THE COALITION parties are, undoubtedly, buoyed up by their strong ratings in the latest Irish Times/ Ipsos MRBI poll, which show little change in public approval since the general election in February. But sometimes polls can flatter to deceive. The Government has been a short period in office. And so far it has enjoyed an extended honeymoon in difficult economic conditions – largely created by, and inherited from, its Fianna Fáil predecessor. However, the Government’s own contribution to fiscal rectitude starts in December, with its first budget. Savings are necessary to meet targets set in the EU-IMF troika bailout programme.
The Government, it seems, was never stronger. It has the biggest ever parliamentary majority, leaving it well placed to withstand temporary adversities that may accompany the achievement of fiscal consolidation in the next three years. In the Oireachtas, the opposition was never weaker. Fianna Fáil remains traumatised by its electoral reversal, and the party lacks both the numbers and the expertise to hold the Government to account. Sinn Féin lacks parliamentary experience, as do the large number of Independents – many of whom are newly elected. In the circumstances, the Coalition should be careful not to abuse its dominant position.
A large parliamentary majority should not become a parliamentary tyranny. The Government should neither exhaust the goodwill of the public nor try its patience by displays of arrogance or impetuosity. There are, however, worrying signs that, in some instances, this has happened. One such was the Government’s handling of its two referendum proposals. The Bills containing the proposed constitutional amendments were passed in haste, without adequate discussion and scrutiny. The most controversial measure, to give Oireachtas committees increased powers – which eight former attorneys general have “strongly opposed” – passed all legislative stages in the Dáil by a 10-to-one margin after just three hours debate involving two voting divisions – where a third of TDs failed to vote.
The Government was unwise to use the occasion of a presidential election to hold two separate referendums on the same day. This ensured the election debate – with seven candidates – would obscure and overshadow debate on the proposed constitutional amendments. It was also wrong to guillotine the passage of both Bills through the Oireachtas. The dismissive manner with which members of the Cabinet have rejected contrary viewpoints was all too evident during the campaign.
Indeed, none should know better than Minister for Justice Alan Shatter. Ten years ago, the guillotining of a Bill to change the remit of the Referendum Commission outraged Mr Shatter – then in opposition. His years of experience as a TD had, he said, taught him that “when important legislation is rushed through, with the government expecting the Houses of the Oireachtas to rubber stamp its proposal, it inevitably leads to constitutional challenges and legislative disaster”. This Government, with a commendable mission to reform politics, has in this regard set a bad example.