Looking to a brighter future

Tuesday, 01 February 2011 09:56

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In 24 days time we go to the polls to elect one of the most important Government's in the history of the State
Decisions taken by the incoming administration will impact on generations as we seek a way out of the financial morass that has changed Ireland from the Celtic Tiger era to a bankrupt nation.
The Fianna Fáil/Green Party pantomime is over and no one is laughing as the impact of the December budget bites at every pay packet through the imposition of the exorbitant Universal Social Charge from which we gain very little.
The legacy from the Cowan era will haunt us for years. It will go down as one of the most incompetent and inept administrations of all time.
This will be rightly reflected on the doorsteps of this nation as hard-neck Fianna Fáil candidates seek support for a lost and failing party.
There is a general feeling that Fianna Fáil canvassers will be shunned en mass from households and housing estates such is the anger among the public over their bungling of the national finances.
It will be an uphill battle for FF's who could end up with as little as 13 seats. Likewise Fine Gael and Labour will have to convince us they have the answers to solve our financial woes and guide us out of the economic darkness.
But a change is on the way. What is left of the Fianna Fáil Party after polling day is anyone's guess. But they are likely to be in a minority in the Dáil chamber.
Therefore, it appears it will be up to Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore to hammer together a coalition to lead us forward into a new political epoch.
Kenny, is seems will attain his political goal by becoming Taoiseach, a proud moment for the west.
Since taking over leadership of the party he has succeeded in building up Fine Gael countrywide and savoured success in the last local elections with landslide victories in most constituencies, and probably most significantly in having young blood introduced into the Dáil.
It will be a difficult task for the new cabinet to try to come to grips with the financial mess and the commitments made to the IMF through the bailout package.
What, if any, of them can be renegotiated is yet to be seen but serious and difficult decisions will have to be taken to get job creation back on track and a banking system working that lives up to its purpose.
There has to be hope for the future. We must put this difficult and traumatic period behind us and move on as best we can.