Encapsulating some of the difficulties Fianna Fail face . April 6, 2012
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Fianna Fáil.2 comments
Last Thursday morning Fianna Fail senator Averil Power appeared on Pat Kennys radio show to talk about Phil Hogans meeting with Michael Lowry a few days after the Moriarty Tribunal findings…. and quite reasonably, how Lowry was able to get a meeting with Hogan and The Priory Hall residents, despite protesting outside the Dail every Tuesday, have yet to get even 5 minutes with Hogan.
The resulting interview encapsulated the difficulties Fianna Fail will face for years trying to raise relevant issues.
Kenny let her dig her own grave and then pounced … a few times.
Well worth a listen.
Fianna Fail ….Post Mahon April 3, 2012
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Fianna Fáil.Tags: fianna fail
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At a recent family function, I was greeted with a gleeful “Well at least Bertie wasn’t corrupt!” from a Fianna Fail supporting relative in relation to the Mahon tribunal findings. The rest of the guests turned on him, mocked him and then quizzed him some more on his attitudes to the tribunal.
He thought Michael Martin was correct in moving to expel the various people with findings against them. “He has to be seen to take decisive action”.
Then we got the “They were all at it” line of defence followed by a critique of Enda Kenny and him still being seen with Denis O’Brien despite the Moriarty tribunal findings.
So that was it, this was nothing unique to Fianna Fail and Bertie was in effect innocent!
Funnily enough on the day before Noel Whelan had written a piece in the Irish Times “FF may shut up shop and seek to re-emerge later” which centred around The Mahon Tribunal findings and the future of Fianna Fail.
He wrote of a speech he gave at the McGill Summer School ..
The party, I suggested, might just wither, sitting out the presidential election, losing council seats in the next local election, and a few more seats in each of the next three or four general elections.
Second, I proffered that Fianna Fáil might just be subsumed into Fine Gael: a scenario that is more likely if Labour is on the Opposition benches, say after the next election.
Fianna Fáil might alternatively merge with Sinn Féin, a process that could begin as some kind of loose “popular front” type arrangement on transfers.
Finally I floated the possibility of a News of the World solution to Fianna Fáil’s plight: close up shop and seek, after a period, to re-emerge as part of some new entity.
Any of these scenarios seemed improbable last July but no more improbable than a Fianna Fáil collapse might have seemed four years ago.
All scenarios, and in particular the News of the World option, seem more probable after the Mahon findings.
There have been plenty of other Fianna Fail doom merchants about since also.
Then what comes out the other day only the first Poll taken post Mahon. A Red C Poll for Paddy Power and have Fianna Fail fallen off the face of the earth? Has it dented support?
Fianna Fail were on 15%.
A rogue poll was one suggestion…..
Then ask yourself why would Fianna Fail support fall much after Mahon?
Was there anything that we didn’t know? (by that I mean that certain people were crooked)
And I’m sure my relative wasn’t alone in Fianna Fail feeling vindicated by Bertie not being corrupt…. and sure wasn’t Michael Martin showing great leadership getting Bertie and co to resign.
Of course Swanning around with Denis O’Brien didn’t put Fine Gael or Labour in a particularly good light either.
Not a word about the way Willie O’Dea etc tried to undermine the tribunal.
Of Course the question now is can they break out of that 15% and actually grow to a Party of Power once again, because without a whiff of power they wont prosper. It’s a question I’d love the pollsters to ask, “Would you consider ever voting Fianna Fail?”. In other words how big is the ABFF vote.
Renewal is the current buzzword as they look back at the founding aims of the party.
One of the main paths to renewal in Fianna Fail has been that
“..at the next local elections, Fianna Fail would, where possible, field at least one candidate in every single local authority area under the age of 30.”
As we know one of the biggest problems for Fianna Fail is Dublin. I had a look too at the the 2009 Local elections (Where FF got over 24% of the vote , 17% in Dublin) and how first time Fianna Fail candidates got on.
