FG-Labour communication skills in question

The coalition of Fine Gael and Labour became increasingly concerned during its first year in office about its poor record on communicating government policy to the public.

Many government departments did not have a press officer in 1983.

During a cabinet meeting in Barrettstown Castle on Jun 20 that year, Garret FitzGerald, then taoiseach, said the absence of political advisers made it impossible to co-ordinate government policy in a politically sensitive way. The Fine Gael leader claimed this was an even greater problem than the lack of press officers.

John Boland, the minister for public service, had warned his ministerial colleagues that the government was perceived as insensitive to the ordinary “man-in-the street”.

“We are being accused of being obsessed with eliminating the budget deficit,” said Boland.

He pointed out that there was enormous pessimism and cynicism about the government combined with a lack of confidence and a sense of hopelessness.

“Consistent statements designed to emphasise the parlous state of the exchequer finances have contributed to this,” said Boland.

He told other ministers that the recent abortion referendum had not helped, while the volume of protests around the country had created an unpleasant, accusatory and divisive mood.

His concerns led to the establishment of special committees to co-ordinate the government’s communications policy and to co-ordinate information from various departments about forthcoming announcements and events of interest.

In Oct 1983, the communications committee urged ministers to be more appreciative of the sensitivities of both political parties when making public statements.

It also encouraged ministers to avail of any immediate opportunity to stress it was the government’s intention to govern for a full term in office.

The taoiseach as well as the tánaiste, Dick Spring, were asked to make regular joint appearances at events.

The committee recommended a greater degree of information regarding the scale of the problems facing the government should be provided to backbenchers.