March 9, 2011. Copyright 2011, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Can Enda Kenny kickstart Ireland's recovery?
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, March 9, Graphic News:  Few new leaders have a task as clear-cut as Enda Kenny, Ireland's prime minister, when parliament reconvenes on March 9. Kenny's Fine Gael party swept to victory in February elections on a pledge to renegotiate the tough terms of the country's huge EU/IMF bailout deal, but has he set himself mission impossible?

Kenny, who becomes Taoiseach after more than three decades with the centre-right Fine Gael, has just weeks to persuade Ireland's EU partners to ease the terms of the 85bn-euro rescue package before a summit on March 24-25 at which they will discuss Europe's spiralling debt crisis. Kenny is seeking a cut in the six percent interest rate on repayments and for a discount on the debt. Meanwhile, EU paymaster Germany, along with France, wants Dublin to raise its low rate of corporation tax, which they say was a cause of its financial crisis. So far Kenny has resisted raising the 12.5 percent tax rate, a key factor in attracting foreign firms to Ireland.

On March 5 the former primary teacher from Mayo boosted his position by joining forces with the Labour party, giving their coalition a large majority in the Dail. But failure to get the EU to cut Dublin some slack could put an abrupt end to his late-blooming success, amid bigger questions about Ireland's future. Kenny himself has warned that a period of harsh austerity could trigger a public backlash.

Born on April 24, 1951, Kenny became an MP in 1975 and served as tourism and trade minister from 1994-97. Since taking over a demoralised Fine Gael in 2002, following its heavy defeat in general elections, he has faced a battle to hold on to support. By 2010 crisis-hit Ireland was no longer in thrall to longtime ruling party Fianna Fail, but Kenny first had to fight off a leadership coup before taking Fine Gael to a resounding victory.

Supporters credit Kenny with recasting Fine Gael as a progressive party, but critics insist his style is too wooden and that he is a political lightweight. If he is to silence them by securing a better deal for Ireland, several factors must work in his favour: these include Kenny's close relationship with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the fact that the EU simply can't afford for Ireland to default.  

Kenny, who has three children with Fionnuala O'Kelly, called Fine Gael's victory a "transformative moment" for Ireland. In the coming weeks he'll be hoping that success in Brussels makes that moment last.
/ENDS