Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has firmly shut the door on any power sharing arrangement with Sinn Fein as his party surges in popularity.
A new opinion poll for the Sunday Independent newspaper has Fianna Fail at 27 per cent, two ahead of a falling Fine Gael and seven points clear of Sinn Fein.
With coalition partners the Labor Party also in freefall, the poll suggests Fianna Fail would be the big winners in any snap election.
But Martin has told the Irish Sun newspaper that he will not entertain any idea of a coalition with Sinn Fein despite their respective standings in recent polls.
Rather than send an olive branch to Gerry Adams, he slammed Sinn Fein for ‘bully-boy’ tactics and flawed policies.
The Fianna Fail leader and former Minister said: “Their policies are not compatible with ours, particularly on the economy.”
He continued: “Actions and behaviour emanating from members of that party I would have concerns about. They are in parliament and they can make their points of view there.
“Not all members of Sinn Fein, but a certain element engage in intimidation for political points - they did that in the North with the SDLP. There are attempting to do that down here.
“We now have a situation where city councils are being interfered with and that is dangerous. That’s what happened in the 1930s in Germany.”
Asked about power sharing, he stressed: “We are not even there yet in terms of power-sharing. I’ve been in Government and there is no point in going back into it for the sake of it.”
Martin also played down the significance of the opinion polls and insisted Fianna Fail wasn’t looking beyond next year’s local elections.
Reminded that he had been warned he would never be Irish Prime Minister when he succeeded Brian Cowan as FF leader, Martin insisted: “That might very well be the case, but it’s an opportunity, a journey, to be the leader of a political party.
“We made mistakes, we did the wrong things and I think people abused the party and got us a very bad name.
“If we can go into a new phase where new people come in and politicians emerge from this era with a new set of policies that are closer to working people, then I’ll be a happier person. That’s my ultimate litmus test of success.”
Two points clear of Fine Gael in the latest poll, Martin refuses to read anything into the figures.
He added: “It does reflect a trend but no more than that. What I draw from the polls generally, to be honest, is that politics is not held in high esteem at the moment — and all politicians should accept that.
“People feel disillusioned with politics and polls do reflect that.
“We have a gargantuan task ahead of us to regain the trust of the people and that’s where I see our big task.”
32 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.IrelandNorth | Feb 20, 2013, 02:17 PM EST
ancavker/Smyrnian! Beware of northern FIFTHCOLUMNISTS. True independence was a short lived experiment before a counter revolution masquerading as a civil war brought us mere autonomy. "Mourn not the dead that in the cold earth lie. Dust to dust as all men must. But rather mourne the apathetic throng. The cowed and meek. Who know the worlds great anguish and its wrongs. But dare not speak!" Anon.
Smyrnian | Feb 20, 2013, 11:56 AM EST
Stevenstar - I am 100% Irish too and I find your views disturbing. In any event it's all about nonsense, really.
ancavker | Feb 20, 2013, 10:06 AM EST
STEVENSTAIR: Nobody is stealing your culture. In fact the Irish born in AMerica and Britian, as well as the Irish-Amcericans are keeping it alive, as so many Irish in Ireland have thrown it away. And yes you are entitled to your opinion, everyone has one does not mean it is right. And we are entitled to our opinons too. As far as a democracy well not too sure about that. Was not that long ago that you had Section 31 in place Now go on back to fixing the mess of a country you have. Amazing 80 years of independence and a country of only 5 million or so, and the place is a basket case.
IrelandNorth | Feb 20, 2013, 03:48 AM EST
Looks like Martin's goin' to be opposition for the long [me]haul. Better get used to it. Mind you, in fairness, the FF'ers had some credibility in the eerily daze what with that ex-Collin's 12 Apostles Squad hit-man/Tea-shock Misha Lemass. But from the late 1960s, they strayed from the path of enlightenment, down the hedonistic road of decadence and perdition. (Geez, I'm beginnin' to sound like wee Willie 'emself?)
STEVENSTAR | Feb 19, 2013, 09:18 PM EST
@@@@Smyrnian | Feb 19, 2013, 04:28 PM EST WELL AS MY DEAR OLD WISE GRANNY USED TO SAY IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DOG, BARKS LIKE A DOG, AND ACTS LIKE A DOG, THEN ITS A DOG.... LETS NOT GO AGAINST THE LAW OF AVERAGES AND MOTHER NATURE... SAME FOR YOU, IF YOU WERE BORN IN AMERICA , IF YOU TALK WITH AN AMERICA ACCENT AND YOU LOOK AMERICAN...THEN GUESS WHAT ? YOUR AMERICAN :).........JUST BE HAPPY TO BE WHO YOU ARE AND STOP TRYING TO STEAL MY CULTURE AND IDENTITY WITH ALL THIS GOOBLE DEE GOOK AND FAIRY TALE STORIES ABOUT GREAT AUNTY MARYS AND UNCLE JOHNS WHO ONCE LEFT FOR AMERICA TO GET A NEW JOB 175 YEARS AGO AND NEVER CAME BACK..!! ITS GETTING A BIT BORING NOW ESPECIALLY IF YOUR 100% IRISH LIKE I AM..
