Series of protests planned as Athlone to host Fianna Fáil and Greens

Anti-government protesters, farmers and those objecting to NAMA are expected to descend upon Athlone to make their feelings known as both government parties meet in the town from this weekend. The Green Party's special conference on NAMA is taking place this Saturday September 12 in the Sheraton Hotel, while Fianna Fáil will hold a key parliamentary party gathering in the Hodson Bay Hotel the following Monday and Tuesday. The Stop the Bail Out of Banks Campaign group is organising a protest at the Green Party's special conference on Saturday, which is gaining support through internet forums. Meanwhile, the Westmeath Independent understands that farmers from all around the Midlands are preparing for a protest to take place at the Fianna Fáil gathering. As support for Fianna Fáil sank to an all-time low in opinion polls last week, over 100 of the party's TDs and Senators are due to descend upon Athlone for the annual party think-in next week. Taoiseach Brian Cowen and his party members will spend two days discussing party policy and direction next Monday September 14 and Tuesday September 15, in the Hodson Bay Hotel. "As Brian Cowen said, we're facing 100 pretty torrid days," said Deputy Mary O'Rourke. "It will eventually become clear around Christmas how things are looking for the country." Athlone will become the epicentre of Irish politics in the forthcoming week as both the Green Party and Fianna Fáil will be holding important party member meetings. The NAMA debate will take centre stage when the Greens roll into town from Friday for the weekend, and depending on how the special conference goes, it could make or break the government's bank bail-out proposal. Indeed the Green's meeting in Athlone could even make or break the government, depending on whether the party's TDs and Ministers agree to support NAMA in the final parliamentary vote next month. The Greens will hold its annual 'Think In' in the Radisson Hotel in Athlone this coming Friday. Meanwhile, the special conference on NAMA is taking place in the Sheraton Hotel on Saturday September 12. Party members will debate the legislation establishing the National Asset Management Agency. All members of the party will be allowed to give feedback before the NAMA bill goes to committee stage. The debate will start at 11am and is due to conclude at 4pm. As with all previous members' conferences the debates will not be open to the media. Many grassroots supporters would ideologically be against the concept of NAMA but they might be softened up if the party heads can guarantee them policy concessions such as the Carbon Tax in the Programme for Government negotiations in October. However, on the other hand, only last week Green Party chairman and Senator Dan Boyle, suggested that there was a possibility of a general election within the next six months. A special convention will then be held in early October, where members will decide whether to back or oppose NAMA before the final Dáil vote on the controversial proposal. An Irish Times/MRBI poll last week showed that 50% of Green party supporters against NAMA, while only 21% are for it. The poll also shows that satisfaction with the Government is running at just 11%.