Now that the general election is over, and the bargaining is in full swing, I think it’s time for a post-mortem examination.

If you were to take a quick look at what happened in the general election, you would think that the people of the country are quite happy. The main parties in government – Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – were not thrown out, but they won more seats in the 2024 general election – 86, than in the 2020 general election – 73. It will be easier for them to reach 88 seats this time and form a coalition. 

Vote of Confidence?

Is it a vote of confidence in the current government? That is the big question, in my opinion. To discuss it, it is necessary to look behind the results.

Firstly, only 59.7% of the electorate in the country voted, one of the lowest percentages ever. This is not a good sign, as it reflects the dissatisfaction of those who are not involved in the process. When that percentage is falling, as it has been in this case, it would appear that democracy is deteriorating, and people have less confidence in that system.

Secondly, the electorate had no choice but to return Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to power. Incidentally, the Green Party was a scapegoat and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael blamed them for any harsh criticism the current government received – especially regarding the government’s green policies, even though they were obliged by the European Union to implement them. The Greens lost 11 seats in the general election, and as part of that defeat, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, lost her seat and her Ministry. Any minor party will be afraid to enter a coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael from now on!

Although you would have thought that Sinn Féin would be in the running this time, they lost support for the first time in 35 years. They certainly made a few mistakes. And they were slow to recognise that a large proportion of their supporters was not happy with Sinn Féin’s stance on immigration. They lost support from people who had a negative view of immigration, and who wanted strong immigration policies in place, to limit the number of immigrants coming into the country. Some of these seem to have moved towards right-wing parties – Aontú or Independent Ireland, for example. In any case, Sinn Féin is not in a position to form a coalition, mainly because it is unlikely that Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael would join them in coalition. So, it is clear that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have not received any kind of mandate from the Irish people, and that they will remain in power despite the important problems that they have not yet resolved, after one or both of them have been in power for a long time. There are major crises and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are still talking about them and saying what they will do – but there is not much progress to be seen, in reality. I am talking basically about housing, homelessness and health issues, not to mention immigration issues. The government cannot be excused for its inaction on these ongoing crises that have not been resolved for more than a decade. We are a wealthy country, with a trade surplus for years, not to mention the windfall tax (€13 billion) from Apple that is due to hit the exchequer soon. It is hard to imagine that people would be happy with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, given their terrible political record.

Against the grain

It is clear that the majority of people around the world are not happy with their democratic governments. In 2024, most parties in power were weakened or ousted. This happened in America, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Greece, Argentina, Ecuador, Japan and South Africa. But this did not happen in Ireland, and it is an exception. As I said earlier, people did not have a viable alternative, in contrast to the countries mentioned above. In those countries, people were able to express their discontent politically, because there were other strong parties available to them as options. This is not yet the case in Ireland, but it is not difficult to imagine the emergence of a charismatic leader who would be able to speak directly to those who feel they have no input into the political process. That person would likely be on the right wing, with a vision very different from the parties in power. If that happens, and if such a person and his party win a mandate in the country’s general election, it is likely that a restructuring of government would follow. Without a doubt, democracy as we know it would be in trouble in that case. Look, for example, at what is happening in the United States, which was the world’s beacon of democracy until 2016. With Trump as President of America, it will be difficult for the country to save democracy. And we all know how the dictator’s story ends!

Recommendations

It is not over until the fat lady sings, and we still have a chance in Ireland to avoid an oppressive government. Members of government need to go out into their constituencies among their constituents, and they need to listen to them about the problems they have that the government could solve. Then, they need to formulate policies to address those problems and deliver on what they say. It is high time for the government to be proactive, and they already know about the important ongoing problems that still exist and are getting worse. It is vital that we as voters put pressure on our TDs to deliver on their promises, as our representatives must be held accountable to us.

If the government does not change its approach and implement its policies without delay, as well as addressing any other issues facing its constituents, it is likely that they will be out of a job after the next election. Unfortunately, such incompetence would be a major opportunity for the right wing to attract voters in their direction, and this must be avoided at all costs.

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The general election is almost upon us! Politicians are making their promises liberally on traditional and social media, and the parties have published lengthy manifestos online. How can we separate the wheat from the chaff?

Manifestos

I have read the manifestos published by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin, and they are incredibly detailed. It was not easy to compare the policies of the parties, as all the manifestos have different structures. Worse, even after finding certain policies in the three manifestos, you are still comparing apples and oranges. Every policy should have a budget, an objective and a deadline, but often it is just ambitious goals, without the details. The Sinn Féin manifesto is better than the others in clearly stating their policies.

