Labour in a Rabbitte Stew

How did we get here? It’s the question on every Labour supporters lips this week.  The collapse of the Labour vote in Meath East and the slump in Labour support in the polls. Listen to the media analysts and they will point to a number of things; a perception that election promises have been broken, the liberal agenda and the failure to put as Barry Desmond used to say “manners on Fine Gael” and even communications!

But let’s analyse the slump. It didn’t happen since 2011. It started long before that, About 3 years Labour were in the mid 20’s in % support in opinion polls.  The slide started before the general election so that while Labour won a record number of seats in the Dail unlike 1992 its previous peak when it hit 33 seats rising during the campaign, it hit 19.5% on a downward slope during an election campaign.  And that’s where the promises came in. Promises were made in order to shore up support in the campaign itself. In the absence of these promises Fine Gael would have had a working majority. 

The popular view is that Labour broke General Election promises.  So Ruairi Quinn signed up to protect students from an increase in college fees at a time when FG wanted a graduate tax and FF wanted to jack up fees straight away to €3,000. Labour said that they would protect child benefit and in fact child benefit for large families such as my own have been cut not to the degree that FF cut it but that’s beside the point.  The claim by Eamon Gilmore that it would be Labours way or Frankfurts way is often thrown back at Labour.  The reality of the prom note was that the ECB in Frankfurt are less than happy about what they describe as the Irish operation. Wexford may not be indicative of the national perception as Labour did indeed keep the one promise it made here on the development of the General Hospital. 

But once theres a perception its out there and that’s that. But add to that the fact that Croke Park 2 has been badly received and is losing Labour the public service vote or that the bombastic style of Pat Rabbitte is turning the electorate off. Throw into all that the Meath East bye election where  Eoin Holmes was a good guy who came across well in the media but was undermined by those in the party who should know better. 

So where do we go from here? There is funadementally something wrong with the party that predates the General Election that saw support slip away in 3 stages first before the election, next in the immediate period to Christmas 2012 when it steadied at 13% and finally the freefall since then.  Unlike the Greens or PD’s there was no one moment but it seems to me that the party is turning off vital sectors that have traditionally been the bedrock of support; those on social welfare, public servants, middle and lower classes, commuters in neagitve equity who looked to Eamon Gilmore when he said “Is Feidir linn”

So lets fix the problem; first renegotiate the programme for government to insist on the inclusion of policies that will see the wealthy pay significantly more in tax, bring down top rates of pay in the higher echelons of the public service and public life. Tackle bankers pay and assure people in the family home who are behind on their mortgage due to a reduction in income.

Next we need to see a change in cabinet members. firstly there are not enough women in cabinet and secondly there are too many Dublin Labour Cabinet members. If that means that the party leader has to make way then so be it. Nobody is above the party as any previous leader will testify.  I’ve always held the view that on the day that Labour entered government that Eamon Gilmore showed poor judgement. When senior members were arguing about who should have been Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Eamon missed an opportunity to show leadership and say “Look, I’m the leader and this job is a very hard one, I won’t ask anyone to do something that I’m not prepared to do myself.” Eamon could have been a good minister in that department, instead he’s in Foreign Affairs when there’s little input within the economy.

Finally call a special delegate conference and put the programme for government to delegates and let them decide if they want to stay in government. If the message from Meath East is worthwhile listening to then the feedback from Labour members is doubly valuable now.

The Zombie is dead

In the last 2 years the expression “Labours way or Frankfurt’s Way” has been thrown back at Labour from the right wing cynics.  Often these people take the term out of context.  It was a line contained in a speech by Eamon Gilmore during the 2011 General Election.  He was speaking about how Fianna Fail and Fine Gael had accepted the financial straight jacket of the bail out terms set out by the Troika.  Of the troika it seems the IMF & EU are capable of being flexible in relation to the conditions of the bail out. The EU needs a country to emerge from the fiscal hell of bail out.  The IMF was not the boogie man it was held up to be. It’s the end of 2 things, Anglo (IBRC) debt and the promissory note by which FF & the greens bailed out the failed bank.

