A battered and bruised Government that experienced resignations, demotions and a winnowing of members has limped into the summer recess. The holiday period will give new Ministers time to absorb departmental responsibilities but, more importantly, offer the Government an opportunity to consider whether a gradual return to old-style politics is what the public needs.
Ireland's exit from the EU-IMF bailout programme in 2013 marked a change in Fine Gael and Labour Party attitudes towards both fiscal and political discipline. Considerable success had been achieved and pressure eased. But the democratic revolution promised by Fine Gael began to fade; there was premature talk of an end to hardship; public disagreement on water charges racked the two parties while a series of controversies enveloped senior ministers and dominated the headlines. Abuses of the penalty points system eventually led to the retirement of Garda commissioner Martin Callinan and the resignation of minister for justice Alan Shatter. Those and other developments provided a backdrop for the local and European elections where both parties experienced heavy losses. Defeat brought the resignation of Eamon Gilmore and his replacement as party leader by Joan Burton.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Ms Burton obviously hope the Cabinet reshuffle will revitalise the Government's prospects. But while new and younger faces may be superficially attractive, without a marked change in policy direction involving specific social goals, the opportunity may be lost. Is it the Government's intention to re-establish a Celtic Tiger-style economy with low taxes, inequality and indifferent services or to invest in urgently needed social housing, public services and economic infrastructure? Frittering away limited resources on tax concessions in the coming Budget will not generate public confidence in a more equitable, confident State. A crash programme in social housing possibly would.
In spite of the hammering Government parties took because of various controversies and political miscalculations, they now have a strong economic wind behind them. GDP grew by almost 3 per cent in the first quarter of this year and is expected to continue at that rate for the foreseeable future. Tax income is buoyant. Unemployment has fallen to 11.6 per cent and jobs are being created. Growth has returned to the building and construction sectors; retail sales are increasing and a majority of companies expect to augment the number of their employees. The extent of the transformation is startling.
The Government has choices to make. Will it return to traditional ways of doing things or strike out in a fresh direction? In its policies will it treat the State as an economy or a society?