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THE DÁIL RETURNS after the Christmas break on Tuesday, and as the Taoiseach faces into 2019, he has a number of major issues to grapple with.
Discussions about what lies ahead are likely to feature at Fine Gael’s first parliamentary party meeting of the new year which is being held today.
In what could be Leo Varadkar’s toughest year yet, there are a number of huge issues barrelling towards him from day one.
So, what’s on the cards?
Brexit
On top of the agenda for the Taoiseach and his government is Brexit.
If there was any hope that things might have shifted over the Christmas break, that has now dissipated. UK Prime Minister Theresa May says she still intends to hold a vote in parliament on the Brexit deal on Tuesday, the numbers are still questionable and the Irish government continues to maintain that it has no contingency plans for a hard border.
The main issue for all sides? The backstop. With the new year just begun the Taoiseach will have to continue to push for little or no changes to the withdrawal agreement, while also walking a steady line in a bid to avoid a crash out by the UK.
With all the back and forth negotiations aside, the date is still set for 29 March (unless the UK pushes to extend Article 50).
The Irish government has stepped up contingency plans for a hard Brexit, with more contingency plans for transport and medicines to be published tomorrow. On day one of heading back to work, all eyes will be on the legislative programme and whether the raft of legislation Varadkar says will be needed might hold up the show.
At least 45 legislative changes will be needed, including over 20 pieces of primary legislation, in light of Brexit.
With such a logjam of legislation, the Taoiseach has hinted the old guillotine method might be re-introduced, and that will not go down well with those in opposition. He has also put all his TDs on notice that they must turn up for votes on Wednesdays and Thursdays this year. No excuses.
Housing
Back in 2017, Varadkar was bold enough to suggest that the homelessness crisis will be solved by 2019, when he said more houses will be built than are needed.
2019 is upon us and the situation is the worst it has ever been. While housing is being built, it is in no way at the pace that is needed, with many criticising Fine Gael having an ideological issue against building social housing.
Emergency accommodation figures for November, the latest available figures, show that there were 9,968 people living in homeless accommodation that month, an increase of 244 people on October’s figures.
Meanwhile, the number of people sleeping rough in Dublin has increased to 156, according to the latest Rough Sleeper Count, which was published last month.
House prices rose by €1,000 per month in 2018, with predictions that prices will rise by 5% this year, the Taoiseach will need to move fast to get affordable housing on the agenda.
Renting in Ireland has also spiralled with prices superseding that of the boom times. Renting is becoming more expensive by the month, but the rate of increase is slowing thanks to rent pressure zones, which the government is quick to highlight.
With talk of a reshuffle in the summer, and speculation that Varadkar has fallen out with his buddy Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy (which has been vehemently denied) the Taoiseach might be tempted to put someone new in the job. But will it make any difference? Probably not.
As the public becomes more desensitised to the homeless on the streets, what might make the Taoiseach get moving is the threat at the ballot box.
While an election date has been set for next year, the Taoiseach would be wise to listen to the voices of those that can’t afford to rent, let alone buy a home. The concerns raised by mums and dads around the country, who have found their 30-something-year-old back home are also not to be brushed aside. This is one issue that has crossed all sects of society, and one that TDs will be all to keen to see addressed before a general election kicks off. This issue will be – or should be – high on Varadkar’s agenda for 2019.
The Health Service
Another year, another massive overspend in the health budget. With this year’s flu season delayed and only kicking in now, Varadkar is facing into a winter of trolley number headlines greeting him over his morning Wheetabix.
Not only that, but a strike of all things has been set for 30 January over a nurses dispute about pay. Psychiatric nurses have also backed these plans. Then there’s the capacity issues facing hospitals up and down the country, as well as the waiting lists that last months, if not years. The government says it has a plan, and it’s called Sláintecare. It’s got cross-party approval, but the progress in rolling it out has been slow.
There’s also the children’s hospital overspend to deal with. That headache is set to rumble on, with the Taoiseach admitting that the overspend could increase, adding that he is now concerned about the operational costs of the hospital once it is built and open.
Another huge change to the health service this year is the roll out of abortion services at GPs and clinics. The success of the referendum last year was something the government could rest its hat on, but the reality of introducing the services is not without its difficulties, with protests already taking place outside some hospitals. The government is likely to face criticism over not ensuring legislation for exclusion zones was rolled out in parallel with the abortion services.
Local and European elections /referendums
It is going to be a busy year in 2019. In May, the local and European elections are being held, as well as a number of referendums including the voting rights of citizens abroad in presidential elections, women in the home, as well as a referendum on reducing the wait time for a divorce to two years.
