Martin sorry for FF economic blunders
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has apologised for his party’s role in leading Ireland from boom to bust.
The former minister made his remarks at Fianna Fáil’s 73rd Ard Fheis in the RDS, where tens of thousands of potential emigrants were also gathering at an overseas jobs fair.
“We made mistakes, we got things wrong and we are sorry for that,” said Mr Martin. “No equivocation, no half apology, just the plain, unvarnished truth.”
Mr Martin admitted the party should have acted differently in its handling of the economy, with policies that contributed to the fall of the Celtic Tiger and Ireland’s epic property crash.
And he said he understood why the public turned against Fianna Fáil in last year’s election, which saw the party lose parliamentary control for the first time since the 1980s.
“Last year the people did what they were right to do – they held us to account,” he said.
“People were angry and they showed it, delivering a historic defeat for us. We fully acknowledge the scale of the defeat.”
Fianna Fáil has come under constant fire from the current Fine Gael-Labour government for striking deals with the IMF, handing Ireland’s sovereignty over to Europe and leaving the nation to pay for the debts of foreign banks.
There are also more than 400,000 people currently on the dole, as a result of an unemployment crisis brought about by the economic crash.
“It’s not enough to point to the worst world recession in 80 years and the eurozone crisis,” Mr Martin went on.
“Nor to point to the fact that other parties were demanding policies which would have made things worse – that’s for them to answer for.
“We were in government and we should have acted differently.”
Giving his first keynote speech as leader at a Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis – the first to be held in four years due to elections and leadership changes – Mr Martin insisted his main focus was the party’s renewal.
Around 40,000 people are expected to leave Ireland in search of better employment opportunities abroad.
Mr Martin insisted jobs and growth would be central to Fianna Fail’s renewed policies.
“There are people throughout our country who are experiencing very hard times,” he added.
“They are struggling with finding a job, paying their mortgage or losing a loved one to emigration.
“This party is determined to play a constructive and central role in Irish public life. And our focus is very clear – we will do all we can to promote credible solutions to promote growth and job creation.”
Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was among the attendees at the conference. The ex-Fianna Fáil leader, who was investigated by the Mahon Tribunal, which inquired into allegations of illegal payments in connection with corrupt planning practices, stayed for just over two hours.
He refused to speak to the press.
Meanwhile, a number of motions were passed during the party conference, including plans for Fianna Fáil to support same-sex marriage and to lobby for schoolchildren to sing the national anthem at the beginning and end of each week.
Mr Martin’s former deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív also made an appearance during the two-day event, despite being forced to resign just three days ago.
The Galway West TD and Mr Martin clashed over the party’s plans to campaign for a Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum for whether Ireland should adopt the European fiscal treaty.
Mr O Cuiv argued that Ireland should seek a write-down of European debt before agreeing to the EU deal, which will result in stricter budgetary rules and penalties for states that do not follow them.
