Reilly debacle - A symptom of a bigger problem

The anger, and indeed sense of shame such a social failure brings, provoked by last week’s announcement by Health Minister James Reilly’s proposal to cut €130m in home care and home help programmes is matched only by surprise expressed by the minister’s colleagues who, unbelievable as it seems, had no knowledge of the cuts before they were announced.

This kind of disjointed, boy scout jamboree response to our crisis is unnerving and destroys the kind of confidence and unity of purpose needed to overcome our great difficulties.

It has also, by highlighting great differences in policy instincts, destabilised the coalition to the extent that the “snap election” phrase cum threat has been dusted off for the first time in decades. Though quickly dismissed by senior Labour figures it is a sign of how chaotic things have become. The really disheartening aspect is that it is just a symptom of the Government’s — not just Dr Reilly’s — failure to deliver on its central, game-changing election promise — real, deep society rejuvenating reform of our public life and institutions.