The Floating Voter

Fianna Fáil's education spokesperson Thomas Byrne has ramped up pressure on the Green Party saying there is a "huge opportunity" for them to implement their policies in the next government.

However, Mr Byrne warned that if the Greens or another party do not join Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's coalition a second general election will be called this year.

Speaking to Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast, the Meath East TD said: "In relation to the Greens, just because of our international obligations on climate, the next government is going to be the greenest government in the history of the State."

"The challenge for the Greens, I think, is do they want to be part of that, probably driving that in government or do they want to sit back and see it implemented by some other party because it's going to be done and we are committed to that," he added.

If a third party does not support the proposed Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government, Mr Byrne said: “the only logical conclusion is there will be a general election because I can't see how you can get a government together with 72 seats”.

Speaking ahead of the publication of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s policy framework document, Mr Byrne said next government will herald the coming of a “new economic dawn”.

“There are huge opportunities there for parties who want to get involved, who want to get their policies implemented and who are looking for that type of radical change,” he said.

“It is going to require a lot of imagination on behalf of the public service, which it has to be said we have seen over the last few weeks, but also in respect of the political system as well. Things cannot be as they were ever before ever again,” he added.

The Floating Voter team has recorded a special podcast on the political ramifications of the Government's Covid-19 emergency measures.

Recorded remotely due to social distancing rules, Kevin Doyle was joined for by Philip Ryan and Hugh O'Connell to discuss the political reaction to the coronavirus.

Indepenent.ie's Political Team debated whether the next government will be able to unwind the financial package for employees and employers impacted by the global pandemic.

They also discussed the division within in the Green Party over entering into a coalition government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. And asked whether climate climate change issues will be relevant to voters if the country plunges into recession due to the virus?

Micheal Martin will remain Taoiseach if second general election is called before a government is formed, a new TD has said.

Fianna Fáil TD Cormac Devlin said there was "no question" about Mr Martin's leadership and he had the backing of his party.

Speaking on Independent.ie's Floating Voter podcast, Mr Devlin said: "If you're saying the election is in the short term then I would say yes I foresee him being leader at that time.”

"I have sat in those parliamentary party meetings and what I have witnessed is full support for Micheál Martin and indeed his stance on Sinn Féin and his stance on the negotiating team to go forward on behalf of Fianna Fáil," he added.

Mr Devlin said he understood why some party members were "upset" after the election but said those elected and those running for the Seanad are committed to Mr Martin.

Also on the podcast, newly elected Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond said there was no threat to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's leadership.

Mr Richmond said the Taoiseach clawed back support for the party in the final week of the General Election campaign through his performances on the televised debates.

"That was directly down to Leo," he said. “We were 12 points down at the start of the campaign in one poll and we built that up," he added.

Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin has said he found Provisional IRA members who inflicted violence during The Troubles to be among the most committed to the Peace Process.

During a wide-ranging interview on Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast, Mr Ó Broin also discussed watching a local Sinn Féin activist being shot by a loyalist terrorist.

He also revealed death threats were made against him by loyalist paramilitaries while he was serving on Belfast City Council.

“I count myself as exceptionally lucky because my experience of that kind of violence was very, very limited,” Mr Ó Broin said.

He said most of those involved in the violence were “regular people” who ended up taking decisions that people who did not live in Belfast at that time would find “really difficult to understand”.

“Those who were most committed to peace were those who were most negatively affected by it,” he said. “Those who have lost loved ones throughout the course of the conflict, those people who inflicted violence and those people who were involved at some level.”

He said he was opposed to all violence. However, he does not believe there is “any value” in commenting on whether the terrorist activities of the Provisional IRA were justified.

“I have always taken the view that’s a conversation that at this point in time I don’t think has any value honestly,” he said.

“All I ask people to do is not to change how they view Sinn Féin or current members of Sinn Féin who were formerly in the IRA or formerly political prisoners on their past because people are going to take their own view on all of that but equally we have to judge people on the work they do in terms of ensuring their past can never be repeated and that’s a difficult space,” he added.

Mr Ó Broin said he worked with people on Belfast City Council whose children were murdered or their families members were shot dead for being members of Sinn Féin.

“For three years of my life I had two loyalist paramilitary death threats against me,” he said. He also witnessed first hand pipe bomb attacks.

“You would have been either at, witnessed or called to scenes of pipe bombings in your constituency at various stages,” he said. He also detailed calling an ambulance for a Sinn Féin activist who was shot by loyalist terrorist during a stand off in North Belfast.

“A UDA gunman from another vantage point started shooting at us and one of the guys who was out on the streets with us, who was putting his own life at risk trying to calm a situation down and physically keep the peace, was shot in the leg and found beside us and we had to call the ambulance.”

Homework should be banned for primary school children, according to a newly elected Green Party TD.

Dublin Central TD Neasa Hourigan said children should allowed go to the park or watch TV after school rather than spend hours doing homework.

Speaking to Independent.ie's Floating Voter podcast, Ms Hourigan said "parents hate homework" and insisted she is "not convinced" it benefits young children.

"Your kids come home, they're tired, they've had a lot to do in the day and then they get a lot of homework and you really want them to have a snack and chill out," she said.

"They just need time off but they have to go straight into an hour and half of homework and that's not great for them and it's not great for family life either. I'd prefer to bring them to the park or do something that's not learning," she added.

Ms Hourigan said some Scandinavian countries have ditched homework for primary school children.

The new TD said she has "really high hopes" for her children academically, especially her seven year old daughter who is blind and partially deaf.

“I have massively high hopes for her in terms of her academia but I don't think that means we have to stick to the old ways of doing things,” she said.

