THE PROSPECT of banishment to the opposition benches has transformed Fianna Fáil’s attitude towards government powers and political restructuring. Having spent much of the last 13 years ignoring or rejecting appeals for Dáil reform, greater ministerial accountability and proper advance planning, it has undergone a Damascus-style conversion and Micheál Martin is now promoting fundamental change in the party’s election manifesto. However, the fact that it comes so late and is motivated by the party’s electoral interest should not diminish its importance.
If society is to benefit from radical change in the way politics and government are organised and funded in this State, then reform can most easily be secured through co-operation. A broad consensus is slowly emerging between the various parties on what needs to be done. Elemental change to the voting system, to the Oireachtas, to government membership or to the power of Dáil committees will require constitutional amendment and public ratification, so all-party agreement would help. Already, common ground exists on the need for some form of citizens’ assembly to lead public debate on key elements of reform.
There has rarely been a better opportunity. Fine Gael and the Labour Party, vying to lead the next government, have campaigned strongly for political and administrative reform. Fianna Fáil, facing the prospect of relegation to third place in the election, can benefit from reforms aimed at strengthening Dáil oversight committees and diminishing the excessive powers of the Executive. But it goes beyond that. The reduction or elimination of multi-seat constituencies, along with the introduction of a list system are seismic changes in our system of constitutionsl democracy. The abolition of the Seanad has moved closer. There is, however, a need to have a full public debate on these issues which are being offered as a knee-jerk re-action to the call for political reform in this election. They would have the most profound implications for representational democracy before a referendum is held.
Describing the Dáil as a “Punch and Judy show” may be harsh. But that kind of arrogance reflects the disdain with which Mr Martin and other Fianna Fáil Ministers held parliament during recent years. The Executive is answerable to the Dáil for political and administrative actions. The proposal that persons who are not members of the Dáil should be allowed to serve as Ministers is laughable since that provision is already permitted by the Constitution and was never used by Fianna Fáil in all of its years in power.
Fianna Fáil has offered little fresh thinking on the economic front. It had little option but to stand by its policies in Government, the four-year recovery plan endorsed as part of the EU-IMF bailout package. The plan envisages further reductions in costs; investment in skills, education and infrastructure and incentives for small and medium businesses. However, recovery will largely depend on export-led growth by multinational companies and by the food and drink sector. Mr Martin has attempted to repackage the policies of a tired and unpopular Government.