FF councillor blames opposition for ministers’ arrogance
The extraordinary outburst, in the run-up to the General Election, was made by Cllr Joe Carroll, who said that he laid the blame for their attitude on weak opposition.
“Soon after the last General Election, Enda Kenny said that he would be gearing up for another election in four to five years’ time. He [Deputy Kenny] said very little up to now. The opposition is supposed to be taking on the Government every day,” Mr Carroll said.
He claimed that because of the laxness of Fine Gael in particular, Government ministers had an easy time and were in the most part “uncontactable”.
Mr Carroll said his ministers were now listening to the party’s grassroots “because they need us”.
“I don’t blame them for being arrogant because of the Fine Gael stance. Enda Kenny should have kept them on their toes. Unfortunately that complacency hasn’t helped the Government and that has caused us to go down a few points in the opinion polls,” the councillor said.
His comments were described as “extraordinary” by Labour’s Senator Michael McCarthy, who is contesting the election in the Cork South-West constituency, where Mr Carroll also lives.
“It’s incredible that Fianna Fáil politicians are blaming the arrogance of their ministers on the opposition, which has been continuously highlighting that very fact. And we will continue highlighting it,” Mr McCarthy said.
He claimed that comments were prompted because “Fianna Fáil’s ship is sinking” and some members of the party were “running for cover”.
