The Government's report on its performance during the past 12 months provides compelling reasons why a major reshuffle of ministerial responsibility could only be of benefit to this society.
Released with little fanfare during a bank holiday weekend, the document ignored major failings and inadequacies, and promised a continuation of low-tax policies. The period under review was described as one of achievement abroad and consolidation at home.
There is no denying the strong role played by the Taoiseach in ensuring the success of Ireland's presidency of the EU. And Mr Ahern continues to devote time and energy in seeking the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement. In the same way, efforts by the Tánaiste to reduce insurance costs met with some success. But other ministerial initiatives, such as a proposal to introduce electronic voting and the construction of equestrian facilities at Punchestown, proved to be unmitigated disasters.
The proposal to break up Aer Rianta has been making headway at the same pace as the underground Metro project for Dublin. Proposals for the decentralisation of State agencies and the policy-making sections of Government Departments will have to be re-visited. We still do not know the eventual height of the Dublin Port tunnel. And part of the Luas project has finally been completed, years behind schedule and over budget.
Action by the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, in holding down Government spending provided the centrepiece of this "consolidation at home" approach. The impact on inflation, on taxation levels and on growing social inequality was significant, but the report concentrated on the promising economic outlook.
After the punishment received at the June local elections, efforts are being made to reposition the Government. It is expected to adhere to a more clearly defined direction and agenda. Priority will be placed on tangible vote-winning measures and projects which the Government hopes will enable it to demonstrate that it has made progress. Broken election promises are already being revisited, such as raising the number of medical card holders by 200,000; increasing the availability of hospital beds by 3,000; and expanding the number of gardaí by 2,000.
There is also talk about removing people on the minimum wage from the tax net and those on the average industrial wage from the top rate of income tax. At one point, the Government promised that only 20 per cent of citizens would have to pay income tax at the top rate. The present situation, where lower and middle-income families are carrying an unfair share of the tax burden, shows how far off course its policies have been blown.