Cabinet split over NPHET’s influence on Taoiseach

POLITICAL unease is growing again over what ministers are terming ‘the dictatorship of the NPHET’.

The gathering revolt comes against growing levels of concern over the fraying levels of public consent with Level 5 lockdown.

Such is the level of concern now that Ministers and TDs across Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have warned that, in the words of one Fine Gael Minister: ‘NPHET are going to have to give us the GAA and freedom of travel or there will be a public revolt against lockdown.’

Another Fine Gael minister warned: ‘The constant negativity means sections of the public are just drifting away.

‘If there is no pushback against NPHET, something entirely accidental or outwardly peripheral like a ban on GAA in the summer could spark a total revolt where people will simply ignore the restrictions and walk away.

‘What will we do if the British open up Wimbledon and pubs and we are still shivering in lockdown almost afraid to walk the dog. How does that line up with the claim that we are the smart ones and Boris is the clown?’

A senior Fine Gael source claimed: ‘The Cabinet is quite split. Quite a number were in favour of more change – especially increasing the 5km limit to 10km. Micheál [Martin], though, is utterly in thrall to NPHET. He is afraid to challenge them.’

One minister said what was needed was ‘something for April to give the voters an impetus. Where we are now is like hitting the wall in the marathon. We need a boost.’

Another minister warned of the limited moves in education and the failure to move on construction, saying that ‘once again the balance has shifted too far in favour of NPHET’.

They said: ‘The Taoiseach sets the mood, and he is the good servant of NPHET. The current order of power is NPHET, the mandarins and then finally the Government.’

One source claimed: ‘The power of NPHET was epitomised by the education debacle. All the stakeholders wanted a full return. The department wanted a full return. NPHET ruled it out and that ended that.’

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien is also believed to be furious over the shelving of plans for a full return to building.

One Cabinet source gleefully noted: ‘It was a huge reversal of fortunes, suddenly he has slid back in the succession stakes.’

Though public coverage has focused on the chaos within Fianna Fáil, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar also struggled to rein in unease within his own party.

A Fine Gael minister said: ‘The constant negativity from NPHET is causing people to break ranks with us. There needs to be an up story.’

A senior Fine Gael figure noted: ‘Coronavirus is taking its toll. Leo does not have the same level of control. There are a lot fewer ministers and a lot more independent-minded TDs.’

One source said: ‘Give the people a little hope. Let them know the GAA will happen this year and increase the 5km limit to 10km.’

They added: ‘It is important to note there was far greater unease within Fine Gael over the issue of public consent. That was a far bigger matter within the Fine

Gael parliamentary party meeting.’

A minister warned: ‘There is real concern, as articulated by Eoghan Murphy, that the people are now so disillusioned they are seeking an opportunity to revolt.’

The minister said: ‘If we are to get public support back, we need to create a narrative centred over the vaccine. It is like the advertisement where the last kilometre of the journey is always the most dangerous.

‘We genuinely think April will look very different. Ireland and the UK are like the story of the hare and the tortoise where though we started behind, slow and steady will win the race.’

The Government, one source warned, ‘have to regroup before last week’s lost battles turn into a rout. We have to dominate with a coronavirus vaccine strategy. The numbers among healthcare workers are declining dramatically, the same with the elderly. We need to get those facts out… far more facts, far fewer slogans.’

‘Leo does not have the same level of control’