Taoiseach to attend special FF policy meeting

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is to attend the first of four special policy meetings of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, which takes…

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is to attend the first of four special policy meetings of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, which takes place in Leinster House tomorrow.

Backbenchers have also received a letter in recent days from Mr Ahern urging them to attend the meetings, which will take place over the coming fortnight.

He has also asked them to bring along any briefing material they believe will contribute to the meeting.

The meetings were ordered last month by Mr Ahern in an attempt to defuse complaints by backbench TDs of a lack of consultation on policy issues.

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Plans by the backbenchers to form their own committee were dropped in the wake of Mr Ahern's offer, although TDs denied this was a climbdown on their part.

The first meeting tomorrow will focus on economic, enterprise, transport, energy and communications issues.

The meeting is expected to continue throughout tomorrow afternoon. Minister for Finance Brian Cowen will speak at the meeting as will Minister for Enterprise Micheál Martin, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen and Minister for Communications and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey.

Fianna Fáil is also expected to use the meeting as an opportunity to stress the strength of the economy, Irish business and infrastructural investment - areas the party believes it has a clear advantage over Opposition parties in terms of Government performance.

Backbench TDs are expected, however, to raise concerns about transport issues, specifically the belief of some non-Dublin TDs that some areas in the country are not being adequately provided for under the €35 billion Transport 21 plan.

There will be two further meetings next week, one on social policy on July 18th and another on rural affairs the following day.

The first of next week's meetings will concentrate on health, social welfare, education, justice, elderly and childcare issues, which will be addressed by Minister for Education Mary Hanafin, Minister for Social Affairs Séamus Brennan, Minister of State for Children Brian Lenihan and Minister of State with responsibility for policy towards the elderly Seán Power.

It is expected to be the most contentious of the meetings, with many backbench TDs and Senators worried about the Government's current health and crime policies.

The meeting on rural affairs the following day will address agricultural, fisheries and Gaeltacht issues.

The final meeting on July 26th will examine quality of life areas, including environmental, sport and community affairs issues.