The Contract for a Better Ireland - Enda Kenny Conference Speech

More than the other speeches so far, the clear emphasis is that Fine Gael are pushing Enday Kenny’s conviction politics. His image as conviction politician was the focus of the start of the speech “as leader I didnt just make a bond with Fine Gael but a bond with the Irish people”. While the start was slow, he became more confident on the broken promises.

As the final speech in the Ard Fheis season, a clear effort was made to get stuck into the promises of the Government. A similar theme to the poll that was carried during the week; waiting lists, crime, schools, transport and housing.

As it goes on, the vagueness of the promises are beginning to mount. Fine Gael appear to have decided to avoid the specifics so common to other leader’s speeches, favouring the promises couched in the rhetoric. “Its time politicians stood up and took responsibility for government, I am that politican”.

It is a tricky one to call because clearly the manifesto will take the form of a contract. Such contract will likely contain the specifics of the promises which were  alluded to in the speech. The contract idea is likely to be the main push, the one where you enter into an explicit agreement with Enda and Fine Gael. The contract idea ties in with the conviction, the delivery and all in all is a pretty complete message.

The contract is the tie you have to your politican’s promises. Your election slogan; “Sign the contract, vote Fine Gael”. Your rhetorical flourish; “My word, my bond, my honour”.  This was perhaps the most rhetorical speech of the lot, not at all focussed on the promises (unless you count the broken ones he referred to).

That much out of the way, the serious stuff;

Theme: “The contract for a better Ireland” 

1)Free health insurance for children under 16.

2)Free GP care for children under 5.

3)2,300 more hospital beds (as agreed with Labour here)

4)2,000 extra gardai

5)Tougher sentences for criminals.

6)A years free pre-school education

7)A new minister “minster for immigration affairs” to manage immigration in the interests of immigrants and workers

Any minister reckless with the people’s money will be dismissed.

9) Specific tax relief for carers and stay at home parents

10) Stamp duty reform, already promised, lower rates and abolish stamp duty for almost all first time buyers

So keep an eye out for the contract coming through the post box, and the continued opposition between the Taoiseach focussed on numbers, promises and “taking the next steps” and a contended focussing on his conviction, his belief, his word and “the contract he will make with the people”