‘I think there’s a bit of mischief going on’ –Micheál Martin says rumour of €15 pension hike is ‘spin’

Micheál Martin's comments come amid reports that Fine Gael had been seeking a €15 increase to pension payments alongside a lower hike for the Jobseekers' Allowance.

Both Taoiseach Simon Harris and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys had publicly argued that it did not make sense to spend significantly more on Jobseekers' Allowance at a time when the economy is at near full employment.

On Monday, Mr Martin said a 12-euro hike had been priced in for months and added that there had been no disagreement on differentiating the social welfare payments among leaders during budget negotiations.

He said: "Genuinely, I think there's been a bit of mis-spin here, a bit of mischief going on.

"Because this only surfaced in the media. It hadn't surfaced in any meetings that I attended prior to my reading about it in the media."

He said the 12 euro figure had been "stitched in" since the Summer Economic Statement set the expenditure framework for the Budget.

"There was never a 15 euro (rise) tabled ever at any meeting I attended.

"So I think there's a phony sort of spinning stuff going on about this and I think it's completely overplayed."

Mr Martin said throughout the four years of the Government, there had always been agreement that the same level of increases would apply to the pension and Jobseekers' Allowance.

He said he had questioned his Government colleagues on where the "spinning" came from, reiterating that there was no substance to the reports.

He added that he was "bemused" by newspaper reports of a potential 15-euro hike in the pension.

In an apparent reference to Tuesday's Budget and the looming general election, the Fianna Fáil leader said: "Maybe it is the cycle we're in."

Pressed on whether he was accusing Fine Gael of spinning budget lines to the press, Mr Martin told reporters: "I don't know who is doing it but I think you know, maybe, because its being spun to you guys."

Tánaiste Micheál Martin was speaking as he officially opened the new headquarters for Dublin's Civil Defence, whom he said give "an outstanding contribution to our society".

The new purpose-designed facility, located in Cherry Orchard, Dublin, will serve as a vital hub for Dublin Civil Defence, the largest in the country with over 200 volunteers, supporting its mission to provide voluntary emergency services to communities across the city and county.

"The Civil Defence plays a vital role in supporting the frontline emergency services in times of need, with dedicated volunteers working hard to ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens in times of crisis," he said.

Before taking a tour of the facility, Mr Martin credited the work of the Civil Defence across the length and breadth of Irish society.

"We saw that particularly last year in times of severe flooding but indeed in other supportive roles also in terms of major events that occur like the Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford, where they were pretty important, lessening the pressure on our primary care system."

He said he was taking the opportunity to pay tribute to all the volunteers, who he said give their time to train, develop skillsets and be of assistance to our communities.

Mr Martin described the new HQ as a fantastic facility, illustrating tremendous co-operation between the councils in Dublin.

"It was the late Brendan Behan who said the first item of the agenda in Ireland was the split, well here we have a very good illustration of the opposite, where everyone has come together to make this facility possible in a unified approach to a Dublin headquarters," he added.

Dublin Civil Defence is the largest unit in the country with over 200 volunteers. While most units across the State report to a single local authority, Dublin Civil Defence covers all County Dublin across four local authorities.

Mr Martin said his Department continues to work with Civil Defence officers and councils across the State to improve the standard of Civil Defence facilities.

As well as this new headquarters here in Dublin, other new facilities have also opened in Westmeath and Cavan.

Towards 2030, the strategy for the modernisation of the Civil Defence in Ireland, emphasises the roles of the Department of Defence and local authorities in ensuring Civil Defence units have the buildings and equipment they need to support them in their duties.

"As Minister for Defence, I am committed to continued investment in the Civil Defence, to ensure that this invaluable organisation continues to grow and fulfil its crucial role in Irish society," the Tánaiste added.