MICHEÁL MARTIN has done for the Fianna Fáil front bench what Brian Cowen failed to do for his Cabinet: offer the electorate a new beginning by promoting younger colleagues and putting some distance between them and the failed policies of the past. It was a difficult juggling feat in view of a continuing overlap between Cabinet members and front -bench appointments. He also advanced the causes of key supporters while making life more difficult for his enemies. What he is trying to do is present Fianna Fáil as Government and Opposition in the one election.
There is a focus about Mr Martin’s approach that was lacking under Mr Cowen. The Taoiseach was in denial for months and failed to intervene when, ignoring a collapse in party support, constituency conventions selected two and sometimes three candidates. Mr Martin took a hard look at what Dáil seats Fianna Fáil might hope to win and has begun to roll back those decisions. Noel O’Flynn was the first TD to be stood down in Cork North Central, in order to provide breathing space for Billy Kelleher, a strong supporter of Mr Martin. That development may be a harbinger of things to come.
But in spite of his best efforts, there is a tired air about these 21 appointments. Many have served in government as ministers of state. It was wrong of Mr Martin to re-instate Willie O’Dea. Can Fianna Fáil never leave the past behind? Mr Martin had to reach outside the parliamentary party to provide his front bench with even a whiff of gender balance. Two of the four women appointed are serving Cabinet members; one is a councillor, another a political adviser. Tánaiste Mary Coughlan remains in place. Mary Hanafin, promoted to the position of deputy leader, has drawn most media attention. With Barry Andrews also receiving promotion in the Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown constituency, it may become an issue of “the devil take the hindmost” in the coming election.
In threatening situations, Fianna Fáil has always been skilled at adopting conflicting roles. Now, with seven Fianna Fáil Ministers actually running the country, 16 party spokespersons have been given responsibility for looking over their shoulders. It is a bizarre situation. But no less strange than the leader of a Government party who sits on the back benches or a Taoiseach who has lost the support of his party.
Mr Martin has announced his intention to campaign on the basis of a renewed programme. After 14 years in government and in spite of his personal popularity, he may find it impossible to convince the broad electorate that Fianna Fáil has anything fresh to offer. Whatever about that, his immediate task is to connect with Fianna Fáil’s core vote and encourage party stalwarts to come out and vote.
This reshuffle has shown that the party retains reservoirs of ability, ambition and antagonism. They are important political ingredients and Mr Martin has given himself 10 years to transmute them into a revitalised party.