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AVERIL POWER HAS launched another stinging attack on Fianna Fáil in the wake of the party’s reaction to her sudden resignation last month.
The newly independent senator has described Fianna Fáil’s response to her departure as “nasty and disingenuous” in an op-ed for the Northside People.
She has once again lashed out at its approach to the same-sex marriage referendum campaign and insisted she left the party because she has “lost all faith in Fianna Fáil and [doesn't] believe it is fit for government”.
Power said: “In a blatant act of cute-hoorism of the worst kind, the party was both for and against the referendum at the same time.”
Fianna Fáil’s approach to the referendum symbolised everything that is wrong with the party.
She said that despite same-sex marriage having been official Fianna Fáil policy since it was passed by members in 2012, many TDs and Senators refused to campaign for it.
Power said the party is afraid to take clear positions in debates for fear of losing support and said that most of her former colleagues prefer not to take a stance on issues.
Most of the party’s representatives prefer to sit on the fence and see which way the wind blows.
In the same piece, Power said that the characterisation of her resignation as being the result of a constituency squabble was baseless. She insisted Fianna Fáil had been briefing that they expected her to win a Dáil seat in Dublin Bay North.
“Even constituency rivals Sean Haughey and Deirdre Heaney have stated on radio that they understood I would be a candidate,” she said.
Power said her decision to quit the party exactly a fortnight ago was neither rash nor hasty but was the result of her unhappiness for sometime, something she claimed party leader Micheál Martin had been aware of.
She said she hasn’t made any decision on whether or not to run as an independent in the next general election. An ad in the same paper last week prompted speculation that Power would contest Dublin Bay North next time out.
In the same paper, local Fianna Fail councillor Tom Brabazon accused Power of being “politically motivated” in her resignation, saying she would not have made it through the party’s selection convention had she run.
Brabazon, who will contest the Dublin Bay North convention, described Power’s claim that Fianna Fáil is not fit for government as “contemptible”.
Fianna Fáil declined to comment.
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All the money is going to the Children’s Hospital, though the HSE will deny that.
@Chin Feeyin: primary care has its own budget funding HCPs has always been a nightmare. They should be auditing every package in the country to see if hours are still needed.
Maybe that’s why my father in-law of 90 years of age was refused home help, even though the district nurse put it in as urgently needed
I see the amount of money they waste daily and I can tell you with a small amount of initiative theyd save billions but the top brass could care less
I’m sure Simon Harris with his vast amount of experience in the field of health will sort this out in a flash. We should feel confident that such a giant political figure is top man at the HSE.
@Gus Sheridan: He is such a powerful performer that he never even had to hold down a real job in his life. How amazing is that?!
the audacity of elderly people hoping for some assistance after working and contributing through some of the most lean times in irish history those who tightened their belts while their leaders bought their shirts in paris and danced ring a rosie with the cassock clad soldiers of evil how dare they look for comfort or care …
That’s very little to spend on home are a year ,that’s ONLY €338 a YEAR ie 0.92cent a DAY!
Meanwhile Ireland spends over €14m a DAY on National Debt servicing,….€583,333 an HOUR!If FG fought to get a better deal from Troika in 2011 as Prof Mody said they could have done then we ‘d have alot more to spend in public services,etc!
I have a friend who is 91, lives alone, and waiting for a home care package. She is vulnerable and at risk. Her extended family helps at random times but she has always been independent and finds it difficut to be in a position to need assistance.
If you vote for FFG you will only get more of this
have your say