With organisational reform and by reasserting party values, Fine Gael canmake a comeback at the next general election, writes Gay Mitchell.
The really good news from the recent Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll is that 18 years of failed Fianna Fáil government can be bought to an end at the next general election.
With the resources that were available, an Ireland that values both enterprise and fairness could have been created. The public recognise that failure: 46 per cent would now vote for Fine Gael/Labour/Greens compared to 36 per cent for Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats, a clear 10-point lead.
Fine Gael has much to do. Reasserting our ethos must accompany the vigorous organisational reform of the party which is now under way. I am as convinced now, as I was when I joined the party as a teenager, that Fine Gael has a much-needed and essentially decent contribution to make to public life.
When Declan Costello was developing the "just society" ethos of the party, Liam Cosgrave was, like his father before him, standing up for the rule of law and the democratic institutions of the State. A young Garret FitzGerald was articulating the case for EEC membership with great conviction. This offered to myself and my late brother, two young Dubs, purpose in public life. We joined Fine Gael.
Fine Gael joined the Christian Democrats, (the European People's Party, currently the largest grouping) at EU level, while Labour joined the Socialists (currently the second-largest grouping).
Co-operation between the Christian Democrats and the Socialists at EU level has been a feature of European parliaments in the past, as it has been in parliament here. Such co-operation could be reawakened in Ireland. A political ecumenism, a Christian-social democratic centre-left alternative to the current Government can, in time, emerge, but this can only be done based on mutual respect.
Christian Democracy has a mixed history, as does socialism. Nonetheless, Christian Democracy stands for equality of opportunity, social justice and reward for effort and enterprise. These are Fine Gael's core values.
Rewarding effort and enterprise is directly connected to fairness and social justice. If a person chooses to spend the day between the bookie's shop and the pub, that person should not be rewarded or encouraged by the State. If a person cannot work or does not have work, that person should be fully supported and their dignity upheld. That is fair and just.
Giving incentive to responsibility-taking, the work ethic or the enterprising spirit is not a failing; it is a virtue. The wealth created by effort and enterprise must be applied to creating a society where equality of opportunity is a reality for all, irrespective of sex, creed, disability, colour or place of residence. Therefore, Fine Gael's priorities include:
job creation by encouraging and rewarding enterprise;
ensuring sufficient housing is available to meet community needs;
fair access to education and health services;
prison reform;
combating world hunger and poverty by, for example, legislating for our 0.7 per cent of GNP contribution;
law and order, and providing for the defence and security of our people in Ireland and Europe;
being pro-life, against the death penalty, in support of mother and child;
respect for and reconciliation of different views on the island of Ireland;
tolerance towards minorities;
coupling rights with responsibilities;
encouraging public service and open, efficient government; and
being unapologetically pro-Europe.
Some say the political parties are all the same. Is this really a fair comment? Would Fianna Fáil in opposition have taken Alan Dukes's Tallaght Strategy initiative, or campaigned for the Nice Treaty? Would Fine Gael in opposition have campaigned in the US and elsewhere against the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985? Had the Rainbow government been returned in 1997, John Bruton would not have allowed the public finances to deteriorate in the way they have. Dick Spring and Prionsias de Rossa would have ensured that the necessary control of public finances would not have left the poorest people carrying the burden. That is what is happening now. While wealthy people are given a medical card, very poor people are left hungry, cold and without access to their GP. Apartheid in the medical services has been deliberately and wilfully extended.
Some years ago, on Dublin City Council, Ruairí Quinn helped bring about a civic charter to which Fine Gael, Labour, the Greens, the Workers' Party and community councillors signed up. Based on policy priorities, this group then formed the majority. Could Fine Gael, Labour, the Greens, etc., become Chartists for Change at national level?
Our charter could guarantee reward for effort and enterprise and give specific commitments to use the wealth thereby created on housing, health, prison reform, world hunger and the environment. Like-minded parties working together in mutual respect can bring about a fairer and more just society.
On our worst outing in half a century, Fine Gael got 22.5 per cent of the vote. We need something approaching 30 per cent to bring us back to government - and that is eminently achievable.
We already have 484 public representatives (TDs, senators, MEPs and councillors) and are by far the second-largest party in the State. Many of our senators will take seats in the Dáil next time out; even a modest improvement would give us back a number of seats on the south side of Dublin alone.
When Fine Gael - all of us, not just the leader and frontbench - stands by its ethos, recovery will follow. If we do not have within the party sufficient credible new candidates offering to run, we must look outside the party for able people to carry the Fine Gael banner. This is why being clear about our ethos is imperative. If we want people to carry the banner, they must know what that banner stands for.
Christian Democracy is supported by people from all religious traditions and non-religious people alike. It is a pluralist and inclusive movement. It is neither conservative nor elitist. Working with others, we can bring about a form of "Irish solidarity". With other policy-driven parties we could enliven this country and bring about a more just society, one that is both enterprising and fair. We know what we stand for; it is time to let others know.
Gay Mitchell TD is Fine Gael's spokesman on foreign affairs