Fianna Fail to save ‘failing’ NI politics with run for office

FIANNA Fail are ramping up preparations to run for office in Northern Ireland.

Leader Micheal Martin claimed he wants to “free people from its tribal mentality” and “failing” politics.

He confirmed the party is turning its attentions north of the border and is preparing to field candidates in local elections there as early as next year.

Mr Martin said the move comes at long last after Fianna Fail had been thwarted as far back as 2011 when the party had to focus energies on the effects of the recession in the Republic instead.

The party saw its seat tally in the Dail plummet from 77 in 2007 to just 20 in 2011.

However, they are now ready to look North once again as the situation improved.

Mr Martin said: “Let’s be straight, from seven years ago we had an existential crisis in terms of the general election of 2011.

“We came through that, a disastrous general election result, and we’ve a long way to go before we’re back to where we want to be.

“But that said, politics in the North is failing, it’s in need of a new agenda – not just who is standing, but a political agenda, to free up people from the tribal mentality they go into every time there is an election.”

This is the first time the party leader – separate from senior party sources – has personally asserted Fianna Fail’s expansion plans.

A more thorough announcement is expected next month.

The new initiative could involve Fianna Fail running their own candidates in elections, or the sealing of a mooted merger with long-time political allies the SDLP.

The most recent development saw Ni-based politician Sorcha Mcanespy from Omagh join the party from Sinn Fein.

She is now on Fianna Fail’s national executive.