Dara Murphy goes to Europe: Faith in system is undermined

The poor turnout in last week’s by-elections might, with a Christmas-party dash of wishful thinking, be explained by an approaching general election and the by-elections’ relevance in the face of the ongoing supply and confidence arrangement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

That, however, as any sharp cumann rúnaí will realise, is just one part of the story. Maybe the smaller part. Voter disenchantment with a Government party that has slipped from the standards it expects of the other government while in opposition are an obvious factor. Just this year the Maria Bailey prevarication, the misjudgement on Verona Murphy, the anti-immigrant vote by FG MEPs and the runaway housing scandal all play a part too.

So too does the disdain shown by resigning Dáil deputy Dara Murphy for our parliament and his Cork North Central constituents. Murphy has been largely absent from the Dáil since he refocused his career on Europe two years ago where he is to take up a €150,000 a year job.

He has, however, been paid almost €100,000 a year to work as a TD and is entitled to €51,600 annually in allowances. A Dáil investigation into his expenses claims must end as soon as he resigns his seat which he is expected to do presently. How very convenient.

Politics, we are told is the art of the possible. It is also the art of the plausible. A reset is needed and quickly if last week’s dismal voter participation is not to become the norm.