The Martin/Harris era will be remembered personally as a time of unprecedented national wealth with little or nothing to show for it. When this prosperity passes we will tighten the national purse strings again and ride it out. And the wheel of mismanagement will eventually spin again. But starting from an even worse position.
We have an incompetent political class. The only thing I can't work out is if it's by design. If Martin/Harris (as proxies for their parties) are wilfully letting the country get worse, are paralyzed by fear of doing the wrong thing, or genuinely believe current policies are working or will eventually work.
All that is brilliant about Ireland, all that keeps me here, is innate in us as a people and a land. Beyond low corporation tax and FDI (not the current politicians' idea), what exactly has been done? Where is the ambition? The passion to improve the country for future generations?
There is no attempt to improve, they just try to manage the decline. I wonder how much of the Irish political classes have ever lived and worked overseas?
The Celtic Tiger is invoked as this period of scandalous greed and corruption, but at least the villains in that story were *private* entities.
We are going to look back at the post-Austerity years with dismay. The only OECD country running annual surpluses, the state pissing it away by the billions, yet somehow also paralysed when it comes to building anything of consequence.
We are so fucked. I was thinking about a previous essay in this series where you described the 'opt out' of private health insurance or private schools...and thinking about the generous grants for solar panels that will create another two tier system in Ireland: people who own houses and can power their home and cars with solar energy, and people who rent or live in apartments and can no longer afford to heat their homes. The solar powered, housed tier will be able to opt out of the battles against data centres and the cost of living crisis.
I self-identify as a relatively comfortable (not as comfortable as I should be though!) opter-out. Not happy about that but it is true. And it is for exactly the reasons the author previously described- I have zero confidence in this goverment providing even the basics of what I and my family need.
And I am fortunate I can opt-out. There but for the grace...
What an indictment of the country it is to say that people who do everything right (work, contribute, stay the right side of the law etc etc) are being let down at every point.
I do think "someone else" will get a shot at running the country. But I'm certain it will happen when the horse has bolted and all of this delicious corporate tax money has dried up.
Ger, “someone else getting a shot at running the country” I suggest that we have tried that! Since 1969, we have only re-elected an outgoing government once ie. after the 2002 general election, the FF-PD government reformed. During that ~60 years, three new parties formed and got into government ie. Progressive Democrats, Democratic Left, Green Party. In addition, at least one non-party TD(independent) also became a Cabinet minister and others became Ministers of State. Joining the European Project (starting with EEC entry in 1973) offered another chance for changing how we govern ourselves as did the 1970s oil price increases. (Denmark responded by devolving power within the state) Then, with the bailout in 2010, the Troika placed constraints on how government used resources , but the Governments involved had to make the actual decisions. During that 60 years, power/resource raising-allocation has been increasingly centralised. One result is that it has done away with the capacity to try new and different ways of managing the complex systems on which we depend for our work, comfort, safety, leisure, the means of cooperation among ourselves and with the wider world. Sinéad’s work provides a new way of looking at how we have organised ourselves. I hope leads to some kind of movement as set out in St. Euxpery’s (the French aviator/writer) insight “Dans la vie, il n’y a pas des solutions. Il n’y a que des forces en marche. Il faut les créer et les solutions suivent.”
Not really though-we keep putting FF & FG in power.
We have loads of money and they keep pissing it away on short-term bandages! And that money will dry up.
Not sure we need a movement more than we need a centre-left goverment that spends our money better. Talk of centralization or institutional challenges is defeatist. Elect a government that will do things differently first and let's see where that takes us!
Ger, Haven’t we been electing governments that we think will do things differently? IMO, they all think and act on a too short term basis. If it(take your pick!) cannot be finished within five years (the longest possible term for which incoming governments draw up programmes), it is not focused on and gets less resources eg. decades of under-investment in water services, even before population growth.
We broadly agree, I think. But fundamentally, I disagree with your contention that the country has tried different things. Parts of the electorate have wanted to try different things, yes. And those votes got coalitions which those smaller parties you mentioned propped up with varying levels of influence. Just enough to rope to hang themselves as it turned out in every instance. But long term, positive things like free education, artist tax exemption and so on, came out of it. Policies that continue to pay for themselves.
