Will Fianna Fáil support Fine Gael? Mícheál Martin challenged to give voters a straight answer

FIANNA FÁIL leader Mícheál Martin has been challenged by Cork Sinn Féin constituency rival Councillor Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire to give voters a straight answer and clearly rule out going into coalition with Fine Gael or supporting it from the Opposition benches.

Mícheál Martin started off the campaign being adamant that he would not consider supporting a Fine Gael government, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said.

“Now when the question is put to him, he is hiding behind evasive phrases like 'behaving responsibly' and 'acting in the national interest'.”

“It's becoming increasingly clear that a vote for Fianna Fáil will be a vote to prop up another Fine Gael government.”

Such a move would “spell disaster for ordinary people” as it effectively amounts to Fianna Fáil endorsing another five years of chaos in our hospitals, a housing crisis and big tax breaks for high earners instead of investment in our critical public services, the Sinn Féin challenger said.

“Ordinary people cannot afford another five years of Fine Gael. It would be unforgivable for Fianna Fáil to volunteer to prop up a second Fine Gael term.

“I am calling on Micheál Martin to give the people of Cork and Ireland very straight answers. Will he, for once and for all, rule out coalition with Fine Gael and the prospect of his party supporting a Fine Gael government from the opposition benches?

“The people deserve to know what exactly they are choosing if they decide to vote Fianna Fáil. As it stands, it increasingly looks like choosing Fianna Fáil will be a vote for a Fine Gael-led Government.”