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A GROUP OF Fianna Fáil members across the country that includes more than 50 councillors has begun a campaign to vote down the proposed programme for government with Fine Gael and the Green Party.
Under the deal, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin will serve as Taoiseach until December 2022 when the role will rotate back to Leo Varadkar.
Each party must ratify the deal among its members first however with this hurdle likely more difficult among the Green Party and Fianna Fáil.
Over two-thirds of voting members in the Greens must approve the deal, while a simple majority would suffice in the case of Fianna Fáil.
For Fine Gael its parliamentary party has 50% of the weighted votes, so the passing of the deal will likely be more straightforward for the party currently in government.
Some of those members this evening began a campaign called ‘Fairer Future’ to encourage other members to vote against entering into government with Fine Gael.
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The group describes itself as “a grassroots campaign of proud Fianna Fáil members”.
Are you a Fianna Fáil member, voting No to this deal?
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The group says it is launching with more that 50 councillors and 1,000 members already signed up.
“After nine years of Fine Gael rule Ireland needs real change. This PfG will not deliver change,” Fianna Fáil councillor on Cork County Council Deirdre Kelly said this evening.
It will do nothing to address the quality of life issues facing so many people in Ireland. We’ve seen the reality of Fine Gael in Government and we don’t believe Fianna Fáil should sign up to a deal that means a continuation of the status quo on housing and rural life. This is not what people voted for.
Party representative on Roscommon County Council Orla Leyden described the programme for government as “a series of reheated policies”.
“The decision is now in our hands. It is no exaggeration to say that the future of our movement is at stake. So too are our values of equality of opportunity, good housing, protecting the vulnerable and the prioritisation of education,” she said.
“We know that this is a difficult decision for members across the country. It was only after much thought and discussion that I have decided to urge you, our fellow party members, to Vote No and reject this deal.”
Speaking earlier today, the Fianna Fáil leader said that he was happy to have reached an agreement and that party members must now decide whether to back it.
“There’s a challenging time ahead economically as a result of Covid-19,” he told reporters.
“I think the programme for government does represent a new departure in how we deal on key issues such as housing, education, health and above all the significant challenge of our generation which is climate change.”
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@Seagoat returns:
What splinter group, some people want to vote against the deal and some for it…
maybe you’re a Shinner and struggle to know how democracy works?
@Shakka1244: MM is a lying sneer, the video of him totally dissing FG and saying it’s time for them to be removed from office says it all, it will please me greatly when he makes a mess of the job he has craved and covered, a liar like him has no right being Taoiseach.
Would that be democracy according to FFG. For two parties that stated they would not enter government with each other the fact F.G.lost the election and F.F. who also lost seats , but by a gifted seat had one more than Sinn Fein. The realisation the status quo had to be protected made Martin go cap in hand to Vareadkar to form a government. No matter how this toxic mixture of FFG / Greens is spun the reason Martin fears another election the F.F. party under his leadership would be wiped out. The fact Martin will become a part time Taoiseacht does not sit well with the grassroots.
“Fine Gael need to come out of government, they’ve been there too long, they haven’t delivered on key issues such as housing, health and the impact of cost of living on many people. The people want a new government, that means a completely new government.” – Michael Martin
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: I disagree, some ff voters voted because of this. He stabbed his own voters in the back. Will ultimately lose his leadership and very soon
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: He and his party ran on a promise that they would not go into government with FG. There’s lies and then there’s LIES! MM is so desperate to be Taoiseach he’s stabbed those who voted for his party in the back.
@Macca Attack: Disagree all you like, It’s simply not the case. I know loads of people who voted Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens, Before this election they all knew that that the only viable government was going to include Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.
More Fianna Fail members are now concerned about coalition with the Greens rather than with Fine Gael.
@Johnny 5:
I am not aware of a single Fianna Fail candidate who ran on “a promise that they would not go into government with FG”. Not one.
See if you can dig up anything from any Fianna Fáil candidate that even hints at that
I spoke with one of the Fianna Fáil candidates in my constituency before the election, and they were of the opinion that a Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael agreement was a certainty for the next government.
Don’t forget they just came out of a confidence and supply arrangement.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: we all ‘know loads of people’, silly reference which is total hearsay and not conducive to debate, you obviously know no better. MM is a lying snake, I saw the video in which he totally dissed Fine Gael, it will be fun watching him fail.
@Frank Cauldhame: Yes Frank, your comments add so much to the discussion.It’s the mixture of poorly constructed arguments and the childish name calling that make them what they are.
“he totally dissed Fine Gael” Did he girlfriend?
