:00:00. > :00:00.Basil McCrea says his party was The destroyed by unfounded
:00:00. > :00:08.allegations against him of sexual misconduct.
:00:09. > :00:33.Tonight he tells The View his political recovery is underway.
:00:34. > :00:36.Tonight - Basil McCrea is cleared of all allegations of misconduct
:00:37. > :00:40.by the Assembly Standards Commissioner, but a Stormont
:00:41. > :00:42.Committee draws attention to what it sees as a series of shortfalls
:00:43. > :00:57.lead think that a question that our viewers deserve to know the answers
:00:58. > :01:02.to? If it's an important question, then answered it because you have
:01:03. > :01:05.Forget the labour of love that went into getting the party
:01:06. > :01:09.established, there's now no love lost between the Labour Party
:01:10. > :01:21.I am very annoyed. When Jeremy Corbyn was in the office/ year, he
:01:22. > :01:23.was speaking for the people, what about the people of Northern
:01:24. > :01:26.Also tonight, almost a week on from polling in the Republic's
:01:27. > :01:29.election, there's still no sign of a government being formed.
:01:30. > :01:31.We'll hear from Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail.
:01:32. > :01:33.And they're back in Commentators' Corner -
:01:34. > :01:41.The NI21 leader, Basil McCrea, says he's been vindicated
:01:42. > :01:43.after a string of complaints against him were dismissed
:01:44. > :01:46.by the Assembly Standards Commissioner.
:01:47. > :01:49.Mr McCrea had long denied allegations he'd engaged
:01:50. > :01:52.in inappropriate sexual behaviour with certain members his staff.
:01:53. > :01:55.But there was criticism of some of his actions from fellow MLAs
:01:56. > :02:00.on Stormont's Standards and Privileges committee.
:02:01. > :02:02.So what now for the party's sole MLA?
:02:03. > :02:05.A short time ago, I asked Basil McCrea for his reaction
:02:06. > :02:11.to today's report from the Commissioner.
:02:12. > :02:18.The last time I was in the studio it was a dark day for me so I am happy
:02:19. > :02:22.to be back having been fully exonerated. I am pleased the
:02:23. > :02:26.committee have agreed with the commissioner. I am disappointed
:02:27. > :02:31.about the length of time it has taken but I am pleased with the
:02:32. > :02:36.result. You are exonerated as fine as the 12 complaints are concerned
:02:37. > :02:41.but the Stormont is committee does store attention to what it sees as
:02:42. > :02:49.senior shortfalls in your part in terms of your conduct in a number of
:02:50. > :02:53.areas. Not really, to be honest, the committee have missed the point that
:02:54. > :02:58.a lot of the allegations were found as a matter of fact by the
:02:59. > :03:02.Commissioner to be falsified. The honesty of people making statements
:03:03. > :03:08.was not correct so it is not that I would not take advice from them but
:03:09. > :03:14.there is a conspiracy and their Commissioner has drawn attention to
:03:15. > :03:18.that. The committee, for example in relation to number seven which was a
:03:19. > :03:24.complaint about bullying and members of staff, was concerned about the
:03:25. > :03:28.way you spoke to a member of staff. Sometimes the way you spoke to staff
:03:29. > :03:34.is falling short of what they would encourage? If you believe that is
:03:35. > :03:40.what happened, of course it is not good reading but the point is
:03:41. > :03:44.although statements were found to be incorrect. The lady in question was
:03:45. > :03:49.found to have lied under oath and would have been reported for perjury
:03:50. > :03:55.had she still been residents. I do not think the committee got the key
:03:56. > :04:03.message which was this was a series of false allegations. The
:04:04. > :04:08.Commissioner said, it is hard to think of any explanation and I do
:04:09. > :04:13.not believe any account she gave as honest and these photographs have
:04:14. > :04:20.been doctored. This lady has lied under oath. I do not accept there
:04:21. > :04:26.was a serious shortcoming. There was one issue which was to do with
:04:27. > :04:32.shouting at a member of staff and I apologised. We sorted that out and
:04:33. > :04:37.she remains in my employment. The committee looks in detail at the
:04:38. > :04:41.report of the Commissioner, it agrees entirely with each of the
:04:42. > :04:44.conclusions as far as the 12 complaints are concerned but goes on
:04:45. > :04:50.to make additional points, for example in terms of dealing with
:04:51. > :04:54.staff the committee points out that on several occasions you could have
:04:55. > :05:00.handled office politics better, treated staff with more respect and
:05:01. > :05:04.handled situations more appropriately. That is still a
:05:05. > :05:11.criticism aimed at you even though the 12 complaints were not upheld.
