COMMENT: FF starting from the bottom to rebuild a future

THE leader’s address that rounded up the Fianna Fáil ard fheis was underwhelming to say the least.

There was criticism of the Government, yes, but the gloves were hardly off. There was glory sought for the party’s “constructive” approach in opposition, but no one was jumping out of their chairs triumphantly. And while Micheál Martin invited people to “share in our values” he wasn’t asking the public to forgive them just yet.

This was the steady-as- you-go ard fheis. Last year’s was all about apologising for the mistakes it had made in office, and next year’s will launch the fightback ahead of the local and European elections.