FF talks to leave little time for backbench complaints

The Taoiseach hopes to quell backbench sniping at the Cabinet's performance and focus his parliamentary party on next year's …

The Taoiseach hopes to quell backbench sniping at the Cabinet's performance and focus his parliamentary party on next year's local and European elections at a two-day seminar starting today in Sligo.

More than 100 Fianna Fáil TDs, senators and MEPs will attend the annual gathering, which will concentrate heavily on policy issues, particularly the difficult economic situation.

The focus on policy leaves little time for general discussions on backbenchers' complaints on issues such as the smoking ban or the handling of the Laffoy Commission.

The recent demands from a handful of backbenchers for a more vibrant performance by ministers or a Cabinet reshuffle are also very unlikely to feature, although the Government Chief Whip, Ms Mary Hanafin, said yesterday it was open to anyone to raise any issue they wished.

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The leading campaigner within Fianna Fáil against the smoking ban, Tipperary TD, Mr Noel Davern, will be absent from the meeting as he is on a parliamentary delegation visiting Poland.

The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, who was strongly criticised earlier this week for being "out of touch" with ordinary farmers' concerns by former Minister of State, Mr Ned O'Keeffe, will also miss the meeting.

He is attending the world trade talks in Cancun, Mexico, along with Ministers of State Mr Tom Kitt and Mr Michael Ahern.

Today party TDs, senators and MEPs will hear presentations on the economy from the economist Mr Dan McLaughlin, environmental consultant Mr Robert Rowan and Ms Dorothea Dowling, who chairs both the Motor Insurance Advisory Board and the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. Tomorrow the chairwoman of the National Social and Economic Forum, Ms Maureen Gaffney, will address the meeting on the social agenda.

After each set of presentations the gathering will split into workshops covering particular policy areas.

In the wake of regular complaints from backbenchers that ministers don't listen to them, the Taoiseach has instructed all Cabinet members to attend policy workshops and to participate but not to dictate the line to be taken.

Each workshop will involve 16-17 Oireachtas members, according to Ms Hanafin, one of whom will be designated to report back after the workshops conclude to a full session of the entire parliamentary party.

Today's sessions will cover competitiveness, insurance, building communities, environment and planning, agriculture and infrastructure. Tomorrow's will be on health, education, caring for children and the elderly, disability, arts and sport, and crime and security.