With the commencement of a new Dáil term, there will undoubtedly be plenty of tension between the Coalition and the Opposition as they vie to control the political narrative. There is no shortage of controversial issues to be debated, both on the domestic and international fronts, including housing, the cost of living, child welfare, the coming budget, and the Irish and EU’s response to Israel’s continued war on Gaza which a UN commission has recently concluded is genocidal.
Whether or not the Opposition parties and Independents on the opposition benches will act with a degree of unity and appear as a viable alternative government remains to be seen. They insist they will robustly hold the Government to account, which is as it should be. We are lucky to live in a strong democracy that has endured for over a century. Even with the increased political fracturing of recent years, the roots of our democratic culture have proved exceptionally durable, and that is to be prized, especially given the increasing populist and authoritarian trends that are straining other long-standing democracies.
It is imperative that crucial policy decisions by the government affecting so many lives are carefully scrutinised and that members of Government, including some who have been in power now for nearly 15 years, are reminded of their responsibilities and failures. But there is also an onus on politicians on all sides to speak out about the importance of civil, mature and dignified debate. The recent focus on the toxicity of social media posts and threats of violence made against Irish politicians is a chilling reminder of a demeaning, dangerous and intimidating global trend of recent years from which Ireland is not immune.
Irish foreign policy also requires considered debate given contemporary international conflict, volatility and human rights abuses. Ireland’s peripherality in relation to the international balance of power is obvious, but it still needs to use the domestic and international platforms it has - including the Dáil, the EU and the UN– to reflect the strength of feeling in Ireland about current wars and to draw on its tradition of promoting dialogue, peace efforts and sanctions, while also considering the updating of its defence policy and alignments.
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A new Dáil will bring with it the predictable set-piece rows, but also the unexpected. Performative outrage will mix with genuine, thoughtful critique and bluster, denial and diversion. All those in the Houses of the Oireachtas need to be conscious of the danger of inhabiting a political bubble, where their rhetorical battles can seem far removed from the concerns preoccupying the electorate, including those younger citizens who are finding it increasingly difficult to see a viable future in Ireland.
