There’s been a huge amount of reaction the past couple of days over provisions in this hot off the press budget, particularly the over-70s medical scheme changes, but also class size increases and other draconian style measures contained within.

I don’t generally believe in dealing on the basis of media frenzy, as there is often a ‘rent-a-mob’ element at work (the Joe Duffy effect) and also I have often found an amount of artificial outrage can be manufactured on the airwaves which is not in fact matched by people on the ground. A good example is the last general election when the media weaved tales of Fianna Fáil canvassers being ran from the doors, whilst in fact I canvassed night after night and met with little, if any hostility, rather an occasional robust debate, in many cases a hearty welcome and probably the majority a polite but brief interaction as people get on with their busy lives.

But I digress. My point is that, media reaction regardless, on this occasion I feel there is substance behind the controversy and my sympathies extend across the divide. I think most people understand in tough times, tough measures are called for and I think most people, whilst they may grumble, will in the long term thank a government for taking necessary but unpopular decisions for the long term greater good. That being so, I believe many measures in this budget present bitter pills but will be swallowed, in a spirit of solidarity and the end justifying the means. The new income levies for example represent tough but fair measures.

However the particular issue of medical card cuts and education cuts I believe are a step too far. I have always believed Fianna Fáil to be a broad church, one that can harbour many ideologies within but I personally have always identified with an ethos of social democracy which I believe runs throughout the party and would have been shared by many of the founding fathers. From the radical polemicism of Liam Mellowes on the “men of no property” to Frank Aiken (a proud Republican if ever there was one) “workers and small farmers republic” right through to men like Lemass, and that ethos continued in greater or lessening degrees right into the current decade when the party pledged to prioritise the old age pension as a manifesto promise I was proud to see honoured in many successive budgets over the past decade. Arguably even this year social welfare payments have been increased as perhaps the only payment moving against the otherwise downwards tide.

However it is not acceptable after a decade of growth, much of it fostered by Fianna Fáil policy and prurience over previous years (I will put it to anyone that MacSharry, Haughey and Ahern in departments of Finance, Taoiseach and Labour laid the path for which Ireland would travel from ‘sick man of Europe’ to ‘An economic miracle’ in the turn of a decade) to be in a situation where classroom sizes are now being threatened with once again climbing, threatening to jeopardise the pivotal but pain-staking progress of recent times. The school building programme thankfully continues but I would rather sacrifice my beloved transport projects than see class sizes go backwards.

As for the medical card scheme there are a few points to be made. The proposal is not, as some would have it, an out and out wrestling of the card from people’s grasp in an across the board gesture. Rather the proposal is to end the automatic age-based entitlement that currently exists. As such it is less draconian than may first appear, but nonetheless I have stated my belief in social democracy and social justice, and I count it a principle in a civilised society that certain things are provided on a universal basis, independent of means or ability to pay. Fundamental services should be delivered to our citizens in an advanced society irrespective of means, income or social status. Fianna Fáil pioneered this philosophy when it was still regarded almost subversively radical, introducing free education for all, a public health system, the creation of the welfare state, free old age travel scheme, numerous assists for heating and energy bills many the latter benefits specifically targeted at older people. Are we now to lose decades of policy progress to squeeze a few extra pound from the exchequer purse?

I listed and agreed with much of what Deputy Joe Behan said on tonight’s news after resigning the party whip. He came across a noble and decent man and I hope he will come back to the party because we need people like him to help us to be all that we can be, as a party, and by extension because the Fianna Fáil party is passionately patriotic if it is anything, as a nation. For the first time in a long time I heard Joe Behan give voice on the airwaves to what I know the Fianna Fáil party to be. The voice of cumann secretaries, of grass roots activists, of local councillors and backbench deputies. What to me is the real social democratic heart of the party, an ethos that prizes community values and social justice for all. The voice that will speak up for the bowed whilst encouraging the brave. The party that will enable enterprise whilst nourishing the needy. That will allow progress to prosper but with noone being left behind. The voice and the will that I know the party to have.

I have raised issues of social justice before, at a time when I felt strongly on a an issue of fundamental fairness. I wrote to the Minister at the time, in correspondence that has echoes of the current dilemma where it appears GP contracts are not facilitating the intended workings of the scheme. It is not the first time I have exchanged such correspondence with the present health Minister. I was heartened to see An Taoiseach appear in public view tonight on the nine o’clock news when he said he would progress a ‘pragmatic response’ to what he acknowledges was a far more wide reaching reaction than anticipated.

The over-70s medical card was not up until recently an automatic entitlement. It was introduced only at the start of this decade in an earlier Fianna Fáil budget. It was a progressive move to bring it in. It was a regressive one to take it back. Let’s hope that social justice prevails and that the real soul of the Fianna Fáil party now has the courage of its convictions. I know there is the will. Now let’s find the way.