Fine Gael deny centrally managing social media accounts of candidates

A case of great minds thinking alike?

Wed, 17 Feb, 2016 - 00:00

Joe Leogue

Fine Gael would certainly like the public to think so. The party has denied that it is centrally managing the social media accounts of some of its candidates after a number of strikingly similar tweets were sent out by party members during Monday night’s televised leaders’ debate.

Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, and Arts Minister Heather Humphreys all posted similar sentiments to the social media site on Monday night, and in one instance posted the same message word for word.

“Micheál Martin has no jobs plan = no recovery = no investment in better services. #cblive” Mr Flanagan posted at 9.49pm during the RTÉ debate in Limerick. Ms Fitzgerald posted the exact same message just over half an hour later at 10.24pm.

Ms Humphreys posted a similarly worded tweet at 10.08pm, replacing Micheál Martin’s name with Fianna Fáil. “@fiannafailparty has no jobs plan = no recovery = no investment in better services #cblive,” she wrote.

Junior minister for skills, research, and innovation, Damien English was also on message during the debate.

“Unlike @FineGael MM/FF has no jobs plan, stalling our recovery and no investment in better services #itsallaboutjobs #cblive #leadersdebate,” he wrote at 9:50pm — just one minute after Mr Flanagan’s tweet along the same lines.

At 10.25pm, Ms Fitzgerald tweeted: “Micheál Martin and Fianna Fáil have zero credibility on the economy — they denied bailout negotiations weeks before the troika landed #cblive.”

It came less than half an hour after Mr Flanagan posted the following: “Fianna Fáil have no credibility on the economy — remember when they denied bailout negotiations weeks before the troika landed. #cblive.”

A spokesperson for Fine Gael would not explain the similar activities across its candidates’ accounts, but insisted that the party does not control its members’ accounts.