Fine Gael welcomes Martin apology

Fine Gael today issued a statement welcoming an apology from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin for his party's role in Ireland's economic problems.

Mr Martin made the apology during his keynote address last night at Fianna Fáil’s 73rd Ard Fheis in the RDS

“We made mistakes, we got things wrong and we are sorry for that,” said Mr Martin. “No equivocation, no half apology, just the plain, unvarnished truth.”

Mr Martin admitted the party should have acted differently in its handling of the economy, with policies that contributed to the fall of the Celtic Tiger and Ireland’s epic property crash.

In a brief statement this afternoon Fine Gael said it welcomed the apology "and the acknowledgment of Fianna Fail’s role in Ireland’s present economic problems".

"It is to be hoped that he (Mr Martin) will keep his promise to provide constructive opposition, and to help get this country out of the crisis caused by a government of which he was a Minister," the statement added.