Why should we believe that the Taoiseach can deal with the A&E hospital crisis, develop community medicine and provide more resources for older people, as happened yesterday when he launched a re-election campaign? After all, this is the man who - before the last general election - promised to increase the number of hospital beds by 3,000; to develop primary and community services and to give an extra 200,000 medical cards to needy families.
This is the man who presided over the shameful and illegal charging of pensioners in nursing homes. This is the man who undertook to end hospital waiting lists by 2004.
After nine years in office, Bertie Ahern is doing his best to rally worried Fianna Fáil backbenchers and to paper over the cracks that have begun to emerge between the Government parties. It is a daunting task. But, with the prize of "three-in-a-row" beckoning, the Taoiseach is giving it his best shot. In that regard, he has a useful advantage in an economy that is growing strongly but, unlike the last occasion, he is facing Opposition parties that offer to form an alternative government.
The leaders of that alternative, Enda Kenny of Fine Gael and Pat Rabbitte of the Labour Party met in Mullingar yesterday to unveil a joint programme for the development of mental health care and to pledge the release of similar documents on crime, justice and the economy during the coming months. The exercise was clearly designed to rebut the Taoiseach's charge that their behaviour amounted to political posturing, without any agreed policy content.
With up to nine months remaining before polling day, the Opposition parties, understandably, are pacing themselves with care. They have embarked on a "drip, drip" approach to the publication of joint policies. Details of a critically important economic programme will not be revealed until the Government has published its National Development Plan, early next year.
The caution of Mr Kenny and Mr Rabbitte is understandable but they have an uphill battle to fight. A commitment to provide better mental health services is commendable. But it is one of the least contentious aspects of healthcare reform. Voters will want to view the broader picture in this and other policy areas before they make up their minds. So far, they are lacking a solid basis for rational decision-taking. Contrary to their assertions, Mr Ahern's ace card is political stability.
Healthcare is shaping up to become a core election issue. The rude health of the economy, which helped the Coalition win the 2002 election is again in play, with the Opposition being cast in the role of bogeymen who threaten the State's prosperity. Crime and policing issues will also influence voters. But political credibility and political stability at a time when the health of the economy will exercise more voters may trump all other issues, however worthy, in the end.