I suppose I just don't see practically how the system gets overhauled, and quickly enough. My view is that we have a little window of time left to sort out our shit (energy, housing, healthcare, food production), while we have the money to do it. But that window is closing and soon the bells of austerity will start ringing.
We have the election cycles we have. And unfortunately that means politicians need to be able to point to recent successes so they can stay on the horse. What drives me mad is that we have had the money to do both; short-term papering over the cracks and long-term big swings that pay off in a decade.
I’m going to send this article to everyone in my contacts. I know people are sick of me banging on about Palestine, imperialism, our own government’s complicity…in all of this. We are on a continuum here. Irish people losing their homes, ordinary people paying taxes whose lives are becoming more fragile and difficult as every day passes and people like the Sudanese, Lebanese, Cubans, Palestinians - on the very sharp end of this continuum. The people damaging us are exactly the same people carrying out genocide and ecocide. The very same people. And our government is owned by these people. There is, as Sinead brilliantly points out, a huge level of uselessness but there is also a huge level of deliberate disregard for the law, for justice, for decency, for the possibility of investing in ourselves properly, in doing the right thing based on our own sad and violent history. The result for Irish people is virtual treason by FF/FG and Deliberate illiberal policies that damage us all, erode our agency both individually, as a community and as a country. We need the left wing parties to start pulling themselves together do that we have a genuine alternative to the last 100+ years of bullsh*t
hi: good analysis. very pertinent to the failure of Irish Education. I do feel that the analysis is missing two additional aspects:
1. the 'laager' approach that is endemic to irish public service bodies whereby the permanent government has creates defensive circles around them to maintain their power and benefits. these include: creating semi-state and other public bodies to distance them from public scrutiny; the use of elected representatives to shield them further and the use of legislation to further embed their control and power.
2. the impact of recent crises ie the financial crash of 2008+ and the covid emergency of 2020. both of these were used by the permanent government to bring a level of control and centralisation beyond what existed previously and what is the norm in other european countries. this power has been taken from accountable elected representatives and local bodies. It is reinforced by the use of regulations and directives nominally issued in the name of the relevant minister.
3. the collapse of policy and decision making capacity within political parties exacerbated by the constant stream of 'crises' that face government daily ensuring that a paralysis now exists in government whereby nothing can be done. some conspiracy theorists suggest that some of these crises are accelerated by the permanent government to keep politicians busy!
regards, ken
PS: the permanent government differs to the civil service in that it comprises senior civil servants together with the CEOs of major public and semi-state bodies!
Good point generally about the lack of decision-making power at local authority level. Though I don't think Ireland is so big that centralised decision-making can't work perfectly well.
If anything, Covid proved that centralised decision-making can happen quickly and to extraordinary effect when the will is there. Eoghan Murphy in his reflections on his time government talks about this in detail. But it requires cross-department collaboration and action. That's all too rare.
If I were being cynical, I'd say it's simply that nothing in the country registers enough as a crisis to FF/FG politicians personally to provoke action. And that ministers, Taoisigh and TDs are too concerned about their own careers and little empires.
@ Kenneth r Whyte. I suggest you widen the lens to include all the powerful in the public and private sectors, along with accompanying bodies representing interest groups/insiders/incumbents and others who form the governing networks. As a shorthand means of identifying who these people are, I suggest by asking who gets invited to state receptions.
Again a throwback from post colonialism overly centralised government . We need to decentralise ,maybe look to how it’s done in Switzerland . Give more power to local government including tax raising ability , allow debt and levy each county to pay for a technocratic government to issue legislation and policy and direct a reimagined civil service to deliver out on the societal need based on current and future demographic need .
