We are already in election mode

Party promises based on tax cuts are insufficient in a volatile world

Three party conferences and at least half-a-dozen election manifestos will inform voters before polling day arrives, probably in late February. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour will hold rallies before the end of this month to mark out differences and spell out their ambitions. On such occasions many of the lessons of the economic crash and imprudent management are likely to be ignored.

The Government's nascent campaign has involved massaging the electorate through promises of tax cuts, pay increases and a reversal of austerity measures, with more to come. Advice from the Fiscal Advisory Council and the Economic and Social Research Institute has been ignored.

More importantly, no picture emerged of the kind of society these policies are likely to create. Is a return intended to the crude, devil-take-the-hindmost society of the Celtic Tiger years, to conspicuous consumption and growing inequality?

Or will revenues from a recovering economy be used to fund better healthcare, education, housing and quality-of-life services? What is certain is that well-balanced communities are incompatible with promised, US-style taxes.

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An excessively adversarial system where all spoils go to government and opposition parties are excluded from consultation and policy formation, encourages vote-buying. That is slowly changing.

Despite the fact that an excessively narrow tax base magnified the effects of economic crash, all parties are again promising to reduce or abolish taxes. Auction politics is alive.

Preparations for an election have been underway since early last year. It almost happened in November, when Enda Kenny raised the prospect of a dash to the country and Joan Burton dug her heels in.

Since then, relations within the coalition have improved, in line with an up-tick in voter support. But differences remain. Fine Gael has moved confidently to the centre-right while the Labour Party, ousted from its working class base by Sinn Féin, is attempting to regain traction with middle class voters and return to government.

Fianna Fáil, under Micheál Martin, faces the difficult prospect of competing for votes, while refusing to enter government with either Fine Gael or Sinn Féin. Gerry Adams is similarly conflicted, ruling out a subordinate arrangement with Fianna Fáil. Meanwhile, disparate groups described as "Independents and Others" are open to offers.

At this stage, many voters are uncommitted. While welcoming rapid economic growth, they recognise shortcomings in healthcare and housing. Unprecedented flooding spreads misery. In a volatile world, party promises based on tax cuts are insufficient. And stability, in such circumstances, is a chimera. Longer-term planning and fiscal caution will be required for the creation of an inclusive society. Party conferences should explore these issues fully during the coming weeks.