FF could lose largest party tag for first time since 1932
TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has defended the Government’s record in an eve of poll statement, but Fine Gael has forecast a revolution in Irish politics. It believes Fianna Fáil will be toppled as the largest party for the first time since 1932.
Mr Cowen said that there was a lot at stake today in the local and European elections, as well as the byelections in Dublin South and Dublin Central.
“Fianna Fáil have run a positive and an honest campaign. We have put forward solid proposals for more cost-efficient and effective local government. I believe our local candidates are best placed to represent their local communities on the local issues that matter.”
The Taoiseach also expressed the belief that Ireland’s best interests could only be served by electing MEPs who were unequivocally pro-Europe and pro-enterprise. “Fianna Fáil’s candidates all have a strong track record of working hard and they have the capabilities and the capacity to co-operate with colleagues from across Europe to help fix this global recession.”
Mr Cowen also expressed support for his party’s two byelection candidates, Shay Brennan and Maurice Ahern, and asked voters to support them. He was proud that all his party’s candidates had run on a positive agenda and had not joined others in talking down the country.
“Government has had to take harsh decisions, but they are the right decisions to get this country through a global recession.”
Fine Gael spokesman on enterprise and employment Leo Varadkar forecast that a revolution would take in Irish politics today.
“We are going to see Fianna Fáil toppled as the biggest party in the State, a position they have occupied since 1932. It will mark a new era in Irish politics.”
Mr Varadkar and his party’s deputy leader and finance spokesman Richard Bruton held an eve- of-poll press conference to highlight the jobs issue at which they said Fine Gael was the only party with a plan to create and protect jobs.
“The number one issue in the course of this election campaign has been abundantly clear to every single candidate. That is jobs: protecting them and creating them,” Mr Bruton said.
He added that Fianna Fáil had taxed the wrong people and the wrong sectors and were only driving up unemployment and hurting the wrong people.
“In this election the public are clearly embracing Fine Gael’s optimism for our collective futures as well as our practical plans to get our country back to work. On Friday I believe the public will vote for those new ideas and the new team that can deliver them.”
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore, in his eve-of-poll message, has urged his party supporters to continue to campaign right up to the close of polls at 10pm tonight.He described today’s contest as the most important mid-term elections he could remember, providing people with an opportunity for the people to pass their verdict on Fianna Fáil.
“But they are much more than that,” he added. “They also give each of us the chance to convert protest into purpose; to be part of something new; to start the work of national recovery, by shaking up politics.”
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said the anger felt by people towards the Government had to be turned into action for things to change. “I am asking people to really reflect on what they have witnessed in just the last 12 months – unemployment hitting record highs, savage cuts being imposed on children and the elderly, bankers and property speculators being protected at the expense of the ordinary worker.”