:05:12. > :05:15.First of all, it is a long way from the serious allegations that were
:05:16. > :05:22.made, but I took four you stick photographs. The photographs relate
:05:23. > :05:26.to complaint number four. If you are taking multiple photographs of
:05:27. > :05:34.people and storing them on a work computer, it is advisable to tell
:05:35. > :05:38.those people. You had not done that. Actually I tell everybody that when
:05:39. > :05:44.I take a photograph on my Apple Computer and the automatically
:05:45. > :05:52.uplifted to the cloud. So that criticism is not valid? Absolutely
:05:53. > :05:57.not. I protect myself because all photographs are uploaded and stored.
:05:58. > :06:03.Of course members of my staff would have access to the password because
:06:04. > :06:06.they are dealing with social media. This is a Stormont committee which
:06:07. > :06:12.is making these criticisms and you say you do not accept them, do you
:06:13. > :06:17.simply ignore them? I am happy to take on whatever advice people give
:06:18. > :06:21.me. Look at what I have had in the last two years, of course you have
:06:22. > :06:25.to change your behaviour. But I am making the point that people missed
:06:26. > :06:32.completely the point about the allegations. Let me quote from what
:06:33. > :06:38.was said by the Commissioner, he came across evidence of quarter
:06:39. > :06:42.nation of the complaints and some of those who made allegations saw this
:06:43. > :06:46.as a means to force his resignation as party leader. That is what the
:06:47. > :06:51.Commissioner said and that is in the report. The most serious allegation
:06:52. > :06:57.made against you is complaint number nine which concerns alleged sexual
:06:58. > :07:06.misconduct towards someone who worked for the party. The committee,
:07:07. > :07:11.commenting on the Commissioner's findings, says that you exercised
:07:12. > :07:18.poor judgment, allowing young women into your hotel rooms. Do you except
:07:19. > :07:24.that criticism? The fact was we were at a two-day conference, staying
:07:25. > :07:29.overnight. She was not staying overnight. But at about five
:07:30. > :07:33.o'clock, we had to work with computers somewhere. There was a
:07:34. > :07:39.period of time between finishing work and having dinner. I have to
:07:40. > :07:43.use my behaviour in that I will no longer go anywhere unaccompanied but
:07:44. > :07:48.let me make it clear, there was no wrongdoing. There were four
:07:49. > :07:52.different versions of her story. If there was any problem, they should
:07:53. > :07:56.have gone to the police. I can tell you categorically that I have never
:07:57. > :08:03.at any time been under suspicion of any crime whatsoever. I have read
:08:04. > :08:07.through the reports today and this transcript of your interview with
:08:08. > :08:11.the Commissioner, we are talking about an eight -- and evening in
:08:12. > :08:14.April 20 13th when you spent time in your hotel room with this young
:08:15. > :08:22.women. The Commissioner asked you about when you were in the room
:08:23. > :08:26.alone with Ashley Murray and you said, there was no wrongdoing.
:08:27. > :08:31.Nothing that happened to be considered to be wrong, that is all
:08:32. > :08:39.I can tell you about that. What did happen in that room this evening? I
:08:40. > :08:45.have been totally open and honest. The issue about whether I was acting
:08:46. > :08:49.as an MLA or not is important because the Commissioner found on
:08:50. > :08:54.several occasions, including that incident that I was not acting as an
:08:55. > :08:58.MLA so what that means as I could have involved some sort of legal
:08:59. > :09:03.proceeding to say this was not a matter for the Commissioner or the
:09:04. > :09:09.committee, it is outside your remit. I did not do that, I insisted all of
:09:10. > :09:13.those issues were published... That means it is reasonable for people to
:09:14. > :09:21.ask you what you did for a two hours inside Out room with that girl.
