THE IRISH TIMES Saturday,December 7,2019 13 Opinion&Analysis event will also signal the end of Micheál (while also serving Martin’s great project political issue. Just as they are about Inside Politics Martin’s self-declared obligations to of rehabilitating Fianna Fáil), and sus- health. Whatever about Opposition Varadkar. As such, the Taoiseach is tained it during the national peril of hyperventilating, they believe, most thereafter at the mercy of the Fianna Fáil Brexit, lately it has curdled into asullen voters know that houses can’t be built leader when it comes to the continuation lethargy, punctuated by three-way overnight and they also know –because of his administration. political rows frequently as spiteful as they they see them –that housebuilding is Pat And not just him. There is now avery are castrated of real potency. accelerating. Lurking behind this is the real question as to whether the Govern- If this Dáil was ever interested in Lately it has curdled into a unspoken appreciation that increases in ment can command aDáil majority –even constructively wielding the power that the house prices are not viewed by many if Fianna Fáil continues to abstain. The Government’s minority status gave it, it sullen lethargy, punctuated voters as an unalloyed evil, shall we say. Leahy three essential Independents on Tuesday no longer is: the debate on Tuesday was by three-way political rows More people (70-ish per cent) own their were Michael Lowry, Noel Grealish and dire, even by the standards of such things. frequently as spiteful as own homes than don’t, after all. That Denis Naughten; each has reason to be There was hardly asingle constructive ‘‘ figure is likely to be even higher among sour at Fine Gael, none is guaranteed to idea floated by the Opposition beyond they are castrated of real Fine Gael voters. continue their support. And each knows “build more social housing”, aslogan, not potency This level-headedness may serve Fine that voting for this Government is an apolicy. For its part, the Government Gael well in next year’s election. But it This Dáil is nearing its end increasingly unpopular stance. couldn’t admit that its housing policy is misses the potential for election debates With exquisite timing the independent- clearly insufficient for the task. Its re- “You are aspoofer.” to be framed around personal stories of ly-minded Fianna Fáil TD John McGuin- sponse was twofold: 1) our plan is working; Cassells:“Thechoiceforthe peopleof the failure of public services. Big trends ness told the Dáil on Thursday that he 2) and if it’s not working, it’s not our fault. Irelandwillcomesoon.Thepeopleof are important, of course. The economic and it’s not before time would vote against any future confidence It takes aspecial kind of chutzpah to run Irelandcanmakethechoicetogivetheir news is robust and consumer confidence motion. You do the math, as the Ameri- these arguments simultaneously. childrenabetter future, wherethebasic (an obsession with Varadkar) may catch cans say: the Government had amajority principleofhavingahome isnotafairytale up with it after Brexit. But people relate to he no-confidence motion in long evenings was mangled in the shred- of three on Tuesday night with Fianna Fáil Dopaminelevels likethespooferstomyright,but an attaina- personal stories as away of understanding Minister for Housing Eoghan der of political reality. abstaining. Then (minutes later, it seems) Really, it was dreadful stuff. Readers who blereality becauseoneparty hasalways the world. Murphy, that narrowly failed in the Another motion of no confidence –this Fine Gael’s Dara Murphy resigned. are having too much fun this weekend and ensuredthat therewerehousesforour The whiff of complacency around the T Dáil on Tuesday night, shook the time in Simon Harris –iswidely anticipat- Independent Donegal TD Thomas Pringle are seeking to reduce their dopamine citizensandthat party wasFiannaFáil.” Cabinetalso rather ignores one of the Government. Ministers were by confront- ed in February. That will probably take was absent and won’t be next time. That’s levels can read it on the Oireachtas.ie Mick Barry: “Spoofer.” obvious factsaround this administration – ed by the reality that Leo Varadkar’s place after aBoris Johnson-led British amajority of one. If McGuinness carries website; otherwise, here’s ataste. An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: “I remind it is flat out of energy, purposeand mission. administration will probably not with- government finally supervises the UK’s through on his threat, it’s amajority of, er, Deputy Shane Cassells (Fianna Fáil TD members, including Deputy Cassells, to If there is to be apolitical salvation for stand another such challenge. departure from the European Union at zero. The mood in Leinster House was for Meath West): “The nonsense coming use parliamentary language.” Varadkar, he will need anew departure, a Something changed; you could feel it