‘They talk about the recovery; it’s not being felt’ say factory workers during Enda Kenny's visit

For the workers in boiler suits who stood listening there was nothing new to hear.

Thu, 18 Feb, 2016 - 00:00

Elaine Loughlin

“There was no real stand-out moment, we are listening to it every day on the radio and television,” said one factory worker at Grant Engineering in Co Offaly after listening to Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Fine Gael may be plummeting in the polls — the latest shows the party has dropped five points in 10 days — but Mr Kenny yesterday opted for an even keel. No change of tack to try win back a weary electorate.

After observing a robot which helps produce boilers at the plant, Mr Kenny also went into auto-mode with his usual “keep the economy going” speech, where Brexit, the export sector, and billions in revenue were key points.

Any mention of fiscal space may have been outlawed but there was still plenty of jargon flung about as eyes glazed over and the men in the factory began to shuffle from foot to foot.

“They talk about the recovery, you talk to most people, it’s not being felt, so I don’t think they should be forcing it and maybe they could be doing with a different attitude,” said one of the men in overalls afterwards. Forget the dogs in the street, even the men on the factory floor know the Fine Gael strategy is not working.

But Enda was not for turning.

Cogs did begin to move again and the audience was sparked into engagement by a springy Richard Bruton who, after the Taoiseach’s static speech, seemed to bounce onto the stage.

“This, in my view, is the most important election that I have ever stood in because there is a real danger that Irish voters will sleepwalk into making a decision that they will regret for a number of years to come,” he said.

“I can understand the anger, but this is an election where people need to use their brains and not their emotions.”

Fine Gael may be down in the polls, but Mr Bruton’s passionate speech will surely see his ratings surge.