Tánaiste sounds economic warning over coalition change

The country’s economy may suffer under a multi-party government which includes the Greens and Independents, Tánaiste Mary Harney said today.

A potential coalition led by Fine Gael and Labour was boosted by a weekend opinion poll which said 62% favoured a change from the current Government.

But Progressive Democrats leader, Ms Harney said the Sunday Business Post/Red C survey carried out last week may have been influenced by overcharging claims highlighted by financial guru Eddie Hobbs on his ’Rip-off Republic’ RTE show.

“The publicity of the day whatever it may be, is always reflected in the opinion poll,” she said today.

“But I’m satisfied – we’ve two budgets to go – that the Government is determined through the the initiatives of the Minister for Enterprise Micháel Martin to introduce the kind of competition that is necessary in this economy.”

The Minister for Health said it was a good thing in a democracy to have a choice in an election.

“I think when it comes to choosing a government, until we see the policies that Fine Gael and Labour can jointly put forward, particularly in relation to the economy, which is fairly fundamental, I’m not so certain that a mixture of parties, including the Greens and possibly Independents, is what the country needs.”

Greens chairman John Gormley said yesterday that the party was revising its policies and energising constituencies to get ready to form part of any alternative government after the general election.

Ms Harney, a former Minister for Enterprise, also said the Government was working hard to encourage healthy competition to force down prices.

“When we do that, it’s not always supported. Competition is the only way of driving down prices,” she explained.

“If you have monopolies with suppliers of products or services, consumers always pay more and I’ve been concerned about that for some time.”

The Red C poll, which quizzed 1,000 people across all constituencies, also showed that Fianna Fáil was suffering from the perceived ’rip-off’ culture on goods and services.

Just 32% of people surveyed said they would vote for the Coalition party, a 10 point drop which could result in a loss of 20 seats in a General Election.

Support for the Taoiseach’s party has also dropped by five percentage points since March.

The poll also showed:

:: A Fine Gael-Labour coalition is now the clear preference of voters.

:: Almost nine voters in 10 believe that ‘Rip-off Ireland’ is a reality on a daily basis

:: Three out of four voters blame the government for high prices

:: Only half of voters say that they would find another Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition acceptable.

:: But 62% would accept a Fine Gael-Labour coalition.

:: Mr Ahern is still the most trusted candidate as Taoiseach but Enda Kenny’s suitability for the job has jumped 12% to 31% since March 2004.

Party support was as follows: Fianna Fáil: 32% (down 5%); Fine Gael: 25% (up 3%); Labour: 13% (no change); Sinn Féin: 10% (up 1%); the Green Party 6% (down 1%) and the Progressive Democrats: 4% (up 1%).

Independents were at 10 per cent (up 1%).