FIANNA Fáil leader, Micheál Martin, has defended the decision not to run a party candidate for the Presidential election, despite stinging criticism from local county councillors.

A majority of Clare Fianna Fáil councillors broke ranks with party headquarters recently over their belief the party should put forward an internal candidate for the forthcoming election.
They insisted the party should not opt out of an election for the first time since the foundation of the State and believed MEP Brian Crowley would have been the best internal candidate to mount a credible bid for office.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, Deputy Martin admitted it was a very difficult decision not to run a candidate.
“I understand their disappointment and I share their concerns and respect them. Every Fianna Fáiler would like to run a candidate for the next Presidential Election. However, we had to take a very difficult and painful decision. I do it with a very heavy heart. It is not something I like recommending to the parliamentary party.
“The last general election sent the party a very clear message. People want us to change and renew ourselves. There has not been a significant change in terms of party support since the election.
“We have come out of the election weaker, as a party we need to strengthen and regroup. We undertook significant research, which showed a desire among the electorate for an independent candidate, who was not attached to any political party.
“People don’t see the presidency as attached to any political party. They are not attached to a party political figure. We polled a number of different candidates who didn’t do well. Admittedly, David Norris was the leading candidate at that particular point but the transfers were not looking good for us either,” he said.
Following significant party research and analysis of other political polls, Deputy Martin pointed out the party would have to borrow about €750,000 on top of its existing deficit.
“A lot of party members will be disappointed and angry the party isn’t running a presidential candidate. I understand that and I respect that. I have to take into account the best long-term interests of the party.
“Party members are very upset with the general election. It had a traumatic effect on people. However, they are realistic as well. People understand the economic collapse and the impact that had on politics. Out of upset and disappointment comes a desire to regroup the party.
“What I am getting across the country is a new energy coming out. It is almost as if the crisis creates an opportunity for the party to renew and rebuild itself. Lapsed members are now coming forward to attend meetings.
“There is a desire in the community for Fianna Fáil to renew itself and become a vital force in politics. That goodwill is growing and there is re-engagement with people who were lapsed,” he said.

‘We are all in this together’ – Martin

FIANNA Fáil will be aiming to regain a seat in the Clare constituency at the next general election following the party’s dismal showing in the last one, when their Dáil representation slumped to just 20 seats.
Party leader Micheál Martin hopes the strong vibrancy of the local party and organisation, allied to a determined membership, will provide the springboard for political success in the future.
Fianna Fáil members in the county returned the largest party collection during the recent national collection and the Banner has registered the highest number of cumainn, totalling about 145.
Deputy Martin explained the purpose of nationwide meetings is to reconnect with people on the ground. “I am saying to councillors, we are all in this together. We need to look at core principles, update and modernise them and invite them to contribute to this. We want this party to be humming and brimming with ideas and new policies and to facilitate the membership in having a genuine say in the development of policies and issues.”
He criticised the Coalition’s raft of pre-election promises.
“The Government made too many reckless promises in advance leading into the election, which wasn’t good for politics. They had to renege on a whole range of issues. Policies they condemned they had to implement in terms of budgetary and banking.
“We are not waiting for the Government to make mistakes. We have to come up with new policies. such as the mortgage protection plan developed by Mark McSharry,” he said.
Asked if there is a future for Fianna Fáil, Deputy Martin replied politics is fundamentally about ideas and policies and improving the country.
“I want Fianna Fáil to be a vibrant, political force into the future that shapes policy and development of the country. It enables people to come into politics to serve their community at local and national level.
“We need a fresh array of solutions to address problems. It is not just about winning seats anymore. We need to know why you want seats, what are you going to do if you win a seat, what are your policies and ideas. We will have that for the next local and general election,” he added.