The reformed rogues or more of the same?

MUCH as the hangover from the Civil War has dictated individual voting patterns down the decades, there has also been a parallel tradition of people casting their ballot for personalities over policies. Against that backdrop, it is all the more important that the electorate of Meath East realise they are facing a stark choice between two parties.

From the perspective of people living in the constituency, it is of critical importance that they select an able candidate to represent them in the 31st Dáil. But it ought to be remembered that it is not so much a choice between Helen McEntee and Thomas Byrne as between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

Since returning to power two years ago, Fine Gael has failed to impress on a number of levels. Despite Enda Kenny’s pledges to introduce an era of transparency and accountability, all the evidence points to a dismal failure on his part to clean up the political culture.

At the very least, there have been several examples of blatant cronyism worthy of Fianna Fáil at i ts most egregious. Time and again, we have been left with the distinct impression that Fine Gael has been acting in its own interest rather than that of the nation.

Nor has the main Coalition party managed to address the serious issue of mortgage debt in any meaningful way.

To its credit, however, it has managed to steer through a number of difficult budgetary measures. It has also managed to rein in public expenditure across a broad range of government departments, with continued overspending on health being the only notable exception. Meanwhile, there are some positive signs to suggest the economy is on the slow road back to recovery.

For its part, members of the Fianna Fáil hierarchy have been at pains to try to rebrand its tarnished public image. To look at them now, it would be hard to know they were the same people who rammed through the disastrous bank guarantee, indulged the clownish antics of Brian Cowen and sat idly by as Bertie Ahern lied through his teeth at the Mahon Tribunal.

Today is the moment for the people of Meath East to decide whether Fianna Fáil has genuinely reformed – or if they would be better off sticking with Fine Gael and the status quo.

As is so often the case in politics, it isn’t about which of them is the perfect party. It is about which one is the least worst.