Fianna Fáil canvassing guide: We’re sorry, but we’ve learned

Any advice for Fianna Fáil canvassers before the general election? For a start, try telling voters that the party did not cause the economic crash.

A booklet entitled the ‘Fianna Fáil canvasser guide 2016’, which outlines how to answer questions on the party’s role in the recession and its record in government, has been produced and is being spotted around the party’s ardfheis.

When asked about whether the party caused the crash the canvassers are advised to say: “No. It was a global economic crash.

“However we did make some mistakes. We are sorry for that. But most importantly we have learned from the mistakes. There was too much reliance on transaction taxes and the banks grew too large and this threatened the rest of the economy when the international credit crunch hit.”

The booklet claims the party did not waste taxpayers money but “invested in upgrading infrastructure and public services”.

"This spending, as the Banking Inquiry showed, was criticised for being too small by Fine Gael/Labour and Sinn Féin," it continues.

The booklet advises on what to answer when questioned about whether the current Government has simply cleaned up Fianna Fáil’s mess.

Lenihan plan

They should say Fine Gael and Labour implemented a plan devised by the late Brian Lenihan and are now wrongly taking credit for it.

Canvassers are advised to remind people no political party predicted the scale and the depth of the economic crash.

“Fine Gael and Labour have blamed Fianna Fáil for not foreseeing the crisis. However, both their 2007 manifestos predicted economic growth rate of 4.25 per cent per annum from 2008 - 2012,” the booklet says. “They criticised our policies for being too conservative, not spending enough on health and education and urged greater cuts.

“Labour was the first party to call for a tax cut from 20 per cent to 18 per cent while Fine Gael promised a free laptop for every new secondary school student.

“We are the only party who have learned from the crash by committing to EU financial responsibility rules and setting up a rainy day fund.”

The booklet outlines why Fianna Fáil guaranteed the banks, why it set up the Nama and why it was not in a position to burn the bondholders. It also claims the party will not engage in auction politics and will not allow electioneering to damage the economy.

The booklet advises people to outline what Fianna Fail stands for - a progressive party of the centre ground.

“We are pro-enterprise and are firm believers in a strong education system that allows our citizens succeed and to find jobs,” it says.

“We are a pragmatic party that brings forward practical solutions to help people across Ireland. We are not party of angry protests or elites...We do not believe that a strong economy and a strong society are separate but rather that they go hand in hand.”

Very right wing

The difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, it says, is that Fine Gael is a very right wing party that has consistently proven itself to be weighted in the favour of the wealthy while neglecting struggling families, the booklet says.

On the other hand Fianna Fáil made tough but fair corrections during the crash.

The booklet also rules out coalition with Fine Gael and Sinn Féin because their “beliefs and policies are wrong for the country”.

“The country needs a new Government and we want to be the biggest party in that Government.

“Our focus is on presenting out strategy for creating an Ireland for all where the recovery is felt by all citizens across the country...These ideas are what matter to people, not media talk about coalitions.”