Election campaign dogged by coalition posturing
The prospect of a new-look coalition Government continued to dog the country’s election campaign today as the battle for support entered its final 10 days.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Tanaiste Mary Harney maintained a wary pre-poll approach to each other.
And while the guessing game continued about the chances of Fianna Fail climbing into the power bed with another partner after the May 17 vote - possibly Labour - Sinn Fein, the one potential Government ally being steadfastly ignored in advance by the other election contestants, made it clear that no one could rely on their backing.
Sniping between the two present coalition allies continued when Fianna Fail Environment Minister Noel Dempsey said the PDs were ‘‘a small party trying to get noticed during the election campaign,’’ adding: ‘‘Their comments are an attempt to maximise their vote.’’
The minister was referring to a PD poster campaign urging voters to reject a return to single party rule in the face of evidence from two separate opinion polls that Fianna Fail could be on the brink of achieving an overall majority in the May 17 vote for the first time in 20 years.
Ms Harney’s group have repeatedly stressed the necessity of retaining a coalition rather than going back to single-party power in Dublin.
Today she rejected claims by opposition politicians that her party was ambivalent about Fianna Fail in Government.
She declared: ‘‘The issue is one of coalition Government. People recognise it as being far better than any single-party arrangement.
‘‘I would be opposed to any party ruling on its own - and many Fianna Fail supporters agree with that.’’
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams ignored rejection-in-advance of coalition by all of the main parties - because of his group’s relationship with the IRA - by setting out his own stall for any future alliance.
He said the next Government would have to pursue laws to bring about the unity of Ireland if it wanted the support of Sinn Fein in the Dail.
The party’s manifesto declared that Sinn Fein would work towards an ‘‘end to British jurisdiction in Ireland’’ and an ‘‘end to the union’’.
With 37 candidates standing for 34 constituencies, the party is hoping to win a minimum of three seats. They currently have just one representative.
But even with a handful of Dail personnel, Sinn Fein could end up with balance of power status.
And party bosses are confident that if they get into that position, there will be approaches from the bigger parties.
Mr Adams said no future Government could automatically presume the support of Sinn Fein deputies in the Dail.
‘‘We will decide as a party who we will support based on the manifesto we are launching today.’’
And he added: ‘‘Whoever is looking for our vote is going to have to come up with policies which we think can be to the benefit of the majority of people on this island.’’
The party says in the manifesto section entitled Irish Unity: ‘‘The primary objective at this time has to be to sustain the peace process and to build the political progress and the Good Friday Agreement.
‘‘But Sinn Fein continues to work for an end to the union and to ensuring that Irish unity becomes a reality.’’