:09:22. > :09:24.Because there was nothing to detail. But there is, you said is important
:09:25. > :09:30.for people to know that you did not do anything wrong but you will not
:09:31. > :09:36.tell them what you don't. There was nothing untoward, a discussion about
:09:37. > :09:42.the party, we were filling time. We talked about a robin match. We were
:09:43. > :09:49.just discussing matters. I will make this point strongly, do not look
:09:50. > :09:53.away... I am not. I could have stopped that investigation because
:09:54. > :09:58.it was outside the re-met but I did not. I wanted to have full
:09:59. > :10:03.unredacted publication. It is disappointing to me that something
:10:04. > :10:08.is where a redacted. They should not have been, they should have been
:10:09. > :10:12.out. All of the evidence about what that person said has been found to
:10:13. > :10:18.be inconsistent. She has been found to have lied on other issues, she is
:10:19. > :10:22.an unreliable witness and there are other things which the committee and
:10:23. > :10:27.the Commissioner are aware of what has been redacted which I cannot
:10:28. > :10:36.talk about and if I could, it would explain a lot. Just to be clear, the
:10:37. > :10:39.original complete -- complaints by Ashley Murray was that you made an
:10:40. > :10:47.inappropriate sexual advance towards her, that was not upheld by the
:10:48. > :10:51.Commissioner but it is fair to ask yourself where you acting
:10:52. > :10:58.responsibly to put yourself in a potentially compromising position?
:10:59. > :11:04.It was not a separate allegation, there were four different versions.
:11:05. > :11:09.Moving from rubbing shoulders to something much more insidious. If
:11:10. > :11:13.there was any suggestion of wrongdoing that should've been taken
:11:14. > :11:19.to the police. I categorically deny there was any wrongdoing. If there
:11:20. > :11:26.is any criminal activity, that is what should have happened. If you
:11:27. > :11:32.asked me because I am in open and inclusive person, do I wish I had
:11:33. > :11:36.done something different? Of course I do. Did you have a consensual
:11:37. > :11:42.sexual relationship with Ashley Murray? Have you not read the
:11:43. > :11:48.statements? Ashley Murray says repeatedly... I am not asking you
:11:49. > :11:53.what she said, I am asking you did you have a consensual sexual
:11:54. > :12:01.relationship with Ashley Murray? I refer you to the text. Just answered
:12:02. > :12:05.the question. Please let me. I am trying and you interrupted. Let me
:12:06. > :12:11.say categorically Ashley Murray has made clear repeatedly there was no
:12:12. > :12:16.sexual activity. You have just told me she is an unreliable witness so I
:12:17. > :12:21.am not to believe what she said. Now I am to believe her when she says
:12:22. > :12:26.there was no sexual relationship. Never mind what she said, you have
:12:27. > :12:30.dealt with that, I am asking you a straightforward question and I would
:12:31. > :12:36.appreciate a straightforward and so, did you have, at any stage, a
:12:37. > :12:47.consensual sexual relationship with Ashley Murray? The way I have to
:12:48. > :12:53.respond to this... Is yes or no? You keep interrupting me. Let me make it
:12:54. > :12:59.clear, these things are difficult and embarrassing... You either don't
:13:00. > :13:05.have a sexual relationship or you didn't. I will take a yes or no, it
:13:06. > :13:11.is not complicated. I am going to finish the sentence. I was fully
:13:12. > :13:16.open and compliant with the Commissioner. I need all information
:13:17. > :13:22.available, I did so on the basis that I wanted people to have an open
:13:23. > :13:26.and transparent view about what went on regarding those allegations. I am
:13:27. > :13:30.not going through the same process again. I am not going to be
:13:31. > :13:36.investigated twice by you. I did everything in my power to make that
:13:37. > :13:41.information available. I have been compliant. If you think I'm going to
:13:42. > :13:48.go down a second interrogation, you are wrong. So are -- so you are not
:13:49. > :13:51.prepared to answer that straightforward question? Viewers
:13:52. > :13:58.can draw their own conclusions. I cannot understand why you will not
:13:59. > :14:02.answer. If you did not have a consensual sexual relationship, why
:14:03. > :14:09.would you not just say, now I did not? The reason is there are series
:14:10. > :14:14.of allegations that are made right the way through, if you start to
:14:15. > :14:18.pick one question, then you will say what about this... You do not think
:14:19. > :14:24.that is an important question that our viewers deserve to know the
