Green tea and sugar-free chocolate bars on the menu for leader of Fianna Fáil
FIANNA Fáil leader Micheál Martin used his brief trip west yesterday to scotch speculation that the party is reviewing its three-candidate strategy in Galway West.
Speaking to journalists in Galway, Mr Martin said “the candidates have been selected”. The party currently holds two seats and is at risk of losing one of those.
“We have two outgoing deputies in Minister [for Social Protection, Environment and Defence] Éamon Ó Cuív and deputy Frank Fahey, while [Galway city mayor] Michael Crowe is extremely active on the ground as well,” he said.
“They have worked hard for their communities,” Mr Martin added, acknowledging that it would be “very challenging” in the constituency, but pointing out when pressed that “people are fed up of talk about candidates and polls”.
The new party leader, who began his visit with a quick meet-and-greet session in Eyre Square, enjoyed a cup of green tea in the nearby shopping centre and bought two bars of sugar-free chocolate.
He spoke of his excitement at coming to the western capital, while repeatedly steering the dialogue to national issues.
Mr Martin said “the Labour Party in particular has lost its nerve on the deficit”.
He added he “was not worried” about his party’s pace in putting up election posters, and spoke of his approach to mortgage difficulties, interest rates and “differences” between Fine Gael and Labour.
On which parties he would be prepared to go into government with, Mr Martin said: “We’ve made it very clear that we’re putting our policies forward, and I have said we’ll support the implementation of those policies in the next Dáil. We’ve never said we’re joining forces with anybody.”
Of his first day on the hustings, he said: “I’m a politician. I get around, I walk around, I meet people.
“I’ve no doubt that people will articulate their concern and indeed their anger about the situation, maybe their own personal situation or the situation of the country.
“On the other hand, I’m getting a lot of good wishes from people and I’m being received courteously and well by people – warmly in some respects.”
However, Knocknacarra painter Tommy Houlihan, who described himself as non-party but republican, was not feeling so warm when he spotted the Fianna Fáíl entourage near Spanish Arch.
“You should be up and tried for treason – you and the long fellow here,” Mr Houlihan told Mr Martin, pointing to Mr Ó Cuív. “You’ve destroyed the country – you should be ashamed of yourselves. We should have burned the banks, the bondholders . . . they’ve destroyed this country.”
Mr Houlihan recalled the words of Government special adviser Prof Alan Ahearne at a recent public meeting in Galway hosted by Frank Fahey.
“He said have the highest exports in Europe. We have: 150,000 young people gone out of the country.”
Surrounded by journalists, Mr Houlihan held court while the Fianna Fáíl leader left quietly for safe passage south to Ennis, Co Clare.