Tánaiste denies Fianna Fáil is in trouble in rural Ireland after Irish Examiner poll results
Members Think Micheál Killiney, Stephen In In Castle Fianna Martin Dublin With Party Picture: Fitzpatrick At Party At The Fáil Collins/collins Hotel Parliamentary
The Tánaiste has denied Fianna Fáil has a rural problem after an exclusive poll showed the party polling at 22%.
Micheál Martin said Fianna Fáil had been very focused on rural Ireland and agriculture in terms of policy and intended to continue that in the future.
In the Irish Examiner/Ipsos rural Ireland face-to-face survey, Mr Martin received an overall satisfaction rating of 5.72 out of 10 as leader of his party.
Mr Martin has previously said he does not lend much weight to polls and referred to polling before the local and European elections earlier this year.
"We were third in every poll for the last two to three years before the local elections and yet we ended up with the largest number of seats in the local elections," Mr Martin said.
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Speaking at Fianna Fáil's think-in in Dublin, the Tánaiste said an important area of focus for his party was in allocating additional investment to Irish Water that would mandate the utility to work more closely with local authorities in terms of wastewater treatment plants.
Mr Martin noted he had been out in areas such as Fermoy last week where the issue of wastewater treatment plants was raised with him.
"This is an issue that is alive in rural Ireland and I think there needs to be a greater focus on the situation in terms of villages and facilitating the development of towns," said Mr Martin.
"We will have strong policies in terms of development of towns in particular."
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Meanwhile, Mr Martin said childcare plans revealed by Fine Gael last week were "half-baked".
He criticised those who would "throw out ideas without any substance", saying this could make providers concerned and lead to them pulling out of the industry. The Tánaiste said whatever proposals emerge must take on board all of the existing providers and there should be ongoing consultation.
Mr Martin did say he favours greater State intervention in terms of early education and childcare, adding there are areas where the Government needs to be stronger, including special education in the early years.
Responding to Sinn Féin being at 18% in the ’s poll, Ms McDonald acknowledged that her party received a message from the electorate in the local and European elections.
“We’re very aware that we’ve a big job of work to do, but we also know that we’re fit for it,” Ms McDonald said.
“We’re coming back into the Dáil with, I would say, more determination than ever to deliver that.
“Of course we will always want to be more connected, not just with rural votes but with voters more generally.”
Ms McDonald said that her party spent the summer months working and putting together policies, after being told by the electorate to “do better”.