Doyle challenges FF to outline policies

Fianna Fáil’s party leader is more interested in wagging the finger than in offering his party’s vision or solutions for the country, a Fine Gael Minister has said.

Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture, Andrew Doyle said Mr Martin has yet to outline what exactly Fianna Fáil stand for following their Ard Fheis in Dublin over the weekend.

“Michael Martin had 30 minutes of Prime Time TV on Saturday night to talk to the nation about solutions and ideas. Instead he just wagged the finger.

“What is it exactly that Fianna Fáil stand for? What is their vision for the country? What are their core policies? Do they even have one?

“Are they afraid to put their name to a policy and then have to furiously backtrack if it doesn’t work out. Surely, we would have been given an insight into this over the weekend, but no, nothing short of bluster and paranoia of Fine Gael was proffered.

“In attempting to rally the Soldiers of Destiny, Deputy Martin failed to outline his vision for Ireland’s future.

“Actually, he outlined very little. We heard about the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the Special Economic Zone on Saturday. The same as we heard at their think-in in Longford. This is all old hat.

“Deputy Martin keeps promising that these big policy ideas are just around the corner and are coming soon, well where are they?

“All we have seen over the weekend at their Ard Fheis is an attack on Government and Fine Gael. Micheal Martin spent much of Saturday night talking about Fine Gael and An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to what is supposed to be a Fianna Fáil audience.

“Did they really travel to Dublin to listen to tired and poor clichés about spin? This from a former Fianna Fáil minister of 14 years who clocked up a massive spend of more than €30m on 115 health reports.

“Perhaps next time if afforded the same platform, he’ll be more original and positive and give us some vision and concrete proposals,” the Fine Gael Minister said.

ENDS