.’ It was a foretaste of what was to come,” Ms Burton said.

In comments bound to draw fire from Labour’s left-wing critics, Ms Burton said she wanted to prioritise achievable socialism in the run-up to the general election as radical opponents were too unrealistic.

“That great politician Nye Bevan, who created the NHS, had some valuable words of wisdom for those who wanted more than could realistically be delivered.

“The language of priorities, he said, is the religion of socialism. That’s the religion I’ll be practicing in the coming months.

“Idealism and realism in equal measure,” Ms Burton said.

The minister for social protection has come under heavy fire in recent weeks from critics who say her welfare changes have cut up to €140 per week from some 11,000 lone parents.

Hitting back at critics who accuse the Coalition of being a pushover for the EU, Ms Burton said “stubbornness” on Dublin’s part had led to renegotiation of the bailout terms.

She also called for more honesty regarding the country’s past as she called for the celebrations of the centenary of the 1916 Rising not to be used to glorify the provisional IRA’s campaign of violence.

“By stark contrast, I’m convinced the May [same-sex marriage referendum] result is an excellent omen for the future and will have many positive spin-off effects. The yes vote showed Ireland to the wider world as a country at ease with itself and ready to embrace equality and diversity.”

Ms Burton warned Irish people needed to realise they were involved in scandals such as the Magdalene laundries. “Most of all, we should remember that it wasn’t really hidden.

“We had official reports as far back as the late 1930s, for example, questioning the wisdom of the mother and baby homes.”

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin warned Fine Gael was planning a negative general election campaign.

Sinn Féin justice spokesperson Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said the 1916 anniversary belonged to the Irish people not any political party, as he accused the Coalition of capitulating to “the EU elite.”