This all ends badly and I don't mean just economically, real civil strife is inevitable at this stage because no attempt to fix the country will happen, it will just slide further and further into a low trust high violence society where you are on your own essentially,
A few weeks back I sat in my car at the local shops and watched four foreigners who were aged about 40 act in a really juvenile way, drinking openly, getting in the way of people who passed them, sneering and leering at all and sundry and what struck me the most was how everybody who noticed these people pretended NOT to notice them if you know what I mean, heads in the sand as their 'leafy suburb' was treated to 'diversity',
I couldn't tell where these men were from, at a guess I would say middle eastern maybe but they were an accident waiting to happen, I had dropped a son of mine at the shops so I drove home, picked up a hurl and drove back to the shops to ensure that my son did not fall foul of these people, they were gone when I got back to the shops, had been collected in a beat up car apparently,
Now long story short, we have allowed a situation develop where our useless politicians are not just fucking up the economy, they are endangering the citizens in a real way,
They are criminals and traitors and may very well hang for their crimes if order is lost.
You said you drove home and 'picked up a hurl' on the perception/hunch that the 4 foreigners could or might be violent, right? They might be pricks but are you really so lacking in self-control and self-awareness not to see that your emotions might be getting the better of you?
No I am not lacking in self control, tooling up was a precaution, I'm not young anymore and would not be comfortable challenging men much younger and bigger than me, I brought a hurl so that if necessary I could more effectively defend myself or my son,
I do get what you are saying though, but you had to be there, if you were I guarantee you that you would have seen the behaviour of these guys as an imminent threat rather than them just being pricks.
Have a look at this video, the guy is a war history professor in Kings College London, this 24 minute video outlines why he thinks a civil war in inevitable, not just in Britain, there a three reasons why it's gonna happen according to him and the three possible bulwarks against it are fading if not already gone, it's really worth the watch.
They are following orders. Over 30,000 of Irish men, women and children murdered by the covid19 injections. Hundreds of thousands of Irish men, women and children injured. The carnage continues. While replacements are being imported.
A great article Sinead. I am now beginning to believe our democracy is full of mediocre politicians because politics is so toxic only mediocrity will enter the sphere , this coupled with a post colonial politics and a civil service who only collect tribute and disperse favour leads us to the ineptitude you so clearly describe.
How do we shake this up and start delivering out on the social contract we all want as a society?
Great article. I feel the snapshot, tangle, circle defence is used very widely across Europe.
I wonder if it is something unique now due to some bigger force like the ageing population, economic malaise, etc or an updated version of how the state always avoids difficult challenges until it’s too big to ignore.
Another crystal clear article, and to the point. Thank you. A well established FF mind-set of: "Whatever you say , say nothing", while, "standing idly by", when it matters"
Sinéad's articles point to the much desired need of governance capable at solving problems. I'd suggest the first problem is how to solve for a government which appears unwilling to take action.
I don't accept the notion that elected officials want to achieve failure. Is it that we're dealing with a perversely set of incentives that encourage the avoidance of a problem rather than seeing a problem as an opportunity to build a career on the back of successful change?
Reasons Not to Solve the Irish Housing Crisis
a) Solving the problem can't be achieved within the electoral life cycle - no upside for next election
b) Entrenched interests in the status quo don't want a solution an know how to bend their TD's ear
- Existing landlords don't want more housing which will potentially eat into margins
- Homeowners - don't want the inconvenience of new construction near their domiciles
- Homeowners don't want new inventory - it will decrease the value of their asset
- New homes mean new residents which will further stress existing services - schools, transport, health etc
c) Culturally Irish expectations from government is low. Its a product of the colonial experience and the expectation of failure
d) Avoidance of complex interlocking issues - call it the laziness factor - fixing this requires focus and effort - some folks just don't want to work that hard.
e) Corruption - This is an assumed problem - "they're all crooks" - I don't doubt that it's a factor but I sense that its likely less widespread than complaints indicate. Corruption is cited by voters who need an explanation for the failure
It's a fundamental tenant of systems analysis that when confronted with a problem rather than drill down as in engineering you take it up a level.
Psychologically this is difficult for people as instead of attempting to identify a flawed component i.e. reducing the size of the problem you are attempting to solve you are in fact increasing its breadth.
My own view is that too much attention is focused on the politicians and not the civil service. I think we better need to differentiate between policy failure conceptually (politicians) and the implementation of those policies (civil service, government agencies etc.). So for instance if the management of the health service was prepared to do more than just ask for additional funding and point out the policy failures that have led to the staff shortages they are experiencing we would have a more honest debate.
