FOR MINISTERS who have been under extreme pressure since taking office 17 months ago, a quiet holiday period away from political distractions and active lobbying has obvious appeal. But the postponement of a series of important and controversial decisions until September – at the earliest – implies a tentative Government approach to important issues that may encourage special interest groups to complain about crude tactics and intensify their resistance.
This is particularly relevant in relation to the proposed referendum on children’s rights, due to be held later this year. Not alone did the Cabinet avoid giving a specific date for that exercise, it failed to publish the wording that will be put to the people. One obvious consequence is that the Referendum Commission, which is required by law to provide voters with an independent assessment of the implications of the wording, will once again be forced to work under extreme pressure. Another is that public debate on this complex issue will be limited. That may be understandable on pragmatic grounds, given the mutterings from some quarters about traditional values and the primacy of the family. But, in view of the childhood horrors that have been exposed in recent years, a comprehensive debate is required on all relevant matters.
During their long years in opposition, Fine Gael and the Labour Party complained about rushed legislation, inadequate consultation and guillotine votes in the Dáil. Yet the behaviour of the current crop of Ministers – delaying decisions and legislation for as long as possible in order to minimise the likelihood of popular dissent – appears to be no different from their predecessors. Having marched the public to the top of the hill with a succession of leaks specifying details of work in progress and decisions pending at Cabinet, they left for their summer holidays; decisions untaken.
A commitment to tackle chronic alcohol abuse and binge drinking in society through a minimum pricing system and other measures was deferred because of ministerial concerns. A decision to reduce allowances within the public service was postponed, in spite of the urgent fiscal situation and spending overruns. The abolition of many town councils, as part of local government reform, was long-fingered. And while the Revenue Commissioners were given responsibility for collecting a new property tax in 2013, the details of that tax were withheld from the public. Where is the openness and transparency the Government parties made such a fuss about while in opposition?
Some of these issues have implications for the composition of the December budget. Apart from that, the ongoing euro crisis and Ireland’s case for a reduction in the cost to the State of the banking bailout will require detailed attention during the holiday period. Much of the autumn session will be taken up by budgetary negotiations on where cutbacks can be made and extra revenue raised. Ministers have more than enough to do in the autumn and should have made a greater effort to reduce an already crowded agenda.