Martin ‘needs to take action’
FINE Gael ministers believe Micheál Martin needs to change his strategic approach to the politics of coronavirus by streamlining the number of ministers who deal with the issue.
The concern has escalated amidst declining public confidence in the Government’s capacity to deal with Covid-19.
One senior minister said the Taoiseach’s approach is ‘too traditional’. ‘He needs to follow the example set by Enda Kenny in dealing with austerity where he set up the Economic Management Council (EMC),’ they added.
The EMC was a tight-knit group of then taoiseach Mr Kenny, tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, and minister for finance Michael Noonan, and public expenditure minister Brendan Howlin who drove the response to the bail-out.
Speaking about the current administration, the FG minister said: ‘We need to create a war cabinet to bring back a sense of focus. Until there is focus, we won’t have unity. We need fewer voices and more leadership.’
During Kenny’s era, the EMC was detested by ministers who were excluded from its deliberations. One source close to the council at the time noted: ‘It was a form of rough trading and
‘We need fewer voices and more leadership’
the niceties of cabinet procedure were ridden over a little but there was a national emergency which, in retrospect was not as huge as the one we have today.’
They added: ‘Decisions had to be made without ministers and advisers sticking their oar in or leaking if they don’t get their way. The EMC worked in that regard.’
The source added that Covid-19 posed a similar existential threat
to the State as the bail-out, and we need to adopt a similar strategy. ‘Fewer loose lips sink fewer ships,’ they said. ‘Leo ran the original response to Covid-19 like a war cabinet. The strategy was decided by himself, Simon [Harris], and Tony Holohan. There was unity.’
However, they noted that part of Leo’s difficulties is that ‘he hates committees and sprawling decision-making systems’. ‘He killed all that when he was taoiseach and now Micheál is bringing it all back.’
They suggested that Mr Martin create a smaller unit comprising himself, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and HSE doctors. ‘If the Greens don’t like that, too bad,’ the source said. ‘They can stick at what they are good at, planting lettuce and opening bicycle lanes.’
Another minister warned that there was a need for real change right now. ‘We need to communicate,’ he said. ‘We have lost the people at the very point where we need them most.
‘We need to be seen to be focused and decisive; just sacking Phil won’t secure that. The Taoiseach has to change the very core of how we are seen to do business. Micheál the Ditherer needs to be replaced by Action Man Micheál and he won’t do that with 40 ministers and advisers sticking their oar into every decision.’