STRAIGHT TALKING is an extremely rare commodity in Irish politics. Fear of causing offence to voters or of disappointing vested interests has given rise to bland, carefully crafted ministerial Dáil replies that conceal as much as they reveal. Where possible, a Late Late Show standard applies, with something for everyone in the audience. The exercise developed into something of an art form during Bertie Ahern’s period as taoiseach.
In a changed economic climate, this image of a supine Government – always a soft touch for groups or individuals – should have passed its “sell by” date. But some Ministers cling to old-style behaviour. An unambiguous exception is Leo Varadkar, Minister for Transport and Tourism. Under pressure from Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin to bail out an Aer Lingus pension fund that is in deficit – as part of the privatisation process – he simply refused. Aer Lingus was, he said, 75 per cent privately owned and the State had no more responsibility for its pension costs than the shareholders in Tesco or any other private company.
Employees of semi-State agencies, he continued, whether the ESB, CIE or Bord Gáis did not have to pay the pension levy and contributed considerably less for their pensions than public servants. They were not bound by the pay cuts imposed on public servants or retirees from the service. They could not have it both ways in terms of enjoying the benefits of State protection without taking the pay and pension cuts that came with being a public employee.
Contrast that up-front response with the behaviour of Jimmy Deenihan, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. A threat by turf cutters to continue breaking the law by harvesting peat on 53 raised bogs that were declared special areas of conservation 20 years ago was met with an “ah lads, lads” response. Having spent a year trying to buy off these recalcitrant individuals with cash payments; promises of turf delivered to their homes and a relocation to adjacent bogs, Mr Deenihan was reduced to further appeals. Negotiations were close to a solution, he pleaded, and they should obey the law. As for enforcing the law: well, that would be done. If it wasn’t, Ireland would be brought to the European Court and fined €9 million a year. Not much Ministerial toughness there. Upholding the law, only because Europe says so, sends a weak-kneed message.
An unwillingness to take tough, difficult decisions has also been reflected in the slippery response of some Fine Gael Ministers to questions about their dealings with Michael Lowry following the publication of the Moriarty report. When where is talk of sacking Oireachtas members who have adverse findings made against them, the public does not expect a “business as usual” approach to continue under a clubby political system. If this Government is serious about reforming politics and traditional practices, ministers will have to dig deep and speak out strongly. Ethics and the public good have to mean something.