Fianna Fáil launched its general election campaign in Dublin at the weekend when delegates gathered for its 66th ardfheis.
A capacity crowd reflected the vibrancy of the organisation and both delegates and candidates were confident the party will be returned to power in a May contest. They ignored last week's defeat in the abortion referendum and concentrated on the Government's economic and social successes and on more propitious days to come.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will be pleased by the positive response he received from delegates and by the professional way in which the event was organised. His televised address concentrated on the transformation that has taken place in Irish society during the past five years, as annual economic growth reached towards double figures; taxes were cut and spending on health, education and welfare increased. Fianna Fáil was fortunate in inheriting an economy about to go into overdrive, but luck is a vital ingredient for any political party.
An appeal to the electorate to allow Fianna Fáil to finish the job it had begun, was reminiscent of the Lemass years. But it was no less potent for all that. Mr Ahern identified some areas of innovation and spoke of a new Department of Transport that would have responsibility for roads and public transport; investment in technology and a broadband network, along with decentralisation and localisation of services. The protection and improvement of pensions was a consistent theme for ministers. In that regard, the Taoiseach promised to increase the level of old age pension for a dependent spouse in the home and suggested an overall payment of €200 a week. Traffic conjestion would be ended within ten years. And 2,000 more Garda would be employed.
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The Government's record on Northern Ireland; in creating 370,00 new jobs; in cutting taxes; in trebling child benefit and in raising 200,000 people out of consistent poverty was emphasised. But the recent spate of job losses and the downturn in the economy received scant attention. The rapidly-growing gap between Government income and expenditure caused the Taoiseach to advocate a tight rein on spending because, he said, the worst thing would be to impose job-killing taxes on individuals and business. In spite of that, he envisaged investing in new social policies so that all citizens could enter the circle of opportunity.
Within the next month or so, Fianna Fáil is expected to fashion elements of this speech and the proposals for innovation in Government departments, into an election manifesto. Having lost the referendum on abortion, party organisers will be anxious to establish to what extent - if at all - Fianna Fáil has been damaged. There are other concerns. The handling of contracts for the National Aquatic Centre by Campus and Stadium Ireland Development, at a time when the Taoiseach was politically responsible, has generated friction within the Coalition. The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, is furious that the Cabinet was not kept fully informed and is demanding answers to a range of questions. As a consequence, the Attorney General, Mr McDowell has been asked by Mr Ahern to investigate the matter.