Micheál Martin – Page 2 – Slugger O'Toole

Martin: “Economic and social situation in Northern Ireland should cause real concern”.

Mick Fealty on November 4, 2015, 5:35 pm

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So the news from Ballymena, again, is not good. Another vestige of the work put in under O’Neill (and more directly, Brian Faulkner) in trying to modernise the economic base of Northern Ireland goes. The truth is that Northern Ireland is in an uneviable position as a periphery region both within the UK (water imposes major costs for manufacturing industry) and across the border. The ‘all shall have prizes’ governance model of peacebuilding at Stormont means there is little or …

“Are people certain the proceeds from the organised crime is not finding its way into the [SF] political project?”

Mick Fealty on October 21, 2015, 4:48 pm

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Micheal Martin took his second pot shot of the week at Sinn Fein in Leader’s Questions in Dail Eireann in as many days. But this was a more forensic strike than yesterday‘s more on-the-hoof affair. He starts with a reference to £28 Million raised by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) from individuals with “connections or associations” with the Provisional IRA, and then from here asks… Are people absolutely certain Taoiseach that any of the proceeds from the organised crime that’s been going …

Micheal Martin: “Real Irish republicanism is founded on generous, anti-sectarian and international idealism”

Mick Fealty on October 19, 2015, 5:54 pm

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So for me (as I noted in this morning’s SluggerReport) the most interesting event of the weekend was Micheal Martin’s speech at Bodenstown (not Ballyboden as I said this morning) commemorating Wolf Tone, the father of Irish Republicanism. It’s something I’ve been keeping an eye over the last few years because I think Martin has been using this annual occasion to sharpen some of his thinking on north south relations, but more particularly his party’s response to the Sinn Fein …

“Sinn Fein has played sectarian politics and failed to acknowledge issues with the Provisionals…”

Mick Fealty on September 14, 2015, 4:46 pm

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MARTIN EXCORIATES SF SECTARIANISM: Huge potential for growth and development in the Border region is being wasted by a neglectful Executive and disinterested governments. Peace, reconciliation and development will be a key part of Fianna Fail’s agenda for the next Dáil.

Why do we price in all manner of ugly affairs but not the possibility of change?

Mick Fealty on August 27, 2015, 9:39 am

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There seems to be a presumption that the withdrawal of the UUP was purely in response to the muder of two men and the unstated relationship to those killings to the sill existing commandstructure of the IRA. Micheal Martin’s statement yesterday provides deeper context: “The decision of the UUP to withdraw its minister from the Executive is deeply regrettable. It confirms Fianna Fáil’s concerns about the seriousness of the situation facing the Northern Ireland institutions. This latest development comes following …

“We need to sort out a dysfunctional and deeply cynical approach by the dominant parties.”

Mick Fealty on July 15, 2015, 5:21 pm

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There’s a strong sense of politicians going through the motions each time there’s a plenary debate on Northern Ireland issues. Two exceptions this afternoon were Paul Murphy of the Anti Austerity Alliance who gave a pretty blistering account of SF’s role in the signing up to the so called fantasy budget, and Micheal Martin… I’ll add Murphy’s speech when we get the text, but here’s Martin’s in full: The sad reality is that the situation in Northern Ireland is now …

Fianna Fail-Could they bounce back at the next election?

David McCann on June 9, 2015, 6:29 pm

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Fianna Fail, the natural governing party of Ireland. One of the most successful parties in Europe, second only to the Swedish Social Democrats for both electoral success and length of time in power. All of this changed in 2011 as the party suffered a heavy defeat following three years of recession and austerity. With the exception of 2013, the party has polled at around 19-23% and in the local elections they won more councillors than any other party in the …

Fianna Fail’s future is the radical centre

Johnny Fallon on May 25, 2015, 9:40 pm

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Many voices are rushing to tell Fianna Fail what direction it needs to go. Mark Beegan is a Public Relations Consultant and Fianna Fáil activist. He specialises in political communication and media relations. He argues that simple ideological analysis is not enough and is not what Fianna Fail was ever about. Senator Power’s bombshell has brought forward a debate long needed in Irish politics. Where does Fianna Fáil stand and for whom? John McGuirk and Pat Leahy have both …

Martin on the Starmer report: “It’s time for Gerry Adams to own up and come clean…”

Mick Fealty on May 23, 2015, 7:53 am

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And whilst the SDLP gets tangled in all kinds of mess with welfare reform, Micheal Martin keeps up his one man Republican opposition to Sinn Fein on the Starmer report (copy via reader Jag) released yesterday… The report vindicates Mairia Cahill who bravely stood up to on-going abuse and spin by Sinn Féin. Consistent claims that the court case had found all suspects not guilty have been given their proper context by this report. The unacceptable delays and weakening of …

Is it possible that Fianna Fail has turned another one of those invisible corners?

