Beware vacuum of leadership
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IT SAYS much about the quiet dignity of the hundreds of thousands of people living in so-called "Middle Ireland" who are now suffering in silence that we rely on statistical bulletins to know they are there. They are not marching in the streets in angry demonstrations, nor is there any evidence of mass revolt.
Yesterday, we learned that while unemployment is beginning to stabilise in most of Europe, Ireland has seen a dip for the second month running. The jobless figure now stands at 455,000.
Two new disquieting trends emerged yesterday. One, there has been a 27pc increase in the number of professionals who have been laid off; and two, more women have lost their jobs than men. The bad news does not stop here. There are now more than 36,500 people who are three months or more behind on their mortgage payments. Any government that thinks it can remain in office and fail to respond to the emotional and financial stress being borne by so many risks, at the very least, a shrill wake-up call.
Things have come to such a pass that no one is so deluded as to expect immediate, or even medium-term solutions. However, it is not too much to expect a coherent jobs strategy or some evidence that the Government understands the quiet desperation being endured by so many.
It has been almost two years since the financial future of this country was put on the line with the banking crisis.
Since then, tens of billions of euro have been sunk into their rescue. What, many are asking, is being done to assist the ordinary family trying to keep a roof over their heads?
The banks have yet to begin lending the cash that is the lifeblood of business. Without it, even more firms will surely go to the wall.
We are beginning to see some signs that we are nearing the beginning of an end-game concerning the fate of Anglo Irish Bank.
Another frequent criticism of the Government is that it is so preoccupied with managing the mistakes of the past, that it is losing sight of the enormous difficulties many are experiencing in the present, let alone the future. An unemployment level of 13.8pc is a crisis and we need to see evidence of a crisis response. The fact that 387 homes have been repossessed in recent months tells its own story of despair.
People are entitled to expect leadership from the Government. They need to know there is a plan and that their patience will be rewarded. It is not too much to ask as a reward for so much forbearance on the part of the electorate.
It is often said that failure is not fatal, but to fail to change might be. The Taoiseach and his Government should take note.
Irish Independent
