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Kenny Hits Out at FitzGerald and is Asked to Clarify Position on SF by Martin
Read more about: Comment, Fine Gael, Lisbon Treaty, Media, Sinn Féin 
Interesting report in this morning’s Irish Independent from Fionnan Sheehan, Senan Moloney and Conor Kane on the on-going will-they won’t-they in Fine Gael regarding coalition with Sinn Féin.
The Indo’s team point out that Kenny did not rule out a coalition with any party when speaking to TG4 at the FG Ard Fheis earlier this year. They quote the opposition leader as saying “Sinn Fein have changed. I am not ruling anyone out at all”. Fair point, nice work.
They also draw attention to the fact Kenny rounded on former party leader (now also former party member) Garrett FitzGerald over FitzGerald’s statement yesterday on how FG voters should use their second preferences.
FitzGerald said that FG supporters should favour pro-Lisbon parties – “If that means Fine Gael people, and Labour, voting for Eoin Ryan before [Joe] Higgins or [Mary Lou] McDonald, then that’s the way it should be, I believe.”
Obviously that would give Ryan a better chance of keeping the Fianna Fáil seat in Dublin, something Kenny wouldn’t love to see happen. The loss of that seat would be a huge blow to FF and in combination with a slap from the electorate in the locals has the potential to force Cowen over the edge. Kenny says he wants a general election…
Interestly, The Indo also note that foreign affairs minister, Michael Martin has called on Kenny to clarify his position on Sinn Féin – clearly FF has jumped on this as a chance to rattle the main opposition party before Friday. However, if memory serves me right (and it doesn’t always) Dermot Ahern was also making statements like “we won’t rule anything out” before the last general election, so there may be an element of hypocrisy in Martin’s request.
It’ll be interesting to see where this will go, if anywhere. I’d love to know Labour’s current position on Sinn Féin, anyone fancy putting in a call to one P.DeRossa?
How inward looking the Irish media are and its attendant political class that this issue has tied down the campaign into a question of respecting the mandate of 10% of the south and 27% of the north for three damn days.
still not like there are more pressing issues.
I find the level of involvement Mickeen Martin is showing in the campaign from broadcasts to counter-offensives informative. I think he has firmly placed his mark on the campaign. Or as firm a mark as can be placed
The mandate against in the south is likely far larger than the mandate for – so it could be said FG would be ignoring that mandate by appeasing the 10%.
Re: Inward looking. Brief question, are you a member of politics.ie?
Opposition voters should not transfer to Ryan. Don’t give Cowen something to brag about as an endorsement of his catastrophic policies.
Garret FitzGerald is absolutley right.
Higgins is a decent, well-meaning chap; honest & upright – a rare quality in politics. But he will not support a correction of the high wage costs that are making Irish exports uncompetitive. He is totally committed to local issues and an MEP has to be a lot more than that.
But McDonald is a Puppet – a pawn in the power-game of the Bearded One – and this man is dangerous.
What does any one know about this man from The Occupied Territories? Why is he & his cohorts from the IRA meddling in the sovereign affairs of the Republic of Ireland?
A vote for Lou is a vote for the drug gangs; gun culture; Murder Inc.
Adams is a CAUC.
Fianna Fail may be a busted flush, but we must send a clear message to Europe that we can engage with them; correct our ragged economy and work together to trade out of the recession.
That means No Partnership Agreements; No expansion of the already bloated public sector and a determined effort to slim down a wasteful Government.
Mark,
tend to lurk more than I post. Cant recall arguinng that the media were “inward looking” there.
why?
Mark,
tend to lurk more than I post. Cant recall arguinng that the media were “inward looking” there.
why cause I mentioned it to Andrew on the green thread?
Dermot Martin said, quite unequivocably, that…”I have no problem going into government with Sinn Fein…”
With his seat on the cusp of the Armagh border, with the biggest concentration of IRA – of all hues – including McKevitt and the Omagh Bombers – it is not surprising that he would mouth such sentiments.
He wants to keep the “Country & Western”Wing of FF in line – and onside.
It would be the same for Michael Martin, in rural Cork.
These men (And women) are all part of the FF Diaspora; they have no interest beyond what is included in the Mount Street Manifesto; they will parrot out the words on the Hymn-Sheet on every door-step, like a voodoo mantra.
The probability is that they don’t read all of it; maybe not even understand much of it & some may not believe the promises to be possible of delivery.
Which has been a disappointing fact…
All they want is:-
- The whopping wages & expenses;
- The several potential pensions;
- The trips abroad for themselves, family & mistresses;
- The Mercedes-Benz & the garda driver- sometimes on vast overtime;
- The ability to break the speed limit en-route to a race meeting in West Cork (Martin).
- The power that is irresistible to thieving creeps like de Bert; Rambo Burke; Liam Lawlor – and, of course, The Boss – the late Charlie Haughey.
It would seem, that FG & FF will do a deal with the the men of violence, in spite of Garret FitzGerald’s good sense.
But he would be regarded as old-fashioned – i.e. Honest – and out of touch with the reality of doing business with a Party (Sinn Fein/IRA) whose campaign is funded by Drugs; Extortion; Armed Robbery; Prostitution; Protection Rackets and the sale of AK 47′s & Glock pistols to drug barons and their gangs.
Watch Adams on the TV News – his face and body language – as he steers his stooge, little Miss Lulu, through the streets broad & narrow – the cold, cruel, ruthless eyes of a killer; the false smile of a snake-oil saleman; the empty platitudes and the repetition of the words “Working People of the Island of Ireland”…
Do Sinn Fein think we are unaware that we are surrounded by water?
It’s in the popular song, if they would wash out their prejudiced ears….
“Thank God we’re surrounded by Water…”