I agree totally with the points raised here and in your previous post and understand your anger. But, how do we address and solve the problem? Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail could stand muppets with a rosette in most constuencies in Ireland and get elected. This is not going to change any day soon. Who is willing to use the enormous Wealth Fund and invest it in infrastructure? Turkeys I'm afraid tend not to vote for Christmas. The status quo must at all costs be upheld. As an Irish man living in the Netherlands, I often despair the non promotional election system here. But it does sort out one major issue. Long term investment projects are not knackered by local bickering, but are fixed in stone and mostly come to fruition. How many generations before Ireland sees this?
Is it true that in the Netherlands, many Ministers are not drawn from the Parliament? Here, in the Republic of Ireland, the 15 members of the Government must be members of the Houses of the Oireachtas - with no more than two being Senators. In addition, the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance must be TDs.
The Martin/Harris era will be remembered personally as a time of unprecedented national wealth with little or nothing to show for it. When this prosperity passes we will tighten the national purse strings again and ride it out. And the wheel of mismanagement will eventually spin again. But starting from an even worse position.
We have an incompetent political class. The only thing I can't work out is if it's by design. If Martin/Harris (as proxies for their parties) are wilfully letting the country get worse, are paralyzed by fear of doing the wrong thing, or genuinely believe current policies are working or will eventually work.
All that is brilliant about Ireland, all that keeps me here, is innate in us as a people and a land. Beyond low corporation tax and FDI (not the current politicians' idea), what exactly has been done? Where is the ambition? The passion to improve the country for future generations?
There is no attempt to improve, they just try to manage the decline. I wonder how much of the Irish political classes have ever lived and worked overseas?
"That could never work here..." ad nauseum
The Celtic Tiger is invoked as this period of scandalous greed and corruption, but at least the villains in that story were *private* entities.
We are going to look back at the post-Austerity years with dismay. The only OECD country running annual surpluses, the state pissing it away by the billions, yet somehow also paralysed when it comes to building anything of consequence.
We are so fucked. I was thinking about a previous essay in this series where you described the 'opt out' of private health insurance or private schools...and thinking about the generous grants for solar panels that will create another two tier system in Ireland: people who own houses and can power their home and cars with solar energy, and people who rent or live in apartments and can no longer afford to heat their homes. The solar powered, housed tier will be able to opt out of the battles against data centres and the cost of living crisis.
I self-identify as a relatively comfortable (not as comfortable as I should be though!) opter-out. Not happy about that but it is true. And it is for exactly the reasons the author previously described- I have zero confidence in this goverment providing even the basics of what I and my family need.
And I am fortunate I can opt-out. There but for the grace...
What an indictment of the country it is to say that people who do everything right (work, contribute, stay the right side of the law etc etc) are being let down at every point.
I do think "someone else" will get a shot at running the country. But I'm certain it will happen when the horse has bolted and all of this delicious corporate tax money has dried up.
Ger, “someone else getting a shot at running the country” I suggest that we have tried that! Since 1969, we have only re-elected an outgoing government once ie. after the 2002 general election, the FF-PD government reformed. During that ~60 years, three new parties formed and got into government ie. Progressive Democrats, Democratic Left, Green Party. In addition, at least one non-party TD(independent) also became a Cabinet minister and others became Ministers of State. Joining the European Project (starting with EEC entry in 1973) offered another chance for changing how we govern ourselves as did the 1970s oil price increases. (Denmark responded by devolving power within the state) Then, with the bailout in 2010, the Troika placed constraints on how government used resources , but the Governments involved had to make the actual decisions. During that 60 years, power/resource raising-allocation has been increasingly centralised. One result is that it has done away with the capacity to try new and different ways of managing the complex systems on which we depend for our work, comfort, safety, leisure, the means of cooperation among ourselves and with the wider world. Sinéad’s work provides a new way of looking at how we have organised ourselves. I hope leads to some kind of movement as set out in St. Euxpery’s (the French aviator/writer) insight “Dans la vie, il n’y a pas des solutions. Il n’y a que des forces en marche. Il faut les créer et les solutions suivent.”
