Another chance for Fianna Fáil to change
Indeed, if people do forget the mistakes of the past it would be at our own peril.
As Fianna Fáil was gathering for its second ard fheis since the last general election, the party faithful could have felt a sense of satisfaction that the Taoiseach’s criticism was being played out in the news, in contrast to last year, when Éamon Ó Cuív’s sniping within the party was centre stage.
The Taoiseach accused members of Fianna Fáil of adopting the kind of “cynical approach to politics” that got us into trouble. He insisted that they were “not facing up to their responsibility for Ireland’s economic crisis”. It should be stressed, however, that Micheál Martin, the Fianna Fáil leader, did astutely accept responsibility for the party’s mistakes in government.
“We made mistakes,” he candidly told last year’s ard fheis. “We got things wrong. And we are sorry for that.”
His contrition was in marked contrast with his predecessors, who were shirking responsibility and obviously trying to blame others for the political disaster. The electorate was not deceived. “People were angry and showed it, delivering an historic defeat for us,” Mr Martin acknowledged.
Fianna Fáil lost 58 seats in the 2011 general election in what was the worst showing in the party’s history. Some people were even predicting the party’s demise. The way that things have turned around in the past year is, therefore, truly remarkable.
The Fianna Fáil leader wisely supported the fiscal treaty and thus resisted the temptation to engage in the usual posturing politics. His leadership in persuading the party not to contest the presidential election may well have been a wise choice, because Fianna Fáil has been showing distinct signs of recovery.
Having dropped to 18% in the general election, it fared much better in the last two by-elections, and it is now back up to 26% in the latest public opinion poll.
The party has been focusing on preparations for next year’s local elections with a search for new young candidates who could be blooded politically in order to run for the Dáil in next general election. Some members of the party’s old guard have been showing a renewed interest in involving themselves, which could put last year’s party reforms to the test.
Previously, each cumann had three votes, but this was changed last year to give a vote to every member of the party who attends the ard fheis. This should afford more influence to those in Dublin who will be able to get to the meeting much easier than members from more remote counties, such as Donegal or Kerry.
Disillusionment within the party has been strongest in Dublin, where Fianna Fáil currently does not have even one Dáil deputy. Thus this weekend’s ard fheis provides another opportunity for the party to demonstrate that it is serious about changing.
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