The Irish people said 'No' to the power grab - Micheál Martin

The Fianna Fáil leader told party faithful this evening that supporters are ‘pushing forward with rejuvenation throughout the country’.

FIANNA FÁIL LEADER Micheál Martin has sought to build on his party’s successful campaign to retain the Seanad by telling members in Dublin tonight that today’s vote represented a “good day for Irish democracy.”

Addressing a Cairde Fáil dinner in the city this evening Martin said that the ‘Yes’ side engaged in a “cynical campaign to push through the largest ever amendment to our constitution”:

They thought that no one would take the time to look beyond their slogans and attacks. Today they have been proven wrong. The Irish people said No to the power grab, they said they want real political reform not just empty spin about reform. They also said that they expect their leaders to be willing to debate.

“There is already a legislative template available to deliver on real reform of Seanad Éireann, this should be agreed and implemented without delay, ” he added.

The party has been in recovery mode since the crushing electoral defeat they took in the last general election but Martin but told the party faithful this evening that supporters have been engaged in a “rejuvenation” that is continuing.

Martin launched a direct attack on the government saying that ‘Fine Gael has taken a marked move to the right’ while the Labour Party are in disarray due to internal struggles:

Two and a half years away from an election they are in crisis not because of the deeply unfair budgets they delivered or the broken promises on education, health and welfare they enacted – but because they think they might lose lots of seats.

AS IT HAPPENED: The Seanad is here to stay as referendum defeated >

Read: ‘Reflection’ the buzz word but Taoiseach and Tánaiste appear open to Seanad reform >

Read: We put forward arguments which demolished Fine Gael and Sinn Féin – Fianna Fáil >

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