The gender quota issues during the locals is already appearing to be a difficulty, something the Taoiseach has already stated.
The local and European elections are really important for Fine Gael, said Tánaiste Simon Coveney who added that the party want to be the biggest party in the country, “locally as well as nationally”. Pressure will be on Varadkar to deliver.
Avoiding bouncing the country into election
Not one to shy away from controversy, Varadkar does have a tendency to rock the boat with some of his comments, particularly when it comes to Fianna Fáil.
That would be fine of course, if Fine Gael were not relying on Fianna Fáil’s support to keep them in government.
Before Christmas, the Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin agreed that an election would not be held until 2020. Why? The uncertainty of Brexit was the reason given. However, the Taoiseach has since said, while he has no intentions of calling an election, he cannot guarantee that an election will not happen this year, due to the life that is politics.
Varadkar will have to strike a balance with the main party in opposition, keeping them sweet with some concessions, while avoiding getting to carried away and putting his foot in it. This could prove difficult to the Taoiseach in the months ahead.
Keeping up the numbers
The numbers supporting the government are tight for the Taoiseach, and in the months ahead he will have to ensure he works those communication channels to ensure there are not more dissenters like that of Peter Fitzpatrick. Threats to leave Fine Gael were also mooted by junior minister Catherine Murphy last year.
Then there are the partners in government – the Independent Alliance – who he will also have to keep satisfied. One of the first tests for this relationship will be at the end of the month when the Occupied Territories Bill comes before the Dáil.
The Bill, which was passed in the Seanad in December, aims to prohibit Ireland from trading in goods and services from Israeli-occupied territories by prohibiting the import and sales of goods, services and natural resources originating in illegal settlements in occupied territories.
It has cross-party support, but Fine Gael are against it. Independent Alliance ministers Shane Ross, Finian McGrath and John Halligan are seeking a free vote on the Bill. Will Varadkar concede in order to keep the peace?
Climate change
Varadkar has described Ireland as a “laggard” on the issue as it will miss emission reduction targets and faces significant EU fines. There is another climate change action plan, but the main issue up for debate is the roll out of a carbon tax.
The Taoiseach said no such charge will be introduced in 2019, but he has to come up with some reasonable plan in order to be seen to do something on the issue.
Varadkar’s answer so far is to roll out the tax, but at the same time give a rebate cheque to households. With protests over similar issues in France, Varadkar will have to get this right. Remember water charges? Varadkar should definitely learn lessons from that debacle.
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Public chooses not to elect him as a TD but put into a top role by his fellow polliticians anyway. Wouldn’t expect anything less.
@Shane Corry: he was elected to local government which is different than being elected a TD.
In keeping with Sinn Fein tradition both north and south he will oppose everything while offering no alternative solutions
@Brian O’Loughlin: Or in other words…baaaaa
@Brian O’Loughlin: SF offered ‘alternative solutions’ in the run up to the last election on all major issues as part of the right2change policy platform.
Do try to keep up, good lad.
@The Risen: Mícheál, is that you?
@Shane Corry: Mícheál?? LOL! I’ll add that one to the collection….
@The Risen: not in Government, though
@Shane Corry: a bit like the seaned.
@The Risen: and ran from power in 2 jurisdictions. Keep up jamming, good lad.
@Brian O’Loughlin: yep
@Hurt Stoogie: “and ran from power in 2 jurisdiction”
Which jurisdiction are you referring to? The one where they won their seats on a promise to not swear an oath to the queen, the one where the leaders of the two major partys stated on national TV that they would not go into power with SF, or the one where SF collapsed the government because the people they were sharing power withs leader refused to temporarily step aside while being investigated for corruption??
@Shane Corry: why do all these shinners feel they need to change their name to the Irish version? Is it to impress IRA central command?
@The Risen: And the public said what?
Talked to him briefly last year at one of the events in O’Connell street, a decent, salt of the earth bloke with a serious passion for community and heritage
Best of luck to him in his new role.
@The Risen: wow u got all that from a brief meeting
Best wishes Micheal.
@MaryLoonyMcDonald: Well since you vote for people after alot less interaction I’d say he’s in the right to make those assumptions
@The Risen: Editor of the newspaper of a terrorist organisation, sounds like a salt of the earth guy alright
@MaryLoonyMcDonald: lol
@MaryLoonyMcDonald: Nope, I know of his work on preserving Moore street, water charges and other issues.
@The Risen: what happened to the brief meeting? Next you’ll tell us you are is election agent.
@Dilly Phun: assumption…the mother of all f**k ups.
@MaryLoonyMcDonald: Reread my comments, you look silly.
