The theme of Fine Gael’s Ardfheis, attended by 2,000 delegates at Galway University this past weekend, was “A New Energy”, and those in attendance were keen to embrace it. Despite the tempestuous wind and sporadic showers, the momentum of those gathered remained undeterred. You could sense the fervor of a fresh age dawning, under new leadership bringing forth renewed hope.
However, this transition did carry some unease. The outgoing leader, who still holds the position of Taoiseach, was present. Praising a new ruler was undeniably important, but they also needed to ensure they did not appear to be undermining the previous leadership’s work. The existence of this new era and energy didn’t imply any fault with the former. This was a delicate issue. It was only fitting that the departing Leo Varadkar was given a grand farewell.
There was another intricate issue – ministers, fighting tooth and nail to hold onto their positions ahead of Tuesday’s reshuffle, while trying to come off as unbothered about the decision, which would be made by the new leader. Helen McEntee didn’t shy away from journalists, explicitly expressing her desire to continue working in Justice. Amidst the chatter in Galway, it was clear her chances were evenly split, but the final verdict is always unpredictable.
Then again, the public usually pays little attention to politicians’ job changes, as disinterested as politicians are focused on them. The general populace may, however, be keen to hear what the newly-appointed taoiseach has to share once he assumes power. And what precise actions his new-found authority will command. Regrettably, his speech didn’t reveal much in this context.
The new leader bombarded delegates with a slew of empty promises such as “start off on the right foot,” “combine vision with action,” “uphold our values,” “solve the housing crisis once and for all,” “we are capable of moving mountains,” and “we won’t rest until our job is done,” much to the delight of his eager audience.
Despite a lack of specific details about his plans as Taoiseach, a number of key areas of government received principled but nebulous promises of enhancements that lacked clarification. The asegurances ranged from housing (“I assure young individuals that their future lies within Ireland”), to disability matters (“Under my governance, your opinions will receive attention”), to education (“We are obligated to tackle the obstructions in education”) and immigration (“It is essential to heed people’s thoughts”). The aspirations presented can be considered as commendable but generalistic for every listener.
The absence of intricate elements is not unjust to perceive. Perhaps such specifics may follow next week, upon the formulation of the new government team. Once it comes into motion, it is required to function efficiently, necessitating tactical politics and a shift in its current interaction with the constituents. A revised message, tone and ambiance is fundamental. However, this is not an easy pursuit.
Regardless, it was received positively by the delegates, who responded with hearty applause. This display of enthusiasm, although genuine, may also have been tinged with a hint of desperation. After all, the party is soon to pursue an unprecedented fourth government term, amidst formidable challenges that have not gone unnoticed by delegates. The political figures are unimpressive, to say the least. Present TDs are making a rushed exit. The leader just left abruptly. The party has gradually been spiralling into a state of crisis for several months or perhaps longer, exacerbated by Varadkar’s departure. Time is not on their side.
A 37-year old conveyed a beacon of hope amid these troublesome trends, a “husband and father”, son of a taxi driver and special needs assistant, embodying “A New Energy”. Will he succeed in his endeavours?