Election campaign likely to be longest in history

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern effectively launched the General Election campaign yesterday — and made it clear it would be the longest one in history.

Mr Ahern used a whirlwind walkabout in Westport, Co Mayo, where Fianna Fáil are holding a parliamentary “think-in”, to indicate that he would not call the election until as late as possible.

On receiving a complimentary pair of shoes from a shop in the town, he joked the leather would have to hold-out until the end of campaigning on June 29.

Mr Ahern used the annual gathering of TDs and senators to strongly attack what he called the “negative” tactics of the Rainbow opposition parties.

Brushing aside Fianna Fáil’s consistently poor poll ratings, Mr Ahern assured colleagues the party can be returned to power if it remains “disciplined, coherent and united”.

He attacked the “calculated cynicism” of Labour and Fine Gael which he insisted voters would see through by the time of the General Election.

The Taoiseach said he had given no thought to a possible post-election coalition with Labour and was working to maximise the Fianna Fáil vote at the polls.

The Taoiseach used the occasion to talk-up the economic outlook, which he stressed would be put at risk by a change of Government next year.

The meeting heard from a number of speakers, including Garda Ombudsman Commission member Conor Brady who discussed reform of the Garda Síochána in light of recent damning tribunal findings.

The economy and health service also came under scrutiny at the gathering.

Reports from a series of policy meetings held in July on areas such as the economy, social policy, rural affairs and quality of life issues were also discussed.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte an his Fine Gael counterpart Enda Kenny were meeting today in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, to outline health plans and attempt to steal some of the limelight from the Westport meeting.

Fianna Fáil dismissed the Rainbow launch as a mere “gimmick”.