Government’s disappointing election message lack’s conviction

The ongoing message from both Fine Gael and Labour since the start of the election campaign is at best disappointing and lacks conviction.

Despite substantial policy differences between both parties in their election promises, incredibly, both Government parties still sing from the same hymn sheet, by continuing to churn out the same message; that apart from Fine Gael and Labour — no other party or combination of parties are capable of managing the economy. This message is presumptuous, unnecessarily arrogant, and unlikely to wash with the electorate

Clearly, the attacks on left wing parties are at best, misguided. In addition, the much used Government ‘mantra’ that Fianna Fáil created the recession and are responsibility for all our ills, is overly simplistic and close to the point of being factually incorrect.

There’s no doubt Fianna Fáil presided over the economic crisis and should have dealt with it much better.

In truth, the recession started in the US and spread to many European countries, including Ireland and the UK.

The only credible way for the Government parties to claim some credit for the economic recovery, is to first acknowledge the contribution played by the most favourable currency exchange rates for over a decade, plus exceptionally low interest rates and the recent collapse in the world oil market.

Both Government parties should stop acting like opposition parties and should, in the interest of transparency, take responsibility for what has happened under their watch.

This includes accepting responsibility for the lack of resources that has led to disadvantage being inflicted on a large segment of the population during their term in office.

Damien Walsh

C/O St Vincent’s

College Road

Cork