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Love and kisses for Noonan who likens Fianna Fáil to 'Comical Ali as the tanks roll in'

Michael Noonan got two standing ovations from party members.

Updated 1.30 pm

FINANCE MINISTER MICHAEL Noonan got two standing ovations from party members as he outlined his party’s pre-election pitch.

Noonan made a number of pledges before the country goes to the polls including promises to the elderly, like increases the State pension and the Living Alone Allowance.

Speaking on the second day of the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in Citywest, the Limerick City deputy also promised that the government would abolish USC and double housing construction if it’s returned for another term.

Despite lauding the government’s time in power, Noonan acknowledged that the recovery hadn’t yet reached every part of the country.

It is not yet inside the door of every home in the country, but with proper prudent and stable policies we can keep the recovery going and derive great benefit over the next five years.

leo Varadkar speaks during the morning session of the second day of the Fine Gael Ard Fheis. Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

Earlier, health minister Varadkar labelled Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil as a “nightmare team”, saying that his party “saved” the State during its time in government.

Varadkar quoted US President John F. Kennedy in claiming that the opposition parties have shied away from improving the health system.

Varadkar said that Sinn Féin “ran away from health” after first holding the ministry in Northern Ireland before it was taken by the DUP. He similarly claimed that Fianna Fáil “characterised health as Angola” and “let Mary Harney stay there”.

“Fine Gael is different. We wanted health. Not because it is easy but precisely because it is hard,” he said.

As part of his speech, Varadkar promised a new scheme to lower the cost of medicine for people without medical cards.

He also said that the government was “more determined than ever” to deliver universal healthcare.

In addressing the trolley crisis, the Health Minister acknowledged that “there are still problems” and said that over the New Year he “visited seven emergency departments and met with patients on trolleys and in pain”.

Following the lead of his party leader Enda Kenny who opened the conference last night with a focus on the economy, Varadkar moved away from health only to address fiscal matters.

“We cannot risk the recovery by allowing back into Government Buildings those who ruined our economy,” he said.

The health minister was followed on stage by a number of ministers including Richard Bruton, Simon Coveney and Simon Harris, but it was Michael Noonan who the got the biggest reception.

Noonan received a standing ovation from members before he’d even said a word and this was followed by another when he finished his speech.

 

The Finance Minister and former party leader recently confirmed that he was hospitalised over Christmas with pneumonia. Last night he told reporters that he was fine ahead of his speech to the party faithful this afternoon.

Noonan also took aim at Fianna Fáil.

“Fine Gael cut the interest bill on our national debt to below €7 billion, €4 billion lower than the Fianna Fáil plan. This is the equivalent of €2,000 per year for everyone at work in the country,” he said.

These are the highlights of their failed plan and now Fianna Fáil claim that they are responsible for the recovery. This claim reminds me of Comical Ali in Baghdad claiming victory while the American tanks rolled in behind him.

Fine Gael’s two-day gathering will see an estimated 3,000 members meet for the final time before the general election.

The second day of the Ard Fheis will see discussions on a number of topics including election planning, a possible British exit from the EU and Ireland’s 1916 commemorations.

Read: Security alert at Fine Gael Ard Fheis after suspect cartridge found >

Read: Fine Gael is charging charities for pretty much everything at its Ard Fheis >

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139 Comments
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    Mute RIP
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    Feb 18th 2025, 8:17 PM

    Garda Visibility is the most urgent issue, to save our City first, and everyone knows that

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    Mute Patrick MC Dermott
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    Feb 18th 2025, 10:16 PM

    @RIP: Saving the city is not the priority of those who want to suck more money out of the drink/drug sniffing punters

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    Mute Dere
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    Feb 18th 2025, 8:11 PM

    Hardly any nightclubs left.

    237
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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Feb 18th 2025, 9:50 PM

    @Oweke 68: Have you been??

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    Mute Radek War
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    Feb 18th 2025, 10:53 PM

    @Oweke 68: what does that mean?

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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Feb 18th 2025, 8:20 PM

    As shown by the mayhem in Dublin’s city centre and around the country, and the government’s inability to police the country as it stands, a wise decision!

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    Mute John Moore
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    Feb 19th 2025, 12:00 AM

    @Brian Hunt: lol. We have the earliest closing times in Europe and even if this bill went through would still have. It’s bizarre. Dublin nightlife now is almost non existent compared to even 20 years ago. All it would be doing is allowing places to stay open a few hours later which only a few premises would actually take up. It would stop everyone spilling onto the street at the same time the other night being a good case in point. The government are just useless. Even the e-scooter legislation took nearly a decade to put through. By that time people were long using them and doing what they wanted.

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    Mute Kieran Conroy
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    Feb 18th 2025, 8:22 PM

    Maybe they should focus on the ongoing illegal immigrant serious crime?

