FIANNA Fail is working "flat out" to secure an overall Dail majority in the coming general election, according to the party leader Mr Bertie Ahern.
In a new year message to the organisation, Mr Ahern spoke of the need to "anticipate the necessities of a new age and a new time" through the adoption of radical policies. He also indicated that law and order and health care were likely to top the party's election agenda.
While there is general agreement that Fianna Fail will have to enter a post election arrangement with the Progressive Democrats to secure a working Dail majority, the party is determined to campaign on ifs own distinct policies.
The sharp contrast between the attitudes of the two parties towards commercial State enterprise, taxation and spending has been ignored.
A two day meeting of the Fianna Fail front bench in mid January will consider more than 20 submissions from various "think tanks" on party policy. The intention is to have a comprehensive election manifesto ready by Budget day on January 22nd. A special one day meeting of the parliamentary party has been arranged.
Fianna Fail has decided to put pressure on the Government into holding an election at the earliest possible date and is likely to publish a range of policies early in the new year.
Conventions to select Fianna Fail candidates have been held in all but two constituencies - Longford/Roscommon and Donegal South West. The former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds, has yet to indicate whether he will seek re election in Longford/Roscommon and MEP Mr Pat "the Cope" Gallagher TD has to decide between the Dail and Europe.
In his message to the party organisation, Mr Ahern committed Fianna Fail in government to convening a national forum on crime "to bring together the various groups and authorities and to prepare a White Paper on crime and punishment". He promised to publish "a comprehensive anti crime and anti drugs strategy" and to provide increased resources "to increase Garda numbers and prison places".