Leading out of a crisis - Government can learn from Lemass
While de Valera was an idealist interested in the past, Lemass was the essence of modern pragmatism. They actually complemented each other.
At the height of the Second World War, Eamon de Valera spoke of his ideal Ireland as an Irish-speaking island “whose countryside would be bright with cosy homesteads, whose fields and villages would be joyous with the sounds of industry, with the romping of sturdy children, the contests of athletic youths, the laughter of happy maidens...”
This folksy depiction could hardly have contrasted more starkly with what was happening in the war-torn countries of the continent.
A decade later, while much of the world was enjoying the post-war economic boom, this country was blighted by recession. Each year tens of thousands of young people were forced to emigrate, often with young families of their own.
De Valera’s dream of comely maidens dancing at the crossroads had become Ireland’s nightmare. Lemass helped to deliver the country from the awful stagnation.
He always considered action preferable to endless waiting for things to happen. He was not afraid to be wrong, as long as he was trying to do something to rectify what was wrong.
The current Government could learn from his dynamism, as it waits for the reports of both the Commission on Taxation and An Bord Snip Nua. Both reports are due in the coming weeks, but the Government will still probably go on holidays, and then wait for the next budget before acting.
Lemass recognised that the world did not owe Ireland a living. This country had to change to meet the challenges. It was his job to lead and he did. He was the most effective politician of his era. He had spent most of his earlier ministerial career building up protectionism, but as taoiseach he advocated free trade. He did most to dismantle the protectionism he constructed.
Much can be learned from the political leadership he provided. Few Irish people knew much about the European Economic Community back in the early 1960s, but he paved the way in preparing public opinion for membership.
In the midst of the recession he recognised the importance of enterprise, especially indigenous enterprise. The greater part of our income comes from goods and services, so he realised that incomes are vitally dependent on competitiveness. We will benefit from a global economic recovery, only if our goods and services are competitive in price.
The foundations for the advances in our current educational system were implemented in this period. Rather than mindlessly applying cuts in the enterprise and educational sectors, the Government must learn from the discerning manner in which Lemass operated.
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