Announce, Announce before it is too late

Yesterday we had plans for apartment dwellers (can you canvass them?), plans for the unemployed (well 2,000 of the almost 500,000), plans for retraining those on part-time, opposition policies for Dublin and for small business. Calls for tax cuts and incentives – woo hoo for voters! You would think it is a general election.

A cautionary tale from Minister for Brass Neck Noel Dempsey though for every minister thinking a quick announcement during election season is a decent idea.

Iarnród Éireann brought a special train down to Midleton station for the minister’s photoshoot.

He got in it with FF camp followers and Iarnród Éireann officials.

The engines revved and it looked like they were all off for a little spin. But the train remained stationary until the minister disembarked a short time later.

Unfortunately, according to an Iarnród Éireann spokesman, “the train wasn’t certified to carry passengers”.

The company spokesman said it’s hoped the service will start rolling sometime in July. But he, too, couldn’t provide a date.

Buying the electorate looks small beans, the reality is that the Ryan Report has blown this election out of the water. The perspective has shifted and voters are looking at all politicians as complicit in a system that has wrecked teh economy and left abuse victims in the cold. It may not be merited for many have fought to let voices be heard. But the people are in a state of flux still. Angry at the economy and despondant at the picture of Ireland painted by the Ryan report.

Now more than ever a message of change or hope will probably beat the announcements and policies, the question is whether it can believably come from the established parties.