In 2009 between the various Dublin Councils there were 5 first time candidates elected for Fianna Fail out of 31. (They ran 60 candidates).
Of the five, one was Aoife Brennan, daughter of the late Seamus Brennan TD.
Two were sitting councillors Eoghan O’Brien (co opted to replace his brother Daragh O’Brien) and Daragh Butler with the
other two being David McGuinness and Eamon Walsh. Not a particularly high success rate.
Trying that tactic from a far lower base is very risky and they did make a mess of their 2009 Local Elections campaign in Dublin.
The Donnybrook Consensus (or: “April Fool”?) April 1, 2012
Posted by Tomboktu in Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Ireland, media, Media and Journalism.27 comments
I switched off Marian Funincane’s programme on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning. She had four people on her opening panel: a Fine Gael TD, a former Fianna Fáil minister, a business correspondent from Independent Newspapers (semi-retired), and a business man.
I wonder how they are going to get a balanced discussion out of that mix. How does that selection of four get even near the diversity of experience, opinion and situation of the population RTÉ is meant to serve?
It’s not as if there are no choices available to RTÉ:
- Not one trade unionist;
- not one unemployed person;
- not one person from an organisation representing unemployed people;
- nobody from the campaign against the household charge;
- nobody — campaigner or academic — opposed to delaying rather than cancelling the promissory notes;
- nobody from a think tank or research group (like the Nevin Institute or TASC or the UCD School of Social Justice or the Privatisation and PPPs (P4) Research Group at UL …);
- nobody from any of the community based organistions campaigning against austerity or for an end to poverty — the Ballyhea protest, the Kilbarrick CDP, St Michael’s Estate, Rialto Residents … ;
- nobody from an NGO working to change Ireland like Barnardos or the EAPN or Social Justice Ireland or Claiming Our Future or the Community Workers Co-operative or Focus Ireland.
There are more than a handful of unemployed people available. Heck, more people are on the live register (439,589 in January 2012) than gave Fianna Fáil a first preference in the general election a year ago (387,358).
I know it’s April 1, but, RTÉ, you’re not being funny when you do that.
Dublin North, Dublin West and Dublin Mid West 1989, 1992 March 28, 2012
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Fianna Fáil.Tags: fianna fail
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The Mahon Tribunal covered land deals mainly in the constituencies of Dublin North, Dublin West and Dublin Mid West.
In the 1989 and 1992 General Elections thirteen people stood for Fianna Fail in those constituencies.
They were
Ray Burke
GV Wright
Marian McGennis
Sean Gilbride
Chris Flood
Sean Walsh
Colm McGrath
John Hannon
Charlie O’Connor
Liam Lawlor
Brain Lenihan snr
Olga Bennett
Finbarr Hanrahan
Between the various tribunals etc not too many of them still have their reputations intact. You’d wonder how reflective they were of other areas of the country that have not been investigated.
Éamon Ó Cuív …. Outside the Box March 16, 2012
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Fianna Fáil.add a comment
You may have missed this but Éamon Ó Cuív started a blog last week called Outside the Box
I can only presume its part of a strategy that will ultimately lead to a leadership bid, a virtual “chicken in a basket circuit” as it were.
This blog is the expression of my desire to communicate with an ever larger number of people. I hope you enjoy my posts and I look forward to hearing from you.
So far he’s a couple of articles up ….
The latest deals with the Fiscal Treaty and by its tone it looks as if he’ll be very active on the ‘No’ side.
