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.

Had Dr Reilly, with public and unambiguous support from cabinet, delivered on his promise to cut consultants’ pay he could go to tomorrow’s cabinet meeting with the whip hand. He could have made essential, long overdue proposals on Croke Park but now he must fight a rearguard action he may not win.

Indeed, if Labour prevail and Dr Reilly’s proposals are diluted or dropped then his position, despite Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s close support, seems untenable. Even if he survives tomorrow he faces the possibility of a humiliation over his commitment to resolve the abortion legislation issue.

By not delivering his pay-cut promises and by his solo run he has surrendered the high ground and neutralised himself possibly to a fatal degree. He has also, and this may be his greatest crime, made it very easy for those who support Croke Park to once again keep the issue off the agenda, deferring the inevitable reality check.

Not only that but he has given Fianna Fáil an opportunity to sing their we-told-you-so party piece one more time. And they, especially Micheál Martin, are entirely justified because he has, despite Government caterwauling, repeatedly and accurately challenged the integrity of Dr Reilly’s health budget in the Dáil.

If any good is to come from the fiasco maybe it will be that Government might, after 18 months in office, admit that the way forward demands a degree of co-ordination and unity difficult to establish in a single-party government, much less in a coalition of opposing views. There can be no solo runs, there cannot be a situation where a cabinet member is not made aware of life-changing cuts before they are made public if that solidarity is to stand.

But of course the real lesson is much simpler, much clearer and unavoidable. Reform means changing someone’s life and not necessarily to their advantage and unless you can find the cojones to do that you’re just tinkering, not reforming. And as any grown up will tell you tinkering to defer the inevitable is a dishonest waste of time.

Dr Reilly is just part of a far bigger problem. However, he is a symptom of a malaise that must be tackled. We, and Government, have been in denial about what needs to be done for long enough.