@The Risen: this the lad that called the IRFU ‘west brits’? Decent lad alright.
@Hurt Stoogie: they are . They don’t even sing the Irish national anthem.
@Fergus Sheahan: retired ,
@Brendan Keegan: yeah,thats an embarrassment
@billy Dorney: i suppose between 1990 and 1996 the editor of the mouth piece of the IRA wouldn’t have much blood on his hands
@Brendan Keegan: as is their right. Lots of people don’t sing the national anthem, doesn’t make them less Irish
@The Risen: Well he made a bad job of preserving water charges.
@The Risen: all for populous votes
Sinn Fein, opposers of monarch systems, taking an archaic British title. And will wear a chain that was gifted to Dublin city by non other than William of Orange. You couldn’t make it up.
@Noel Cronin: but yet, we’ve all moved on, apparently.
@Dilly Phun:
Your right they have, they will be taking the oath to the queen next
@Dilly Phun: Except that Dubliners don’t vote for their city’s mayor. That would be a step forward too.
@P.J. Nolan: Ireland is a republic you’ll have to elaborate on which queen you are on about as there’s 100′s around the world
@liam hayes: thousands of queens in Dublin last Saturday,? A good lot of them Irish
He has been a long-standing member of Sinn Féin, and was the editor of the party’s newspaper – An Poblacht – from 1990 to 1996……
How would SF feel if the new mayor of Belfast had edited the UDA magazine for years…If there is one….
@John003: considering they worked with David Ervine amongst others, i’m sure they would be ok.
@John003: you sound like a typical Sinn Fein basher … Boring
A decent man, he deserves recognition for all his hard work for his constituents.
@Paul Mc: nothing decent about a former editor of An Phoblacht, the mouthpiece and propaganda rag of the IRA – remember them, murdered men, women and children?
@Paul Mc: He got his recognition from his constituents. He came 11th, with 3850 votes.
@Fiona Brown: jeez, did you cut and paste that from the daily mail circa 1993?
@Fiona Brown: War is indeed, a terrible thing.
@gordon kennedy: just saw your foolish little quip. No, I lived through the murder and mayhem of the 70s, 80s and 90s and it leaves an indelibly mark. The High point? Enniskillen, which I suppose you thought was a great triumph? Or what about Hyde Park? Maybe Omagh? I’d be very curious to see An Phoblacht’s editorial take on those events – though I can well imagine…..
@Fiona Brown: remember they stood up for those who were being murdered , oppressed etc … You obviously have absolutely no idea of what it was like to live in the north during the troubles but gain your vast knowledge of Northern politics from the indo and such likes
@Barry Lyons: “stood up” by murdering,knee-capping etc
@Honeybadger197: he was part of a two candidate strategy ,which successfully elected Denise Mitchell TD
Does he still consider rugby supporters ” West Brits”?
@Honeybadger197:
Because they are! By the way how are the Lions of the British empire doing these days?!
@Honeybadger197: lol
It is time for the people of Dublin to elect the lord mayors position how long is this farce going to go on.Let the people decide
2 Shinners in a row eh…
@Irish Red: Must be doing some good work, voted in by fellow councillors of all parties
@Irish Red: Considering he’s taking up the position after a Labour Councillor, nope.
@Brendan McGill: oh you’re right Brendan, I forgot that SF had the 15/16 one tied down for the centenary.
@Dilly Phun: yeah that must be it alright
@Irish Red: wrong last mayor wasn’t sinn fein
@Dilly Phun: FG certainly didn’t vote for him.
@Richard Doherty: yes I know that now thanks to earlier reply
@Irish Red: Brendan Carr is not a shiner
@Irish Red:
Lord Mayor of Dublin has seen some “Spanners” over the years remember yer man Royston
Ádh mór, a Mhicheál.
What’s this guys name in English ?, these Irish names are a pain in the neck . Most people just cannot pronounce them including the ‘ni this , ni that – that’s in the civil service. These ‘wans’ just want to be different !!.
@Mike Howard: Poor snowflake. You want someone else to change because of your own inadequacies. That’s quite pathetic, really.
@Mike Howard: Yes, Irish names are different. English is notoriously non-phonetic for new learners. Most people manage to pronounce loads of words in other languages though. All you have to do is ask people how to say their name so you can get it right. It’s only mannerly. What does Howard mean anyway? Is it a kind of custodian, or a skill?
@Mike Howard: Or maybe they like to go by their.. name? no need to be upset
@Mike Howard: My Coward, next time you make up a name, try Mike Hunt.
@Mike Howard:
Colonial. Bet your into the rugger and the lions.