Its opening paragraph
On Wednesday, the 14th of March last, the Taoiseach confirmed that it is the government’s intention to commit Ireland to funding the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) to the tune of up to €8 billion within the next month. This is the giant common currency ‘piggy-bank’ that European leaders believe will give confidence to the market. Its aim is to bring stability and eventually growth and whilst I agree with this approach in principle, the problem is in the small print of the Fiscal Compact. The fund will have a total capital of €500 billion euro, of which €80 billion is paid in capital with the remaining €420 billion constituting callable capital. Ireland is required to pay-in the amount of €1.27 billion in the form of instalments from next July. The remaining €6.69 billion will constitute a liability on the state into the future. “What the problem?”, you might ask, Well the big problem with all this is that it’s being done before the referendum on the Fiscal Compact Treaty has been put to the people. The whole thing is reminiscent of the old Irish proverb, “An té a dhíolas riomh ré, bíonn a ghontha drochdhéanta.”
So in other words we’re committed to paying into this fund, despite the treaty not yet being passed.
Another article
“Selling Strategic State Assets for a Twopence”
Which begins
The Labour Party never ceases to amaze me. In opposition they were totally opposed to any sale of state assets yet in government they are determined to selling 3 billion euro in a fire sale. Of course the Government will deny it is a fire sale but we know the truth; the sales commence in 2013.Do they believe we are innocent enough not to realise this is a fire sale? What will they sell? Do they propose to dispose the ESB generating plants as well as the retail divisions of Bord Gáis Éireann? Other assets are in the firing line. The point is that from all this the state will only get a paltry 3 billion euro of which two will be paid to the Bond Holders as part of our debt bills and 1 billion will go on some sort of jobs initiative.
Hard to disagree with that or indeed the rest of the article…. but I’d hazard that the late ‘Saint Brian of NAMA’ would have sold off state assets without thinking twice.
Needless to say the rest of the articles aren’t great but its given himself a platform to communicate with Fianna Fail members (and others) and build up a following.
He’ll be writing for the Sunday Indo next!!
The Sequel ….. “Progress” March 10, 2012
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Fianna Fáil, Irish Politics.3 comments
Last week Fianna Fail posted a video ‘Beginnings’ which we posted here.
The sequel is out. Its called ‘Progress’ and is “A look back at some of the recent achievements of Fianna Fáil.”. Of course some of them deserve merit … but what’s missing? What was left out?
(That is aside from a picture of a single Fianna Fail politician past or present. Odder given that the first video concentrated on Dev, Jack Lynch, Sean Lemass , Donagh O’Malley and others)
That New Fianna Fail Video … March 7, 2012
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Fianna Fáil, Irish Politics.Tags: fianna fail
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Fresh from Fianna Fail, presumably an idea from the Ard Fheis .
Its about the past….. and stops in 1970.
Its called ‘Beginnings’ … Suggestions for the sequels title welcome
Fianna Fáil one year on….. February 27, 2012
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Fianna Fáil, Irish Politics.Tags: fianna fail
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A year on from the General Election and a week before their Ard Fheis is a good time to wonder about the fortunes of Fianna Fail.
In the past year Fianna Fail have been a ‘constructive opposition’ , which is hardly surprising given the current government are continuing on with their policies. In today’s Indo there’s a big headline “FF Tells ‘Cautious’ Martin: time to shape up” with a few TDs complaining that they have given the government an easy time, they don’t know what Fianna Fail stand for and that some TDs aren’t pulling their weight.
One thing mentioned was that there is a bunch of only 8 or so TDs available for media appearances. I presume these were Sean Fleming, Michael McGrath, Billy Kelliher, Niall Collins, Willie O’Dea, Eamon O’Cuiv, Dara Calleary and Sean O Fearghail. Collins, Calleary, McGrath and O’Dea aren’t too bad but they’re not brilliant either.
Due to Fianna Fails period in government they are in effect fighting with one arm tied behind their back. The simple answer of we’ve got to cut back this or that because of the mess you left us with, is one that is hard to argue with. It remains to be seen how long that line will be effective but personally I think it will last a long long time.
