Republican News · Thursday 7 November 2002

Fine Gael TD slams Bruton

Fine Gael's new justice spokesperson, Waterford TD John Deasy, has criticised his party's policiy legacy on the Six Counties, saying that many voters have perceived former leader John Bruton's attitude towards the Six Counties as "anti-nationalist".

He called for a debate on the Six Counties within Fine Gael, because Bruton's attitude had allowed Sinn Féin to "denigrate us and consign us as a nonentity when it comes to the North".

Deasy said many "rank and file" members agreed with his opinion, and wanted change in the party. "We are a party committed to a united Ireland", he said. "We come from the tradition of Michael Collins and the party that founded the state."

He said Fine Gael had followed "the wrong road", in allowing "Sinn Féin to dominate and orchestrate the nationalist agenda".

Deasy's comments are another reflection of the turmoil inside the Fine Gael party, where members are struggling to find some sort of platform on which to launch a revival of fortunes.