What is Haughey's Legacy?

national | history and heritage | opinion/analysis

Wednesday December 20, 2006 01:56

by deselby

In light of the Moriarty Tribunal report into payments made to Charles J. Haughey, it seems as good a time as any to reflect on the career and influence of one of the most controversial politicians - some would say the most controversial politian - that Ireland has ever seen. We now have a clearer, almost forensic, understanding of what Haughey gained from public office, but what about the balance to that? What did he give to the Irish people? What did he leave behind? What is his true legacy?

On 11 February 1992, Charles J. Haughey stood up in the Dáil and gave his own political epithet. 'This is not the time to outline any special list of claims or achievements,' he said. 'Let the record speak for itself. If I were to seek any accolade as I leave office it would simply be: he served the people, all the people, to the best of his ability.' The former Taoiseach praised his party, civil servants, the opposition, and the character of the Irish people on what was his final, significant day in the Dáil. He had been a sitting TD for 35 years. Earlier in his speech he had quoted Othello: 'I have done the state some service. They know't. No more of That.'

contrary to popular belief, Haughey did not invent Irish political corruption - any decent study of the Irish land commission in the 1930s would soon put paid to that assumption - but he was by far its great proponent. Defenders of Haughey constantly refer to him as the true father of both the Celtic Tiger and the Irish Peace Process. But how accurate are this assertions? Was he the true savior of Ireland, albeit with a 'flawed pedigree'? Or will be remembered as the man who stole his best friend's liver money?

I feel that Haughey, on balance,was a disaster for the country and for his party. I believe that he destroyed any talent within Fianna Fáil that did not conform to his interests and those of his backers. He decimated the left-wing element within Fianna Fáil and alligned that party forever with big business and vested interests. He was the master of the simple gesture - the travel pass, butter vouchers, and artist tax-breaks - that promoted the illusion of Fianna Fáil as firmly rooted with the working-class and small farmer. On an economic level, Ireland's economic recovery had as much to do with the Fine Gael/ Labour government of 1982-87 than with the minority Haughey government of 87-9 and PD coalition of 89-92- governments that wisely decided to continue those policies. His greatest legacy, however, lies in the fact that the overwhelming belief that Irish politicians are easily bought. Not only that, they must be bought before anything can happen.

On the issue of the North, however, I am not so sure. I'll leave that to others more qualified to flesh out and debate. but even on the points I have raised, I do so in order to give a side to either agree with or amend, or reject altogether. I do believe Haughey was a disaster, but let's hear the other side.