Fine Gael convention - We are all tired of the empty vows

THE long-promised reform of Irish politics appears to have been put on ice, judging by the jaded tenor of the familiar knock-em-down-and-drag-em-out battle for the hearts and minds of the Irish electorate which got underway in earnest at the Fine Gael convention in Castlebar over the weekend.

The tone of what is to come was set in the opening salvo from Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s keynote speech, in which he resorted to the old tactic of promising there would be no more tax hikes.

Arguably because there’s nothing left to tax.

Warning voters they faced a choice next year between those who restored the country’s political and economic stability (Fine Gael and Labour) and those who had a record of wrecking the economy (Fianna Fáil) or those whose policies would wreck Ireland’s future if they were returned (Sinn Féin).

In a counter salvo, Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams views the next election as a choice between a Fine Gael or Sinn Féin-led government, each with very different visions for Irish society.

He challenged the Taoiseach to hold an election now rather than making back-slapping speeches and defending his record in the teeth of growing public opposition. Micheál Martin challenged the Taoiseach to face him in a head-to-head debate, accusing him of misrepresenting FF’s position.

People are sick of political promises. Yet, in the cynical game of auction politics, promises invariably win the day for the party offering the juiciest goodies.

The victory of leftist politicians in the recent Greek elections on a promise that austerity would be dumped confirms that universal truism.

Smoked out by German suspicions of a Trojan Horse, they have been forced into an embarrassing climb-down.

With a general election looming in March 2016, many are alarmed at the prospect of a hotchpotch government consisting of Sinn Féin, Independents, and others.

And with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil both throwing cold water on the idea of getting into bed with Sinn Féin, it looks like politics as usual instead of a game-changing election.

Despite a blizzard of pledges that Irish politics would be reformed, the Coalition has failed to deliver.

With Labour down to single figures in opinion polls, this administration has little chance of regaining power.

As a grassroots party leader, the Taoiseach is a highly effective politician, as seen, for instance, when he turned Fine Gael’s dwindling fortunes around before the last election.

Of course, the abysmal performance of Fianna Fáil in bringing the country to the brink of disaster gave Fine Gael’s electoral chances a mighty boost.

Mr Kenny’s big problem as Taoiseach is his reluctance to engage in one-to-one interviews.

Seemingly nervous and unsure of his footing, he is seen in a bad light when stonewalling questions the public expect him to answer.

While the economy is reportedly improving, the vast majority of people have yet to see any sign of any upturn.

After years of grinding austerity, they have taken to the streets under the banner of the Irish Water debacle. But the issue is far wider than that.

People have yet to feel things are getting better in their daily lives. Above all, they have yet to hear the jingle of more money in their pockets.