Fine Gael is done making apologies: Minister

A senior Cabinet minister has said Fine Gael is “done apologising” to voters as the party moved to try and regain the political initiative after a crisis-ridden year.

The minister was speaking following a meeting of the party’s TDs and Senators aimed at arresting its slump in the polls as Fine Gael faces into the countdown to a general election ahead of the Dail’s return today.

“We’re done apologising. It’s time to move on. We made stupid mistakes last year, there’ll be no repeat of them this year,” the minister said.

The “think-in” meeting in Dublin saw unease over the universal social charge rates emerge as Finance Minister Michael Noonan framed the economic outlook for the lead-up to the election which must be held by the spring of next year.

The issue of whether controversial strategist Frank Flannery should be allowed back into the campaign team was not discussed, another Cabinet minister said.

However, Taoiseach Enda Kenny refused to say whether he still believes Mr Flannery should appear before an Oireachtas committee.

Mr Flannery quit his key campaign role in Fine Gael last year at the height of controversy regarding his role with the charity Rehab and he has since refused requests to appear before the Public Accounts Committee on the matter.

With speculation rife in Fine Gael that Mr Flannery may be offered an informal role in the party’s election drive, Mr Kenny repeatedly refused to say whether he stood over calls for the his former adviser to appear before the PAC.

“Frank Flannery is a law- abiding citizen and I am sure he’ll act within his responsibilities,” is all the Taoiseach would say.

Finance Minister of State Simon Harris, who is part of the party’s campaign team, played down talk of a return by Mr Flannery, while strategist Mark Mortell appeared to be at the centre of the party’s election push.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin accused the Government of trying to spin its way out of unpopularity with leaked promises amounting to €3.4bn in the past fortnight.

Mr Martin also accused Labour of engaging in a blame game with Fine Gael and called for a serious debate about the economy.

“I hate to think the next election would become just another shallow election around who can meet the other person’s tax cut with a better tax cut. It needs to be more substantive than that,” he said.

He ruled out a coalition with Sinn Féin, saying: “I think they need to change as a party and I think they need to become far more facilitative of diverse opinions within its ranks and I’ve a lot of issues with Sinn Féin.”

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said the Government was on its “last legs” and said his focus was not on potential coalition partners, but preparing for government as the party’s TDs and senators also met for pre-Dáil session discussions in Dublin.

“We’re seeking a mandate to be in government and this is a government which is on its last legs. Whether it lasts to 2016 or not, the people have clearly given it notice to quit,” Mr Adams said.

Mr Kenny said Sinn Féin lacked credibility on the economy.