Date set to oust Fianna Fáil

Tuesday, 25 January 2011 10:26

So now the semantics are out of the way. Fianna Fáil has exhausted their final delaying tactics to go to the country and have given the people the chance to have their say, probably on Friday February 25.
The so-called challenge to Taoiseach and now former party leader Brian Cowen was a farce and only demonstrated how out of touch the party is to the greater needs of this country.
What does it matter now if Micheal Martin, Brian Lenihan, Eamon Ó Cuív or Mary Hanafin were to lead the party into the general election? The result will be the same - virtual wipe out.

The once proud party that recorded an historic landslide general election victory in 1977 – the year former EU Commissioner and Minister Padraig Flynn was first elected to the Dáil – now faces a most humiliating defeat at the hands of the electorate.
Standing at an all-time low of 14 per cent in the popularity polls, the party has lost the confidence of the people.
On Thursday, following the resignation of a batch of retiring Ministers, the Taoiseach took the hint and hightailed it into the sunset of political shame.

Decisive action is needed to restore confidence in the country, the economy and our international reputation.
Fianna Fáil's lust for power and their determination to remain in government had blinkered reality.
What part of 'get out of office' did they not understand? How many more opinion polls were needed for them to get the message?
Mr. Cowan waited for additional Ministers to announce their retirement before conceding to a general election.
At least those who are retiring had seen the writing on the wall and did not want to be embarrassed any further at the polls.

No matter what spin is put on it Fianna Fáil is now a force of the past. They have held power for far too long and thereby had become complacent to the needs of the country.
The obvious infighting within the party in the Cowen heave showed little respect for the electorate, which will have the final say on polling day.

This, too, became evident in the Dermot Flanagan cock-up in Mayo. To suggest he suddenly remembered on Monday his legal commitments, as a barrister, prevented him from standing for Fianna Fáil, after putting himself forward on Friday, does not wash.
Then again, maybe the former Mayo footballer saw the reality of the situation and did not want to be a sacrificial lamb.

The party will be lucky to retain one Dáil seat in the Mayo five-seater. Junior Minister Dara Calleary has shown great potential and is most likely to be re-elected.
The level of support for Fine Gael within the county, with the great possibility of Enda Kenny becoming Taoiseach, should ensure three or four seats, depending on whether Independent Michael Kilcoyne declares. We will have to wait and see.

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