The Fine Gael ardfheis takes place this weekend. Michael Noonan says it's time to get rid of what he terms the worst government in the history of the State
The forthcoming general election presents the people of Ireland with a very stark choice as to how they want society to develop over the next five years.
That's because, as a relatively young state, Ireland has reached a new stage in its development. From independence up to the 1950s Irish government was centred on putting in place new institutions of state.
For the last 50 years the quest has been to create a successful economic society, the ending of forced emigration and unemployment and the emergence of Ireland as a prosperous, confident nation.
This has been achieved, and the seeds of the economic upturn of recent times were sown by the Fine Gael-led rainbow coalition of 1994-97 when, despite the short period of time available to it, the parties managed to completely implement a programme for government which was both economically and socially beneficial for society as a whole.
The rainbow coalition helped create 103,000 new jobs, tax allowances were increased by 25 per cent and the standard rate band was widened by 21 per cent. School class sizes were cut. Hospital waiting lists were reduced, and the health insurance market was opened to the private sector.
The Child Care Act was implemented in full and a National Cancer Strategy published. But hospital waiting lists are higher now than they were in March 1994. Over 4,000 pre-school and childcare places have been lost since this Government took office.
Violent crime increased by 131 per-cent last year. A couple with a combined income of £20,000 are, before inflation, benefiting by only £1,500 a year as a result of this Government's four budgets. A couple earning £100,000 are gaining by nearly £9,000 a year.
The necessary infrastructural changes needed to sustain economic growth have not been put in place, and the wealth created has not been used in the interests of all. House prices have increased by 80 per cent since 1994.
While this may be a sign of prosperity, it should be remembered there are almost 50,000 people waiting for local authority housing. Despite the shortage of private housing, there was a drop in the number of new homes built last year. Traffic in our major cities is at a standstill. The Luas has been delayed, our public transport system is a joke, Dublin Airport is in chaos.
Such facts tell us a lot about the ideology of this Government. They have had five years in office, but the Just Society, which brought so many people into Fine Gael some years ago, still eludes us. The Irish social contract is flawed, and evidence of that flaw is emerging all around us.
This is not empty rhetoric. Young people are becoming alienated, not only from politics, but from society. Certainly, Ireland has changed, but not totally for the better. Thirteen homeless people died on the streets of Cork between October 2000 and the following September. Suicide and violent street crime are on the increase. The cancer of political corruption has been revealed, but cronyism remains evident in Government. On my election as leader of Fine Gael, I put in place a ban on corporate donations and imposed a limit of £1,000 on private contributions to ensure the party is beyond reproach as a national movement. Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats have yet to follow suit.
While Fine Gael believes the best way to create wealth is through a free, competitive economy, with a flexible labour force, we offer a guarantee.
Those prepared to take the risks of the free economy should be guaranteed that the State will underpin their standard of living in times of recession.
The State should also undertake to look after them when they are old, when they are sick, and provide for their children's health and education.
I believe in equal access to health and education for all and special support for those who need it. Fine Gael is committed to doubling the income qualification limits for medical card-holders and the retraining of those who find themselves out of work. There must be more support for carers and tax concessions for people who work beyond retirement age.
But this Government has given us the Bertie Bowl, Eircom, Aer Lingus, teachers and nurses up in arms, public spending out of control, inflation among the worst in Europe, an expanded Sellafield, a shortage of judges, a National Plan two years behind schedule and over budget, and a Dublin light rail system even further behind its completion date.
I am not exaggerating when I say I believe this is the worst Government in the history of the State. Their greatest shame is that they missed a golden opportunity to do so much in the areas of health and education. Instead, they squandered the money through incompetence while looking after their rich and powerful friends, and keeping their eyes on short-term political gain.
But they can't fool all the people all of the time. A trickle-down economic policy can only meet people's needs for so long. Fine Gael in government will ensure reform of the health services, replacing crisis management with strategic planning. There will be major investment in primary healthcare and free GP treatment for children and students (including those in third-level education), senior citizens and 60 per cent of lower-income groups.
There will be a phased increase in third-level maintenance grants. Students with parents on lower incomes will be the main beneficiaries. An individual education plan will be provided for each child with special needs. Parents will be provided with substantial support through child benefit, and capital support programmes will be put in place for the development of childcare facilities.
Fine Gael believes in more gardaí on the streets, particularly where they are needed most, and the expansion of closed-circuit television as well as personal injury compensation for victims of crime, funded by fines and the Criminal Assets Bureau.
A target of 4,000 new housing starts each year should be set by local authorities, the first-time buyers' grant increased to €6,350 and stamp duty on second-hand houses should be abolished for first-time buyers.
Michael Noonan is the leader of Fine Gael