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Climate-change concerns filter up from doorsteps

Inside Politics: A successful local election for the Green Party is predicted by many

Climate change is a prominent issue on doorsteps

Fiach Kelly
Thu May 16 2019 - 08:35

Good morning.

Those canvassing for the local and European elections - which is most people directly involved in politics, with Dáil votes sparsely attended as TDs campaign with their candidates - report that green issues are strongly featuring among voter concerns.

Climate change is a prominent issue on doorsteps, and candidates are altering their pitches to reflect those concerns. A successful local election for the Green Party, particularly in urban middle class areas, is predicted by many.

At the weekly meeting of Fine Gael ministers on Tuesday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he would be making a significant speech this week on the Government’s climate change policy. Then again, Varadkar also remarked according to one source, other big speeches on climate policy had passed largely unnoticed.

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The all-of-Government climate action plan from Minister for Climate Action Richard Bruton is currently being finalised, according to Government sources, with its contents being updated and changed in deliberations with individual departments. Earlier this week, Mark Griffin, the secretary general of Bruton’s department, said the plan will outline how the country will be turned on “its head” over a decade to deal with the challenge.

Bruton’s plan is not expected to be unveiled until after polling day on May 24th - one of a series of announcements, along with the summer economic statement, to show the Government is getting back to work, according to one source.

Perhaps mindful of the feedback from the doorsteps, Varadkar is due to make his speech at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland this morning, and those in Government Buildings were last night suggesting it would be worth keeping an eye on.

In The Irish Times today, Stephen Collins says last week's declaration by the Dáil of a "climate emergency"encapsulates all that is wrong with Irish politics. The coming weeks will show if action will follow such easy symbolism.

Parties ring in strategy changes as polling day nears

One of the talking points from last week’s Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI European election opinion polls was the underperformance of the Fianna Fáil ticket in Midlands North West.

The poll showed Fine Gael in with a shout of taking two seats in the four-seat constituency, with sitting MEP Mairead McGuinness on course to be easily re-elected and newcomer Maria Walsh, a former Rose of Tralee, in contention too.

The poll put Ms McGuinness on top on 26 per cent, followed by Independent Luke Ming Flanagan next on 16 per cent, Matt Carthy of Sinn Féin on 14 per cent, Ms Walsh on 11 per cent, Independent Peter Casey on 9 per cent and Brendan Smith and Anne Rabbitte, both of Fianna Fáil, on 8 per cent and 5 per cent respectively.

Many observers found it hard to believe Fianna Fáil would fail to win a seat in Midlands North West, but the poll reflected chatter within the party that its two-candidate strategy was stuttering.

Midlands North West comprises Leitrim, Monaghan, Donegal, Cavan, Louth, Galway, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo, Kildare, Meath, Longford and Westmeath.

Previously, Fianna Fáil had allocated Leitrim, Monaghan, Donegal, Cavan and Louth to Mr Smith, with Ms Rabbitte given Galway, Roscommon, Mayo and Sligo. Counties Kildare, Meath, Longford and Westmeath were open to both candidates.

Now, the entire constituency - aside from Ms Rabbitte’s home county of Galway and Mr Smith’s Cavan -Monaghan Dáil constituency - has been opened up as the party tries to nail down one seat.

“As we head into the final week of the campaign it is my view as national director, having discussed the matter with our steering group, that our strategy must evolve to give a final boost to both candidates,” Lisa Chambers, the FF director of elections, said in an email to the candidates.

“We must ensure that we maximize our vote and I believe that the best way to do that is to remove the divide and open up the constituency to both candidates for the remainder of the campaign. It is my view that this gives both candidates the best possible opportunity to increase their vote and perform to the best possible level.”

In Fine Gael, director of elections Regina Doherty had earlier said Ms McGuinness should be allocated Meath, Kildare, Longford, Westmeath, Cavan and Monaghan. Ms Walsh was to get Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal - but she was also given Longford and Westmeath this week.

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Playbook

Campaigning in the local and European elections continues.

Dáil

Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan is on oral questions.

Leaders’ Questions follows at noon, followed by questions on promised legislation.

Then there are motions on sectoral employment orders.

There is also a motion on service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations.

The weekly voting hour is after lunch, with the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019 and the Treatment of Cancer (Advertisements) Bill 2018 both at second stage.

A PMB from FF’s Darragh O’Brien on regulating management companies is at second stage.

Seanad

The Upper House will hear statements on the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024 and statements on the National Broadband Plan.

Committees

The Public Accounts Committee has a session on the National Children’s Hospital.

The Foreign Affairs and Trade committee also discusses motions on the Defence Forces serving with the UN.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is at the working group of committee chairmen.

The Joint Committee on Climate Action discusses “A clean planet for all” – the new EU long-term strategy for a climate-neutral economy – with Mauro Petriccione, director general for climate action, European Commission.

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