Plenty for our new Accidental Taoiseach to get working on...
HE’S almost the Accidental Taoiseach but Micheal Martin now has two and a half years and a unique opportunity to radically change Ireland.
This strange Tricycle Coalition – a mate said we should call it “The Trika” – may not be built for the long road and God knows Sinn Fein and those who voted for them can feel the system conspired to lock them out.
Change has always been hard in Ireland and, as we are fond of saying, we are where we are.
But we have not had a moment of possibility – and risk – like this since the foundation of the State and you have to hope that this coalition can recognise the opportunity for transformation.
The Programme for Government does have some radical – by Irish standards at least – ideas.
The referendum on land ownership may not sound very sexy but it could be the hammer needed to break the lock on housing development that has been a big part of a decade-long crisis.
Fine Gael always told us The Market would cure our housing ills but they did little to bring real change as The Market just delivered millions to a privileged few and misery to most.
Affordable housing built on public land. Regeneration for our city centres. Proper homes for our young, hardworking families.
If they can do it across Europe, we can do it in Ireland.
Affordable, accessible childcare should be delivered by the new Childcare Agency. The
Covid-19 crisis has underlined how families across the country are put to the pin of their collar to care for their kids, pay the mortgage and somehow find the time to earn.
The Greens will go big on cycling infrastructure and the environment. That’s great, bikes make sense for a whole lot of reasons in our towns and cities and proper public transport will cut the ludicrous jams on our roads.
Ireland has the youngest, fastest-growing population in Europe. Educational opportunity and skills training will have to be accessible to all and we could also do a lot more to support apprenticeships in trades that will be needed to rebuild.
And finally – a united Ireland. It’s time to have the conversation and make plans.
We can’t wait until the perfect moment, that will never come. But the end to the division of this island, with respect and opportunity for all traditions, is an inevitability.
So, not much there Micheal. Just sort out jobs, housing, health, education, childcare and a 32-county republic. In two years.
You’ve waited decades for the job, now prove you are the man to seize the moment.
You’ve waited decades for the job, now prove you’re the right man