FIANNA FÁIL:FIANNA FÁIL intends to publish detailed proposals for reforms in the political system during the course of the election campaign, party leader Micheál Martin said last night.
Speaking on a visit to the Dublin South West constituency, his first campaign stop of the general election, he said these would be issued separately from the main party manifesto.
“We will be proposing a radical change in terms of how our electoral, parliamentary and governmental systems work,” he told reporters after a tour of Fettercairn Community Centre.
“If we are to learn any lessons from the past number of years, it is that the parliamentary system, the electoral system to a certain extent and the political system, have not worked to their optimum in terms of either identifying or dwelling on key issues, and we need to change that,” Mr Martin said.
Opinion polls suggest Fianna Fáil can at best expect to retain only one of its two seats in the constituency, but Mr Martin said he was happy with the candidates that had been selected, Minister of State for Science and Technology Conor Lenihan and Charlie O’Connor TD, who were present yesterday to meet Mr Martin.
“Absolutely: it’s a very strong team,” he said. “Both have worked very, very hard in this community.”
Mr Martin said: “This general election campaign has to be different to previous campaigns and that’s my main point.”
Echoing comments made earlier at Leinster House, he said: “The debate has to be as serious as the issues that are facing the people. We don’t really have time for empty soundbites or personal attacks.
“It’s clearly about the future. The people want to know from each party: what are your detailed set of proposals to take this country out of the economic situation that we are in and lead us to economic recovery; what is your detailed programme for job creation?”
Most of the people Mr Martin met at the community centre were too young to vote but he took time out to stand in goal at the indoor soccer pitch while Michael Fitzsimons (15), who plays on a youth team with Shamrock Rovers, kicked a ball into the net behind him.
Mr Martin also tried his hand at table football with Mr O’Connor and quipped afterwards: “I hope you do better in the electoral battle, Charlie.”
Earlier at Leinster House, Mr Martin told reporters: “I want to assure you that the Fianna Fáil party will go into every community across the country.
“We’ll campaign with vigour and with energy to bring our message to the people, and we’re looking forward to this election campaign.”
