The Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrats Government can be proud of many achievements since it came to office just over two years ago. The restoration of the IRA ceasefire and the progress, albeit slow, towards implementing the Belfast Agreement; the flush state of the public finances and the general health of the economy; the anticipated drop of 25 per cent in the level of crime; and, the realisation of the economists' definition of full employment are all important issues on which the Opposition parties could hardly have done better.
The first minority Coalition in the history of the State is not slow to trumpet its successes in its official document Progress Report at the End of Year Two, published courtesy of the Government Information Services yesterday. The 74-page summary of what the Government sees as its main achievements is intended to show, as the Taoiseach and Tanaiste said jointly, "that we have kept faith with the people. As a Government we have addressed head-on the important issues facing the country".
In a period of unprecedented prosperity where it would be difficult for any Government not to be seen to be doing well, Mr Ahern and Ms Harney can claim credit for the decision to introduce a tax credits system; for the work of the Criminal Assets Bureau; for the moves to modernise our education system and provide strategic partners for some of our State companies. For more than two decades, no Government has been in the position to decide to pay 1 per cent of GNP to fund pensions in the future.
For all of that, the chronicle of commitments published yesterday is a better public relations exercise than a charter for radical change in the confident, new circumstances in which this State finds itself. Contrary to what Mr Ahern and Ms Harney may believe, there are many issues which are not being prioritised on the Government's agenda.
The unemployment figures have fallen to 95,100 for the first time since 1978 but the evidence of social exclusion is manifest in many parts of this State. The fruits of economic success have brought about a skills shortage which many companies are now confronting in an ad hoc manner. Yet, at the same time, the Government has steadfastly refused to allow highly-qualified immigrants to enter the workforce. Since it took office, the Government has decided to join the NATO-led Partnership for Peace in the autumn. The public debate on the implications of this development has barely started. This newspaper believes that it is an issue of sufficient importance to warrant a referendum, especially given the about-turn in Fianna Fail policy since the last general election.
At the "mid-point" of their term of office, as the Taoiseach put it yesterday, the balance sheet must take account of the chronic damage to the political system arising from the fall-out from the two tribunals and, most recently, the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the evasion of DIRT. The Government parties will be judged also on the measures they must take eventually to restore public confidence in the basic rule of law.
In the changed circumstances of the past two years, it is a good idea to re-define the Coalition's priorities. The report at mid-term is: Could do Better.