It’s the ECB, our friends in Frankfurt that Eamon Gilmore identified who need to get real in relation to the impact of the bail out.  Liquidating IBRC or Anglo is something that should have happened in 2008. It’s exactly what the ECB may not like but austerity isn’t just for citizens, perhaps it’s for institutions too. The dry reference to the Irish operation and taking note of the arrangement between the Irish government and the Irish Central Bank can cover a multitude of things now and into the future. Our friends in Frankfurt may need to swot up Irish politics.

The politics of the liquidation is interesting. Labour opposed the bank guarantee on the basis of a liquidation being a better than the state bailout.  The logic of that position is to liquidate. Sinn Fein supported the bail out and now oppose the liquidation. There is a perverted logic in that too if you’re a banker, developer or believer ion socialism for the rich and capitalism for the poor.  Strange given that the party is concerned at the number of state employees earning more than €100K and IBRC has a significant number of them. Predictable given that the legislation halts any legal actions against IBRC and there still remains the matter of the Quinn assets to be decided by the courts. Sinn Fein have been hugely supportive of Quinn.  What happens to Quinns properties now will be a matter for the court and the liquidator.  It’s not the first time company law has needed emergency legislation.  Administration was brought in to save PMPA, Examinerships to save Goodman.  The more convoluted and complex the fiscal shambles becomes the more exposed Sinn Fein policy is exposed for its naivety. Are they spooked by the independents right and left?    

The liquidator will pass on performing assets to NAMA and then dispose of the left overs.  Many employees may be re-employed at NAMA but under different contracts and salaries.  Ironically Libertas who opposed the Fiscal treaty argued voting No would lead to a better deal on bank debt.  In fact the opposite has proved correct. The beast is dead, deeply regretted by Gerry Adams and Libertas but I for one, shed no tears. Time to move on.

The Politics of Envy

When you live in a society where cutting is almost a sacrament, It had to come to this. The “controversy” about funding the extension of Wexford General Hospital A&E is evidence of a new type of politics, where an austerity ethos  can be used to varnish reality.  So forgive me for throwing out a few facts to spoil the party or indeed the Sinn Fein or Fianna Fail party lines.

Wexford General Hospital annually treats over 33,000 patients at it’s A&E.  The A&E is housed in a converted pharmacy in the hospital since it was built about 20 years ago because funding at the time was not provided for the planned  A&E.  The A&E serves much of the county as well as Arklow.  I’ve brought my kids, pupils and neighbours to the hospital where I’ve nothing but praise for the hospital and its staff.

The failure to provide a proper A&E in Wexford has always been the hospital’s week spot.  In 2007 Wexford General Hospital was a priority for construction or so local FF TD John Browne told us at a meeting in Wexford in 2006.  When no progress was made on the matter another protest meeting and March followed in 2010.  All the time while Fianna Fail were telling us the project would proceed an application to extend Waterford Regional Hospital’s A&E to a capacity of 80,000 was going through planning. There was never a suggestion that the new A&E there would mean Wexford A&E would close as Waterford naturally had New Ross and Carrick on Suir in its hinterland and reconfiguration would see south Tipperary A&E being cared for in Waterford.  It’s a great pity that Sinn Fein & Fianna Fail are playing the old trick of playing one town off against another.  Unfortunately it is backfiring in Wexford and will back fire elsewhere soon enough.

During the 2011 General Election the single biggest issue in Wexford was the retention of the local A&E services.  Labour unashamedly campaigned to retain the services and to lobby for the A&E to go ahead.  The revelation that the hospital was not prioritised in the HSE capital program is a statement of facts that was common knowledge at the time, there is nothing new in what RTE’s “This Week” broadcast today.  The facts are the project went backwards when FF were telling us it was going ahead!

