Fianna Fáil's future with the Greens and hospitality supports among issues to be raised by Cork TDs at think-in

Meaningful supports for hospitality in Budget 2025, education and health issues, and whether the party would go back into government with the Greens, are some of the items Cork Fianna Fáil TDs said they intend to raise at the party think-in which starts today.

Members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party will convene at Fitzpatrick’s Hotel, Killiney, in Dublin for the two-day event structured around several workshops that will focus on the key issues facing the country.

Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the 2024 Fianna Fáil think-in marks “the beginning of the final six months of this Dáil and of an intense programme of legislation in the coming weeks and months”.

“In government, we have achieved positive and sustained progress,” Mr Martin said.

“We have shown a continued commitment to promoting the public interest and to helping our country meet critical, once-in-a-generation challenges.

“We will build on this commitment and go further.

“We recognise that we have to move forward and we will take steps to develop the services needed and implement the required actions to overcome the problems that face people today and also plan for the future,” he said.

It is understood the think-in will inform the work of policy development that will feed into the upcoming budget and the party’s manifesto for the next general election.

Future with Green Party 

Cork East TD James O’Connor said along with infrastructure projects, another key issue for him would be a discussion on whether the party would or would not go back into government with the Green Party after the next general election.

“I think that our positioning on the Green Party is an important one [to be discussed at the think-in],” Mr O’Connor said.

“I did see that Roderic O’Gorman gave a very extensive interview [in yesterday’s Sunday Times] around their own positioning for the next general election and overall it’s disappointing.”

Mr O’Connor said it was his view that some “hard pills” have been swallowed “when it comes to doing business with the Green Party”.

“I think that Fianna Fáil’s positioning on the issue needs to be very clear with the public in advance of the next general election,” he said.

Hospitality supports 

Cork South West TD Christopher O’Sullivan said he would be raising areas he would like to see supported in Budget 2025 at the think-in.

“I come from West Cork where hospitality is a huge part of what we do.

“There needs to be substantial supports for that sector and other small businesses as well, but particularly hospitality, and they must be meaningful supports,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“Another thing that I’ve consistently asked for is a coastal infrastructure fund and that is a multi-million euro fund that I think should be established for local authority piers and harbours to make the most and see the full potential of our coast.”

Mr O’Sullivan said the party should solidify its message ahead of the next general election at the think-in and ensure that areas the party has delivered in while in Government are communicated clearly.

Cork North Central TD Pádraig O’Sullivan said he would be speaking on mainly education and health issues.

“We have a number of primary care centres that are held up in planning and design stage across the northside of the city, that includes Blarney, Glanmire, Mayfield, Mallow,” he said

Mr O’Sullivan said disability services and seeking improvements to the school transport scheme are also matters he wishes to speak on.

Sinn Féin and Green Party events

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould confirmed a Sinn Féin think-in event will also take place in Dublin today.

He said the party had a really busy summer working to try and establish solutions to local and national issues.

The next general election, he said, will be an important one and the party is keen to put its “best foot forward”.

“If people want change, this is an opportunity.

“We missed it the last time by not running enough candidates so hopefully this time we will have enough candidates and hopefully people will come out and support us.”

The Green Party is also due to hold its think-in today.

Fine Gael think-in

Fine Gael held its think-in last week where Taoiseach Simon Harris told reporters that his party will begin a consultation process on setting up a public childcare and early education service.

The Fine Gael leader said the party would consult with parents and childcare providers on how to implement such a service during the next government’s term.

In the region of 70 Fine Gael politicians and general election candidates met in Tullamore, Co Offaly for the event last Wednesday and Thursday.

The party has reportedly set September as a deadline for selecting all its candidates, fuelling rumours that leader Mr Harris is gearing up for an election before the end of the year.

Mr Harris said that the party will offer “a blended mix of experience” and “new energy, freshness” at the next election.

Issues including the upcoming budget, housing, migration and childcare were discussed at the think-in.