:14:25. > :14:29.answer to? If it is important, then answered it. You have refused to
:14:30. > :14:35.answer. Let me explain to you as best I can, I may not be doing this
:14:36. > :14:43.adequately, why do you look exasperated? I am looking at my
:14:44. > :14:47.notes. I am happy to sit here as long as it takes. I have explained
:14:48. > :14:51.the position but you as me why I don't want to get into certain
:14:52. > :14:57.issues. I ask due why he will not answer that question. I am talking
:14:58. > :15:01.about the other issues in place. There were a number of serious
:15:02. > :15:05.allegations which were put forward. All of them are embarrassing. All of
:15:06. > :15:13.them are things which I dealt with fully and openly in the appropriate
:15:14. > :15:19.way. I am not going to go down through, did you do this or that. It
:15:20. > :15:25.has been fully investigated and I have been vindicated, exonerated on
:15:26. > :15:29.all 12 cases. I have cooperated with the police on other issues. I have
:15:30. > :15:35.given as much information as I can to the Commissioner and it has all
:15:36. > :15:39.been published. But when the Commissioner perceived that
:15:40. > :15:45.question, I read the transcript in detail and you did not give him a
:15:46. > :15:50.straight answer. So you have not at any stage answered that straight
:15:51. > :15:52.question. Did you or did you not have a consensual relationship with
:15:53. > :16:09.Ashley Murray? Yes Do I cannot answer that question. I
:16:10. > :16:16.do not know if you have got this point. I did not have to go through
:16:17. > :16:23.this. This was finding to be when I was not acting as an MLA, I could
:16:24. > :16:30.have stopped this stone dead, that you cannot investigate... But it was
:16:31. > :16:36.investigated and the question was asked and I ask it again. I told you
:16:37. > :16:40.it was fully investigated, I was fully vindicated, she was fine to
:16:41. > :16:45.have lied on numerous occasions, that is a lot of evidence from other
:16:46. > :16:50.people, you are missing the point, the important issue is it is a
:16:51. > :16:55.conspiracy and that woman was used as a pawn by other people. Let's
:16:56. > :17:02.talk about where this leaves your political career and where it leaves
:17:03. > :17:09.NI21? In the gutter, is the answer? It is a party whose only elected
:17:10. > :17:14.member, McCarthy, migrated to the SDLP last month. You are a member of
:17:15. > :17:19.NI21 but were not elected as a member, will you hold your seat in
:17:20. > :17:30.the Assembly election in May? I don't know. Is it wise to stand
:17:31. > :17:34.under the NI21 and Bella? I will stand under that umbrella. When it
:17:35. > :17:38.was from there were great hopes, a lot of positivity around it. It is
:17:39. > :17:44.unfortunate what happened. The fact that the party imploded one day
:17:45. > :17:48.before the election was a great disappointment to many of the people
:17:49. > :17:53.that stood but the values and principles of what NI21 stood for I
:17:54. > :17:59.think resonated with the people and will still resonate. The words you
:18:00. > :18:06.used was imploded, so we have does that leave the party today? It is a
:18:07. > :18:12.brand. It leaves the party with me standing in Lagan Valley as a member
:18:13. > :18:17.of the NI21 party. I will not be asking anybody else to do that and,
:18:18. > :18:21.in terms of other constituencies, and the reason for that is because I
:18:22. > :18:26.couldn't do it without having cleared my name. At I had this
:18:27. > :18:32.report published in October, when I first got it, I would have had time
:18:33. > :18:38.to do so. But let me tell you this clearly I stand having been totally
:18:39. > :18:40.vindicated by a review of the Commissioner and my peers.
:18:41. > :18:42.Basil McCrea, determined to get his political career
:18:43. > :18:49.The Labour Party in Northern Ireland has quadrupled in size
:18:50. > :18:53.But they now face the task of trying to persuade their own party
:18:54. > :18:55.leadership to allow them to run in elections here.
:18:56. > :18:58.The life peer, Baroness Blood, has told The View she'd think
:18:59. > :19:01.about resigning the Labour whip if the issue isn't resolved.
:19:02. > :19:02.Our Political Correspondent, Chris Page, has been investigating
:19:03. > :19:13.and remembering the often forgotten history of Labour politics here.
:19:14. > :19:19.Belfast was a boom town as the 19th century turned into the 20th but
:19:20. > :19:24.long days and heavy work not new political demands and across the UK
:19:25. > :19:30.Labour candidates were beginning to stand and in Belfast they did well.
