Innovative proposals and fresh policies needed to win support, says Martin

FIANNA FÁIL needs “fresher policies” and “innovative proposals” if it is to win back support ahead of the general election, according to the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin.

Mr Martin said he is still interested in leading Fianna Fáil and the “opportunity to rebuild the party”.

The Cork South Central TD said the party faces a “challenge” in lifting its support levels to above 25% from the current low of 14%, but he believes it can be done.

On his first day as a back-bench TD he said he has “no regrets” about his leadership challenge and decision to resign from the cabinet. “There is a real sense of freedom that one had been let out,” he said.

Mr Martin “can’t say for certain” whether the party still faces annihilation following the endorsement of Mr Cowen in Tuesday’s confidence motion. But he believes recent events have energised the party and kicked it into gear.

“I detect a lot of energy. In the last three or four days we have been on air perhaps more than we have been for the previous month in terms of the party, its profile and people speaking for the party. The party membership seems to have been energised by this,” he said.

He said recovering from the level of 14% support, will be a challenge for the party, requiring “a combination of not just having the electoral machinery and campaign right, but also bringing forward some innovative proposals that have to do with the future as well”.

As well as campaigning on economic issues, he said “fresher policies” are needed. “Because society continuously evolves and you have to show people that the party has a distinctive programme to offer the people that resonates with people and their present day needs.”

He denied any disappointment that Tourism Minister Mary Hanafin, did not give him stronger support in his leadership bid and said there was no need for her to resign over her refusal to back the Taoiseach.

“I’m very clear that my resignation is the only one that was really necessary,” he said. “I didn’t solicit support from Mary on this and didn’t ask her to follow the stance that I had taken.”

Mr Martin said the “world will change dramatically in the coming weeks, it will change significantly after the election and it’s a new situation then”.