Martin blames ‘arrogance of majority government’ for mistakes

Many of the mistakes of the past, including the "Irish Water fiasco" can be blamed on the arrogance of a majority government, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin claimed on Sunday.

Mr Martin also said crises in health, housing "and many other areas" developed because of the "policies of the strongest and most stable majority government in recent times".

The Fianna Fáil leader's comments come amid continued attempts by his party, Fine Gael, independent TDs and other parties to form a government, or a Fine Gael minority government with the support of other TDs, following the February 26th general election.

Fianna Fáil has repeatedly said the issue of Irish Water was adjudicated on by the electorate and that the majority of TDs returned to the Dáil had indicated that changes need to be made on water policy. The Dáil failed to elect a taoiseach for a third time last week and no vote is expected this week in the absence of a deal between the two largest parties on government.

Speaking at his party’s annual 1916 commemoration in Arbour Hill, Mr Martin said: “It represents real progress to move to a system with a less arrogant and dominating government - and where all TDs have a right and obligation to contribute”.

Addressing ongoing attempts to form a government, Mr Martin said: “We have been and we will continue to be flexible. We are willing to allow a new form of government to develop. It will end the old and discredited approach and it will certainly be more complex - however just simply carrying on as in the past is not an option.

“I hope that we will shortly be able to move our politics on to a more inclusive and consensual approach. Within this we will continue to work for the priorities we set before the public. No one in Dáil Éireann will be able to dominate decisions - and this is a good thing. Many mistakes of the past, including the Irish Water fiasco, were firmly founded on the arrogance of a majority government.

“The major crises our country faces today in health, housing and many other areas developed because of the policies of the strongest and most stable majority government in recent times. It represents real progress to move to a system with a less arrogant and dominating government - and where all TDs have a right and obligation to contribute.

“The challenges we face today are nothing compared to the challenges faced and overcome by the heroes of 1916. They inspired a national awakening and invigorated a republican spirit which still represents our country at its best.”

Mr Martin said that after the 2011 election Fianna Fáil “didn’t sit back and try to ignore reality. In looking for a way forward our first priority was to seek to renew the great tradition which we had been handed by earlier generations.

“If you look back and consider the commentaries and predictions concerning Fianna Fáil you find a near unanimous failure to recognise or understand what was happening.

“Since the election there hasn’t been much of a change. People who misrepresented, ignored and opposed us continue to issue regular condemnations and instructions. We will respectfully continue to be more concerned with the opinions of our members and the half a million people who gave us a mandate to represent them.”

He said there was a there was a “depressing cynicism and arrogance in the demands of commentators that Fianna Fáil should quickly abandon a core position stated repeatedly before and during an election. Equally there is a clear lack of ambition or originality in their failure to comprehend how important and positive a development a minority government could be.”

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have been making preparations over the weekend for intensified discussion next week to resolve the crisis developing from the failure to form a government. Under increasing pressure after creating a new record delay - day 49 and counting - the two largest parties are planning strategies for the talks as informal contacts continued between them on Saturday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, Labour ministers and TDs were speaking to their constituency members this weekend about a possible return to government with Fine Gael. Following intensive discussions in recent days and renewed requests from acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny, senior Labour figures are increasingly convinced that they should explore a new coalition deal with Fine Gael and the Green Party.