Secondly all this nonsense on the part of the Board of the HSE about not sanctioning the project until July 2011.  I was Mayor when the project was announced and was present at the announcement. So too was the senior HSE official who we on the council were told was in the lead in relation to the development work.  how do I know that he was in the lead? Because when the council wrote to the HSE looking to meet with it, the board referred us to the same official!!  In the picture above you’ll see Brendan Howlin cutting the ribbon on the new Scanner on the day he announced the A&E was going ahead.  Surrounding him are the Clinical Director and Hospital Manager.  Speaking on the rostrum that day was the senior official nominated by the HSE in relation to the extension work.   There wasn’t a sign of any stroke being pulled.  Perhaps the HSE may have internal communication problems?

 So here’s the rub make a promise on a campaign and keep it and Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail will clobber you.  On the other hand if you make a promise and don’t implement it quick enough the same parties will attack you for breaking your promise.

Where your money goes

 

At the start of each year I report on how much I’ve received on allowances as a public representative in the previous 12 months.  This is the 5th year I've done this.  In summary I recevied significantly less money this year as I was did not serve as Mayor at any time in 2012. The Mayor receives an allowance above that paid to all other councillors to allow for additional expenses incurred.  I know it annoys some Mayors or Chairpersons in some local authorities when they are reported as being in receipt of payments.  I've always apid tax on all income so I've no issue with figures being reported provided they set out what actually ended up in my bank account.  2012 is no different although the sum's given below is what I actually receive once tax, PRSI, levies etc are all paid off.

In 2012 I received an after tax a total of €5,318.20 for all my work as a councillor.  This is broken down as follows €305 for telephone bill, €508 for 2 conferences and representing the Mayor at the Mayors Cup in Wales and €4,112 for representational payments in total. As a member of Co Wexford VEC I received €392.61 for attending monthly meetings.

In 2012 I made no expense claim for either attending any of the following committes that I am a member of nor business arising from my membership of ; Co Wexford VEC Audit committee, Youthreach Board of Managment or  Wexford area RAPID Committee, of which I was chair. No claims either for attending public meetings or recpetions arising from being a councillor although the myth persists that councillors get paid for getting out of bed! 

I attended 2 conferences, one in Limerick in June that was on planning law to which I travelled by train. The second one was in Greystones in September on the future of local authorities. Both topics are more than relevant to the work of a councillor. In the absence of the Mayor I presented the Mayors Cup in Milford Haven Golf Club

In addition 2012 sees the preparation for the new county plan.  It’s important that any councillor should declare any interest in advance of the plan being put to councillors.  I made a submission in relation to the plan as part of the campaign to restore the rail service on the South Wexford rail line.  I’ve requested the zoning and preservation of the rail line within the county and all infrastructure associated with it.

In the overall scheme of things €5,300 isn’t at the top or bottom of the list but it’s not the money it’s the accountability that matters.  

Hynes calls it a day

 

Genuinely sorry to hear from the radio that my coleague Davy Hynes has resigned from the Labour Party.  I’ve sat alongside Davy for 9 years on the council and share much of his concern.  I don’t think Davy could have visualised ever resigning from the party.  He has served well as Mayor twice and worked hard for the town’s people.

I know he has been disenchanted especially since the budget and that he thought things over recently.  I hope that at some stage in the future he may see himself coming back into the party as I know he still shares many of its core values.

Part of the reason why Labour is losing committed councillors is the failure of the government to implement many of Labour policies.  The rescuing of the state from the Fianna Fail induced slump rightly consumes every political day.  But if as Eamon Gilmore points out 85% of the work is done, party members do need to address the fundamental question as to what kind of state will emerge from the bail out? Will wealth be shared better? Will opportunity be there for everyone? Will the recovery provide jobs?  Will housing be affordable? Can you ever trust a bank?

Labour policy must be about answering yes to all these questions.  Its time now to plan beyond the Slán abhaile photo op for the Troika team and to think not in terms of months as we do now but in terms of decades.  In Britain during the 2^nd world war they planned the Britain there would be after the war ended even though they were unsure as to whether victory was possible.  But people need to be given hope. People need to have something to say that all the pain inflicted by policies advocated by  Fianna Fail and their developer and banker cronies was worth it.

