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Sinn Féin statement
Read more about: Cavan-Monaghan, Health, Progressive Democrats, Sinn Féin
Following their Ard Chomhairle meeting today, below the fold. Bottom line: assuming they can find someone will to take their support in government, health would be the only dealbreaker. In particular, no Mary Harney. Also interesting is that the statement was issued by Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD, indicating perhaps an awareness of the need to seem more 26-country oriented than having Gerry do the small party leaders debate did.
[Link]
Published: 9 June, 2007
Sinn Féin Ard Chomairle member Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD speaking today following the party’s leadership meeting said:
“Today the Ard Chomhairle met to review the election campaign and to discuss the formation of the new government and what role Sinn Féin will play in the coming period.
“It is still unclear what combination of parties and individuals will form the new Irish government. The issue for Sinn Féin is one of policy. Our support for any government will be dependent on its programme.
“Tackling the crisis in healthcare will be one of the most important issues facing the new government. The idea of the PDs having control over the Department of Health for another five years in unacceptable to the vast majority of people. Sinn Féin will not support a government that would re-appoint the current Minister for Health or which would continue to pursue the privatisation of the health service or the rundown of local services.
“Sinn Féin is ready and willing to work with other parties and individuals in the Dáil on common policy objectives and issues of concern to the people we represent. Our support for any government would be dependent on a programme which would end the crisis in the health services, prioritise investment in primary school education, build social and affordable housing and support job creation. We will also seek support for advanced preparations for Irish re-unification.”
ENDS
Nice that they tagged that last one on at the end. Also that they oppose Harney, yet their proposed solution is ‘ending the crisis in the healthcare system.’
‘We oppose things that are bad.’ A brave new departure for Irish politics.
I’m amused by this - it’s another classic moment where SF say “let’s suspend reality for a moment” and try to act like things aren’t as they seem.
It reminds me of that other classic example where Gerry Adams publicly called on the IRA to decommission fully. Because he had to call a press conference to make contact with those guys…
The only remote chance SF had of being relevant was if a FF could only happen with their support and even then no-one could be sure. As it turns out not even FG would need them to form a coalition and so they’re left to talk to themselves.
The statement today reflects a party desperate for power at any cost.
“The statement today reflects a party desperate for power at any cost.” Deperation that the anti Treaty wing of Sinn Fein, since relabelled as Fianna Fail, knows all about! So desperate that they will do a deal with anyone to keep a hold of the Ministerial perks.
Gordon
Seamus,
Ye would have probably said the same of the Greens a week ago. Even if the Greens do go into power, the brinkmanship of the last few days shows they weren’t so desperate after all. Other parties make similar statements about desiring to implement their manifestos.
You can’t really compare the situation of the Greens with SF - the only fear amongst FF of a Green coalition was that it’d piss off farmers, but a SF coalition would piss off many more people and would make Bertie Ahern, Brian Cowan, Dermot Ahern etc. etc. etc. complete, bare faced and undeniable liars.
Deperation that the anti Treaty wing of Sinn Fein, since relabelled as Fianna Fail, knows all about! So desperate that they will do a deal with anyone to keep a hold of the Ministerial perks.
Huh? I think if either of the major party is looking a bit desperate, it’s Fine Gael. Fianna Fáil is exploring the many realistic options it has available to it and is quite clearly playing around for the best deal. Hardly the act of a desperate party.
One interesting thing about the SF statement is that the only option it explicitly excludes is FF-PD. They could still be players, if only by abstaining on some rival option while voting against that one.
“The statement today reflects a party desperate for power at any cost.”
Shock news just in: party states it will support a government who will support its policies rather than one that doesn’t. The power crazed maniacs!
Actually, being seen as a wing of FF isn’t really good for any opposition party, particularly if there is less satisfaction with the government next time round. It’s a change of tack and probably done with an eye on the long run.
Adam - a stable FG government is impossible without some degree of SF support. The numbers are just about there, sure, but if he could keep the Green, PD and almost all of the Independents happy his sights are too low at Taoiseach, and he should be sent to sort out world conflict. If FG are serious about government, they are stupid not to talk to SF about supporting an FG government from outside it. It really is a bit of a farce, it isn’t like they wouldn’t talk to them when in government to see what way they’d vote.
Adam - a stable FG government is impossible without some degree of SF support. The numbers are just about there, sure, but if he could keep the Green, PD and almost all of the Independents happy his sights are too low at Taoiseach, and he should be sent to sort out world conflict. If FG are serious about government, they are stupid not to talk to SF about supporting an FG government from outside it. It really is a bit of a farce, it isn’t like they wouldn’t talk to them when in government to see what way they’d vote.
I think a Fine Gael led Government, as near impossible as it would be to form with Green, Lab, Ind. and PD support, is a complete not-starter once Sinn Féin are brought into the mix.
For a start, at most they’d be able to jettison the support of either the PDs or three Independents if they got Sinn Féin involved - as far as I’m concerned a FG/Lab/Green/PD/SF/Ind. or FG/Lab/Green/SF/Ind. coalition is even less likely as the one Enda pretends is a possibility.
Ignoring the issues the PDs, Labour, Greens and some Indpendents might have with Sinn Féin on a policy (or otherwise) grounding, FG have tried to make so much political capital out of the possibility of SF in Government with FF that they’d crucify themselves for even considering their inclusion in their “alternative” arrangement.
They never came out explicitly and said “Sinn Féin are terrorists”, but the fear people have that they are is exactly what they played on when they told us FF/SF would happen (Lab played this game too, by the way). So having sounding off about how unpalatable a SF minister would be (and using this as a reason to vote for them) they’d have a hard time shrugging it all off.
I wasn’t suggesting formal coalition - I think it’s untenable because FG made so much out of it in the election and it wouldn’t produce a Government stable enough to survive it. But I think they could have got away with some informal support / confidence support and support for issues where they basically agree anyway. Enda gets to be Taoiseach, SF gets to claim they killed co-location or tout whatever policy bone they can agree with FG in return. The government would have to operate a bit like the SNP in Scotland, trying to pull in different support for different measures, but that’s the only way I could see an FG government being workable. Not the world’s most stable arrangement, but no FG option is and has some flexibility that other options don’t have.
Looks academic now anyway.