STEVENSTAR | Feb 19, 2013, 09:12 PM EST
@@@ancavker | Feb 19, 2013, 02:04 PM JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD A BAD DAY THERE IS NO NEED TO TAKE IT OUT ON ME. IN IRELAND WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY AND PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE OPINIONS... I HOPE THATS OK WITH YOU ? YANKEE DOODLE DANDY !!!!
Joe Glackin | Feb 19, 2013, 07:14 PM EST
Does any on here realize that anything reported by Irish Central from the Irish ,British Sun rag is giving credibility towards it as a newspaper.
seanomelb | Feb 19, 2013, 06:08 PM EST
27% is hardly a ringing endorsement, they will have to form a coaslition with other parties and all the chest beating by Martin will not change that.
Willie Frazer | Feb 19, 2013, 05:12 PM EST
I think most of us free presbyterians here in my BELOVED ULSTER have resinged ourselves to the fact that Sinn Fein are going to be in government in the whole of Ireland very soon.That is why you hear some of our presbyterian brethren, talking now about having a border poll on a united Ireland.The word "united Ireland" would have been deemed a bad word to use not to long ago by our people but it is obvious that many of them are warming to it now.The thing is big gerry adams is an ULSTER man and a think I would rather be ruled by a ULSTER man in Ireland than by some of them free state boys.
ancavker | Feb 19, 2013, 04:51 PM EST
Smyrnian: Thank you. That is what educated STEVENSTAIr seems to have such great difficulty understanding.
Smyrnian | Feb 19, 2013, 04:28 PM EST
I am Irish born and spent a great deal of time in the UK and I have a very high regard for the English people. I think they are a very fine people. As for the Americans, I know them quite well and they are solid, excellent people. So what if they come from a society that is not homogenous so most people trace their lineage proudly to somewhere else? Finnish Americans, German Americans, Italian Americans, Mexican Americans, Anglo Americans, Irish Americans all proudly celebrate their heritage, So what?. That is a good thing. When an Irish American say they are Irish, everyone knows they are referring to their heritage and not their place of birth. Rather simple but most people (Typically uneducated, untutored and untraveled) fail to know this.
Miceal1 | Feb 19, 2013, 04:01 PM EST
If after the last 15 years of Ahern and Cowan, etc - Any Irish person who votes for Fianna Fail must out of the mind. Fianna Fail - the party that brought you disaster in 1922, in 1933 - 1939 (Dev's Economic War), the Haughey regime (tighten your belts, not mine, the Ahern/Cowan regime - the party that brought shame and economic disaster to Ireland. If you can emigrate - now is the time to do it !
anglo-norman | Feb 19, 2013, 03:34 PM EST
curtis- Pull the other one son.
IrelandNorth | Feb 19, 2013, 03:02 PM EST
"FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE IRISH AND ENGLISH FOR THE MOST GET ON LIKE A [CUSTOMS] HOUSE ON FIRE[!]"
ancavker | Feb 19, 2013, 02:04 PM EST
STEVENSTAIR: Most ENglish people would not differentiate between Irish north or south. And most English people coulc care less or way or the other. And they are not running around posting on websites about how famously they fet along with the Irish. Again most could care less. That being said the English people are quite friendly, and they do not have that anti-American chip on their shoulder like the modern day so called educated Irish. And the Irish in England arre quiet friendly, and I always look forward to visiting f friends and family when I am there on business or otherwise. It is so nice not to have to listen to all the anti American drivel that one has to suffer through when visiting Ireland. I love the Plastic Paddies, you know that is the name you so called real Irish in Ireland invented for them.
STEVENSTAR | Feb 19, 2013, 12:59 PM EST
ALSO ID LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE GUY ANGLO IRISH IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL ENGLISH OPINION.. FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE IRISH AND ENGLISH FOR THE MOST GET ON LIKE A HOUSE ON FIRE ,... ITS THAT IDIOT ANGLO IRISH IS STIIRING THINGS AND OF COURSE WE HAVE ALL THE AMERICAN POSTERS ON HERE LOVING THAT ..ANGLO NORMAN IS NORTHERN IRISH AND PROBABLY BRITISH ... WHAT MOST ENGLISH PEOPLE HAVE IN COMMON WITH THE SOUTHERN IRISH IS THERE DISLIKE FOR THE MAJORITY OF NORTHERN IRISH AS THEY CAN BE A BITTER LOT UP THERE .. ISNT THAT RIGHT ANGLO-NORMAN .. YOU LITTLE TROLL YOU :)
STEVENSTAR | Feb 19, 2013, 12:54 PM EST
WHAT AMAZES ME MOST ON THIS SITE IS PEOPLE ACTUALLY GOING AROUND CHECKING THE TIME OF MY POSTS AND TALLYING UP TIMES IN IRELANND JUST IN CASE IM PRETENDING TO BE IRISH AND LIVING IN IRELAND :) ...ALL THIS FROM A GUY WHO IS IN AMERICA BORN IN AMERICA AND IS PROBABLY CLAIMING TO BE IRISH BECAUSE HIS GREAT AUNTY MARYS SISTER MOVED THERE FROM MAYO 157 YEARS AGO.... :) MATE I AM IRISH I LIVE IN IRELAND AND I HAVE AN IRISH PASSPOST AND WHILE YOU MAY NOT READ IT ON HERE .. MOST OF US IRISH WOULD AGREE WITH ME AS REGARDS THE SILLY/ FAIRTYTALE 'HOLLYWOOD' FANTASY STYLE REPORTING THAT GOES INTO THIS NEWSPAPER AIMED AT THE AMERICAN MARKET .. MY POSTS ARE HERE TO SET THINGS STRAIGHT ABOUT IRELAND AND THE IRISH... AS IM SICK TO THE TEETH OF READING RUBBISH THATS BEEN PRINTED ABOUT US ON HER DAY AFTER DAY ...
