Táiniste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris has denied “punching down” on the long-term unemployed in his speech at Fine Gael’s annual party conference in Cork at the weekend.
The accusation came from Sinn Féin but was mirrored by other opposition parties in the wake of his comments that " the dole is a safety net, not a way of life."
The mention was brief relative to the thirty minute ardfheis speech, but its pointedness was notable in the context of the address overall.
In it, Harris raised several other traditional Fine Gael talking points; emphasising that it’s the party of law and order, income tax cuts, enterprise and in favour of tighter migration controls.
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The sharpening of tone compared to his 2024 ardfheis speech has not gone unnoticed, but what has prompted it?
It may be an internal party report that was circulated to Fine Gael members in advance of the conference. The Commission for Renewal found many people “do not have a clear idea” of what Fine Gael is about, what it has achieved and what it stands for.
Then followed a debate about whether to allow a motion at the ardfheis proposing the party reassert its centre-right position as a member of Christian Democrat family of European political parties.
The motion was not allowed to go ahead over concerns it would overshadow the internal report, but Harris’ speech clearly reflected the themes.
Was Simon Harris punching down on a vulnerable group when he made his dole comments? Is Fine Gael facing an identity crisis? And is it capable of delivering policies that would reflect its centre-right principles?
To discuss this political editor Pat Leahy, who attended the ardfheis in UCC’s Mardyke Arena, joins the In the News podcast.
You can listen to this conversation on the player above or search for In the News wherever you get your podcasts.
Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by John Casey.