:19:31. > :19:36.In fact, the Labour movement was so strong here that Belfast played a
:19:37. > :19:36.key role in the birth of the UK Labour Party, 109
:19:37. > :19:43.key role in the birth of the UK city hosting a highly significant
:19:44. > :19:50.meeting. It was in the city of Belfast that the Labour Party called
:19:51. > :19:53.itself that. Previously it was called Labour Representative
:19:54. > :19:56.committee, representing a lot of different organisations, but in
:19:57. > :20:00.Belfast, it declared itself a political party, it would fight
:20:01. > :20:05.seats and not go into coalition with the Liberals. But the strong link
:20:06. > :20:10.was broken between Labour activists here and the National party and
:20:11. > :20:14.nonetheless the labour movement continued and candidates at
:20:15. > :20:20.electoral successes particularly in the 1920s, 1940s and early 1960s. In
:20:21. > :20:25.places like North, West and East Belfast, they could have 30% of the
:20:26. > :20:29.vote. The Labour Party always flourished when sectarian tensions
:20:30. > :20:34.were at their lowest. All you needed was a home-grown crisis and that
:20:35. > :20:40.knocked out things. Such as the world -- around the First World War,
:20:41. > :20:45.then the partition in 19 18th split the Labour Party in Northern Ireland
:20:46. > :20:49.wide open. And the Republic of Ireland can cause problems. But the
:20:50. > :20:54.moment the present troubles came, they could not hack it, they found
:20:55. > :20:59.it very difficult to find a constituency, people ran to their
:21:00. > :21:00.tribal basis. For many years the UK Labour Party resisted requests from
:21:01. > :21:05.people here to be allowed to Labour Party resisted requests from
:21:06. > :21:09.back in 2003 the change was footed through at this conference. The
:21:10. > :21:18.local party have still not been allowed to field election candidates
:21:19. > :21:22.but are making a fresh push ahead of the Assembly election. In the
:21:23. > :21:23.Belfast Telegraph -- in the Belfast Telegraph today they highlighted the
:21:24. > :21:29.keys to Labour HQ. What we are faced Telegraph today they highlighted the
:21:30. > :21:34.with is a sectarian stalemate, people continually
:21:35. > :21:40.frustration at the stalemate, frustration at the slow working of
:21:41. > :21:40.frustration at the stalemate, positions taken up
:21:41. > :21:50.frustration at the stalemate, forward a proposal to break this
:21:51. > :21:51.stalemate, by running cross community Labour candidates, we find
:21:52. > :21:58.we are blocked and suppressed. community Labour candidates, we find
:21:59. > :22:02.Baroness Blood is a community Labour candidates, we find
:22:03. > :22:05.one of several hundred people who community Labour candidates, we find
:22:06. > :22:09.have signed petition asking the Labour leadership to allow
:22:10. > :22:11.candidates to run. We should have the opportunity
:22:12. > :22:17.candidates to run. We should have and it annoys me that we don't
:22:18. > :22:20.candidates to run. We should have all my life and people should have
:22:21. > :22:25.that opportunity. If it is not resolved which she resigned the
:22:26. > :22:30.Labour whip? I would think about it but it is a strong possibility and
:22:31. > :22:34.at the moment I am the only Northern Ireland Labour Party member in
:22:35. > :22:37.there, so that would be something I would have to think about.
:22:38. > :22:38.there, so that would be something I Previously the reasons Labour have
:22:39. > :22:41.given for Previously the reasons Labour have
:22:42. > :22:48.there which have included the party's relationship with the SDLP
:22:49. > :22:54.but every five years they must review this refusal. We have said
:22:55. > :22:57.all along this is a matter for the National
:22:58. > :23:01.all along this is a matter for the London, they have set up a process,
:23:02. > :23:06.to involve discussions with the Northern Ireland Labour Party, but
:23:07. > :23:11.also the Irish Labour Party, the SDLP, and trade unions, a process
:23:12. > :23:16.that the NEC have set up to look at that and a matter for them, not me.
:23:17. > :23:21.The NEC have confirmed the review is ongoing at the moment and the local
:23:22. > :23:25.party have more than 20 potential Assembly candidates short listed but
:23:26. > :23:31.they believe it is not likely they will get the go-ahead from London.
:23:32. > :23:34.The old industries which provided Labour politicians with there have
:23:35. > :23:39.lines decades ago have largely gone but the issues for working people
:23:40. > :23:44.are actually similar now. -- provided politicians with their
:23:45. > :23:45.heartlands. But the campaign will continue.
