Election fever is in the air at Leinster House. As might be expected, the Opposition parties are suffering most as they attempt to second guess the Government parties, while keeping their own electoral powder dry. They have good cause to be concerned over the past number of months, Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Democratic Left Ministers have combined to steal their thunder on a range of issues. The long running campaign by the Opposition parties, offering to abolish the Residential Property Tax (RPT) on being returned to government, was gazumped just before Christmas when the Government not only revoked RPT but also eliminated water charges. The terms of the 39 month Partnership 2000 pay deal - due for ratification by employers, trade unionists, farmers, the unemployed and Government later this month - effectively ties the hands of any incoming administration on tax reform for three years and directs social and economic policy along the lines of social inclusion and negotiated consensus.
Fianna Fail, as the main architect of recent wage agreements, endorsed this inclusive approach to social and economic engineering at a two day pre election conference which ended yesterday at Malahide in north Dublin. Bertie Ahern proposed, and front bench members accepted, that the fruits of economic growth would have to be spread more evenly within society, providing all with a better quality of life Wider access to education, the development of projects countering social exclusion and crime in urban areas, and the creation of a proper balance in regional development, all featured prominently in the discussions. But the specifics of policy documents will not be released until later in the year - in case the party "peaks" too soon in the forthcoming election race.
The Progressive Democrats, meanwhile, went to Kilkenny yesterday to advance its pre election planning. Mary Harney spoke of finalising details of strategy and was confident the party would eventually win more than 14 Dail seats. As her party rode high in the opinion polls, she detected a country wide appetite for an early contest. The Taoiseach, she insisted, "must call an election without further delay".
Within Government, however, there is no obvious appetite for a snap general election. "Slow and steady" appears to be the approach of the three parties as they prepare methodically for the contest. Details of next Wednesday's Budget are being finalised and preparations are advanced for the passage of a number of key Bills. Partnership 2000 with its tax cuts and job creation promises, will form a common election platform for the parties, along with their legislative record in Government. The terms of Partnership 2000 will make it almost impossible for the Progressive Democrats to deliver on their tax cutting and privatisation promises in government. But law and order, crime and the drugs issue should provide fertile ground for the Opposition parties in the coming months - although the Government will counter with an election style Budget and promises of better days ahead.
Fianna Fail, according to a spokesman, has never been better prepared for an election. The same could also be said for the other parties. All sides are shaping up for a contest that will determine the type of country we will live in as we prepare for the new millennium.