If politicians are to recover the trust of the electorate, their remarks should be carefully measured and accurate. Unfortunately, that degree of care has not been observed in some recent comments from Taoiseach Enda Kenny. It may be that Mr Kenny was poorly briefed; made genuine mistakes or deliberately chose to embellish the issue. Whatever the cause, the outcome has damaged his image and raised questions about credibility.
Exaggeration and misrepresentation were weapons employed regularly by both opposition and government politicians in recent years. The practice led to unrealistic expectations, broken promises and voter disillusionment. It was hoped, in their own interests, lessons might have been learned. But old habits persist. Under intense media and Garda pressure, because of reported bugging of the Garda Ombudsman Commission offices, the Taoiseach declared the Commission had a legal obligation to report the matter to Minister for Justice Alan Shatter. Not so. The following day, Mr Kenny withdrew the assertion, commenting: "any excessive meaning attributed to my words is regrettable." Indeed.
His statement in relation to future water charges and pending elections was more circumspect. Proposals from Irish Water dealing with structures, charges and allowances would be made and debated by the Dáil in April, he said, and voters would know the “average” cost per household before the local and European elections in May. Such an average may have little meaning for some families. Public consultations in relation to a free water allowance and charges will not take place until June. The Energy Regulator will not finally decide on the structure and level of charges until August. As politicians are aware: the devil always resides in the detail.
In political discourse there is understandable pressure to misrepresent opponents or to embellish one’s own position. For trust and credibility to be reinstated, politicians should behave responsibly. That duty starts at the top.