the end of January –ahistoric event which pretty clear: judgment cometh, and soon. from the left here tonight is aWendy Cassells: “The Leas-Cheann Comhairle new project, anew narrative for the around Leinster House. The complacent, the Government hopes will focus atten- If developments signalled that this Dáil house solution that would have us in an should remind the Shinners of that.” Government. Economy done. Brexit done. fuzzy expectation that everyone could tion on its mostly far-sighted and meas- is nearing its end, it’s not before time. If even worse scenario.” And so on. Public services next, starting with housing trundle on until next summer and then ured performance on the Brexit issue. confidence and supply gave the country a Deputy Mick Barry (Solidarity-People Some people in Government are and health. But there is no sense that have ageneral election amid sunshine and It will. But not for long. The Brexit stable government when it needed one Before Profit TD for Cork North-Central): surprisingly sanguine about housing as a anything of the sort is contemplated. World View Paul Gillespie EC must wake from geopolitical slumber he new European informed by European experi- Commission is “truly ence.Hesays regulatory geopolitical”, accord- competition with Chinaand the Ting to its president US on climate, digital and cyber Ursula von der Leyen, who issues can set worldstandards. took office this week. By this His support for astronger euro she means it must respond to regime chimes in with wider rapidly changing international dissatisfaction over German realities in the distribution of complacency on the matter. A global power. recurrenttheme is the need for China’s arrival as afrontline Franceand Europe to balance power, the United States otherworldpowers as these decoupling from postwar changesproceed. multilateral commitments on An impressive group of politics and economics, French analysts and research- Russia’s disruptive role in ers on political economy Europe, aturbulent neighbour- echoes Macron’s concerns. hood in the Middle East and Gabriel Zucman from the Africa and climate breakdown University of California has all feed into these changes. If become the major analyst of the European Union does not growing wealth inequalities in become akey global actor it the US and how to tax corpora- will lose influence –that is the tions and the super-rich more mantra driving Von der effectively to counter them – Leyen’s team. They say the including in his analysis of commission must wake up Ireland as atax haven. He from its geopolitical slumber. draws on Thomas Piketty’s Nato’s 70th birthday work on capital and inequality summit this week illustrated to do that. several of these forces at play, Thomas Philippon’s new as Germany, France and a study The Great Reversal departing UK responded contrasts the strong competi- differently to Donald Trump’s tive position of the US 20 years transactional view of the ago on digital, transport and Sometimes euthanasia transatlantic relationship. The incomes, when he arrived Germans disagree with there from France, with its French president Emmanuel oligopolistic and more une- Macron’s view that Nato is qual one today. It has lost its brain dead and that the EU competitive edge as aresult of must assert amore sovereign corporate capture of policy- role in defence and security as making through lobbying and is the right choice well as in other spheres, the exorbitant cost of political including by resetting rela- campaigning. As aresult Europe’s competition regime Ireland also makes it more dynamic, innovative and capable of options were severely limited. Her pain ■ Adrienne Cullen was 58 when she died needs to setting world standards than a had become uncontrollable and was going quietly by euthanasia at the Netherlands think carefully US which has lost its cutting to get worse. Cancer Institute in Amsterdam. Her pain ‘‘about its position edge. After six years of constant debilitating had become uncontrollable and was Christine Lagarde’s role as struggle, she was not going to see 2019, going to get worse as asmall state head of the European Central nor could she face it. Medicine had vis-à-vis France Bank and her commitment to nothing more to offer, except away out. and Germany make climate more central to And that way out –euthanasia or assisted Most importantly of all, her Adrienne and Vicky were in regular its work adds to this picture of Peter Cluskey suicide –has been legal in the Nether- touch in the year before Adrienne’s death. French policy energy. It lands, in tightly controlled circumstances, extraordinary tenacity led Icontacted Vicky the other day to make tions with Russia more sharpens up the EU’s soft Opinion since 2002. to the introduction in the sure her views on euthanasia are as positively. In the general power, pushing it to become Adrienne was left with terminal Netherlands of reported. They are, without equivocation.