After the Rainbow, it’s Kenny’s Kaleidoscope
After two days of posturing, the party managed to arrive at a position where people are now less clear where they stand on any particular issue than when their conference actually began.
Fine Gael’s strategists may be happy with Richard Bruton’s attempt to steal Fianna Fáil’s clothes by saying there will be no increase in taxes and by Enda Kenny’s lip-service to the Greens, but all of this fools no one.
On no occasion did either Messrs Kenny or Bruton address issues of fundamental concern such as whether Fine Gael support the Labour party’s proposals for a wealth tax or whether they support the Green party’s proposals on carbon tax?
The effects of such policies might well be detrimental to the future prospects of this country.
Eighteen months ago, Enda Kenny told us he would roll-out comprehensive policies in the near future.
Eighteen months on, he is saying he will reveal these policies in another 18 months.
Whatever the reasons for this delay, I suspect people will increasingly become as tired of excuses as of stage-managed photo-shoots.
Mr Kenny’s announcement that he has ruled out the PDs from any alternative Government means if he can’t make up the numbers with Labour and the Greens, he will also have to rely on a dolly-mixture of left-leaning independent socialists.
Such an alternative offers not even the semblance of a united and cohesive government.
Instead of a Rainbow they are presenting the Irish people with the alternative of a Kaleidoscope Government. Riven as they are by warped ideologies, idiosyncrasies and inflated egos, this is a lethal cocktail with the potential to poison the economy and reverse Ireland’s progress.
The chameleons are coming home to the roost!
John O’Donoghue TD
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
Dáil Eireann
Kildare Street
Dublin 2