Not really though-we keep putting FF & FG in power.
We have loads of money and they keep pissing it away on short-term bandages! And that money will dry up.
Not sure we need a movement more than we need a centre-left goverment that spends our money better. Talk of centralization or institutional challenges is defeatist. Elect a government that will do things differently first and let's see where that takes us!
Ger, Haven’t we been electing governments that we think will do things differently? IMO, they all think and act on a too short term basis. If it(take your pick!) cannot be finished within five years (the longest possible term for which incoming governments draw up programmes), it is not focused on and gets less resources eg. decades of under-investment in water services, even before population growth.
We broadly agree, I think. But fundamentally, I disagree with your contention that the country has tried different things. Parts of the electorate have wanted to try different things, yes. And those votes got coalitions which those smaller parties you mentioned propped up with varying levels of influence. Just enough to rope to hang themselves as it turned out in every instance. But long term, positive things like free education, artist tax exemption and so on, came out of it. Policies that continue to pay for themselves.
I suppose I just don't see practically how the system gets overhauled, and quickly enough. My view is that we have a little window of time left to sort out our shit (energy, housing, healthcare, food production), while we have the money to do it. But that window is closing and soon the bells of austerity will start ringing.
We have the election cycles we have. And unfortunately that means politicians need to be able to point to recent successes so they can stay on the horse. What drives me mad is that we have had the money to do both; short-term papering over the cracks and long-term big swings that pay off in a decade.
Love your articles, if only those in government had your insight,
The designed inertia is the core problem behind all of this.
A finely tuned set of rhetorical, cognitive and systemic heuristics designed to ensure rigorous inaction. State sanctioned helplessness
"We'd all like to solve this issue but..."
"Let's get real here..."
"Ah now, that's very unfair, we're doing our best..."
"Well it's all well and good saying _____ but the legislation won't allow that"
I’m going to send this article to everyone in my contacts. I know people are sick of me banging on about Palestine, imperialism, our own government’s complicity…in all of this. We are on a continuum here. Irish people losing their homes, ordinary people paying taxes whose lives are becoming more fragile and difficult as every day passes and people like the Sudanese, Lebanese, Cubans, Palestinians - on the very sharp end of this continuum. The people damaging us are exactly the same people carrying out genocide and ecocide. The very same people. And our government is owned by these people. There is, as Sinead brilliantly points out, a huge level of uselessness but there is also a huge level of deliberate disregard for the law, for justice, for decency, for the possibility of investing in ourselves properly, in doing the right thing based on our own sad and violent history. The result for Irish people is virtual treason by FF/FG and Deliberate illiberal policies that damage us all, erode our agency both individually, as a community and as a country. We need the left wing parties to start pulling themselves together do that we have a genuine alternative to the last 100+ years of bullsh*t
hi: good analysis. very pertinent to the failure of Irish Education. I do feel that the analysis is missing two additional aspects:
1. the 'laager' approach that is endemic to irish public service bodies whereby the permanent government has creates defensive circles around them to maintain their power and benefits. these include: creating semi-state and other public bodies to distance them from public scrutiny; the use of elected representatives to shield them further and the use of legislation to further embed their control and power.
2. the impact of recent crises ie the financial crash of 2008+ and the covid emergency of 2020. both of these were used by the permanent government to bring a level of control and centralisation beyond what existed previously and what is the norm in other european countries. this power has been taken from accountable elected representatives and local bodies. It is reinforced by the use of regulations and directives nominally issued in the name of the relevant minister.
3. the collapse of policy and decision making capacity within political parties exacerbated by the constant stream of 'crises' that face government daily ensuring that a paralysis now exists in government whereby nothing can be done. some conspiracy theorists suggest that some of these crises are accelerated by the permanent government to keep politicians busy!
regards, ken
PS: the permanent government differs to the civil service in that it comprises senior civil servants together with the CEOs of major public and semi-state bodies!
Good point generally about the lack of decision-making power at local authority level. Though I don't think Ireland is so big that centralised decision-making can't work perfectly well.
