JOAN BURTON QUASHED any suggestion of animosity between herself and former Labour leader Eamon Gilmore today.

During an interview with LMFM, presenter Michael Reade asked what Burton is doing as a Labour leader that Gilmore did not.

“He’s here by the way and in very good form,” she said of Gilmore, adding that he is happy to see the recovery that Ireland is making with Labour in government.

“He worked very hard internationally to build Ireland’s reputation,” she continued.

Commenting on the upcoming Budget, the Tánaiste was tight-lipped on what measures will be included in the package.

However, she reiterated earlier suggestions that there will be some “relief” for low and middle earners and less of a need to cut back on expenditure.

Pointing to a recovery in tax revenues, retail sales and employment figures, Burton said there is now “a little leeway” for the government to “frame the budget in a more optimistic manner” and look at how things can be improved.

She warned, however, that the €30 billion taken out of the economy after the Bank Guarantee cannot be put back in with one budget.

“We have had to take the country back from the trail of destruction,” she concluded.

Labour is having its annual parliamentary party think-in in Wexford this week. Yesterday, the leader said that if people give responsibility for the economy to Sinn Féin, that they may as well hand the keys of the country back to the Troika.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil is also holding its think-in today. Speaking this morning, Micheál Martin said he is preparing to take over Enda’s seat following the next General Election.

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Joan Burton: Vote Sinn Féin in and we might as well give the country back to the Troika