FF and FG ‘obsession’ with top European jobs diverting attention from real issues

CONCERN is growing across both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael that an obsession with top European and private sector jobs is diverting the attention of the Government from the serious challenges it is facing.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has committed publicly to leading FF into the next election.

However, the suspicion is growing that should FF fare poorly in the local and European elections, Mr Martin is already targeting the EU Commission and via this, the Presidency as an escape hatch.

One senior FF source noted: ‘He has an exit plan. Everything he is doing is centred about securing a big job in Europe. If this goes badly in June, the next time we’ll see him is when he is mooching around looking for the Presidency.’

Unease is accelerating within FF after another grim poll, where the party continues to hover in the dangerous threshold of 16%. Fine Gael at 19%, down 2 points, have not secured a ‘Harris bounce’.

The opposition is thriving, with Sinn Féin up three points to 29% and Independents up 2% to 19% – level with FG and 3% ahead of a flatlining FF.

All parties believe that immigration – which at 41% in the list of priorities is up 15% in a month – has been a key factor in the 5% swing away from the Coalition to a Sinn Féin party which has taken a significantly tougher stance on the issue. Almost two in five (39%) blame the Government for the increased number of asylum seekers arriving in Ireland.

In an indication of renewed unease within FF over the dangers of being bounced into an early election over the difficulties being experienced by Ms McEntee, one senior figure warned: ‘There is no faith in the party as to our capacity to have a successful campaign.’ They warned of the current polling that ‘ministers are now terrified of losing their seats’. Commenting on the options facing Michael McGrath whose recent Ard Fheis speech was seen to represent an audition for the leadership, one FF insider said: ‘Michael McGrath would take the Commissioner’s job in a heartbeat.

‘People in rural Ireland are asking “are they representing Europe in Ireland – or are they representing Ireland in Europe?”’