Martin’s Ard Fheis speech distances party from Sinn Féin on housing

GROUP POLITICAL EDITOR

FIANNA Fáil leader Micheál Martin used his speech at his party’s Ard Fheis in Dublin yesterday to distance his party from Sinn Féin and accentuate the similarities with his current Coalition partners.

Despite widespread criticism of the Government’s performance on the key issue of housing, a portfolio controlled by his party, the Tánaiste launched a strong defence of its achievements to date.

‘For the first time in years, we have started to make strides forward,’ said Mr Martin in his main speech at the party’s 81st Ard Fheis at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Ship Street.

‘Home ownership should be supported’

‘Central to this is the Housing for All Plan, which is delivering a sustained and growing increase in homes being built.

‘I deeply understand how people can look at the difficulties of being able to get a home and be dispirited.

‘By every measure of home permissions, completions, home purchases, first-time buyers and mortgage drawdowns, we are seeing positive movement.’

Mr Martin added: ‘By the end of this year, 100,000 homes will have been built since we took up this challenge.

‘We have started a new era of providing social homes in all parts of the country, with up to 30,000 delivered to date. In addition, there are over 22,000 social homes either on-site or at design and tender stage.’

With recent polls fuelling speculation of a potential Sinn Féin – Fianna Fáil coalition after the next general election,

Mr Martin did little to indicate he is moving in the direction of another historic partnership.

Mr Martin instead listed the achievements of the current administration in housing, and pointed out the main difference between the centrist parties and the left-wing populists of Sinn Féin.

‘The facts show that every week, 500 first-time buyers are buying a new home. We are not there yet, but for the first time in years a real momentum is building.

‘And it is now absolutely clear that there is a major difference between Government and opposition in relation to housing. We believe that home ownership should be supported.’

It is clear Fianna Fáil, which many experts believe is likely to be in Government next time no matter what the combination, will set their general election stall out as one supporting the fundamental ambition of home ownership.

Sinn Féin, conversely, strongly favours a far higher proportion of social housing in the future.

During an earlier press conference, Mr Martin also rejected Sinn Féin calls to expel the Israeli Ambassador Dana Erlich over her country’s invasion of Gaza.

Mr Martin said this would damage prospects for a ceasefire and getting hostages out of the enclave.

‘Logic escapes me as to how we are to meaningfully seek to get Irish citizens out of Gaza if we break off relations with one of the counties that we’re working with,’ he said.

The Fianna Fáil leader said such a move would lead to the immediate recall of the Irish Ambassador to Israel, who is in contact with Irish citizens in Gaza.

‘I don’t think that’s serious and it’s playing to a certain populist agenda.’

Mr Martin, who is the foreign affairs minister, said he had spoken to Ms Erlich and would do so again, adding it is a basic necessity of international diplomacy to maintain links with other states.

‘Having diplomatic relations does not mean one endorses the policies of that state,’ he said.

Asked about Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s comment about Israeli action resembling ‘something approaching revenge’, Mr Martin would only say the country’s bombardment of the Gaza enclave has been ‘disproportionate’.