Party delegates hoping for post-election boost
Fianna Fáil delegates arriving in Inchydoney, west Cork today expressed hopes that the parliamentary meeting will give the party a much needed boost.
The two-day seminar has been billed as a "think-tank", aiming to cook up ways of revamping Fianna Fáil as a more caring, listening party.
Promises of tax cuts and a less rigorous spending policy are hoped to win over the public while Mr Ahern will urge ministers and TDs to reconnect with local communities.
The Taoiseach’s task comes in the wake of disastrous local election results the worst in the party’s history.
The impending reshuffle will provide Mr Ahern the opportunity to rally a new set of faces around him and prepare in earnest for the next general election.
Meanwhile 110 members of the party, including Ministers, TDs, Senators and MEPs, are putting their heads together in west Cork to drum up ways of building party support.
Fr Sean Healy’s invitation to address the seminar is a clear indication that Fianna Fáil intends to shift in a more left-wing direction, spending more in areas such as health and education.
Fr Healy, who represents the Conference of Religious of Ireland (Cori) group an umbrella organisation for 125 religious groups – has been a consistently vocal proponent of tax increases.
He believes higher taxes should be spent on reducing poverty. His keynote address will highlight what he believes to be wrong with the current economic climate and make a series of proposals to redress the balance.
The 58-year-old campaigner admitted he was surprised to have been invited to address the party.
“It seems clear they are interested in the types of things I have to say,” he said. “I am delighted to be here and happy to share my views with them.”
Junior ministers strongly tipped for promotion on September 29 include Mary Hanafin, Dick Roche, Brien Lenihan and Willie O’Dea.
Chief Whip Ms Hanafin said the seminar was about listening to speakers, looking at the issues they focused on and prioritising them.
“We are now in the mould where we are taking on the views of people expressed through canvassing on doorsteps,” she said.
“Certainly everyone has more money in their pockets but there are still people who don’t benefit as much as others.”
She denied claims that Fianna Fáil is particularly concerned with Sinn Féin’s overwhelming rise in popularity.
“We are the largest political party in the country,” she said. “As we continue to work at local and national level we will look at all competition. It is not done from the position of any one opposition.”
As party members congregated at the exclusive Inchydoney Island Spa Hotel, Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen used the opportunity to urge parties in the North to take up their responsibilities and move the peace process forward.
Mr Cowen is widely tipped to take on Charlie McCreevy’s mantle as Finance Minister, but he refused to discuss the reshuffle, claiming it was not a subject TDs would be discussing in Inchydoney.
Meanwhile Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh, who will retire on September 29, said for him the seminar represented an end of an era.
“I’ve represented Cork South West for 30 years so it’s an emotional day for me,” he said.
“I will very much miss it, it’s been the best part of my life for so long, but there comes a point when you have to give other people a chance.
“I made my decision in a rational way, there’s no point going out with a chip on your shoulder.”
