‘We can’t afford flurry of elections’, says Fine Gael Minister

A Fine Gael minister has warned that Ireland “can’t afford” a flurry of elections in quick succession, saying they could throw the country back into a 1980s-style recession amid a growing belief a hung Dáil is on the cards.

Innovation minister Damien English urged the public to make a clear decision on February 26 as pressure mounts on parties to cut a deal to form a government.

Speaking at the launch of Fine Gael’s childcare policy — which includes an extra eight weeks’ paid parental leave by 2021 — Mr English acknowledged recent polls indicate the election could provide no clear winner. He said such a situation could throw Ireland into a rerun of the 1980s recession.

“Political stability equals economic stability,” he said. “Having a second or third election causes difficulties, because we’ve seen back in the 1980s, 1981-82 when there were three elections in quick succession, it had a major impact on the economy. We can’t afford for that to happen again.”

Ever wondered what the main players in #GE16 are saying on Twitter? Well find out HERE. https://t.co/IRB1F7XDKd pic.twitter.com/QLwlwfUp3f

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) February 8, 2016

Fine Gael deputy leader and Children’s Minister James Reilly said he does not “foresee election after election”.

Describing the situation as like a horse running a race with a ditch to jump followed by a wall, he said that “if it keeps its eye on the wall it’ll end up in the ditch”.

Mr Reilly was critical of Fianna Fáil — a potential coalition partner — and Sinn Féin, saying if the latter gains power “the troika will be back by December”.

Asked if Fine Gael promises such as scrapping the universal social charge means his own party is also risking the “fragile” economy, Mr English insisted the plans involve “very careful management”.

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