:23:46. > :23:50.So, after five days of counting, the Republic of Ireland has had
:23:51. > :23:52.all its TDs returned, but there's still no sign
:23:53. > :23:55.Predictions range from a second election just around the corner,
:23:56. > :23:58.to a Fianna Fail arrangement, where the party not only offers
:23:59. > :24:00.support to a minority Fine Gael-led government,
:24:01. > :24:05.from Dublin by the Fianna Fail TD, Thomas Byrne.
:24:06. > :24:07.And with me in studio is the newly-returned
:24:08. > :24:12.Fine Gael was invited to take part, but we were told
:24:13. > :24:23.You are both welcome to the programme. Thomas Byrne, you and
:24:24. > :24:28.Fianna Fail are trying to have your cake and eat it, Alan Shearer? No,
:24:29. > :24:38.we are the only party setting out how we will address the next few
:24:39. > :24:46.weeks. -- we need to give all 100 and 58 members -- we need to get all
:24:47. > :24:51.members a chance, but they are largely silent at the moment because
:24:52. > :24:56.of archaic rules. We are looking crucially at the vote for Taoiseach
:24:57. > :25:04.next Thursday. Enda Kenny will be one of the candidates. There is a
:25:05. > :25:07.choice before next week. We have opened up lines of key medication
:25:08. > :25:15.with smaller parties and independents to see about support
:25:16. > :25:19.for the role of Taoiseach. Let's be honest you want to be a major
:25:20. > :25:25.oppositional voice, you will not back a proper coalition of Fianna
:25:26. > :25:29.Fail and Fine Gael, but you might be prepared to back them in government
:25:30. > :25:34.as a minority administration? Make up your mind! We have been cleared
:25:35. > :25:40.through the election and the attitude of the pundits of great
:25:41. > :25:44.about Fianna Fail was wrong, we were told they would be irrelevant to the
:25:45. > :25:49.election, then we would not have success, and it was inevitable that
:25:50. > :25:54.Fine Gael would win, but look what happened. We have put her manifesto
:25:55. > :26:06.on the table, the commitments we have put to the people, we believe
:26:07. > :26:16.Enda Kenny has been rejected for Taoiseach, and we support Maarten.
:26:17. > :26:20.After that, and after they get -- after that, we can look at a real
:26:21. > :26:26.government being formed. What do you think will happen? I think it is
:26:27. > :26:30.highly unlikely anyone will be elected Taoiseach next week. What we
:26:31. > :26:36.are seeing over the last couple of days is both Fianna Fail and Fine
:26:37. > :26:39.Gael trying to maximise their advantage and what will be some kind
:26:40. > :26:46.of arrangement between the parties. I don't think either knows what
:26:47. > :26:49.shape that will be. It must be very frustrating for you in Sinn Fein not
:26:50. > :26:55.to have done well enough to be the king makers and all of this. Either
:26:56. > :26:59.party going to use still would not be a majority and past the magic
:27:00. > :27:03.number of 79 to form a coalition, if you could persuade either to work
:27:04. > :27:12.with you which would have said they don't want to do. I'd be made it
:27:13. > :27:14.clear we would not support a coalition led by either party. The
:27:15. > :27:22.question is largely irrelevant. We outlined in the election for people
:27:23. > :27:27.who are fed up by government led by either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael. But
:27:28. > :27:30.we did not get that mandate. People talk to colleagues from other
:27:31. > :27:37.parties at the weekend and work out a way forward. At this point it
:27:38. > :27:40.seems the only realistic prospect of a government is some kind of
:27:41. > :27:47.arrangement between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. And you must be annoyed
:27:48. > :27:54.that Fianna Fail is trying to be the main voice of opposition and on your
:27:55. > :27:57.patch? The interesting thing is Fianna Fail are trying to be both
:27:58. > :28:02.government and opposition at the same time, which is their
:28:03. > :28:10.difficulty. Sinn Fein had a good election, we took ten extra seats,
:28:11. > :28:14.in my own constituency we took about 29% of the vote. We had a good
:28:15. > :28:22.election. But I like to sit here with a greater percentage and more
:28:23. > :28:25.seats? Of course. But Sinn Fein set out or stall, outlined to the
:28:26. > :28:28.electorate what we would do and the one thing we were clear about was
:28:29. > :28:35.promises we made and once we will keep. Thomas Byrne, your party
:28:36. > :28:41.colleague, Willie O D, said people who voted for him wanted Fine Gael
:28:42. > :28:49.voted out, so how can you do any kind of deal that would see our Fine
:28:50. > :28:58.Gael administration come through? -- Willie O'Dea. That is why we said we
:28:59. > :29:04.would not support any coalition. But you could end up supporting Fine
:29:05. > :29:08.Gael. I want to make one point clear, Sinn Fein are not encroaching
:29:09. > :29:19.on our territory, we want to lead government not opposition. They are
:29:20. > :29:23.not encroaching on any territory. I know you had a pretty good election
:29:24. > :29:29.and that Fine Gael did not have the greatest but Enda Kenny has six more
:29:30. > :29:34.than Maarten and more chance of him being Taoiseach than Mr Martin.