Anyway, after reading the manifestos, I summarised the main issues in the election and the plans of the three parties to tackle them. I will share it with you here, and you may find it useful.

Summary: Main Issues and Proposals of the Parties (FF,FG,SF)

1. Cost of Living: The cost of living is a major concern, although falling interest rates and the €10.5 billion budget package may ease the pain.

• Fianna Fáil: Increase the State Pension to at least €350 a week; cap childcare fees at €200 a month.
• Fine Gael: Raise the threshold for the highest tax bands by €2,000 each year; increase primary tax credits by €75 each year; changes to reduce the Universal Social Charge (USC); changes to reduce inheritance tax; cap childcare fees at €200 per month.
• Sinn Féin: End USC on the first €45,000 of income, saving €1,100 per year; €1,000 rent relief; temporary mortgage relief up to €1,250 per year; €10 per day childcare.

2. Housing Crisis:According to a poll last year, 61% of respondents said the housing crisis is one of the worst problems in Ireland. It is no wonder that Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Sinn Féin have made housing a top priority in their manifestos.

• Fianna Fáil: Expand housebuilding to 60,000 per year by 2030; prioritize affordable and social homes.
• Fine Gael: Build 300,000 homes by 2030, with a budget of €40 billion.
• Sinn Féin: Build 370,000 homes by 2030, including 125,000 social and affordable homes by 2029; three-year rent freeze.

3. Healthcare: In ainneoin barrachas buiséid de bheagnach €2.2 billiún, léiríonn daoine a míshástacht leis an gcóras cúram sláinte, go háirithe maidir le plódú ospidéil agus liostaí feithimh fairsinge.

• Fianna Fáil: Reduce waiting times by expanding hospital beds, consultants and GPs; provide new Rapid Access Outpatient clinics; reduce health fees; free medical cards for all children under 12, and specialist services for cancer care and women's health.
• Fine Gael: Expand healthcare capacity with 5,000 new hospital beds, six surgical centres, and four elective hospitals; extend free GP care to under-18s, and cap prescription costs at €50.
• Sinn Féin: Universal healthcare with free prescriptions; 5,000 new hospital beds, and four elective hospitals in place by 2031; expand GP services; improve mental health care and supports for people with disabilities; recruit 40,000 healthcare workers; invest €15 billion in infrastructure, and save €1 billion through effective reforms, ensuring equitable and modern healthcare.

And the Irish Language?

Here are the main proposals proposed by the three parties regarding the Irish language.

1. Government Leadership and Policy

• Sinn Féin: Create a new position in Government for a Senior Minister for the Irish Language and the Gaeltacht, to prioritise Irish language and Gaeltacht issues.

2. Funding and Investment

• Sinn Féin: Establish a dedicated Irish Language Capital Programme to create Cultural Centres and develop Irish Language Quarters in urban areas.
• Sinn Féin: Provide an additional €50 million in current funding over five years and €75 million in capital expenditure specifically for the Irish language and Gaeltacht development.

3. Education

• Fianna Fáil: Increase the number of Irish-medium schools and Gaelcholáistí, improve teacher training, and expand the Gaeltacht Schools Recognition Scheme.
• Fine Gael: Strengthen Naíonraí within and outside the Gaeltacht, and expand Irish immersion education for primary school children in the Gaeltacht.
• Sinn Féin: Provide free Irish language books to all children and teenagers, once during primary school and once during secondary school.

4. Cultural and Community Support

• Fine Gael: Work with housekeepers and summer colleges to support Irish language immersion programmes.
• Sinn Féin: Develop cultural centres and create Irish language Quarters with additional funding for language planning.

5. Labour and Legal Rights

• Sinn Féin: Make state websites bilingual; extend language requirements to print and online advertisements.
• Sinn Féin: Achieve 20% bilingual public servants by 2030, with a B2+ Irish language proficiency requirement for state roles.

Conclusion

I hope the above comparisons give you a better understanding of the differences between the plans of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin in relation to the policies that are most pressing for us as citizens, and as Irish speakers. But that’s only part of the story. Making a promise is one thing, keeping it is another.

According to the polls, it looks like Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will be able to form a coalition government with the support of another party (the Greens for example).

The most important thing is to have a conversation with the political candidates in your area and let them know what you want from them. If they agree to do your bidding, get their commitment to that before casting your vote for them. If they are elected, be sure to keep putting pressure on them to keep their promises – especially on the Irish language!

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