It is idle to speculate on next election

THE Cabinet had its final meeting of the political year at Avondale yesterday before its summer break.

Despite recent political setbacks, the Taoiseach could take solace from the fact that Fianna Fáil still showed a 1% increase in support in the most recent public opinion poll, while the Progressive Democrats were only down by the same amount.

There has been much talk about next year’s election, but even a week can be a long time in politics, and it is idle to speculate about next year.

The Government has the comfort of the continuing strong performance of the economy.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern noted that our current debt repayments are 1 billion less than they were 10 years ago.

The situation in the North would also seem to be better, in view of the relative peace that has prevailed in the area during the usually troubled marching season. It was “the best marching season since the early ‘60s,” the Taoiseach said.

Developments on the international front have been disturbing, but Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern has played a dignified and balanced, yet determined role in calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Lebanon.

It is to be profoundly hoped that his persistence will meet with deserved success when the EU foreign ministers meet today.