June 14th, 2011

In our Programme for Government, Fine Gael & Labour promised to “approach the task ahead with a combination of humility and hope, underscored with an absolute resolve to bring the change the people so clearly demand”. The extent of that task is becoming all too clear now as tough decisions will continue to be made in the coming months.

Nowhere is that being more acutely felt at the moment than at Galway Airport (GA). It is a major shock for the staff and business community that operational funding will cease come the end of 2011. From one who was involved in making the case to maintain funding for GA, I can genuinely say that only for all Galway politicians and management pitched together we wouldn’t even have managed to achieve funding for 2011. Not a cent had been set aside in the budget for GA by the previous government. So essentially what we bought GA was time. In the next six months it is up to all of us to find more creative ways to save Galway airport. Leo has promised to look at any worthwhile proposal. I feel there would be an appetite to make a new pitch on a matching fund basis. All ideas welcome.

This week An Taoiseach Enda Kenny appointed me as Seanad Frontbench Spokesperson on Social Protection. While up for the challenge, having been Education spokesperson with a strong focus on job creation in the last Seanad, my initial reaction was mixed. I have found social welfare to be complex, married with the eternal dilemma of trying to be ‘fair’. Each case tells its own story. I was reminded of the string of welfare problems that visited my office on a weekly basis. No one I met on social welfare was happy. Some were there, undoubtedly, through no fault of their own due to sudden job losses and rightly, saw social welfare as a temporary measure to keep the wolf from the door while they sourced something else. In other cases there was a worrying long-term welfare dependency. Given that Fine Gael doesn’t hold any ministry in this area in the Dail, the challenge for me will be to promote policies that will achieve a more ‘socially just’Ireland. Work must be more valuable than welfare. Welfare should not be a lifestyle choice and the vulnerable must always be protected. And of course the solutions lie in the area of education and jobs.

Meanwhile on Thursday morning, newly appointed Senator, the President’s husband, Dr. Martin McAleese gave his maiden speech in the Seanad. Met with universal praise, he eloquently echoed the sentiments of many regarding the potential public relevance of the Senate chamber as an ‘open space for public discourse’ . . . ‘which can be a source of encouragement to all those in positions of leadership from street level right up to national level’.

Thursday afternoon was a quick dash to Galway to join in the welcome to the Minister for Arts and Heritage to our city. Minister Jimmy Deenihan launched ‘On with the Show’ the national theatre forum conference at NUIG and the new ‘Film partnership’ at the Museum, a fine example of the film community coming together and promoting the West as a location to shoot and develop film. Mightily impressed, Jimmy spoke about the great feeling he has for the Arts every time he comes to Galway. The city was as vibrant and as welcoming as ever, already you can feel the Arts festival in the air!

In stark contrast Friday morning delivered the sad and shocking news of Brian Lenihan’s untimely death, RIP. A politician who will never be forgotten for his dedication and bravery in the face of serious illness. I didn’t have to agree with everything he said or did to recognize what a fine person he was. Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.

Fidelma Healy Eames, Ph.D., is Seanad spokesperson on Social Protection.