While opposition thrives on the negative news of  opposing spreading the burden of tax on the wealthy, opposition has yet to set out an agenda or vision. That’s why a recent poll showed 22% of Irish people said none of the above when offered different coalition options.  It’s my view that the only place to be to ensure change in the future is inside the Labour Party. It’s time that the  party leadership responded to that demand for change from members and set out how Ireland will be different and better in the post slump era than before.  Otherwise a void will be filled by the people who brought economic and social chaos north and south. 

Over to you Eamon. 

Doing the hard yards

The news that pressure by Labour party public reps has ensured that a review of funding to fee paying second level schools is welcome.  I’ve believed strongly that private fee paying school which enjoy better resources than the rest because they are better financed through fees should not get the salaries of non teaching staff paid by the state.  I’ve made this argument at VEC level for a long time and made my views known to Ruairi Quinn.

Principals and Deputy Principals are not teaching, they manage a private school. There is no logical argument that transferring the responsibility to the private school to pay their wages is anyway impacting on the quality of education in the school.  Recently one well known fee paying schools could boast on their website that they still retained a full time Career Guidance Officer despite the cut in Career teaching Guidance hours. That type of bragging rubs salt into the wounds of most schools. 

My point to the IVEA which is the patron of all VEC’s is if they can afford to pay a full time career and guidance officer and advertise this to attract pupils to their school they can well afford to pay their principals and deputy principals.  This would save about €7M and would help Ruairi Quinn to achieve the target reduction on spending of €77M at his department. It wouldn’t impact on the Pupil teacher ratio.  Fee paying schools don’t get extensions built by the state but have in the past got grants towards construction.  It’s time to end these too. I recently heard of a case where a rugby school could hire a coach and had the use of intercom for the coach from a mentor in the stand watching the first XV play in a match. What has that got to do with the core duty of ant school which is to educate. Very little.  So it’s time for these schools to do the hard yards on their own.   

It’s not that I am envious of fee paying schools, I once taught in one.  It’s simply a case that fairness requires those who can afford most to carry most.  The view that parents will simply take their kids out and send them to publically funded schools is simply fiction. South Dublin where many of these schools are has only 1 public community school I’m aware of.  One of the reasons why fee paying schools are benefiting now is that after Labour abolished fees at 3^rd level parents had extra money to spend so they spent it on private education in the hope that a perceived better school would improve their chances of progressing to 3^rd level.  By transferring the cost of school management salaries to the school itself there will be no impact on the classroom and a saving to the state. 

Here’s hoping that Ruairi Quinn will take the decision and make the fee paying schools carry this cost into the future.  He’ll have my full support if he does

Roisin Shortall walks tall

It’s a day on from the bombshell resignation of Roisin Shortall from government.  I was shocked by the move but to be fair, knowing Roisin as I do, She is an honourable woman. What you see with her is what you get. She has always been someone of values who believes in principle. today I was reminded of how over 10 years ago as Education spokesperson she raised the teachers dispute despite it being very unpopular.  About 20 years ago she was one of a number of Labour TD’s to resign the whip in protest at the Cahill Plan for Aer Lingus.

 The debacle will stand out for the remainder of the time that this government is in power as a watermark. But it shouldn’t. The loss of Willie Penrose shouldn’t have happened either.  When Willie resigned it was put to Labour that a local decision cannot be made as the wider interest demanded a strategic organisation of the defence forces.  So Mullingar lost its barracks while Athlone retained its military presence.  Here we have the direct opposite, local decisions are now being made when it suits Fine Gael. Strategic organisational decisions to plan the delivery of a service can now be made based on local criteria. The logic for the decision that led to Willie Penrose’s resignation is now binned.  If anyone should reflect on the last 24 hours and ask what if, it’s Willie.

