AS I SEE IT
BY MARIANNE HERON
As the Autumn leaves come tumbling down, loosened by Storm Ashleigh, they seem just like the ongoing cascade of TDs leaving politics. The latest to fall from the Fine Gael tree is Minister Heather Humphries, bringing the total of Fine Gael TDs who will no longer be on the party’s branches in upcoming general election to 18 and they aren’t the only ones leaving.
Humphries’ (Cavan/Monaghan) announcement last weekend was a surprise, given the timing on the eve of the General Election. Made Fine Gael’s deputy leader (64) just a few months ago, the popular Minister for Social Protection also has recent successes under her belt, including hot school meals for primary pupils and the rollout of auto enrolment for pensions.
The Minister cited her wish to spend more time with her grandchildren and declining energy levels as her reasons for quitting after two decades in politics, 10 0f those in Cabinet. Age is an understandable reason for the exodus, in cases like Fergus O’Dowd (Louth/Meath,) a public representative for 50 years or David Stanton (Cork East) in politics since 1997 and who commented: “You can’t keep going this way into your 70s.”
The way politics are not family friendly – for men as well as women – is a reason given for leaving to spend more time with children and partners. Three days away from home for rural TDS, with 70-hour weeks with Dail sessions sometimes lasting to midnight are neither good for family nor health.
Personal reasons aside though, a toxic shift in the mood of Irish society may be to blame for loosening TDs’ hold on the political tree, where the pain involved becomes greater than the gain in serving the public.
A UCD survey found that over 90% of politicians had experienced some form of abuse including threats and harassment which made them afraid or anxious. Nearly half of those surveyed had increased security at home and more than a quarter wanted extra security in constituency offices. On the canvassing trail during the local and European elections there were reportedcases of abuse and violence against candidates.
A lifetime in politics has given John McGuinness, FF Carlow/Kilkenny – a stalwart who will be seeking re-election this time out – a privileged view of the political playing field. In local politics since 1997 and a TD since 1997 McGuinness has spoken about the changes he has seen.
“It’s a big challenge. There is big Government now, much more than in the past, where people get squeezed out to the margins. It’s not a good approach. And there is a change in public mood; anonymity in social media allows people to express opinions they might not otherwise do and the language used is merciless. It’s a harsher world and people have seen their lives turned upside down with the wars, Covid and Brexit. And the big sectors marginalise groups like older people and the handicapped. At the same time politics has become about rhetoric rather than about action on behalf of marginalised people.”
The upside of politics, working with people at local level could get sidelined, he said. “People are not aware enough of being driven by the ethos of public service- it’s the ability to help people improve their lives that is rewarding and that I enjoy.”
What can be done to tackle the threats and harassment and online hate that politicians suffer and that drive them out of politics? Legislation should help when the amended, controversial Hate Speech Bill finally makes into law. Tighter policing of social media to ensure that abusive material or false information is taken down immediately is clearly needed.
Maybe politicians would be well advised to steer clear of social media, outside of their own posts of course. What you don’t see can’t hurt you. But maybe measures for change should go further. Personally, I don’t think people should be allowed to post online anonymously and if you wouldn’t say it to your Granny you shouldn’t be saying it at all. Why should the fact that someone holds a different opinion, particularly someone who is a public representative trying to help their constituents make them the subject of threats and abuse?
If those responsible for toxic behaviour feel alienated or disempowered, maybe a better way is to involve them.
A stint of community service helping others might work wonders.
