Burton: Unlike Gerry Adams, I’m good at maths
Tanaiste Joan Burton insisted Labour has nothing to apologise for after four gruelling years in Government as she delivered a defiant first address to the party's conference as leader.
Ms Burton told delegates who gathered in Killarney, Co Kerry, the party had a record to be proud of as it faced into a general election year.
With a spate of polls showing that Labour will struggle to get more than ten TDs in the next Dail showdown, Ms Burton went on the offensive, insisting the party had taken decisions that would be unpopular in the short term in order to deliver long term gain for the country.
Ms Burton reeled off a list of of achievements she said Labour could be proud of in Government from the exit of the Troika to the push for a referendum on marriage equality.
The Tansiste also took a swipe at both opposition parties for backing the 2008 bank guarantee which Labour opposed.
"Fianna Fail created the monster that was the bank guarantee – and Sinn Fein voted for it. By profession, I’m a chartered accountant. Unlike Gerry Adams, I’m good at maths. I knew the bank guarantee was a bust. And I shouted as much from the rooftops," Ms Burton said.
The Tanaiste said she wanted to be the first Labour leader to take the party into two successive Governments.
Deputy leader Alan Kelly said the party would have an independent platform in the general election, but would also trumpet its achievements with Fine Gael, but distanced himself from remarks by Finance Minister Michael Noonan that the Coalition could continue in office propped-up by favourable independnts.
Mr Kelly hinted that rebel TD Anne Ferris could be allowed back in the party fold after defying the whip over Independent TD Clare’s Daly’s Bill allowing for terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormality.
“We will speak to Anne again. It was a very difficult situation for her and I appreciate that," Mr Kelly said.
With a strong garda presence around the conference venue ahead of what is expected to be a big anti-water charge protest Saturday, Mr Kelly said some of the demonstrators sought a utopian society which did not exist.
"These people are false revolutionaries who believe in leading people up to the top of the hill and then blatantly abandoning them," Mr Kelly said.
Delegates defied the leadership by voting in favour of restoring full benefits to the young unemployed after welfare rates were cut for those under 26 on the dole.
Delegates at the party conference have also voted to campaign for the repeal of the 8th Amendment, banning abortion, in the next election.
