In July 1989, the electorate faced going back to the polls amid political stalemate. An Irish Times/MRBI poll at the time showed the majority of people were opposed to another election, with 80 per cent of those questioned feeling that an arrangement should be made between the political parties in the Dáil.
The Irish Times View, 6th July, 1989: The mood of the electorate is clear. It is, beyond shadow of doubt or hint of ambiguity, against another election. By a majority of four to one, opinion favours an arrangement between the parties in the Dáil. By almost two to one, it prefers coalition between Fianna Fail and either the Progressive Democrats or Fine Gael to a minority Fianna Fáil administration.
These results of the latest Irish Times/MRBI poll - a survey of 1,000 people conducted at 100 centres throughout the State on Tuesday - must provide powerful encouragement to those engaged in the revived negotiations between Fianna Fáil and the PDs which, in turn , will invest today’s session of the 26th Dáil with a refreshing air of optimism.
The public firmly places responsibility for the election of a Taoiseach and a government on the Dáil, which is precisely where the constitutional obligation lies. Here, the poll’s main findings are supported by other opinions - on political positions and performances which have a bearing on the exercise of that responsibility. Satisfaction with the acting Taoiseach has fallen by 16 points since February while the ratings of Opposition leaders, who have been more actively involved in the search for a solution, have improved dramatically.
There are gains of 21 points for Alan Dukes, 10 points for Des O’Malley and 27 points for Dick Spring, whose intervention in the Dáil last week focused attention on the constitutional provision which obliges a defeated Taoiseach to resign. Reflections on the actions of the party leaders since the election was held complete the pattern: four in 10 of those questioned felt that Charles Haughey’s actions were right; somewhat more than half believed they were wrong. Approval of Mr Dukes’s efforts was registered by half, disapproval by slightly more than one-third of the respondents. Views on Mr O’Malley’s actions were evenly divided.
How pointless another election would be is clear from the record of voting intentions: it shows little difference from last month’s results; Fianna Fail and the PDs lose some ground; Fine Gael, Labour and the Workers’ Party gain a little. The results, however, should be sufficient to confirm an opinion the party leaders had already expressed - about the futility of seeking an answer to their problems among the electorate.
Mr Haughey spoke on Sunday of the President’s role if there should be an attempt to call an election. He gave it as his view, claiming precedence, that a dissolution of the Dáil would not be refused. It was an opinion deeply resented by other party leaders as an attempt to influence Dr Hillery’s decision, should it come to that.
But in deciding whether or not to dissolve the Dáil, the President - in de Valera’s phrase the guardian of the Constitution - has absolute discretion. And a voice that is stronger, and wiser, than Mr Haughey’s has already spoken. The people have elected the Dáil. It remains for the Dáil to elect the Taoiseach . If the current round of negotiations produces an agreement, the pail should be ready to meet its constitutional obligation before too long.