Then of course there are other reminders of the past…. there must have been horror in Mount Street last week as John O’Donoghue and later Noel O’Flynn broke their silence and offered to come to the rescue of the party. That’s before we even get to the Moriarty Tribunal findings. There’s talk that decisive action against those found guilty is needed by the party and that certain people should be expelled from the party if they are found guilty of wrongdoing. That’s fair enough and I’d be happy to see it. However it would look like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. How many crooked Fianna Fail politicians from Charlie Haughey down actually were expelled from the party? (Ray Burke? , Liam Lawlor? Colm McGrath?…)
This Ard Fheis is a time for the members to speak, I gather too that it is to be “member led”. I’ve been looking at some Fianna Fail Blogs and various Facebook pages to try and gauge the mood and see what might be in store.
There’s still some “If it wasn’t for Lehmans Brothers we’d be grand” being bandied about and of course there is also a look back to the past achievements of the party. From those past achievements Fianna Fail people hope to look to the future.
A good example would be the Legion of The Rearguard site, “a site created for the grassroots of Fianna Fáil by the grassroots of Fianna Fáil“. The most recent post there “The Fianna Fáil That We Would Have” gives a good insight into what some of the grassroots are thinking. It outlines a list of previous achievements and more. It begins with the following paragraph and takes off from there
The People have judged Fianna Fáil in the recent general election: having found our policies wanting, they have acted accordingly. The extreme economic difficulties that Ireland has suffered over the last four years have their origin during the 14 years of uninterrupted Fianna Fáil lead government and just as the organisation rightly took credit for the Peace Process and Ireland’s unprecedented prosperity which has kept 1.85 million people at work even during recession: Fianna Fáil has taken responsibility for its part in the present crises, has apologised for these failings, and has been doled its electoral punishment.
I don’t think its as simple as that, the apology may have been given but I don’t think it has be accepted yet. The effects of “its part in the present crises” will be felt for a long long time.
There are some internal elections taking place at The Ard Fheis. Looking at some of the candidates leaflets there are some common themes. A bigger say for the party membership is one but many of the others mentioned look to the parties past. Its heritage and tradition. Nearly all of them mention regaining the electorates “trust”.
There are other clues “Fianna Fail needs to be issues driven” , mentions of support for septic tank protests, being against cuts in education.
Two of the major issues though and ones that can’t be remedied in the near future are the lack of women TDs and lack of seats in Dublin. For an insight into the memberships ideas of Dublin its worthwhile checking out the “Fianna Fail Dublin City Focus” Youtube Channel where there is an introduction video by Councillor Mary Fitzpatrick and replies are being uploaded by members.
Darragh O’Brien and Averil Power may get the odd bit of airtime but the lack of Dublin TDs means in the Dail they have nobody directly appealing to Dublin voters, no Dub that Dubs can relate to like (cough) Bertie.
If you have a party that has mainly rural TDs, then rural issues will naturally seem more important. Rural issues will be the ones heard in clinics, raised at local meetings and so on. It’s no coincidence that the Septic Tank charge was reduced as it was one thing Fianna Fail were in a position to oppose and benefit from. Fianna Fail haven’t opposed the Household Tax , in part its a legacy from their own time in office but also when a Property Tax comes in, it will be Dubliners that will have to pay the vast majority of it. If they had TDs in Dublin I’m sure some of them would be kicking up hell at the prospect of their constituents having to fork out anything from 600 to 1,000 a year.
The lack of Dublin TDs also means that there is a lack of choice when it comes to panelists on various TV shows. The performance of David McGuinness in the Dublin West by-election shows that there should be a future for Fianna Fail in Dublin, but its a sign of the times where Fianna Fail are thrilled to have come in second in a by-election for a Fianna Fail seat.
The Sunday Times poll at the weekend saw a rise in support for Sinn Fein among younger women voters, in Mary Lou McDonald they have a role model and regularly when she speaks in the Dail Sandra McLellan is sitting beside her. Fianna Fails lack of women TDs is hurting them, yes they have some female senators and Averil Power does get a bit of airtime on Television she is a Senator and the Seanad or indeed some of her TV performances do not get the same coverage as The Dail does.
We go back though to where does the party stand?
