Formation of new administration: Politics are back to the local level

The truism that all politics is local, though some might use the more derogatory term ‘parish-pump’, is already looming over the minority government even before the fresh crop of ministers appointed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny have read themselves into their job briefs.

First out of the starting blocks with a home-grown proposal was Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources, who told his supporters at the weekend that he saw “a very positive future” for Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe where local people have been lobbying for months in a bid to ensure it would not be downgraded or closed altogether.

Meanwhile, in another example of local politics in action, the new administration is expected to clinch a deal on turf cutting with another Roscommon-Galway Independent TD, Michael Fitzmaurice, in a bid to further shore up support for the minority government which is heavily reliant upon an agreement on paper whereby Fianna Fáil will facilitate its survival for now.