Fine Gael photo plan ‘inappropriate’

I see that the celebratory photo session trumpeting the ‘significant Fine Gael achievements’ of year one in office has been derailed by their Labour coalition partners.

With welfare cuts being applied to the disabled, the infirm and child benefit, in addition to cuts in fuel allowances for the elderly, reductions in special needs assistants, and a raft of other welfare reductions, it is entirely inappropriate for the self-congratulatory back slappers and mutual admiration wing of Fine Gael to have a love-in.

To engage in shallow ego-stroking on the very day 2,500 AIB workers were informed they were to be made redundant displays a callous indifference to the plight of those floundering to stay afloat.

For the Government to implement with such rigidity cutbacks to the most needy, while simultaneously breaching their own guidelines on pay to ministerial special advisers, is nauseating.

We may well be powerless to prevent this outrageous injustice, but we should never fail to protest.

Tom Cooper

Knocklyon

Dublin 16