Fine Gael’s lamentable record throws down the gauntlet to Martin to prove he can do better
FIANNA Fáil is in the unenviable position where it has no option but to come up with strong and humane policies to deal with the aftermath of Fine Gael’s annihilation of rural Ireland. Failure to do so will be ample evidence it is no different to Fine Gael.
Since 2011, Fine Gael with great glee followed the Troika’s directions to the letter when it came to imposing austerity on those least able for it. It ignored the Troika’s demands for reform of the legal services, as it continues to ignore the increasing rate of fraudulent insurance claims being thrown out by judges.
First, we had finance minister Michael Noonan extolling the virtues of overseas “vulture funds” buying up Irish properties; today his successor in finance, Paschal Donohoe, is extolling the tax-minimising “cuckoo funds”, pricing Irish people out of the housing market. This is happening as the Republic of Ireland is commemorating the centenary years of gaining independence from the British.
I challenge Fianna Fáil to provide a strategic housing policy for the nation, along with a health policy that will reduce delays.
In regard to housing, there is already a system available to every county council since the 1960s whereby the council develops the sites, the purchaser builds a house to their own design. The State provides the initial funds for purchase and development of the land; whilst housing loans are available from the Department of Local Government via councils.
Alas, in Irish politics in the 21st century, the past is forgotten, and highly paid consultants – who, as James Joyce wrote of Queen Victoria in ‘Ulysses’, “are not worth a roasted fart to Ireland” – have the ears and minds of governments.
Micheál Martin should study Machiavelli’s ‘The Prince’ and, in particular, heed the advice to the new prince in his first 100 days of government. Direct action. So Micheál Martin, will you take action, or provide lame excuses for inaction? Declan Foley
Berwick, Australia