Irish politics could do with a bit of change

These are tough times to be a woman in politics. Especially a woman with ambitions to lead. Mary Lou’s ambition to be our next Taoiseach was never really on, barring an extraordinary set of unfortunate events falling down on the ruling coalition. FG, the FFers and the Greens can afford to sit back and leave Mary Lou stew in her own juices. The much vaunted Shinner loyalty to party has been shown to be a myth. When the muck hit the fan Brian Stanley was not long in putting self before party.

Brian would have been regarded as a staunch, dyed in the wool adherent, strictly toeing the party line and unquestioning in his support for the leadership. We don’t know what his alleged misdemeanour was. And that is a pity. Mary Lou had the opportunity under the privilege of the Dáil of letting the public know what the issue was. She did not take it, leaving the public and the gossips to figure it out for themselves. She left the issue to the Gardaí in Kevin Street to sort out. A daft move and whatever adviser suggested that option should be dismissed. You would have to wonder what the Kevin Street Gardaí are supposed to do in pursuing a complaint that, according to Sinn Féin, is not of a criminal nature.

And, of course, there is the counter complaint that Brian Stanley has against Sinn Féin. Now, Brian Stanley, being the combative figure that he has shown himself to be as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, was never going to fold his tent and say sorry to Mary Lou. He reacted as any red-blooded Shinner would be expected to react. He resigned and declared he will contest the election as an Independent. 

Not alone that, but Brian brought in the legal people so you can be sure whatever hope there was of finding a resolution, once the lawyers get involved, they will take as long as needs be and they will visit whatever court is necessary to ensure the process takes the longest time possible and they won’t have a concern for anyone’s reputation. Remember, there is a lady in the background of this complaint. We don’t know what, if any, her involvement was. We do know that Mary Lou had the opportunity, in the Dáil, to clarify this lady’s involvement and did not do so. The lady is being put through an unnecessary purgatory. As outlined, these are tough times for ladies in politics and also for those not in politics.

Then there is Patricia Ryan, the Kildare Sinn Féin TD. Patricia seems to think there was a move to oust her from the party ticket and took pre-emptive action. It may have been self-preservation on her part but she was not about to allow the party hierarchy to tell Patricia her time was up. Interesting times. Is there room, among the many Independent parties, for an Independent Sinn Féin party?

All in all, it has been a harrowing time for Sinn Féin and particularly for Mary Lou. With the exception of People Before Profit/Solidarity, TDs from all parties and none have been lining up to kick Mary Lou while she is down. Fair enough. Mary Lou has shown in the past that she is no slouch when it comes to putting the boot in. But, somehow I feel, that it is less of a foul when it is a lady putting the boot in on the men. It is hardly ladylike but in my chauvinistic and probably outdated view, it is more acceptable than the other way round. Men should be able to take a bit of pain without whinging.

What was less than edifying in the Dáil, however, was how gleefully a number of women TDs lined up, with the hobnails on, to deliver the coup de grace? It was to say the least unedifying.

There was a time when Fianna Fáil was in disarray. Now it is the Shinners in disarray and the bould Micheál Martin, with the real Taoiseach abroad, thinks he is Taoiseach and is briefing journalists on the timing of the general election. He should have a care. That call rests with Simon Harris and I don’t think Simon is simple enough to accept that Micheál is doing other than a solo run with Simon’s ball. 

I doubt very much that Simon will welcome Micheál’s speculation as other than a stab in the back. Micheál could at least have waited until the Taoiseach was back in the country before he went on his solo run. Simon is determined to build on the popularity of the Fine Gael party that his appointment as leader has generated. He wants to bring as many FG seats as possible back to the Dáil and he won’t be concerned if Fianna Fáil lose out.

On the surface, it does look that a pre-Christmas general election would suit the outgoing government. The 'giveaway' budget gave away damn all. Social welfare and pensioners are due a €12 increase. That is the price of two pints. Some giveaway! I suspect that Finance Minister Jack Chambers, a man who does have a social conscience, is most unhappy with what has turned out to be a hodge-podge of a budget because of the interference of grasping ministers looking after their own ministerial interests at the expense of the common good.

This was not a budget that inspired much confidence in the general public. A few one-off payments to offset inflation and energy costs did little to get voters on side. With so much money in the public purse there should have been a warm reception for the budget. The opposite has been the case.

Jumping into an election now and catching Sinn Féin off-guard might seem like a good idea. But there are other things at play in the public mind. Fine Gael, in combination with Fianna Fáil, Labour or the Greens, have ruled this country for 14 years. We have a housing crisis, we have a health service in crisis, we have an education service falling apart at the seams, we have an ad hoc immigration policy that nobody seems capable of controlling, we have a troubled population prepared to incite violence and riot on the least pretext.

Despite what the comfortable Micheál Martin might think, this is not a population that can be led by the nose. Sinn Féin may be down but they are not out. They can attract the votes of the disgruntled as well as their own committed followers. The call for change has a compelling ring to it. There are Independents champing at the bit and waiting to bring home the turf. It is difficult to shift the sitting coalition given our attachment to proportional representation but stranger things have happened and a shift here and a shift there could well alter the political landscape. It would be no harm to have some new political thinking in the next government whenever the election comes.

Thought for the day 

Oscar Wilde: Ah! Don’t say you agree with me. When people agree with me I always feel that I must be wrong.