Cabinet’s ‘longest election run-in’

The Government is set to buy its way out of unpopularity over the coming days with election promises in what will be the longest run-in to an election ever, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has claimed.

Mr Martin predicted that the Government’s plans on compulsory health insurance would be worse than water charges and property taxes, and be costly for citizens.

Delivering his opening speech at Fianna Fáil’s ard fheis in Dublin, Mr Martin said the party would focus on childcare and housing over the weekend. However, he used most of his opening speech to attack the Government’s policy on health.

“If you think Irish Water is bad — if you think the water charges and property tax are unfair — just wait until you see the stark reality of the bill for their compulsory private health insurance plan,” he said.

“This plan is not going to deliver universal health care. Compulsory health insurance will not improve services or treat more patients. It will end secure funding for local health services and shift more and more of the burden of funding on the public.”

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Mr Martin predicted that the Fine Gael-Labour coalition over the coming days would offer a series of pre-election promises and pledges to voters.

“For over a year Fine Gael and Labour have been going into overdrive in their efforts to buy their way out of unpopularity. By the time it’s over, this will be the longest election campaign by any government in our history.

“They’ve even invented a ‘spring financial statement’ which will allow them over the next few days to announce all sorts of giveaways without actually having to cost or implement them.”

Mr Martin said the Government was aiming to implement a Dutch-style compulsory health insurance system. “It would be an open-ended bill which evidence from other countries shows would simply escalate costs.

“Dutch experts have confirmed that an average family with two incomes is paying almost €6,000 in health insurance premiums.”

Health Minister Leo Varadkar said the first steps to universal health care would begin this summer. He said Fianna Fáil just wanted to pour more money into health from higher taxes.

Earlier, Mr Martin said the ard fheis would “certainly not” be his last. He said he believes Fianna Fáil could be in government after the next election.

The party leader has faced internal criticism recently, with TD Éamon Ó Cuív even going as far as to say that it could be facing “demise”.

Fianna Fáil is stuck at 17% in the polls, below the 25% in support it received in last year’s local elections.

Meanwhile, a candidate vying for a vice-president position in Fianna Fáil has defended the infamous Galway Tent and dismissed any notion that “the route of all evil” is a day at the races.

A pamphlet for Sligo Leitrim delegate Gerry O’Connor says: “As if a day at the races was ‘the route of all evil’.

“The fact is that the Galway Tent fundraising initiative was among the most transparent undertaken by any political party on the island of Ireland.”

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