Fine Gael is putting together the elements of a strategy it hopes will return it to government after the next general election. Having agreed with the Labour Party to work towards the establishment of a political programme that may also attract the participation of the Green Party, it is trying to build its political appeal on the foundations of successful European and local government elections.
Central to this task will be the performance of party leader Mr Enda Kenny, who must reach outside of Fine Gael and convince the general electorate that he has the capacity to make a good Taoiseach.
A conference of Young Fine Gael members in Ballina at the weekend gave Mr Kenny the kind of reception that was last accorded to Dr Garret FitzGerald. Morale had been so battered after the disastrous 2002 general election that the party's recent recovery was hailed as something of a miracle. And Mr Kenny is regarded as a key element in that recovery. His personal popularity within Fine Gael is a useful beginning, but shaping an alternative government that is both cohesive and attractive to the broad electorate will take skill and political judgment.
The task of clearing the ground for the election was begun yesterday by the party's spokesman on finance, Mr Richard Bruton. It was unexciting stuff. But it set out in stark terms the failures of the Government's public service policies over seven years. Having wasted public money and failed to provide efficient services, Mr Bruton said, the Government was now dusting down and repackaging old lies and promises.
The figures and graphs used in Mr Bruton's presentation will, no doubt, form the basis for future criticisms of the Government's performance, particularly in the areas of health, transport, justice, education and housing. But, apart from promising to introduce a European-style budgetary system and reform public service structures, the document was vague on future intentions. While the Government's decentralisation policy was described as a gross political abuse, and spending on hospital services was criticised, there was no suggestion of a major policy shift. Benchmarking for public servants would stay, but become more open and transparent and link directly with reform. There were hints of direct tax increases, but nothing specific.
Fine Gael's caution is understandable. Many things may change in a short period. By concentrating on past mistakes, it is keeping the Government under pressure while providing itself with the time and space to hammer out an alternative economic programme with its putative government partners.