The people have acted responsibly and patriotically – now it’s politicians’ turn
THE world has changed dramatically since polling day on February 8 but, unfortunately, our political system has not. While unemployment soars to new heights, another unfortunate record has also been set – the longest period without a government in the history of the State.
At a time when we need a functioning government to implement support to families and businesses, we still have a caretaker Cabinet unable to bring in new legislation. SMEs hanging on by a thread in immediate need of support are effectively being told they must wait until a government is formed.
The past few weeks have shown the Irish nation at its best. People have endured this pandemic with a sense of community and solidarity we can take pride in.
For some on the frontline it has meant bravery in helping patients, while, for most of us, it has meant patience and understanding as we wait to see our loved ones and get back to our lives.
Over the coming months we will have to walk a tough path in unwinding lockdown measures and reviving our economy while keeping people safe.
The next government will have to make hard choices. For my party, Fianna Fáil, it will involve difficult compromises with parties we have rightly disagreed with on issues such as housing and health. Our supporters and members are understandably anxious about policies and politicians they campaigned against. However, the tough decisions we face are nothing compared with those faced by enterprises struggling to stay open, companies trying to plan, and families depending on every cent of their pandemic payment. There is too much at stake to play politics or walk away from responsibility.
This has both short- and long-term practical implications as it means that recently announced supports such as the €2bn credit guarantee scheme and €2bn of tax deferrals will not be possible to roll out if political parties do not take responsibility. Businesses that need those supports today to keep staff employed or maintain the hope of re-opening must wait until a government is formed and can pass laws to put these badly needed measures in place.
Nowhere is this more important than in
Dublin. Our capital city is the engine of the Irish economy. When Dublin succeeds, Ireland succeeds. To get the city through this crisis and thrive into the future, we will need to support SMEs and help badly affected sectors, such as hospitality, to get back on their feet. The only way we can do that is through a stable government which can set out a recovery plan and pass laws to implement it.
More than 170,000 workers in Dublin who were going to work at the beginning of March are now reliant on the pandemic unemployment payment to make ends meet. That is 170,000 households where income has been slashed and their future cast into doubt. Beyond that, many more workers are having their wages directly subsidised by the State as employers struggle to keep the lights on. Across the country, 1.1 million people are in some way dependent on the State for their income with unemployment reaching levels we have never seen before.
All the while, the devastating Covid-19 death toll creeps up.
To succeed, we need to see that same kind of patriotism and responsibility, that has defined our response to the pandemic in every household, at a political level with a stable government. It is time for political parties to step up to the mark and not set any more records we won’t be proud of. Now is the time to take responsibility, not walk away from it. Let’s get to work.
All the while the devastating Covid-19 death toll creeps up