FG outlines election vision for ‘better’ Ireland

FINE Gael yesterday identified health, crime and value-for-money as the central issues that could decide next year’s General Election.

The party will highlight these issues as part of a major poster and billboard campaign under the slogan: “Ireland Deserves Better.”

Launching the campaign outside Leinster House yesterday, party leader Enda Kenny said these were three issues causing greatest concern among voters.

“Ireland deserves better than rising crime and falling detection rates,” he said.

“It also deserves a Government that uses the taxpayers’ money wisely. And, most certainly it deserves better than a health system that regularly sees hundreds of people stranded on hospital trolleys for days on end.”

He said he would outline details of how Fine Gael proposed to tackles these issues during the course of his party’s Árd Fheis, which begins on May 5 in Dublin.

Mr Kenny said the first phase of the campaign identifies real fears, frustrations and grievances that taxpayers feel on a day-to-day basis, with quotes gleaned from the public at meetings or constituency clinics.

“We will hold at least one public meeting on the theme of ‘Ireland Deserves Better’ in every county,” Mr Kenny said.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael separately announced that a former president of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) is to seek a Dáil nomination for the party in Dublin North.

Dr James Reilly, a GP based in Lusk, County Dublin, will contest the selection convention for the four-seat constituency. Fine Gael does not hold a seat in Dublin North after the defeat of former Justice Minister Nora Owen in the 2002 elections.

Dr Reilly became involved in a bitter clash with then Health Minister Micheál Martin while IMO president in 2004.

At the launch of a progress report on the Government’s primary healthcare strategy Dr

Reilly took issue when Mr Martin said that the IMO’s analysis of spending to date was flawed.

Dr Reilly intervened at the conference to question the minister’s remarks and told Mr Martin that he stood over the comments.

Mr Martin in turn accused the IMO of having an agenda and being engaged in a publicity stunt.