Noonan rules out Sinn Fein coalition
The new Fine Gael leader today ruled out the possibility of his party entering into coalition government in the Republic with Sinn Fein.
But Michael Noonan told reporters in Dublin that he wanted to attract the support of moderate nationalists away from their traditional home in Fianna Fail.
He said: ‘‘I believe there is a misunderstanding about where Fine Gael stand on Northern Ireland.
‘‘I am worried that moderate nationalists seem to have more of an affinity with Fianna Fail than with Fine Gael and I would like to change their perception of us.
‘‘I am an Irish nationalist, I am pluralist, I am European-minded, I am outward-looking.
‘‘I respect both communities in Northern Ireland ... and I want to ensure that we have sufficient influence with all parties in Northern Ireland so that the Good Friday Agreement, to which I am absolutely pledged, is implemented in full.’’
But relations with Sinn Fein in the south would remain distant.
The political compromises necessary in the North - putting aside the constitutional question in favour of stability - were not a prescription for normal democracies.
‘‘I will not talk to Sinn Fein as long as they have got a military wing,’’ he said, adding, ‘‘I deplore militant republicanism.’’
While conceding Fine Gael was ‘‘unlikely’’ to have an absolute majority after the next election, Mr Noonan also ruled out Fianna Fail, Ireland’s ruling party, as a coalition partner.
An opinion poll conducted last month, which precipitated the end of former Prime Minister John Bruton’s leadership of the party, showed Fine Gael support on 20%, less than half that of Fianna Fail on 41%.
Sinn Fein, with 6%, could be in the position of kingmakers after the next general election, due by next summer.
But Mr Noonan vowed to lead Fine Gael into government and said: ‘‘I will draw the best and the brightest and the most energetic from all sides of last week’s divide.’’
He will appoint his front bench team - a ‘‘small number of people responsible for quite extensive portfolios’’ - next Thursday.
While expressing ‘‘optimism’’ in the Irish economy, Mr Noonan said Ireland had a choice of social models between ‘‘Boston and Berlin’’.
‘‘If I were poor or old or ill I would prefer to live in France, Germany or Denmark rather than in the United States.
‘‘I believe in the social contract but the kind of contract I speak about does not exist in Ireland.’’
He also announced Fine Gael would fight the next election supported by private donations no larger than IR£1,000, while bringing forward a Private Members’ Bill to ban all corporate funding of political parties.
‘‘There has been a cancer in the body politic which the tribunals have diagnosed and which must be removed. Trust has been lost between politicians and the people,’’ he said.