:29:35. > :29:41.There were some independence from the Fianna Fail gene pool. You are a
:29:42. > :29:46.long way off of 79. The target for next Thursday is nobody will be
:29:47. > :29:55.elected Taoiseach with the majority of votes, but Martin has set out his
:29:56. > :30:01.policy. And how the government is run. He has shown leadership on
:30:02. > :30:05.that, not sat back and said no, got right in there and he would be a
:30:06. > :30:10.candidate for Taoiseach next week and the part for reform he has set
:30:11. > :30:15.out with the four Eddie government and no government wants to lose
:30:16. > :30:23.power. She has shown leadership on that. And I think that it could well
:30:24. > :30:26.be a case of yet another surprise in store for Fianna Fail, we have been
:30:27. > :30:31.written off so many times including during the campaign, and told we
:30:32. > :30:37.should not be there, we should just close up and here we are, and our
:30:38. > :30:43.candidate has shown himself to write the campaign to be the practical and
:30:44. > :30:48.realistic candidate to Enda Kenny. Many people with agree with the
:30:49. > :30:53.assessment from Thomas Byrne. Martin has been matured about this and
:30:54. > :30:56.evidence that he has wrong-footed not just Sinn Fein but Fine Gael and
:30:57. > :31:17.other parties? What that means is we are going to
:31:18. > :31:24.have shadow-boxing between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for two weeks.
:31:25. > :31:29.There are two choices available at this point in time, either both
:31:30. > :31:34.parties make an arrangement with each order -- other or become back
:31:35. > :31:40.to another election. I know that is no appetite out there for a second
:31:41. > :31:44.election. From Sinn Fein's point of view, there are number of issues
:31:45. > :31:50.which whoever comes in to government urgently needs to address. A huge
:31:51. > :31:57.housing crisis, health crisis and significant numbers of unemployment
:31:58. > :32:01.and youth unemployment. Most people out there do not want to seek
:32:02. > :32:07.shadow-boxing and modest levels of political reform but credible
:32:08. > :32:12.solutions to these problems. Sinn Fein obviously has some solutions in
:32:13. > :32:16.relation to those. If any government brings forward sensible proposals to
:32:17. > :32:24.address these proposals, we will support them. On an issue by issue
:32:25. > :32:31.basis if it is in the interests of those we represent. I do not think
:32:32. > :32:35.Fianna Fail are really... That is remarkable. You stood against
:32:36. > :32:40.austerity during the election but you have just said if any
:32:41. > :32:46.government, acts and away you could support, you would that support.
:32:47. > :32:52.What would your voters make of that, with a feel betrayed? We had the
:32:53. > :32:59.march of equality, the children's rights referendum... The hours of
:33:00. > :33:05.the issues we're looking at. If any party whose legislation front of the
:33:06. > :33:09.Dail, like tackling the housing crisis or their health system
:33:10. > :33:15.crisis, even in opposition constructively we would support
:33:16. > :33:18.them. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have damaged the economy and we think
:33:19. > :33:26.they will continue to do the same if they get back into office. Quick
:33:27. > :33:32.final question, Michael Noonan, Sinn Fein, said another election looks
:33:33. > :33:35.inevitable, is he writes? It is a possibility. We all have a prop --
:33:36. > :33:41.the responsibility to try and solve our problems. Our manifesto was
:33:42. > :33:46.comprehensive, we want to get into government to resolve those
:33:47. > :33:53.problems. At the moment it is not possible for an opposition party to
:33:54. > :34:00.resolve the water charges because the Dail has standing orders. We all
:34:01. > :34:05.must take on responsibility of solving the problems of this
:34:06. > :34:07.country. Fascinating situation, we will keep a close eye on it.
:34:08. > :34:12.And it's all change in Commentators' Corner tonight as we welcome back
:34:13. > :34:16.the two amigos - Alex Kane and Paul McFadden.
