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The political crisis that has brought the Government to the brink of collapse and almost certainly ended the career of Enda Kenny (sooner or, maybe, a little bit later) was almost entirely self-inflicted.
It has illuminated the inner workings of an administration that is sometimes (at least) chaotic and incompetent. It has also further damaged public trust in politics. Not bad for a week’s work.
More seriously, through a sort of peculiar self-destructive narcissism, the political process focused attention on itself for the past week, rather than on the important and truly shocking questions about Garda behaviour that the McCabe revelations provoke.
What Green Party leader Eamon Ryan described in the Dáil as "the theatre of the political" has transfixed us all in recent days. However, it is not as important as the substance of the McCabe allegations. These are allegations for which there is some significant evidence, though there are also strident denials.
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They are worth repeating: having made a series of complaints about Garda malpractice, McCabe says he was targeted by an organised smear campaign, directed from the very top of An Garda Síochána. The intention, he says, was to destroy his reputation and credibility, and in doing so diminish or eliminate the impact of his accusations that the Garda was inept, in some cases corrupt and in other cases arguably criminal.
Senior gardaí, including Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan, have resolutely denied any knowledge or involvement.
Having made a series of complaints about Garda malpractice, McCabe says he was targeted by an organised smear campaign, directed from the very top of An Garda Síochána
Another senior garda, however, who was head of the press office, says he spread smears about McCabe on O’Sullivan’s instructions.
‘Omnishambles’
Then there is the case of the Tusla file, where an innocent error – we are told – led to the accusations of sexual abuse against McCabe. Quite the coincidence, you would have to say.
All this is frankly a lot more important than when exactly Enda knew what, who told him, what he did or didn’t know or whether he can remember what he had for his breakfast.
The politics is not unimportant though, because it is politics that will ultimately have to fix the Garda problems.
However, the political “omnishambles” of recent days has demonstrated that the Government as currently constituted does not have the wherewithal to undertake a task of this nature or magnitude. In fact, the events of recent days have demonstrated that the Government is barely functioning properly at all, never mind producing good government.
Take one example. The memorandum brought by Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald to last week's Cabinet meeting (if you can remember that far back) sought a decision from her colleagues to set up a commission of inquiry into the McCabe allegations.
This is how the Cabinet is supposed to work: memos are circulated in advance seeking decisions, observations are offered and a decision is reached.
However, Fitzgerald’s memo was an “under the arm” job, meaning was no advance circulation of the subject to Ministers to put them on notice that their approval was being sought. This practice is supposed to be restricted to highly sensitive matters and has been typically used for financial decisions.
In fact, the events of recent days have demonstrated that the Government is barely functioning properly at all, never mind producing good government
In recent months, however, it has become more and more frequent and is now used by Ministers, insiders say, for routine matters. They do it because they don’t trust one another enough to share information in advance.
Crucial information
Both Shane Ross and Katherine Zappone complained about the non-circulation of memos and the lack of information in their public statements last week. This was especially rich coming from Zappone, who had withheld crucial information about Tusla from her Cabinet colleagues.
Asked if Ross had ever brought a late memo, one Fine Gael Minister acidly replied: "He would have to do some work to bring a memo in the first place."
This may be slightly unfair. His office says he has brought five memos and one note to Cabinet so far this year. But there’s no doubt that the trust between Fine Gael and the Independents – and especially Ross – has returned to the low ebb of the early days of the Government.
This lack of trust has undermined the operation of the cabinet system of Government, which requires collective decision-making on individual department matters. In fact, according to people at the very heart of the system, it has never worked properly for this Government.
But lack of trust, damaging and all as it is, is only one problem. Just as bad is the lack of coherence, direction or any sense of mission. Ask different Ministers what the Government is for and you will get several different answers.
There's no doubt that the trust between Fine Gael and the Independents – and especially Ross – has returned to the low ebb of the early days of the Government
I spoke to several Ministers and other figures who participate in the business of government at the highest level in recent days on precisely this topic. Almost none of them had any confidence that the Government could function effectively.
New impetus
One Minister said: “It can’t continue how it is. It will either have to be fixed within the next few weeks or there will have to be an election.”
Another person who has daily contact with Ministers was more damning. “Politics is dysfunctional,” he said. “New politics doesn’t work.”
Another Minister reflected that the lack of a Dáil majority meant the Government cannot close ranks and get things done. The Government lost four votes in the Dáil on Thursday, he said. This level of aimlessness can’t really continue.
Perhaps the impending change in leadership in Fine Gael will give the Government a new impetus. It isn’t really appreciated that we are on brink of a complete generational change in the party leadership and therefore in the Taoiseach’s office.
Following that event, there will be a short window for the reinvention and reinvigoration of the Government. That will be best illustrated by tackling problems beyond the administration led by Enda Kenny. A good place to start would be the Garda.