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Fianna Fail leader receives standing ovation after apology for sins of the past

Micheal Martin says sorry for the Celtic Tiger collapse

PATRICK COUNIHAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, March 4, 2012, 10:02 AM

Updated Monday, March 12, 2012, 11:48 AM

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Micheal Martin

Photo by Google Images

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has publicly apologized to the Irish nation for his party’s role in the downfall of the Celtic Tiger.

The opposition leader made a formal apology at the annual Fianna Fail Ard Fheis (delegate meeting) in Dublin.

Martin is desperately seeking to restore former glories to the party, founded by Eamon De Valera, after its recent battering at the polls.

Sinn Fein is now more popular with voters than Fianna Fail as the public blame the Republican Party for the collapse of the Irish economy and the need for an EU-IMF bail-out.

Martin acknowledged as much in his keynote speech to the 73rd annual Fianna Fail meeting in Dublin.

“Fianna Fail has made mistakes and we are sorry,” said the party leader, according to the Irish Times.

“It’s not enough to point to the worst world recession in 80 years and the euro zone crisis.

“Nor to point to the fact that other parties were demanding policies which would have made things worse - that’s for them to answer for.

“We were in government and we should have acted differently. We made mistakes. We got things wrong. And we are sorry for that. No equivocation.
No half-apology. Just the plain, unvarnished truth.”

Martin received a standing ovation from the 4,000 delegates as he emphasised the need for renewal and a new approach to politics.

“There are people throughout our country who are experiencing very hard times,” he added.

“They are struggling with finding a job, paying their mortgage or losing a loved one to emigration.

“The problems facing people are too serious for tired, old political games.

“This government of broken promises must be held to account for its bad decisions. But we will tackle them responsibly.

“When something is right for Ireland, we will support it, when it is wrong we will oppose it.”

Nster.com

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IrelandNorth | Mar 07, 2012, 09:02 AM EST

Curitiba! People keep voting for them because they have long fingers and short memories. Plus with a little help from their meida hacks, to manufacture consent by repeat re-runs of polls in their favour. Indeed a case of locking the safes after the banks have been plundered. And in an age of surplus apologies, how much is one more worth on the second hand apology market. Fianna Fail is in terminal decline. If they survive, and are re-elected, it will prove once and for all that the Irish electorate is ideologically autistic.

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irishpjk | Mar 05, 2012, 09:17 PM EST

An amazing race the Irish, Priests, Bishops and a Pope apologize for the past sins of the church and are called names. A Politian (I trust none of them they all lie) does the same and gets a standing ovation. I guess all if is forgiven. Good Luck when you all put him back in, and it will happen.

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seanomelb | Mar 05, 2012, 05:07 PM EST

His mea culpas are meaningless a prison term would give more satisfaction to the dispossessed.

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seanomelb | Mar 05, 2012, 05:01 PM EST

The Icelandic government has arrested the former prime minister for failing to protect the baking system in Iceland.I doubt Enda has the balls to do likewise.

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 05, 2012, 12:55 PM EST

I understand these gangsters were meeting in one part of the building, while in another part there was a job fair for people who want to emigrate.

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sirpeter | Mar 05, 2012, 09:32 AM EST

Don't be fooled.It's all going according to plan~~The EU plan.Fiscal union with the EU is the ONLY plan.Now that they have maneuvered the Irish people into a position of confusion and fear.They know we are feeling vulnerable and much more likely to vote in favour for this up coming treaty.They will use scare tactics just wait for it.For America it was WMD's and terrorist attacks after 9/11.War is big business for some,but it's the ordinary people who pay with their life's.For Ireland it will be the scare tactic of economic destruction if we don't go along with big business.The bottom line is those faceless people behind closed doors that you never see and are accountable to nobody want to control~~You~~You~~and You.

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CaptainCon | Mar 05, 2012, 05:54 AM EST

Losing your car keys is a mistake. Forgetting your wallet is a mistake. Losing Irish national sovereignty can and should be seen as a terminal error.

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Curitiba | Mar 04, 2012, 04:29 PM EST

Why do people keep voting for these tired old parties who would struggle if put in charge of a village pub? He's saying, "We're rubbish. Vote us in again. We'll be rubbish next time because we don't know what we're doing" And people will vote for them. Why?

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ciaradexy | Mar 04, 2012, 12:43 PM EST

Too little too late.

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