@Mike Howard:
Mickey Mac, or Michael McDonald
@Thaddius T Sawballs: mcdonagh
Dratt no spell checker on this yoke
@Mike Howard: is it not obvious .. I would imagine it’s not that cryptic .. Go on , try remember something in your native tongue .. Don’t worry , you won’t be thought badly of … Go on give it a go
Who is he???
@Thaddius T Sawballs: Who are you???
@Dilly Phun: I’m me who ever I am
@Thaddius T Sawballs: Who are we???
another useless lord mayor and SF like the last one city still in a mess graffiti junkies drunks and dirt roads and footpaths falling apart, nothing will change the usual I am concerned about the homeless as if he will sort it out
@Stephen Finn: the last mayor was Labour.
@Stephen Finn: the Lord mayor has no executive power. That’s the city manager appointed by the minister of the environment who has the power.
@Stephen Finn: should you not say that at the end of his tenure .. If true , rather than before he even does anything.. Very clever
Was it a proper election, or one of those pacts that see it swapped between parties?
Congratulations to the man. Whether he achieves his goals on the homeless front is debatable. The city needs a Mayor elected by the people and accountable to the people….. Honourable positions are a waste of time and tax payers money.
I nearly sure he was in the hills have eyes
Sadly, the neoliberals will make sure he can do nothing to upset the policies of enriching the rich at the expense of the poor.
The Lord Mayor and Council should resign en mass, to protest that the DCM can over rule any and all decisions taken at council level.
@Dave Doyle: yeah, cos resigning will get everything done???
@Sean Herbert: It’s so easy to google it. Why don’t you try it. I will add that both FG and FF can add Fascist to the neoliberal label.
@Dave Doyle: NeoLiberalism, before Naomi Klein prostituted it as a catchall for “not socialist”, is a theory from International Relations. It holds that peace is more likely in the international sphere if countries follow a free market/free trade and democratic system. Which broadly speaking is true.
Secondly FF and FG are in no way “fascist” in nature. Fascism is a political ideology that demands all resources public and private be used for the betterment of a totalitarian state. It generally looks unfavorably on immigrants and political opponents, especially on the left. As far as I know, in peacetime, FF and FG never rounded up and shot political opponents and both support pretty lax immigration rules. Sinn Fein on the other hand, don’t necessarily have as clear a history in regards to political opponents.
Ironically enough, most political similarities to fascism are found in Left wing parties. That is because socialists don’t respect individuals, property rights, or basic market realities either.
Why do we even need a lord mayor? Complete waste of taxpayers money. THis had was the mouthpiece of the IRA in the 90s (were not even talking about the “political arm” sinn fein) He was given first hand knowldge of all of this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Provisional_Irish_Republican_Army_actions_(1990%E2%80%9399) Should be rotting in a prison somewhere
@iMoan Brutal: I bet you say that to all the journalists .. So very original
Where’s wally?….Found him
@Noel James Doherty: good
Thought he was Eddie Hobbs
Now the “Provos” accept title ‘Lord Mayor’ how things change, go the whole way & take seats in westminister, take the oath to Mrs Windsor, a lot of republicans must be turning in their graves
Isnt this the guy who called rugby followers west brits a while ago? Yeah, we’ve moved on alright
DCC has to be the most wasteful council in the State, let loose a scrappy privatised domestic waste system, yet kept all the staff, but can’t keep the streets & drains clean.
While the housing crisis devastates families throughout, they spend nearly 250k p.a on a book prize & bowtie jolly! Will Mr. MC D put it right?
If he can help protect the young and vulnerable from the greedy, it would be time well spent.
Can we ever see the day again when Dublin City is not controlled by the Far-Left?
What’s this country coming to
The Baron congratulates the Lord Mayor!
A Baron on one hand and a grandee on the other.
Who the hell is that?
@Paul Radburn: Karl Spain
@Matt F: I mean Michael O.
*Appointed by the council not elected by the people as mayor. Needs to change to a directly elected system with a 4 year term and the same for the heads of all council divisions such as housing, water, waste, parks etc. Make them work for the right to be in their position and we might get a decent service
So, rather than use their position in 2017 as the largest party on Dublin City Council to abolish the “Lord” title added by the British royalist cult to the original medieval “Mayor” title, Sinn Féin embrace yet another colonial title. What was it all for? Treacherous hoors. As powerhungry as FF and FG – just slower, much slower, when it comes to aping the coloniser.
@Seán Óg Mac Gearailt: And they are even more in bed with our more recent occupying oppressor, club rcc
Who cares. Different guy , same shite
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