Pádraig Rice: Programme for Government is just a stale rehash of what went before
Simon Harris (left) and Micheál Martin (right). It quickly became clear to the Social Democrats that we were not the preferred coalition partner — as well as there being significant policy gulfs between us and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. File photo: REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/Pool via RollingNews.ie
As political weeks go, this is going to be one of the most significant of the year. On Wednesday, the Dáil will elect a new Taoiseach, and by Wednesday night, we will have a new government — the 35th in the history of the State.
While the government may be new — its programme is a stale rehash of what came before. Over 162 pages, most of the commitments are vague, notional or regurgitated. There are very few new ideas and completely devoid of the promised “new energy”.
This is deeply disappointing, particularly in housing where the previous government’s own expert report called for a “radical reset” in policy. Instead, what we get is more of the same.
However, more of the same won’t deliver the transformative change that is deeply desired and urgently required. In particular, it won’t deliver the change that is needed in housing, health, childcare, disability services and climate action.
As a new TD, I have been struck by the ease at which this new programme for government has been put together by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and how quickly the Independents got on board. It is clear there is no major ideological difference between them and that this will firmly be a Government of the right, whose various components share a common conservative worldview.
After the election, the Social Democrats had constructive discussions with both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and left the door open to further talks. However, it quickly became clear to us that we were not the preferred coalition partner — as well as there being significant policy gulfs between us and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
In particular, we differed on the five deal breakers that we set out in advance of the election. One of those was the construction of 50,000 genuinely affordable homes. For context, the last government built less than 4,000 of these.
This new programme for government continues the failed housing policies of the past. They have left us with record levels of homelessness, soaring rents and unaffordable house prices.
On social policy there is a lack of bravery. There is no mention of drug decriminalisation, assisted dying or access to abortion care. We need policies in these areas that are evidence-based and grounded in care, compassion and kindness.
There is also no mention of collective bargaining, the living wage and the poverty points are woolly at best.
While there are some welcome proposed changes in other areas, like the abolition of the Carers’ Allowance means test, implementation will be key. The shelves of our government departments and State agencies are stacked high with dusty reports and unfinished action plans.
The State has long suffered from implementation deficit disorder and nothing in this latest plan indicates that things will be significantly different on that front. Specific, concrete, measurable, time-bound and achievable actions are required.
As a representative of Cork, I’m disappointed that the programme for government fails to address the pressing priorities for our city and county. Ireland’s future development depends on Cork being a sizeable counterbalance to the capital.
A simple search of the document shows that Cork is mentioned only seven times, while Dublin is mentioned 29. A more in-depth analysis exposes the absence of a number of key infrastructure projects.
There is no mention of the long overdue Cork Luas, just a vague mention of ‘light rail where appropriate’; no commitment to a new public library for Cork city centre; while the promise to ‘work towards the completion of the Cork Events Centre’ doesn’t fill me with hope that the project will be finished by 2030 — given the sod was turned in 2016.
Some projects are being recycled and re-announced, like the new elective hospital that was first proposed in 2017. Even on smaller projects, there is no mention of the Lido, the new running track or long-awaited safe injection facility for the city.
However, there are some positives. I have been actively campaigning for increased funding for footpath repairs in Cork. I welcome the commitment that each local authority will be provided with a budget to maintain active travel infrastructure, including footpaths. Millions need to be spent upgrading Cork’s footpaths. That money can’t come quick enough. It's decades overdue.
At a bigger picture level, the new programme lacks a coherent vision for the State. In my maiden speech, at the first sitting of the new Dáil, I spoke about building a republic of equals. One where everyone has access to affordable housing, quality healthcare, a good education, a decent job and a sustainable future.
A country with a social floor below which no one is allowed to fall. A country where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and flourish.
To achieve that, we need to move in a new direction and take a different approach. Without that, I strongly suspect that in five years' time, we will still be facing the same crises in housing and health.
I fear we will miss our climate targets and that crucial public services will remain threadbare.
None of this is inevitable. But, unfortunately, that is the path that has been laid by parties that have failed to embrace transformative change.
- Pádraig Rice is a Social Democrats TD for Cork South-Central
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