Joan Burton: Labour brings balance to Govt

Joan Burton has accused Fine Gael of focusing only on high earners, and says people on lower wages would be ignored by the Government if Labour were not in it.

The claim comes as the parties begin to draw the battle lines for next year's general election.

The Tánaiste says the two parties working together offer a "balanced" government that supports both business and vulnerable people.

However, she says if Fine Gael governed alone the conditions of ordinary workers would be far worse.

She said: "I think it would lack balance in terms of emphasising that we want people to have work with decent pay and conditions.

"As opposed to simply looking after people at the top end of the income scale who are very well off."