Perception counts. There is a growing realisation that Fine Gael’s bright new form of politics, promised three years ago, has begun to rust. As a general election approaches, political reactions have become more and more orthodox. A “business as usual” attitude is evident as economic recovery takes hold and established interest groups queue up for concessions. Ideas for societal change and a restructuring of priorities are being quietly buried.
This agenda shift, driven in part by electoral demands, is being utilised in a nascent leadership challenge. Waterford TD John Deasy led the way by criticising Enda Kenny's style of leadership; his promotion of inept people to ministerial rank and his unwillingness to entertain criticism. The verbal assault was grounded in the manner of the Taoiseach's selection of John McNulty to stand for the Seanad. It reflected such deep unease and unhappiness within the parliamentary party that Mr Kenny offered to address members' concerns at a special meeting.
The Fine Gael leader had misjudged the situation by defending his actions on the grounds that an established process had been followed. Old ways and traditional responses hold little appeal for new members while those passed over for promotion vented their frustration. Appointing Mr McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (Imma), so as to provide him with relevant qualifications to contest the election, was likened to a Fianna Fáil-style "stroke". Efforts to mollify critics by suggesting the public would forget the matter within days only compounded their concerns. Later attempts by the Opposition to embroil the Labour Party in the affair, by challenging Tánaiste Joan Burton to say whether members would vote for Mr McNulty, were batted away. It was, she insisted, an internal Fine Gael issue. But she advocated using the Public Appointments Commission in future.
In theory, the Seanad is non-political and candidates are expected to possess special knowledge or experience in particular fields. In practice, it doesn't work like that. Rising to the challenge, however, Mr Kenny managed to annoy political reformers, the arts establishment and a sizeable number of women. He also focussed public attention on a gung-ho style of leadership. Plans to abolish the Seanad were announced without consultation. His treatment of Fine Gael rebels on abortion was regarded as harsh, while an undertaking to provide details of water charges before the local elections caused Coalition friction and electoral damage. As the longest serving member of the Dail, the Taoiseach knows in his bones the importance of loyal support and has rewarded it. But, as Jack Lynch found to his cost, a comfortable Dáil majority also provides the conditions for revolt if political ambitions are thwarted.
