Government must get on message before it looks accident-prone

WHEN Garret FitzGerald became Taoiseach in 1983 he was known as Garret the Good.

Tue, 24 Apr, 2012 - 01:00

Fergus Finlay is a former political activist and adviser to three governments, the former head of the children's charity Barnardos, a writer and a broadcaster.

Widely regarded as brilliant, visionary and honest, he was a huge contrast to Charles Haughey. Within his own party, Haughey was seen as divisive (to put it mildly) and we all thought we’d seen the last of him when Garret took over the democratic leadership of the country.

Four years later, Garret was seen, if anything, as Garret the Messer. Four years of interminable cabinet meetings, unpopular decisions, wrong strategic calculations — even the odd triumph — had reduced his reputation as a leader to almost nothing. When people were asked about Haughey, on the other hand, everyone acknowledged that he was still a rogue and a chancer. “But at least he can make decisions,” they said. “At least he can get things done.”