The Coalition's skill at talking about reform must give way to real budgetary action, writes NOEL WHELAN
THE GOVERNMENT is just eight weeks old and has proved itself best in its political presentation. In a manner that contrasts starkly with the last months of its predecessor, this Government has delivered a near-masterclass in communication. Enda Kenny and most of his Ministers are making the right noises, generating the right headlines and posing for the right pictures.
Since it came to power, this Coalition has been particularly adept at projecting an image of tackling many of the big, what might be called Liveline, issues. Within hours of taking up office, the new Cabinet announced a pay reduction for Ministers and TDs. As popular moves go, they don’t come as popular or as cheap.
Within days, the Government announced that most Ministers would no longer travel around in Garda-driven Mercs. To push this image home, there have been many creative photos and much footage of Ministers walking, cycling or bussing around the city on official business.
The Government has also been good at big theatrical gestures. Seeking the resignation of the Health Service Executive (HSE) board was a dramatic move generating banner headlines. “Minister axes HSE board” screamed the front page of that evening’s newspaper and Minister for Health James Reilly had pages of colourful coverage in the following day’s tabloid press. In substance, it doesn’t amount to much but, in the short term, that doesn’t matter. It sounds like real action.
Even over the Easter silly season, the Government proved competent at clever politics. When they needed a further popular challenge on which to show their political virility, they gave a public lash to the judiciary. As political strategy, it was brilliant. Leak the details of a private conversation between the Chief Justice and the Taoiseach and then put your own construction on it knowing the judges would never be able to spin back. The Government then renewed a promise of a popular referendum on judges’ pay and even the usually more sedate media got stuck in with criticism of the judiciary and positive comment for the Government.
On many other issues, the Government has so far talked the talk very well. By speaking repeatedly of the need to deliver on the Croke Park agreement and more generally on the need for public sector reform, it has chimed with the public mood. By announcing it will advertise appointments to State boards and require the chairs of such bodies to subject themselves to questioning by Dáil committees, the Government sounds like it is determined to tackle cronyism.
It is a far cry from the quango cull promised in opposition but it will sate the media and public appetite for the time being.
The Government has wisely talked repeatedly about political reform. The great thing about this concept is everyone is in favour of it even though nobody agrees what that reform should be. It has also become one of those catch-all phrases which enables every minor shift in electoral arrangements to be dressed up as something akin to a grand constitutional initiative.
This week Phil Hogan played a blinder. Although in opposition, he and his leader promised to hold a referendum to abolish the Seanad within six months of gaining power, they have now (as predicted here at the time) kicked the issue off to a non-binding constitutional convention. This convention will not be established for at least three months, will debate the issue for a year and then find its recommendation parked. The proposal for Seanad abolition and other so-called political reforms have been successfully long-fingered but the Government has skilfully couched this delay as being in the interest of public consultation.
Hogan got acres of publicity by reheating his popular opposition promise to reduce the number of TDs. He generated a real sense of action even though all he announced was that a decision on the number by which Dáil seats will actually be reduced will be made in about six weeks. Hogan got some grief for appearing to abandon his specific commitment to reduce Dáil numbers by 20 but the positive attention he got for again talking about any reduction more than compensated.
Hogan’s crowning achievement was to wriggle out of Fine Gael’s commitment not to introduce a flat-rate water charge by claiming instead that what will be imposed next year is a “utility charge” necessary to meet the cost of installing water meters. It was so good it was almost Orwellian.
By throwing shapes on popular and media-friendly issues, this Government has cleverly shored up its standing with the electorate. It is striking, however, that this Government which came to power with such a strong mandate and enjoys such a large parliamentary majority has been slow to spend any political capital.
Given the state of the country’s finances, Kenny and his Ministers will soon have to do things which are very necessary but very unpopular. The crunch will come in the summer when the spending review is finalised and in the autumn as preparations are made for the next budget. It is noteworthy two of the quieter Ministers in the last months have been Michael Noonan and Brendan Howlin. One gets the impression they are hunkered down in Merrion Street absorbing the horrendous detail and deciding which spending cuts and tax increases to make.
Even if their utterances and initiatives may at times appear superficial, this Government is wise to top up its political capital tank. It will need every drop when the time comes for real decisions.