The Politics of Ireland
By Rasmus Børrild & Sara Møller
Published April 14, 2010
The current reshuffle is regarded by the opposition as a diversion made by the government in an attempt to draw attention way from the financial crisis and an attempt to keep Fianna Fail in office.
Meanwhile Ireland is struggling to get through the crisis, and abortion has lately become a big subject in the political polemic.
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Taoiseach Brian Cowel is accused of simply re-spraying his 97' model during the debate of the cabinet reshuffle |
“More of the same”, “The Taoiseach has merely re-sprayed his 97’ model” and “The Taoiseach has missed the opportunity for a radical change even though he has been given two portfolios on a plate”[1].
Such were the reactions from the leaders of the opposition when Taoiseach Brian Cowen announced his cabinet reshuffle.
An economy in free-fall
Personally we have never experienced a political debate so dirty and so filled with harsh language, but whether this is due to the fact that temperaments are generally hot in the current political debate because of the crisis, or if the language is usually this emotional, we do not know.
If the first option is the case, then, by all means, they are excused. Ireland is second-worst off in the current crisis, the country has tripled its unemployment rate from 4 – 13 % in a very short time, and they have a 14 % GNP debt due to their very open tax system, Ireland’s economy is in free-fall. This has caused Ireland’s opposition to argue that the current government did not secure the economy into the future but it has rather focused on populist financial politics.
The treaty of Lisbon
In June 2008 Ireland said “NO!” to the treaty. It was a big disaster for the then newly installed Taoiseach Brian Cowen, because his party, Fianna Fáil, supported the treaty.
But then something happened. The big financial crisis came, and 67 % of the Irish people voted “Yes” to the treaty after only 16 months. “The Irish people have spoken with a clear and resounding voice," Brian Cowen said.
But not everybody was happy. The Irish anti-Lisbon group, Coir, said; "We are extremely disappointed that the voice of the people was not heard the first time around." [2]
Even though a majority of the Irish people voted “yes,” there still are some unhappy people who are against the treaty.
The parties are not same. Or?
The Irish government is composed by Fianna Fáil with support from The Green Party and Independent MEPs. Fianna Fáils leader, Brian Cowen is also t
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The treaty of Lisbon was not accepted by the irish people at first, even though nearly every MEP was for it
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he Taoiseach of Ireland, and Fianna Fáil has been in government since 1997. The party is the biggest in both houses of the Irish parliament. Their ideology is Irish Republicanism, Conservatism, Centrism and Populism.
Fine Gael is the second largest party in Ireland and constitutes the major part of the opposition. The leader is Enda Kenny and the ideology is Christian Democracy and Centrism.You can say that Fianna Fail is a Centrum-right party and Fine Gael is a Centrum-left party.
When you look at the two parties, there are not so many differences, but if you ask the members there is a big difference. When the government does something, Fine Gael is the first to point out, what’s wrong and vice versa.