Can it still be the catch all party? … if not who are they battling with?
Is it with Sinn Fein and Labour or with Fine Gael?
What areas can they produce policy in that would be taken seriously by voters?
We’ll know a little more after next weekend.
That Didn’t Take Long …… November 1, 2011
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Fianna Fáil.Tags: fianna fail
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Well you know the way Fianna Fail Guaranteed the Banks and took the bank debts onto our shoulders ….
what was in This Mornings Irish Times only …..
FF urges Kenny to halt payment of Anglo bond bill
Not that I’d disagree with them but they’ve some neck!
Presidential Election and Dublin West didn’t turn out too bad for Fianna Fail at all. October 30, 2011
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Fianna Fáil, Irish Politics.Tags: fianna fail, Irish Politics
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On the last bus I found myself sitting amidst some aging Soldiers of Destiny, they were in good form and not just from the drink…..
When what seems an age ago Micheál Martin announced that Fianna Fail would not be fielding a candidate in the Presidential election there were shall we say misgivings among certain elements of Fianna Fail about the decision. It was a bit chaotic, Offering Gay Byrne a nomination yet stopping aspiring internal candidates such as Brain Crowley and Eamon O’Cuiv and thats before we got to the prospective candidacy of Labhrás Ó Murchú in the final few days before
nominations closed. It didn’t bode well for Martins leadership or indeed Fianna Fail.
So Fianna Fail were avoiding the cost of a Presidential election and concentrating their efforts solely on Dublin West candidate
David McGuinness.
Around the same time I had a conversation with someone who had canvassed for Conor Lenihan in February’s election. Naturally the Radio documentary “Dogfight Conor and Charlie” came up in conversation, he said if anything that the documentary had understated some of the hostility towards Conor Lenihan and Fianna Fail. A few stories of close shaves and rows the candidate got into were told. Over the course of the campaign such was the abuse that many had stopped canvassing as it just wasn’t worth the hassle. Looking back at the campaign I remarked that Fianna Fail didn’t call to my door even the once and I live in what was at one stage probably Fianna Fail heartland. I live in one of the only two LEAs in Dublin when in 2009 Fianna Fail candidates were elected on the first count.
So morale in Fianna Fail was low and Martins decision to opt out of the Presidential campaign for some made it lower.
Fast forward to the aftermath of Dublin West and The Presidential election.
The Presidential Election positives for Fianna Fail…
-Martin McGuinness, as feared by many in FF (and other places too) , didn’t hover up the Fianna Fail vote, as the campaign progressed Sean Gallagher did that.
-Fine Gaels performance caused much mirth in Fianna Fail circles. Had they gone with Dev Og or another candidate it could have been them.
– Despite the loss and his ‘Independence’, Sean Gallaghers vote was massive with 28.50% of the vote, many of it from Fianna Fail voters.
Negatives
-It was the links with Fianna Fail that in part led to Gallaghers late collapse. Like many viewers I uttered the word “Bertie” when on the frontline brown envelopes and cheques were mentioned. It also brought back memories of the shady fundraising done by Fianna Fail (and other parties)
-The Gallagher vote was much lower in Dublin and other urban areas than elsewhere. Given that they have no TDs in Dublin Gallaghers low vote there shows that Fianna Fail is still more toxic in Dublin than elsewhere…..
… However the result of David McGuinness in Dublin West will be a huge boost to them. Yes he didn’t win the seat and they are now seatless in Dublin but to increase the party vote from the General Election was a massive achievement (he got a bigger percentage vote and a bigger number of votes than Fianna Fail did in February). He also didn’t do too badly on transfers either.
…. As the last two Soldiers of Destiny left the bus, after their jubilant journey. Their parting shot to each other ….. “Wait til they cut the 4 Billion in December”
Having had little or nothing to be enthused about in a long time, The morale of the Fianna Fail Grassroots is up. Fianna Fail are far from dead yet.
The Cedar Lounge Revolution 