Yes, I believe this manifesto will form the basis of our programme for government” – Micheál Martin
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin delivered an independently reviewed plan for how his party sees the next government. Of the projected €8.6bn available to the government, Fianna Fáil said it will not spend it all, but instead will spend €8.2bn of it, essentially allowing for wriggle room.
Gone are the Fianna Fáil days of “when we have it, we spend it”. Replaced, instead, is “when we have it, we’ll spend the most of it” as one commentator described it on Thursday.
Fianna Fáil said it will “amend consumer law” to ensure the appointment of a food ombudsman to protect primary producers.
Fianna Fáil said it will introduce a “more transparent inspection regime” to make inspections fairer on farmers.
The party said it will increase the number of places in the Rural Social Scheme by 2,500 and reintroduce the 2011 means-testing rules for Farm Assist.
The party said it will increase funding for the Beef Data and Genomics Programme, so that the first 20 cows in a farmer’s herd will receive €200/cow on each calve, irrespective of whether she produces a calf or not.
Listen to Micheál Martin commit to the unconditional nature of the suckler premium in our podcast below:
Fianna Fáil said it will introduce a schools programme for farm safety based on Road Safety Authority campaigns.
The party said it wants to develop an “Island of Ireland” suckler beef label as “allowed under EU rules” based on the Welsh beef model.
One of the more innovative ideas is Fianna Fáil’s pledge to establish a market access unit in the Department of Agriculture to spearhead access to new markets for Irish food. Essentially, this would be a vet on a plane working with other countries’ officials in clearing paperwork to get market access.
There was plenty for everyone else too, but Martin said the party’s manifesto was “not auction politics” in the hope of buying votes. Here is a flavour of what is on offer:
Micheál Martin was quizzed repeatedly at the manifesto launch, about the formation of the next government and whether his party would align itself with Fine Gael or block Enda Kenny becoming the next Taoiseach. Martin dodged the question, saying that he plans to lead the next government.
Despite what Martin says and despite how much he might protest, all indications are that Fianna Fáil simply will not have the numbers to lead the next government.
In the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising, does Fianna Fáil have enough confidence to put Treaty politics aside and go with Fine Gael? It is looking like more of a possibility.
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