Tánaiste Michael Martin has announced he will lead Fianna Fail into the next general election, saying: “Yes I will be, absolutely,” reports RTE.
Speaking to the media after his party’s parliamentary caucus meeting in Tipperary, he said the “whole range” of Sinn FĂ©in’s policies were “incompatible” with those of Fianna Fáil, and referring to possible future coalition options, he said: “They wouldn’t be our first choice, at all,” reports RTE.
Mr Martin has accused Sinn FĂ©in of being “anti-enterprise”, warning that the party is also “anti the entrepreneurial culture that has been central to the economic development of this country over decades,” reports RTE.
He claimed Sinn FĂ©in was “anti-European” and would “reach for the tax weapon” if a future economic crisis hit.
Mr Martin also mocked Sinn FĂ©in’s climate change credentials, claiming the party was “particularly two-faced” and “lacking any commitment” to the issue, preferring to play politics instead.
The Tánaiste accused Sinn FĂ©in of being “very, very slow to bring closure to the victims of Provisional IRA violence”, reports RTE.
Mr Martin added: “That will need all of us to work together on measures that will ensure water quality is at a level that sustains and supports the retention or our derogation long-term. That’s really the key mid-term strategic objective,” reports RTE.
Reflecting ahead of the new Dáil term take into account the party’s budget priorities, with Martin and Finance Minister Michael McGrath among the keynote speakers.
Mr Martin said the government would take steps to help households cope with high energy prices in next month’s budget
Addressing the meeting, Mr Martin said: “While there have been some energy price reductions made – prices remain too high. We know people are still facing pressure and we will act to help them again,” reports RTE.
Without specifically referring to the new round of power loans, Martin said: “We have to act with a combination of action to help people with major price increases and action to try to reduce pressures pushing up prices,” reports RTE.
Fianna Fáil is understood to be calling for a possible cut in the public welfare levy, but with the Budget due in a few weeks, the coalition is yet to make a decision.
USC was launched in December 2010, at the height of the financial crisis.
This applies to all earnings of those whose gross income exceeds 13,000 euros
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