Despite Enda’s flops, victory is within sight

RADICALLY overhauling security at the Oireachtas is a pragmatic and necessary measure, but for Enda Kenny’s Government, it is difficult not to detect a whiff of siege mentality in the decision.

Yesterday, for his party’s national conference, multiple layers of security were called in, including a team of private security guards and dozens of gardaí with on-call support from an armed response unit to protect Mr Kenny and his colleagues from what turned out to be just 170 protesters gathered outside.

Debate has raged about the tactics used by anti-water and anti-austerity protesters but regardless of the claims and counter-claims, it is a sad reality that simpler, more peaceful times are gone.

Last April, a disaffected young man, just 19, was arrested in the grounds of Leinster House armed with his great grandfather’s World War I sword and four knives. His lawyer called it a ‘one-man rebellion’ and his trial heard he had been unable to find work and had grievances with austerity.

Six months later, a homeless man who had converted to Islam, armed with only an antique rifle, succeeded in murdering a police officer during a one-man attack on the Canadian parliament in Ottawa.

Having simple faith or hope that extreme violence will not be used by people who feel disenfranchised is not enough. Installation of scanners, cameras and modern security precautions is common sense and probably long overdue.

But as repeated polls and widespread demonstrations show, simple faith in this Government to do the right thing with the power we gave them has been replaced by a very real sense of disenfranchisement. If the Government’s response is mirrored by this decision to erect barriers and cameras and call in gardaí, rather than listen to concerned and constructive criticism, the siege will end on polling day next year.

Because, let us not be in any doubt: the battle for next election has begun, with Fine Gael using its ard fheis to promise jobs, no tax increases and no more health cuts. The stakes are high for the Taoiseach. Irish Water stutters from one crisis to the next; Sinn Féin, Socialists and a gaggle of independents stalk the coalition with growing audacity; the Fennelly Report, which will investigate the Taoiseach’s role in the resignation of Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan, could be explosive.

But there is much to laud the coalition for, too. The economy is growing, tax revenues are healthy, unemployment is on a downward spiral and late last year we hauled ourselves out of the €67bn bailout.

Barring an unforeseen catastrophe, Enda Kenny could just realise his dream of becoming the first Fine Gael Taoiseach ever to win two elections in a row.