Two years in power - Solid, but much more is needed

There was a palpable air of expectation, almost relief, two years ago when the Fine Gael-Labour coalition ended more than a decade of Fianna Fáil’s chaotic mismanagement.

Expectations were high, probably higher than our dreadful economic circumstances would support. That sense of possibility was encouraged by the incoming Government desperate, after more than a decade out of office, to return to power.

In the last two years reality has intervened, bitten very hard and made a great number of election promises even more remote than they might have been. Virtually every project must be judged through an economic prism and, it must be assumed, that the great bulk of administrative energy is concentrated on reviving our economy. Be that as it may it is very disappointing that the reform of our parliamentary system is not more advanced, that it is not the focus of more energy and ambition. After all, we might not have had to surrender our economic independence if we had had a functioning, alert, more accountable and proactive Dáil. This issue may be addressed in the three years left — if the full term is served — and hopefully it will be as it could represent one of the best long-term legacies any government could leave. Not to, especially as this Government has a once-in-a-lifetime mandate to reform, would scandalously waste a golden opportunity.