AS I SEE IT
BY MARIANNE HERON
As old makes way for new and experience shuffles off the political stage, energy is a word that keeps coming up. An attribute that’s needed, especially in these challenging times. But another element I believe is essential among a mix of leaders and decision makers, is that good old-fashioned word wisdom, often found in wise old heads, something easily forgotten in the race for popularity.
Having an enthusiastic young Taoiseach in Simon Harris, our youngest ever at 37, may be great but it’s also good to look around for wisdom – not exclusive to but often linked to age and experience – in the ranks of FG politicians . There’s the sage Paschal O’Donoghue who, as former Minister for Finance, steered our healthy economy and has made sure to put away rainy day money. Simon Coveney has the gravitas of a wise elder but has withdrawn from the fray; Heather Humphries is reassuring in Social Protection, while former Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald is back to the fore.
Learning by mistakes is wise: there are plenty of issues recently that have been allowed to fester until they reached crisis point where lessons needed to be learned. Why allow the overcrowding scandal at Limerick University hospital to continue to the point where a patient dies after falling off a trolley and lies undetected for two hours? How was Garda recruitment allowed to fall to the point where it worsened the law and order challenge?
If you want an example of inertia how about the failure to give asylum seekers living in tents even the dignity of a portaloo, never mind clearing them away to breezy Crooksling out of sight from the Patrick’s Day Parade when they could have had warm shelter weeks earlier in accommodation vacated by Ukrainians.
Where was the political wisdom in holding referendums which annoyed the majority of voters, from women who were to be gender neutralised to carers and the disabled who were not cared about enough to those who believe that marriage is one of the cornerstones of society?
I like the quote from 18th century novelist Tobian Smollett: “Some folks are wise and some are otherwise.” The case of the Garda and the bicycle is a woeful example of the ‘otherwise’ thinking and sticking too rigidly to the rules. To cut a very long story short a Garda took an unclaimed bike from Garda storage, where it was due for disposal, to an elderly farmer who had been told to take up cycling for his health but Covid struck before he could take delivery of one.
The Garda, who had 30 years of exemplary service was suspended, the serious crime squad, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, became involved. The case was brought before the DPP who ruled there should be no prosecution. Yet, despite this the Garda continued to be suspended and was eventually brought before a disciplinary hearing last month on charges including discreditable conduct and neglect of duties. At no point did anyone have the wit to intervene and drop the unwarranted charges.
We have overcrowded prisons where it costs nearly €80.000 a year a prisoner. We have a shortage of teachers. Is it really in the public interest to keep Enoch Burke banged up in Mountjoy where he has been for more than 300 days over events which began with his refusal to call a transitioning pupil at the school where he taught by the pronoun they, on the grounds that transgenderism is contrary to Burke’s religious beliefs.
In the UK ministerial guidelines for schools advise against social transitioning and the use of alternative pronouns in the classroom. Wee don’t have the same guidelines here – maybe we should. In Mr Burke’s case matters escalated; he was suspended pending a disciplinary hearing after confronting the principal at a ceremony and then jailed for contempt of court for continuing to turn up at the school.
Recently he refused to engage with the judge Mr Justice Mark Sanfey who intended to release him with the two-week holidays at Easter to reflect and “find a better way”. Maybe wise reflection should apply in the justice system too.
Then there’s the housing crisis. Maybe it’s not wise to play that unwinnable numbers game, energy is welcome, but we need to ask where’s the wisdom?
In politics it’s a bit like that Kenny Rogers song:” You got to know when to hold ‘em, Know when to fold ‘em.”
