What two things should the party do to get re-elected in 2007?Liam Reid
Niamh Muldoon (23), one of the youngest candidates in the national executive election, believes the Government has to improve on key issues such as childcare and healthcare, and "keep going with the strong record on the economy. I think we also need to strengthen support of the party on the ground. We need to remind people of just what Fianna Fáil has achieved."
Tony Flaherty, a member of Longford Town Council, said Fianna Fáil Ministers should "continue to fulfil the promises made at the last election, and continue looking after the ordinary five-eighths of the population, which I believe they have been doing.
"We also need to see major improvements in the health service," he said.
Cllr Clifford Kelly, from Kingscourt in Cavan, thinks Fianna Fáil needs to "get back to basics" in the way it sells its message and on how the party supporters work.
"I think that they need to get their message across much better to the general public," he said. "This Government has been doing many good things but they haven't been able to get that across." He believed the party leaders also have to "put much more effort into getting party members motivated across the country".
"People are sitting back on their laurels and not putting in the effort they should be. The party leaders also have to pay a lot more heed to the county and town councillors in the country. They're not paying much attention to what they're saying at the moment."
John Grant, Claremorris, believes the Government could do itself a lot of good by addressing the issue of carers in the home. "There's a colossal amount of people caring for their families, and they need to be looked after," he said. "It's Government policy, but they've been talking for long enough about it. It's now time to put money into it." He also believes the Government should adopt a hard line with staff in the health services to push through necessary reforms.
"I think they need to get tough on the people in health, because there's so much money going into it. It's time to get tough and I think they would have the backing of the whole community if they did it."
Niamh Archbold, from Mullingar, said she believed that the Government should focus on both improving the health and education sectors.
"Health is a huge issue out there, especially in Mullingar, with the need for additional funding for the hospital," she said.