Fine Gael keen to distance party from FitzGerald remarks

FINE GAEL and its former leader, Garret FitzGerald, were at odds last night after he suggested that now was the wrong time for the Government to fall.

Saying the fiscal and banking crises had to be tackled, Dr FitzGerald argued it was important that the Government survive at least until the end of the year to implement their proposals and restore stability.

Those proposals include the establishment of NAMA, to which Fine Gael is firmly opposed. The party reiterated its belief last night that NAMA was the wrong approach, and disagreed with Dr FitzGerald’s views, saying he had commented in an “independent” capacity.