:34:17. > :34:24.Let us talk about the interview the beginning of the pro-gram. Basil
:34:25. > :34:29.McCrea says it has been a tough two years but he standing again under
:34:30. > :34:34.the NI21 banner, is at the end of the road for his party? I think
:34:35. > :34:42.probably. You cannot reinvent a party with one candidate. I think
:34:43. > :34:48.you said earlier in the week about support, but you need candidates in
:34:49. > :34:53.other constituencies. I find it extraordinary for a party which says
:34:54. > :34:57.it still has support and members, it will have to say, if you believe we
:34:58. > :35:04.will come back, you will have to stand. They will need more than six
:35:05. > :35:09.candidates. They do not get the funding if you do not have a group
:35:10. > :35:16.of candidates. What did you make of what Basil McCrea had to say
:35:17. > :35:22.tonight? Basalt topped the pollen Lagan Valley last time around. --
:35:23. > :35:29.Basil McCrea topped the pollen. I would be amazed if he topped it this
:35:30. > :35:39.time around. It is a party on a downward trajectory and I suspect it
:35:40. > :35:44.is plummeting after tonight. The last ten or 12 hours have been a
:35:45. > :35:52.roller-coaster of a red for a Basil McCrea. He was exonerated by the
:35:53. > :35:56.Commissioner and the report was published but that interview this
:35:57. > :36:00.evening made for a very uncomfortable viewing. We have to
:36:01. > :36:05.accept that the voters will make their decision in Lagan Valley and
:36:06. > :36:09.elsewhere. He is not standing elsewhere. But elsewhere in the
:36:10. > :36:14.future if the party fields candidates again which is what he
:36:15. > :36:20.says will happen after me, presumably if he is returned. As I
:36:21. > :36:28.said, John McCarthy has gone to the SDLP. Is that the end of NI21? He
:36:29. > :36:37.cannot leave it like that will stop if he does not get elected NI21 does
:36:38. > :36:41.not exist. At least if there are other candidates, they can say we
:36:42. > :36:47.can rebuild with another leader but if he loses, the whole project is
:36:48. > :36:53.dead and it will be killed off for the generation, any new party. The
:36:54. > :37:00.Labour party in Northern Ireland, to stand or not stand candidates? I am
:37:01. > :37:06.not at all sure. I can understand why Baroness Blood would want the
:37:07. > :37:10.opportunity to vote for Labour candidates hear but I cannot imagine
:37:11. > :37:20.that the Labour party at headquarters level would be keen to
:37:21. > :37:26.do it. Members hear clearly feel passionately that they should. They
:37:27. > :37:31.should be allowed to stand, Sinn Fein standard broadsides of the
:37:32. > :37:37.border. Fianna Fail are planning to build, they said. Ukip is growing so
:37:38. > :37:42.it is ridiculous against that background to say to Labour, who had
:37:43. > :37:49.people who are willing to stand, I am sorry we are excluding that. That
:37:50. > :37:53.is absurd. Development in the north-west, Gregory Campbell has
:37:54. > :37:56.said he will not stand again for the Assembly, he will concentrate on
:37:57. > :38:09.Westminster, I use a prize? Not entirely. -- are you surprised? He
:38:10. > :38:13.said wherever Sinn Fein are, he will be there to challenge them so I am
:38:14. > :38:17.surprised about the Westminster option as there is no Sinn Fein in
:38:18. > :38:22.the chamber whereas at Stormont he queued at engage them. So a little
:38:23. > :38:27.bit surprised but not that he opted for Westminster. Was there any real
:38:28. > :38:41.doubt that would be his decision? Not really. You can always rely on
:38:42. > :38:49.Gregory. I will take the quick yes or no, action in the south soon? Not
:38:50. > :38:51.in the near future. -- election. I think there will be one quicker than
:38:52. > :38:54.they think. That's about it from
:38:55. > :38:56.The View for this week. Join me for Sunday Politics
:38:57. > :38:59.at 11.35 here on BBC One. For some, the Republic's election
:39:00. > :39:01.was Independents' Day, and one pair of non-party candidates
:39:02. > :39:03.in particular caught our eye. So we've unapologetically borrowed
:39:04. > :39:06.a key plank of their campaign strategy - one they adapted
:39:07. > :39:08.from the Marty Mone original. They have an astonishing machine
:39:09. > :39:50.down there.