Mick Fealty on April 30, 2015, 3:06 pm

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So averting gaze from the mesmerising polling of the UK election, and to the unfixed electoral politics of the Republic, here’s a constructive question. Is Fianna Fail on the rise again? Mad, eh? Well, Jody Corcoran does not have a completely unblemished track record when it comes to predicting the future. Still, the 1400 at the party’s selection meeting in Kerry is larger than several parties’ national conferences, and 800 turned up in Sligo last week. Specifically Jody notes that… …

Adams v Martin: Well that escalated quickly

David McCann on April 20, 2015, 2:17 pm

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This morning the Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin and the Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams went head to head over remarks made by Martin at the annual 1916 commemoration yesterday where he stated that Sinn Fein where unfit for democratic government. Here is the audio of the tense exchange between the two leaders Who got the better of whom in this exchange? David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on …

Adams: “Sinn Féin has not engaged in any cover-up of abuse at any level of this party.”

David McCann on October 25, 2014, 1:45 pm

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Speaking at a party candidate event earlier today in Belfast, Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams TD made another statement about the Cahill case; below are his remarks to members of his party The allegations of Maíria Cahill have been at the centre of the media and political system North and South, in recent times. Over the course of the past week Maíria Cahill has made serious allegations against myself and named Sinn Féin members. While I am very mindful of the …

Martin: “Sinn Fein is failing even the most basic standards of republicanism”

Mick Fealty on October 21, 2014, 11:00 am

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Micheal Martin’s response to Gerry Adam’s blog statement is also worth replicating here more or less in full: “After instigating a vicious campaign of vilification against Mairia Cahill over the course of the last week, it is of course welcome that Gerry Adams has belatedly acknowledged that his organisation did carry out internal investigations of sexual abuse allegations. However, it is deeply disappointing that even as he abandons a key claim he fails to do the right thing by Ms Cahill. …

Mairia Cahill “I am appalled. Gerry knows the truth. He knows I know the truth.”

Mick Fealty on October 16, 2014, 9:43 pm

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So here’s a long response from Gerry Adams to the allegations on RTE’s News At One today, followed by Mairia Cahill’s criticism on Newstalk at lunchtime: listen to ‘Gerry Adams “more than economical with the truth” – Maíria Cahill’ on audioBoom The real meat of the day though was in a Press Conference at Leinster House following a meeting between Ms Cahill and Micheal Martin of Fianna Fail. The Irish Times reports: In response Ms Cahill said: “I am appalled. …

“We have a politics that treats people almost as infants to be sold policies rather than actively engaged…”

Mick Fealty on July 23, 2014, 11:14 am

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Every year, the MacGill Summer School gives us under exercised political anoraks a moment to resolutely focus on Irish public affairs. Last night the subject was trust between the governors and the governed, a title none of the three speakers were particularly comfortable with. And it invoked some biting, cynical wit on Twitter… Don't miss my talk at Macgill, "Political Reform: The Politics of Reform, or The Reform of Politics?" — lɐƃɹǝℲ (@Fergal) July 22, 2014 There’s a wider sense …

Fianna Fail’s only MEP Brian Crowley jumps EP political groups…

Mick Fealty on June 23, 2014, 11:36 am

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Oh, and here’s some more bad news for Micheal Martin (this time it is actually real bad news)… BREAKING: Fianna Fail MEP Brian Crowley is to leave ALDE + join the ECR, home of the British Tory MEPs, Danish Peoples’ Party + True Finns — Tony Connelly (@tconnellyRTE) June 23, 2014 So, his only MEP has gone rogue and swung back to the right [with the British Tories? – Ed] to join the ECR group and leaving the much diminished …

Derek Mooney-Fianna Fáil and the long road to recovery.

Soapbox on May 19, 2014, 12:30 pm

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Continuing on our series of articles of elections in the South, former Fianna Fail advisor Derek Mooney writes about the current campaign, Fianna Fail’s recovery and what it has to do next. While there are worse jobs in the world: the worst job in politics is certainly leader of the opposition. If he didn’t already know this, it is certain that Fianna Fáil’s leader Micheal Martin will know this in just over a week. The 2014 European and Local Election …

Fianna Fail in Northern Ireland: “We have to be very incremental: it isn’t going to be a big bang.”

Mick Fealty on February 18, 2014, 12:57 pm

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Alex Kane has done a fascinating interview with Micheal Martin for the News Letter. He covers a lot more Northern Irish bases than he has before and makes it clear that his past interventions on policy are part of long slow iterative engagement with Northern Irish politics, which he hopes will grow into a separate challenge to the business as usual of the current status quo. Here’s some of the highlights: MM: What I would like to have seen is …

Micheal Martin: “For things to change in the North they require greater generosity and restraint”

Mick Fealty on February 5, 2014, 2:04 pm

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Fascinating debate in the Dail right now. The Tainiste kicked off statements on the current situation in Northern Ireland by identifying three points he wants to see progress in: re-implementation of the Civic Forum; bringing forward the Bill Rightsl and the implimentation of an Irish language act. Here’s selections from Micheal Martin’s draft speech: On the rare occasions that Northern issues are now addressed in the Dáil by the Taoiseach we hear statements about how everything is in hand and …

Micheal Martin claims Sinn Fein’s cover up of sexual abuse goes beyond the Adams case

Mick Fealty on November 28, 2013, 3:06 pm

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And on the day Liam Adams was sentenced to 16 years for the child rape of his daughter, and Gerry Adams odd insouciance on the matter of what he actually did in response to finding out over 20 years ago, this from Sinn Fein… Ms McDonald is furious (apparently) with Micheal Martin for claiming that: From information we have picked up, and we have talked to other people, this may have been a broader trend in the republican movement. Just …