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    Mute P. V. Aglue
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    Feb 18th 2025, 10:13 PM

    @Kieran Conroy: the Hennessy group will be recruiting, since three of theirs went down

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    Mute Joe Willis
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    Feb 18th 2025, 11:43 PM

    @Kieran Conroy: that’s racist

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    Mute Kieran Conroy
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    Feb 19th 2025, 8:08 AM

    So?

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    Mute Kieran Conroy
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    Feb 19th 2025, 10:26 AM

    @Joe Willis: 6 people agree with you. 235 agree with me. Enough said…

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    Mute Shaun Gallagher
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    Feb 18th 2025, 8:27 PM

    The long finger list must be massive at this stage

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    Mute Oweke 68
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    Feb 18th 2025, 8:32 PM

    @Shaun Gallagher: be careful what you say . Long finger and Leo in same article.

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    Mute Tony
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    Feb 19th 2025, 1:32 AM

    @Oweke 68: You’re infatuated with gays. Obviously wishing you could get some man fun but too scared.

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    Mute Lonely Are the Brave.
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    Feb 18th 2025, 9:11 PM

    About twenty years too late. Nightclubs are becoming a thing of the past sadly

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    Mute Mary Linton
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    Feb 18th 2025, 8:10 PM

    Yet another of Helen mcentees ridiculous vanity projects gets binned ….& Rightly so!

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    Mute Jonn
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    Feb 18th 2025, 8:41 PM

    What kind of a lunatic would want to go drunkenly wandering a modern Irish city centre at 3 or 4 in the morning. You might as well pin a sign on your back saying ‘please stab/mug/assault me’!

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    Mute Anthony Curran
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    Feb 18th 2025, 10:10 PM

    @Jonn: Over-exagerate much John? Plenty of people out in Dublin at 3 or 4 in the morning every weekend. The vast majority have a great night. Dublin may have some issues with crime, but it’s nowhere near as bad as the anti-immigrant / patriot nutcases would have you believe.

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    Mute Setanta O'Toole
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    Feb 18th 2025, 10:58 PM

    @Jonn: when you are pissed you have no fear shur, it’s grand.

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    Mute Joe Willis
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    Feb 18th 2025, 11:44 PM

    @Anthony Curran: keep telling yourself that. See how far you get. Maybe not in jackeen south Dublin or the D4tress.

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    Mute Joe Willis
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    Feb 18th 2025, 11:45 PM

    @Anthony Curran: and isn’t everybody supposed to be a patriot?

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    Mute Pauline Cahill
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    Feb 18th 2025, 8:08 PM

    They open late enough but if you look hard enough you will always find one that opens all night

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    Mute martin finnegan
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    Feb 19th 2025, 12:46 AM

    Too expensive to drink out anyway and younger generation dont do pub s like older generation. But prices aren’t helping but only driving more to drink at home if are going to drink. Sure mineral is 4 euro were i live and use to get mi wadi free now charged for it in loads places. Hope loads pubs close. Hospitality sector driving irish people away . Rather save go abroad more value for money.

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    Mute 5GKJ4Fgy
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    Feb 18th 2025, 10:29 PM

    A lot of “TO DO” things going to go on the Long Loooog finger ! Particularly taking into account some of the Moorhens that have agreed to keep their Gobs shut in a trade off for a chance to swap seats and sit in the Government puppy Kennel !

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    Mute Ayo Reilly
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    Feb 19th 2025, 6:51 AM

    I haven’t been to a nightclub in 20 years, however, in the mid 90’s to early 00’s, nightclubs generally stayed open for a couple of hours later anyway.

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    Mute Kevin O'Brien
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    Feb 19th 2025, 11:44 AM

    Add government “years” tax to whatever they say is going to happen, of at least 5 years.

    Of course this doesn’t count if they plan on increasing the price of Petrol, Diesel, Cigs or raising VAT, TAX etc etc, that can happen overnight. Shower of wasters.

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    Mute The Firestarter
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    Feb 19th 2025, 11:08 AM

    They are an absolute joke, banging on about this legislation for years, and now they shelve it. Then again are we surprised, how long are we waiting for a Metro at this stage?

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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Feb 19th 2025, 8:11 AM

    Useless government.

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Feb 19th 2025, 12:32 AM

    Nightclubs should be banned!

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    Mute Tony
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    Feb 19th 2025, 1:35 AM

    @Padraig O’Brien: You should be banned.

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    Mute Karl O'Toole
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    Feb 19th 2025, 3:58 PM

    Probably best that they decided to shelve the idea, at least until the infrastructure is in place to support it.

    Yea, London, Paris, Berlin etc all open even later but those are all cities with world class public transport systems already in place and well staffed emergency services (police, paramedics, A&E staff).

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