Taoiseach: 'Loosening of the purse-strings' for pay deals could bring 'country to the brink'

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has claimed "loosening the purse strings" to appease unions risks forcing Ireland back to the "when I have it I spend it recklessness that brought the country to the brink", writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith of the Irish Examiner.

The Fine Gael leader made the controversial comment as hundreds of schools were shut today due to Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland industrial action and as it emerged there is internal Garda Representatives Association disagreement over whether the GRA should cancel its strike threat completely.