This article is from page 20 of the 2011-02-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
AT A TIME when Fianna Fáil is changing its election strategy to run just one candidate in some constituencies, party leader Michéal Martin is confident not only about the two candidate strategy in Clare but that this strategy can return two Fianna Fáil TDs.
The Cork man was in Clare on Wednesday to begin the party’s election campaign and to rally the soldiers of destiny in the Banner county.
He told the gathered media that every constituency was different and he was confident the party has two very strong candidates in Clare.
“I am confident that they can win two seats here – yes,” he said.
“We have two seats, we have two deputies here. We will do very well in this election. We will bring the issues to the people and I think we will be elected. That is my position. Others have their position, I have mine.”
The party leader was well aware that is views did not necessarily tally with the national polls and he was keen on staying well away from any talks of surveys or predictions.
“I think the public out there are generally tired of talking about polls and seats. Obviously it is something the pundits love talking about.
“People are genuinely more interested in the issues, the future and what party has a real credible path to the future and that is what I am thinking of, and I think what John (Hillery) and Timmy (Dooley) have to do is talk about the issues. That is the value of an election campaign that is the value of debate.
“That is why I think it is great the a person like John Hillery takes a very courageous step from a relatively safe environment in a medical career and enters politics and say there is something I want to do something for my country.
“Timmy Dooley is a young man. He could have done other things as well, but he decided to commit himself to public life again.
“The value of a campaign is that you get an opportunity to talk through the issues and flesh them out because the issues are bigger now than they ever have been in terms of the future of the country.
“We cannot hide the real issues from the people. We have got to be honest with them and say there are no easy choices now but if we follow the correct path we will get there,” he added.