In this chapter you will learn about: • How the years 1977–1982 were an unstable period for successive Irish governments • The leadership of Charles Haughey and the divisions in Fianna Fáil • The failure of Irish governments to deal appropriately with the economy • The hunger strikes and setbacks in Anglo-Irish relations
By the end of this chapter you will be able to: • Assess Jack Lynch’s career as Taoiseach • Discuss how the weakening economy contributed to political instability • Understand the early years of Charles Haughey’s leadership of Fianna Fáil • Build your knowledge of how Anglo-Irish relations developed under Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil Return to Power
The 1977 election was an enormous success for Jack Lynch’s leadership. To maximise their votes, Fianna Fáil drew up an election manifesto that promised much in the way of benefits. Included in the manifesto were promises to:
• reduce income tax • abolish car tax • abolish property tax on people’s homes
• increase the tax allowance for married couples
• offer a £1,000 grant to first-time home buyers
• reduce unemployment to under 100,000.
This giveaway manifesto proved popular with Irish voters and, to the surprise of all political parties, Fianna Fáil won an overall majority with 84 seats. (SEE PREVIOUS CHAPTER FOR ELECTION RESULTS.)
RTÉ chart the election results, which gave Fianna Fáil a landslide victory. GOVERNMENT, ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, 1949–1989 483