So let’s park the personality issue because I have no insight into how relations work within a department and instead let’s look at the policy and in particular the criteria around the decision.   If you look at the list of primary care centres Ballymote in South Sligo is 25km from the Ballaghderreen centre that was added by Dr Reilly. Balbriggan also added by Dr Reilly is 14 km from Laytown which in turn is 11 km from the Drogheda primary care centres.  Minister Reilly points to population in the case of Swords demanding a primary care centre so let’s grant him that. Nearly 50,000 do have health need.  So are there 50,000 people living in both North Roscommon and South Sligo to justify each getting a primary care centre? Do these bordering areas have such high levels of deprivation? Or is there a big enough population between Drogheda, Laytown and Balbriggan to justify 3 of the 35 centres to be built nationally? 4 if you add Swords a motorway junction or 2 south of Balbriggan?

A lot of Labour voters and members have contacted me in the last 24 hours to make it clear that they resent the behaviour of Minister Reilly towards Roisin Shortall. That makes this matter different to the resignation of the whip of other Labour TD’s.  This will have implications for day to day government into the future and make framing a budget harder.  I’m not saying there won’t be a budget, the reality is that there will be as the need to drag the country out of the FF & green slump is all consuming and essential.

However it will make all the work like the children’s referendum, the public service, local government  re-organisation which is upcoming fast, all harder. This was needless.     

Taken for granted?

It’s a long way from here to Clare! Not if you want to go to 3^rd level college easy access to 2 universities and 2 more IT’s in neighbouring counties, education is rightly regarded in the county.  A significant number of Calre 2^nd level students go onto 3^rd level in Galway or Limerick.  Like most counties there are 2 ways of getting a grant; your VEC or your county council or at least there was till now.  The new Student Support Service SUSI will take on the role of processing all grants from this year forward or at least in the case of County Wexford.  I’m quite surprised at the stance taken by Clare County Council. I assumed they had ended grant awarding but they may well be continuing for another year. In their last year of awarding they have decided to link 3^rd level education grants to payment of the household charge.  I don’t know how they’ve managed it in Clare but I’ ve huge doubts as to whether such a link can be legally made to stick especially of what I know about the Wexford forms.

Clare County Council has decided to leave the processing of the grant applications from those households that have not paid the charge until all applicants from households where the charge has been paid have been processed.  The fear is that the council may adopt a whenever approach. Perhaps in the short term that might lever some money out of some people,  but in my mind its noe clear to me that the council are on firm ground despite the political support they’ve received.

On the face of it if an applicant is a property owner and hasn’t paid the household charge then it would be tempting to suggest that the council should simply deduct the €100 from the grant.  So, why not? Well this is where it gets interesting.

 My own county council’s website carries a data protection statement saying that information given by applicants for education grants will be used solely to make contact about your student grant.  I don’t think that any local authority can use the information that an applicant has given for the purpose of an educational grant in relation to an outstanding charge.  I think any county council hoping to pressurise students families to pay the household charge could possibly come out the wrong side of a judgement by the data protection commissioner if they are brave enough to stick their necks out on this one.

There’s more. The application form asks for relevant financial information for the previous tax year to the application being lodged and not the current tax year. The household charge which I was happy to pay on time is a charge due in the present year.  So perhaps 2013 may be the earliest when a council form can oblige families to set out their position on the tax.

There’s one more thing that sticks out. In Wexford the applicant countersigns with their parents.  Our form presumes that all live at the one address. What if they don’t? What if one parent lives apart from the applicant and has paid the household charge and the applicant and the other parent hasn’t? Has the applicant any responsibility to pay especially if they’re under 18? If the applicant has an independent income that is part of the assessment surely fairness would suggest that the most the council could deduct would be the proportionate fraction of the parent’s income from the total income as set out in all P60’s?

What about other council services? Will the fire service, cemetery charge be linked to payment of household charges? What might have been a simple solution to a simple problem in Clare might well take off in a direction that was never intended.