“I think the whole homework thing is something we should be talking about more. I'm not convinced that it really helps that much,” she added.

Newly elected Social Democrat TD Gary Gannon has revealed how sport saved him from a life of crime or drug addiction.

The Dublin Central politician said playing for his local football team inspired him and his friends to avoid the troubles that have befallen many of those they grew up with.

Speaking to Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast, Mr Gannon said: “For me when I look back, and what actually saved me it was sport definitely.”

“The lads I played with in Sherriff (Street) absolutely none of them are involved in crime or have been involved in crime,” he added.

“We were training Tuesday, Thursday and playing matches on Saturday and Sunday. Our manager wouldn't have slapped the head off us but he would have made us believe he would have if we got involved in any of that type of stuff.”

Mr Gannon said he went to school with lots of friends who now are serving prison sentences for various crimes or are addicted to drugs.

The new TD also said not everyone in his community is impressed by his rise in politics and there is certain amount of begrudgery towards him being a politicians.

“Some people think I'm an a**hole for various different reasons and they are entitled to,” he said.

“They didn't get the privileges I have been afforded. That used to kind of annoy me but I take it with a pinch of salt now. I am very lucky and so what if they think that,” he added.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has accused the Central Bank of forcing people into rental accommodation rather than home ownership.

Mr Martin launched the astonishing attack on the financial regulator and also targeted the Department of Housing with just days to go before the country goes to the polls.

Speaking to Independent.ie's 'Floating Voter' podcast, he said: "The Central Bank and other elites in society believe that everybody should have been renting."

Within days of potentially becoming Taoiseach, Mr Martin said this view has had a direct influence on Fine Gael's housing policy.

In this episode former finance minister Michael Noonan joins his successor Paschal Donohoe to discuss Fine Gael’s faltering election strategy.During what is a rare interview, Mr Noonan wades into the election debate, arguing Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin can manage the economy.

He also talks about the highs and lows of his 39 years in Leinster House and reveals who he would like to see as a future leader of Fine Gael.

It’s time to make up your mind. Polling is just seven days away and you may not get to have your say again for another five years.

To help focus your mind before you make that big decision the Floating Voter podcast has analysed the winners and losers of the second last week of the campaign.

Kevin Doyle and Philip Ryan are joined by Hugh O’Connell to discuss this week’s two televised debates which saw the leaders of the seven main parties fight it out on RTE and Virgin Media.

The Politics Team also rate how the leaders have performed on the campaign trail to date and discuss what they might do in the coming days to shore up support.

He knows at times he does not come across as overly compassionate when he’s been asked about the impact of his Government’s failings on the lives of people.

Speaking on the Floating Voter podcast, Mr Varadkar said: “Sometimes, maybe I don’t show that I care enough.”

He says this is down to him being “blunt and straight talking” which can “come across as a bit insensitive sometimes”.

“I understand that,” he added. However, he said his partner, Dr Matthew Barrett, believes the accusations that he lacks empathy are unfair.

“I was actually talking to Matt, my partner, about that the other night and he said, ‘like that is so wrong and that’s so unfair’,” Mr Varadkar said.

“Every evening when I’m home I’m talking about all the problems of the day and the struggles to get on top of those difficult issues like homelessness and overcrowding.”

The Taoiseach said Mr Barrett also told him: “You really do care but you know it’s the doctor in you. You want to get in there quickly and, you know, fix the problems, stem the blood.”

He also accepts he does not take criticism very well and can be overly defensive when questioned about human

tragedies.

“I think anyone when they’re being criticised or when they’re being attacked they’re going to be a little bit defensive sometimes so I think that’s probably a fair criticism.

“I hate to hear people dismiss facts and figures and statistics as if they don’t matter. The core behind truth is facts and figures and statistics,” he added.

He dismissed suggestions that he was seeking a presidential style General Election campaign which would focus on just him and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.

“I’m very happy to go toe-to-toe with Micheál Martin like I did last week and will again next week, but actually a lot of our campaign, a lot of our

messages is that Fine Gael has as a team, really strong team,” he said.

Since taking office he has learned you need a good team to “cover for you”.

“I mean cover for you in a good way. Not cover up for you,” he added.

“I have a similar view that we should keep the same Brexit team in place until we get the trade deal, which has to be done by the end of this year,” he said.

He would not give any commitment on Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy and Health Minister Simon Harris who have both faced criticism for their handling of their

department.

However, he said: “Eoghan Murphy and Simon Harris are in good standing, and they’ve had really tough briefs.

“What really disappoints me is the extent to which some people who don’t have much solutions or new ideas when it comes to health and housing they try to cover that up by targeting those two guys personally. I think that’s kind of nasty,” he added.

He expanded on his offer to form a grand coalition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil if no other government could be formed after the election while also claiming Mr Martin “didn’t know basic facts about the Brexit

withdrawal agreement”.

“If we end up in a situation whereby Fine Gael can’t do that and Fianna Fáil can’t do that and both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have ruled out Sinn Féin, the only way to avoid a second election is for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to come together in some way, and I’d be willing to talk to Fianna Fáil about that,” he said.

Mr Varadkar said Mr Martin’s rejection of his offer was a “little bit arrogant and a little bit irresponsible”.

“What Fianna Fáil are saying is ‘we’re not going to touch Fine Gael, even though we’ve spent two-and-a-half years negotiating budgets with them and supporting us through confidence and supply’,” he said.

“So essentially, he’s saying that if you don’t give Fianna Fáil enough seats to form a government with the smaller centre-left parties, ‘I’m going to go off in a huff and refuse to take part in the government’, and that’s not a very responsible or mature position in my view,” he added.