AS THE grind of the opposition benches gets closer, serving Fianna Fáil Ministers are taking a hard look at their prospects and deciding whether they are prepared to devote the necessary time and energy to a long-term recovery project. Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern opted out yesterday, citing personal health reasons. He is likely to be followed by other Ministers as the Coalition Government totters towards dissolution.
Mr Ahern explained the timing of his announcement was brought forward because of the Green Party’s demand for an early general election. His decision to retire from politics had been taken, he said, before the 2007 general election when it appeared that Fianna Fáil would lose. In October 2009, he had informed Taoiseach Brian Cowen of this decision. That makes sense. Mr Ahern was initially unwilling to serve long-term on the backbenches. His prospects of becoming party leader declined as time went on. And his medical condition clinched it.
The departure of Mr Ahern may have significant implications. And not just for Fianna Fáil. At 55 years of age and regarded as a leadership contender, his unexpected decision is likely to damage morale within the party. Poor showing in the opinion polls and a thrashing in the Donegal South West byelection have threatened eye-popping Dáil losses in the general election. If high-profile candidates fail to take the lead, then Fianna Fáil’s electoral difficulties will be compounded.
Coming on top of its victory in the Donegal byelection, Sinn Féin will relish the opportunity for expansion that this development offers. The party has been looking for traction in the Republic following its rebuff in the 2007 election. Now that Arthur Morgan has stepped aside, Louth has been chosen as the constituency from where party president Gerry Adams will direct Sinn Féin’s growth. His task will be made easier as a result of the departure of Mr Ahern. That consideration is said to have caused the Minister to waver in his decision. Whatever about that, Mr Adams’s expected membership of the Dáil will provide the party with a higher public profile.
Taking stock of personal and party circumstances and the prospect of power is not confined to members of Fianna Fáil. Already, six long-serving Fine Gael TDs have announced they will retire, as have three Labour Party members. In some of those cases, decisions were influenced by the painful realisation that, in spite of years of hard work, cabinet positions were unlikely to become available. In others, it was not appetite for public office that mattered. Age and falling energy levels had taken their toll. In all, 26 serving TDs are more than 65 years of age. Within Fianna Fáil, some prominent personalities have spent 20 of the past 23 years in government. That was far too long and brought arrogance and detachment. It is time for rejuvenation and change. Recent events involving failures of the political, banking and regulatory systems are crying out for fundamental reform.