Martin pledges a ‘fairer way to recovery’ in rousing address
During his presidential speech at the party’s ard fheis in Dublin at the weekend, Mr Martin pledged there was a fairer way to recovery for Ireland.
Aiming in his criticism at particular ministers, he claimed the Coalition was placing the burden of recovery on those feeling the most pressure. “The less you have, the more this Government wants from you,” he said.
He said the Government’s choices were “deeply unfair” and “delaying recovery”.
During the half-hour speech to delegates, parliamentary members, and guests, he called on banks to release money for businesses. Action needed to be taken against banks refusing to lend, he argued. Up to €4bn of funds from the national reserve fund and pension funds would help support a programme of job creation, Mr Martin suggested.
Businesses needed an appeals system to reduce commercial rates, he added.
Fianna Fáil opposed the property tax, he said, adding: “This is the wrong tax at the wrong time.”
And plans to reduce Garda numbers in communities were wrong, he claimed, criticising the justice minister.
“Alan Shatter thinks that telling someone to find their garda on Facebook is smart policing,” he said.
The Government needed to return to the negotiating table with trade unions on pay talks following the “abject failure” of the Croke Park II deal, he argued.
He admitted his party would try and save €350m in pay this year if in power, as opposed to the Coalition’s target of €300m.
He also singled out Taoiseach Enda Kenny and questioned claims that the “silent majority” supported Government’s actions.
“But I can tell him, if he takes the time to go to the doors, he’ll find there’s nothing silent about the majority of the Irish people,” said Mr Martin.
“He’ll find there’s nothing silent about their anger at decisions which are unfair and hurting those who are already hurting most.”
He closed his address telling members that Fianna Fáil wanted to work for a “fairer way to recovery”.
He told RTÉ yesterday his party was “not ready yet” to talk about entering government and he believed Fine Gael would survive in power until 2016.
Support for Fianna Fáil has risen by 1 percentage point to 25%, according to a Red C poll yesterday. Labour saw its support drop by 2 points to 11%, while Fine Gael’s remains the same at 28%.
Elsewhere, Sinn Féin’s support has risen 2 points to 16%, while Independents and others saw their support drop a point to 20%.
Mr Martin yesterday also said there was an “over-emphasis” about the night the bank guarantee was agreed by the former Fianna Fáil-led government in 2008. His comments came as it was confirmed the Government will launch plans for a banking inquiry in the next fortnight that could call former Fianna Fáil senior figures.
