Fianna Fail councillor to vote against Programme for Government

Cllr Sean Drew, one of the senior Fianna Fail public representatives on Meath County Council, has said he will not be voting for the proposed Fianna Fail – Fine Gael – Green coalition.

In a statement issued on Facebook this morning, he said: “Out of courtesy to my fellow elected Party representatives, I deferred from commenting publicly, pending finalisation and publication of the proposed coalition, Programme For Government (PFG). Having examined the PFG over the past 36 hours, I have to express my serious disappointment with major elements of the document. The generally aspirational, vague, lack of specific timescales and uncosted nature of the programme is underwhelming. While I acknowledge the inclusion of some positive statements in certain policy areas, the omission of a number of projects specific to the future development of County Meath is unacceptable to me ...... No mention of, undergrounding of the North/South Interconnector, delivery of the Navan Rail Line or amending the NPF to protect Rural One Off Housing. Each of these omissions will have a direct and detrimental impact on the future welfare of the citizens of our county.”

Cllr Drew, from Kells, said: “I have been contacted by a lot of my friends and colleagues in Fianna Fáil over the past few weeks in relation to the parties ongoing discussions on possible government formation with Fine Gael and the Greens.

“In my conversations with them, I have outlined my general opposition to the proposed coalition on the basis that, I personally, the FF party generally and Michael Martin had canvassed during the election campaign for a change of vision and direction and specifically to form any new government without the participation of the outgoing Fine Gael administration.”

Cllr Drew says that he will be voting ‘NO’ to this PFG and therefore ‘NO’ to entering a coalition with Fine Gael and the Greens.

“If the PFG is rejected by party members, rather than granting an unnecessary and unwanted general election, I would urge President O’Higgins to instruct all parties to step up and negotiate a National Unity Government to lead our nation through the difficult period that lies ahead.”

While all the focus has been on the Green Party membership getting the programme past its members, it looks like Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin may be the one who has to persuade party members to make him taoiseach.

A 'Fairer Future' group within Fianna Fail is opposing the coalition proposal.