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This weekend, Fine Gael holds its first ard fheis as a governing party for 16 years. It is the first time in more than 80 years that Fine Gael, or more accurately its predecessor party Cumann na nGaedheal, has held an ard fheis as the largest political party in the State.
Although it has been said many times before, the scale of Fine Gael's achievement in the February 2011 general election was enormous. Not alone did it emerge as the largest party for the first time in over three-quarters of century, it also reduced its long-time rival Fianna Fail to an insignificant rump.
Unfortunately, the party has been less sure-footed since entering government just over a year ago.
While some of the Fine Gael cabinet members, particularly Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Finance Minister Michael Noonan, have been a revelation, other Fine Gael ministers have failed to impress.
Environment Minister Phil Hogan's mishandling of the introduction of the household charge has been widely covered but the performance of other Fine Gael cabinet ministers has also been well below what the public are entitled to expect.
With his sunny disposition, Mr Kenny has helped to dispel the worst of the gloom that had descended on the country under the lamentable leadership of his predecessor. While times are still tough, Mr Kenny at least gives voters the hope of better times to come.
Likewise Mr Noonan. His success in lowering the penal interest rate Ireland was paying on the EU portion of the EU/ IMF bailout was followed by this week's agreement to defer the €3.1bn cash payment due on the Anglo promissory notes today.
By far the oldest member of a not very young Cabinet, Mr Noonan has overcome personal tragedy to successfully renegotiate several of the most objectionable features of the November 2010 bailout agreement.
Unfortunately, given the scale of the problems that we still face, good performances from individual ministers are not enough.
If Mr Kenny is to succeed in dragging this country out of the economic mess in which Fianna Fail left us, then it is vital that his Government works together as a cohesive team rather than, as is all too often the case at present, as a series of solo acts of widely varying quality.
For many ministers, of both government parties, their first year in government has seemingly been largely spent running a lap of honour rather than running their departments. Yes, money is tight, but a shortage of money should be no excuse for doing nothing.
Mr Kenny should use tonight's leader's speech to lay out a clear vision of what he wants his Government to achieve and make it clear that all ministers are expected to pull their weight to achieve that vision.
Irish Independent
