The Fine Gael party has put some flesh on the bones of an election strategy at its annual ardfheis in Dublin and, in outlining future policies, responded to criticisms regularly levelled against it by Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats. The details provided, however, are unlikely to be sufficient to galvanise the electorate into switching political allegiances. Much remains to be done before Fine Gael and the Labour Party can offer themselves as the nucleus of a coherent and compelling alternative government.
It was a well-organised convention. And, with a general election due within 12 months, it will have lifted the spirits of party activists. Party leader Enda Kenny concentrated on issues of healthcare, crime and Government waste. And he offered specific initiatives to deliver "change for the better" as he attempted to broaden the party's appeal in his televised address. Delegates were, however, concerned about the threat to honest politics because of what they saw as a growing level of corruption in public life. The latter theme contributed significantly to the party's successes in the local and European elections of 2004 and, no doubt, it will re-emerge when the general election is called.
Fine Gael has the difficult task of offering challenging and radical policies in a society where, for almost 20 years, consensus on key economic issues has emerged through a social partnership process. Because of that, its policies tend to differ in detail rather than in fundamentals from those of the Government parties. Value for money, low taxes and a reformed public service have become central objectives. New approaches in the areas of healthcare and the administration of justice are proposed while waste, incompetence and a lack of accountability by serving Ministers are condemned. In a government involving Fine Gael and Labour, Mr Kenny promised, "any Minister reckless with the people's money will be fired".
The same tough guy stance was taken as he sought to re-establish Fine Gael's credentials as the unswerving party of law and order at a time of rising crime figures and falling detection rates. The law, Mr Kenny pledged, would be rebalanced to protect the public, rather than the criminals. The voice of the people, demanding retribution, would be heard in court. And judges would be required to justify their lenient sentences. As for healthcare, urgent medical care centres and 600 step-down beds would deal with the A&E crisis. There would be free medical care for children under five, health screening for all and a developed caring service.
Insisting "the best is yet to come", Mr Kenny invited the electorate to support Fine Gael and the Labour Party in the coming election. And he promised the development of further common policy approaches in the months ahead. A start has been made. But Fine Gael and the Labour Party face a daunting challenge in convincing voters that a viable alternative government is on offer.