Creighton critical of ‘failings’ of five-point plan

Former European Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton has criticised the failings of Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s infamous five-point plan and signalled that the time has come for a new group of politicians to step forth.

Ms Creighton also said that the cronyism that persisted in Fianna Fáil for over a decade was today “still as prevalent” in the current government.

Speaking at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Co Donegal, Ms Creighton’s criticisms of promised reforms by the coalition was joined by other Opposition TDs.

She said there was still an absence of political leadership in Ireland.

Leadership had become defined by the metric of electoral success, she said.

Previous taoisigh such as Sean Lemass and Garrett FitzGerald had shown strength and leadership, she told the audience.

“Pivotal moments in our very short history created the environment for these two towering political leaders to drive through visionary change,” she said.

However, the Dublin South East TD had strong words for Fine Gael and Mr Kenny’s five-point plan, which was promoted before the 2011 general election.

Jobs had been created, she admitted, but vows to keep taxes low had failed.

This was evident with the property tax, water tax, and increased motor taxes.

Promises of better government had been left unfulfilled, she added.

The abolition or merger of 100 state agencies as promised had only seen 45 done away with, but 33 more were created, she said.

Ms Creighton also said there had been “no meaningful reform of the public sector”, with the exception of arbitrary savings in working hours and salaries.

A pledge to create a “completely new, fairer, more efficient” health system had also failed, she said, adding that there had also been no overhaul in the political system.

“The cronyism that persisted in Fianna Fáil for over a decade… is as prevalent as ever within the current Government,” said Ms Creighton

However, the conditions for fundamental change still existed, she said, adding: “There are many people both within and outside the political system who believe in a better Ireland... Those people must soon stand up and be counted.

“Ireland deserves better and the window of opportunity will not be there forever.”

Ms Creighton was expelled from Fine Gael’s parliamentary party last year for opposing the Coalition’s abortion legislation in the Dáil.

Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty praised whistleblowers who had exposed “corruption, abuse and malpractice”.

He argued that a “culture of political cronyism and favouritism has prevailed for decades”.

He also questioned what message the country was sending out with the nomination of Phil Hogan as Ireland’s next EU commissioner when he was a “person who embodies what is wrong with our political culture”.

Independent TD Catherine Murphy criticised the Dáil system, claiming that deputies acted as middle-men on a merry-go-round of fixing problems rather than the system and that there was an expectation of a vote for a favour.