They Talk National Unity – But They Don’t Want To Be Accountable

Yesterday the mask dropped. Simon Harris was so annoyed he had to attend the Dåil that he refused to answer questions. Josepha Madigan denounced the opposition, shouting ‘Shame on You’. Fine Gael just don’t want to be accountable.

At a  subsequent press conference with Pascal O Donoghue,  journalists had to submit their questions beforehand and were not allowed follow up questions.

On Wednesday, the Irish Time’s Miriam Lord was mocking Richard Boyd Barrett TD for comparing Fine Gael to Orban’s Hungary where the Fidesz are effectively ruling by decree and silencing the opposition. On Friday, she had to concede he had a point.

The Irish ruling class have a  very particular style. They give an impression of being inclusive and transparent, but they are past masters at deception.

Take one example. When the crisis began they called all the opposition parties together and promised ‘openess’. They informed them that were ‘engaging’ with private hospitals. When asked whether these were being paid or not, they said they would come back to us.

They never did. The arrangement between the state and the Private Hospital Association is locked away under the rules of commercial secrecy.

This Fine Gael caretaker government has every reason to stop any questioning about their role in the health crisis.

Between themselves and Fianna Fåil, they have run down the public health system so that we now have the lowest number of hospital beds in Europe.

They have endangered our healthcare staff by not proving adequate Personal Protective Equipment.

They have ignored warnings about nursing homes, dismissing calls for regular testing of staff going in and out.

They tell an official story about how Irish business is looking after their staff. The reality is that many employers  are using the cover of the crisis to push enforced holidays and wage cuts.

Under the cover of suspending the Dåil, Fine Gael and Fainna Fåil are going to fix up a deal to run this country again. The electorate rejected them – but they will not go away.

No wonder they need silence and a compliant media to manufacture their narrative about the coronavirus crisis.