Smyrnian | Feb 19, 2013, 10:03 AM EST
And the American people again elected an idiot socialist as president. Same huge mistake in judgment. Nothing particularly Irish about that.
curtisjohnson | Feb 18, 2013, 09:03 PM EST
Fianna failure.
curtisjohnson | Feb 18, 2013, 09:02 PM EST
“No wonder they were used as cannon-fodder by foreign armies in times of war.” They were the most decorated soldiers proportionately in every European army. Moreover, the diaspora also rose to the highest levels of aristocracy on the continent.
seanomelb | Feb 18, 2013, 06:07 PM EST
Michael seems to be beating a lambegh Drum.The once proud party of the republic is beating its pigeon chest. One poll does not make a viable opposition.
anglo-norman | Feb 18, 2013, 05:00 PM EST
The Irish are a lost cause & deserve to be exploited. No wonder they were used as cannon-fodder by foreign armies in times of war.
irishfree1916 | Feb 18, 2013, 02:44 PM EST
The Fool, the Fool, the Fool........Is this really the Party of Dev? A Californian who manages to "Keep in TOuch ! I loved the comments by Wounded Knee and Ireland North! Jerry O'Keefe IrishFree1916@aol.com
pilib04 | Feb 18, 2013, 12:42 PM EST
gobdawpaddy, Steven doesn't know where he is from. Just a lot of shouting.
gobdawpaddy | Feb 18, 2013, 11:24 AM EST
Steven, Americans are out of touch? What poll are you quoting from 'THEY HAVE NOW DROPPED FROM 21% TO 16%'. I presume you are referring to Sinn Fein and Sunday's poll in the Sunday Independent? This poll clearly shows SF support at 20%. Checked the timing of your post and it seems like a very early start in Ireland, 11.41am to be imbibing (unless lunch started early), so in the absence of such extenuating factors, I assume you misread the poll results.
Thomas84 | Feb 18, 2013, 07:04 AM EST
Fianna Fáil will never go into government. They already have a coalition partner and that is Angela merkal. They shouldn't even be showing their traitorous faces in public. I would vote for Robert Mugabe before that shower of corrupt animals
STEVENSTAR | Feb 18, 2013, 06:41 AM EST
LAST YEAR THIS AMERICAN NEWSPAPER REPORTED THAT THE HUGE POPULARITY IN SEIN FEIN INCRESED IN IRELAND AND THAT THEY WERE POPULAR... I COMMENTED THIS WAS NOT THE CASE TODAY WE CAN SEE THAT THEY HAVE NOW DROPPED FROM 21% TO 16% THATS A MASSIVE DROP IN SUPPORT ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE BAD RECESSION WE ARE IN AT THE MOMENT.. AGAIN I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT HOW OUT OF TOUCH AMERICANS ARE WITH IRISH SOCIETY AND IRELAND.
angrypaddy | Feb 18, 2013, 02:50 AM EST
FF & SF are competing for the same republican vote and we all know who aer the real republicans now dont we ??FF are the B/S republican party
IrelandNorth | Feb 17, 2013, 02:46 PM EST
"I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house down!" Like a plain Jane in the Ballrooms of Romance in 1930s Ireland, (who hasn't been asked to dance by the Brylcream Boy of the village), Mee-haul declines an invitation to politically jitterbug with Gerry which hasn't even been made. Fantasy Island politics. 27% is 24% short of a majority. The proverbial sandwich short of a picnic. He's hardly in a position to decline suitors. Not least those who haven't even suited him. But Labour and Sínn Féin could be a different kettle of fish.
aloistmartin | Feb 17, 2013, 01:10 PM EST
Gutless Liberalism and Socialist Shortcoming ~
gobdawpaddy | Feb 17, 2013, 11:54 AM EST
WK, I agree, they are a very stu... eh peculiar race. Just two years after kicking them out for the mess they made of the country, 27% of voters would give them another chance, just two years later??
WoundedKnee | Feb 17, 2013, 10:07 AM EST
Fianna Fail once again the most popular party in Ireland? Truly there is no hope for the Irish. They kiss the whip that has lashed them.