The Dáil resumes - Consent to govern put in jeopardy

The 31st Dáil resumes today and in a very short time — two months — it will mark the third anniversary of the establishment of Enda Kenny’s coalition.

Though a lot has been achieved in those three years a considerable acceleration on election promises, especially around public sector reform and fine-sounding ideas like free GP care for everyone, is essential if the Government is to complete the agenda it set for itself and promised the electorate. It is the nature of things that significant change takes significant time but the window of opportunity narrows by the day.

The Government must achieve this with one eye on local and European elections in May — just five months away. Though these elections will not set the Dáil agenda they will, occasionally at least, change the rhythm of Oireachtas business. As we face three elections in no more than a little over two years the opposition, in all its forms, will try to focus attention on service cuts and how Government has reduced disposable incomes.

These are the bread-and-butter issues of national politics and any political organisation worth its free envelopes will take them in its stride. However, a far greater challenge hangs over Government, one that seems to be gaining something approaching an unstoppable momentum. And if it is not addressed — credibly — the Coalition may well be appalled at the electorate’s ingratitude come election time.

A range of issues — and Marie Antoinette attitudes — are coming together that confound the idea of government by consent, public accountability, a meaningful justice system and environmental responsibility. An electorate that has endured the worst and immoral impositions forced upon it by the banking collapse stoically cannot have much patience left and any one of a number of looming issues could unify game-changing opposition to the Government.

EirGrid’s robber-baron like disdain for the communities its pylon proposals will affect profoundly is utterly unacceptable. Proposals to build huge, energy-exporting windfarms, especially in the Midlands, fall into the same category. Energy Minister Pat Rabbit has admitted that putting these essential links underground would add just 3% to Europe’s most expensive energy bills. A rational solution might be to bring our costs closer to the European norm and use the savings to bury the lines. The Government and EirGrid would make a tremendous mistake if it underestimated the determined and widespread opposition to these proposals.

The Government, and most certainly the public, are aware too that it is nearly six years since our banks collapsed and not one senior banking figure has been dealt with by the courts. Investigations into Anglo Irish have been extended for another year. This ongoing farce undermines our entire justice system.

Just yesterday a Dáil committee got a glimpse of how public employees with poor records are promoted and put in a position that allows them to spend tens of millions of taxpayers’ money almost without accounting for it. That this continues as some citizens’ day-to-day expenses are being micro-managed by their mortgage lenders is more than offensive.

If Mr Kenny, his party and their coalition colleagues are to be returned to power in just over two years’ time these issues — and attitudes — will have to change fundamentally. And even if there is the will to make these changes there is very little time left to show that they have.