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Oooh, did I hit a nerve that prompted you to make personal insults??? Shouldn’t let your emotions run into anger. Next time try taking a deep breath before reacting, you’ll thank me for the advice !!!
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: He thought the election would make him Taoiseach, when he failed in that he reverted to stabbing his supporters in the back….such a disgusting individual.
@Whoswho: Indeed, a sideshow to pretend there’s an element within the party who feel there is a difference in the two parties. They’ve been one and the same for quite some time now. This just seals the deal.
@The Risen: There is not a chance of that happening. The Greens have for the first time got themselves into a position of real power. This is a once in a generation chance for them to implement there policies. While I don’t agree with many of their policies, The vast majority of their members are well educate and intelligent people. They won’t let this opportunity slip.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: you don’t know much about politics do you. The last coalition ff had was with the greens and it destroyed the greens. You have a short memory but the green grassroots have never forgotten
@Macca Attack: They are in a completely different position. If you really need to have that explained to you, then I obviously know a lot more about politics than you do.
I’m sure SF will be praying that they fail and ff fg g manage to form a government. SF then the only opposition party. Facing into a brutal recession will do no govt party any favours…..Bar a Steven Gerrardesq slip,, this can only be good news for ze Shinners
Well done,Mr Martin just uses these members for knocking on doors and running around with leaflets for him to get where his arrogance tells him is his right, the taoiseachs office.
@@mdmak33: He didn’t want to be the only FF leader not to be taoiseach. Selling his party to get it. FF are history after this stunt(though I said they were history to in 2009)
I don’t trust this for a second. This is just more FF theatrics. Exactly what they pulled during the 8th referendum. Create an illusion that the party is split on a topic; therefore not committing either way and carrying the whole membership and gullible FF voter with them. Then in the future when the next FF sleeveen knocks on your door he’ll be able to say he was part of the ‘don’t go into government’ faction in 2020 hoping you’ll believe his bare faced lies.
@Conan Campbell: I’m no Fianna Failer but, in order for this to be true, every member of the party would have to be in on this conspiracy and this is of course absurd
@Les Wynan: A party wide conspiracy would be absurd; thankfully its not what I’m suggesting. What I’m referring to is the carefully managed genuine misgivings within the party membership by the party leadership to give the impression that going into government with FG is distasteful for FF, but they’re willing to swallow hard in the national interest. That’s the message you’ll hear on the doorsteps next GE and they’ll have this charade to back it up.
What’s in this coalition or this proposal for FF? Partnering with FG condemns them to a bleak future of competing for the same dwindling pool of centre voters and they’re the ones with the older voterbase which doesn’t bode well.
It’s like they’ve traded in everything for Micheál to have his jaunt as leader
@Eugene Comaskey: serious question. Why are grassroots FF members like yourself, so against going into coalition with FG? Are their policies that different? What are the main differences in your opinion?
FF traitors. Sold out Ireland and its principals for power. Where is the turncoat O Brien now. Should be ashamed of himself and his sell out of the peoples party
Until Ireland has a voting system that favors a clear winner Ireland will always have these problems. The clear winner has been knocked out by the losers (and I didn’t even vote for the winner – but I support democracy). The voting system is too complicated. Coalitions seem to be formed from all the ideas people voted against, not those we agree on (carbon tax is one thing I voted against). You just can’t seem to be able to vote a party out in Ireland.
@Derek Hughes: Quite the opposite. There is nothing the Irish people love more than a middle of the road mediocrity. This keeps them relevant. Clever move by the party that instinctively know the Irish people well only because they are dumb as most of them. It’s all about being relevant and in the public eye – something to talk about. Profile counts for more than anything – their ministers won’t be hiding away like FG ministers were for the past 9 years. They will be on the Tonight Show ever night, getting the mugshots in. A term in opposition and FF would be finished. They need this like a vampire needs blood.
@King B: With all the present parties out doing each other with how much more tax they are going to screw out of the private sector we could do with the PD’s again. At least they took a stand against crazy government taxation and borrowing.
@Vincent Sharpe: whatever smokescreen ff are going to lose big time , fg and the shinners have only to twist the knife there history.
And with this upheaval they couldn’t ask for better, ff its rabbit in the headlights for them whatever they do .
They should just rebrand Fianna Fail as the Vote NO party. Would save us a lot of hassle when it comes to knowing what side they are on in referendums etc.
Once the winds change again for Fianna Fáil, they can revert their stance to “satisfy the electorate and party grassroots”. PR strategy 1. Always have a fence to sit on.
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