Enda Kenny, in his eight years as Fine Gael leader, has led his party back from electoral collapse in 2002 to one where – as the polls suggest – it has a realistic hope of being in government after the next election. Delegates at Fine Gael’s national conference in Killarney this weekend clearly savoured that prospect.
Mr Kenny, in his presidential address, outlined some of the party’s plans on key issues: to change the political system, to reform the health service and to regenerate the economy. At the next election, Fine Gael will seek a mandate from voters for these reforms. And, if secured, these would become the three policy pillars of an overall plan defining Fine Gael’s distinct approach in government. Mr Kenny performed well on Saturday night.
Certainly, Fine Gael cannot be faulted for any lack of ambition in adopting these policies. But its proposals for political reform, while bold and far-reaching, are also in part misguided. The party plans to reduce the size of the Dail; to make government more accountable, via changes in Dail procedure; to scrap the Seanad, and to bring more women into politics. As the abolition of the Seanad involves constitutional change, this reform would require a referendum; implementation of the other reforms would be a matter of political will. Fine Gael’s aim is to create a more responsive political system, by strengthening parliament and by increasing parliament’s power to hold the executive to account.
However, many will question whether reform of the Seanad — rather than its abolition — might not have been a better proposal, and more likely to win broader political and public acceptance. For the history of plebiscites in Ireland suggests that a proposed constitutional change — which lacks cross- party support — has little chance of public approval.
No less ambitious is Fine Gael’s plan for reform of the health service, where it has embraced the Dutch model of healthcare, which involves a form of universal health insurance. The Fine Gael leader has promised a better health service and, at least in outline, the appeal of its proposal is compelling. But when this plan is set out in greater detail, some of the financial and administrative difficulties involved in introducing a major healthcare reform will become more apparent. Likewise, Fine Gael’s ambitious plans for economic regeneration raise some questions of affordability, at a time when the public finances are the big issue of the day. Much of what Fine Gael has proposed will be welcomed, but the party now needs to convince a sceptical public that its proposals can be financed without further borrowing.