If anything, Covid proved that centralised decision-making can happen quickly and to extraordinary effect when the will is there. Eoghan Murphy in his reflections on his time government talks about this in detail. But it requires cross-department collaboration and action. That's all too rare.
If I were being cynical, I'd say it's simply that nothing in the country registers enough as a crisis to FF/FG politicians personally to provoke action. And that ministers, Taoisigh and TDs are too concerned about their own careers and little empires.
@ Kenneth r Whyte. I suggest you widen the lens to include all the powerful in the public and private sectors, along with accompanying bodies representing interest groups/insiders/incumbents and others who form the governing networks. As a shorthand means of identifying who these people are, I suggest by asking who gets invited to state receptions.
Brilliant essay. We are governed by highly educated idiots.
The Catholic Church has been for some time used as a scapegoat by the Linkeln classes- the ruse is wearing very thin….
Again a throwback from post colonialism overly centralised government . We need to decentralise ,maybe look to how it’s done in Switzerland . Give more power to local government including tax raising ability , allow debt and levy each county to pay for a technocratic government to issue legislation and policy and direct a reimagined civil service to deliver out on the societal need based on current and future demographic need .
This all ends badly and I don't mean just economically, real civil strife is inevitable at this stage because no attempt to fix the country will happen, it will just slide further and further into a low trust high violence society where you are on your own essentially,
A few weeks back I sat in my car at the local shops and watched four foreigners who were aged about 40 act in a really juvenile way, drinking openly, getting in the way of people who passed them, sneering and leering at all and sundry and what struck me the most was how everybody who noticed these people pretended NOT to notice them if you know what I mean, heads in the sand as their 'leafy suburb' was treated to 'diversity',
I couldn't tell where these men were from, at a guess I would say middle eastern maybe but they were an accident waiting to happen, I had dropped a son of mine at the shops so I drove home, picked up a hurl and drove back to the shops to ensure that my son did not fall foul of these people, they were gone when I got back to the shops, had been collected in a beat up car apparently,
Now long story short, we have allowed a situation develop where our useless politicians are not just fucking up the economy, they are endangering the citizens in a real way,
They are criminals and traitors and may very well hang for their crimes if order is lost.
You sure you are in the right room, Niall?
How do you mean?
The author outlines how the political class avoid ever fixing anything,
Not fixing the immigration issue has real world consequences for people,
Am I missing something or are you just being a smart arse?
You said you drove home and 'picked up a hurl' on the perception/hunch that the 4 foreigners could or might be violent, right? They might be pricks but are you really so lacking in self-control and self-awareness not to see that your emotions might be getting the better of you?
No I am not lacking in self control, tooling up was a precaution, I'm not young anymore and would not be comfortable challenging men much younger and bigger than me, I brought a hurl so that if necessary I could more effectively defend myself or my son,
I do get what you are saying though, but you had to be there, if you were I guarantee you that you would have seen the behaviour of these guys as an imminent threat rather than them just being pricks.
Ok, fair enough. I have no desire to argue online with someone I don't know. Still, violence must always be a last resort.
Have a look at this video, the guy is a war history professor in Kings College London, this 24 minute video outlines why he thinks a civil war in inevitable, not just in Britain, there a three reasons why it's gonna happen according to him and the three possible bulwarks against it are fading if not already gone, it's really worth the watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okLu7RgMoV4&list=PLE54ZP8AjtG9Axhyf4sPGt
I don't want a violent civil conflict and have no history of using violence but I'm afraid it's coming.
They are following orders. Over 30,000 of Irish men, women and children murdered by the covid19 injections. Hundreds of thousands of Irish men, women and children injured. The carnage continues. While replacements are being imported.
A great article Sinead. I am now beginning to believe our democracy is full of mediocre politicians because politics is so toxic only mediocrity will enter the sphere , this coupled with a post colonial politics and a civil service who only collect tribute and disperse favour leads us to the ineptitude you so clearly describe.
How do we shake this up and start delivering out on the social contract we all want as a society?
Great article. I feel the snapshot, tangle, circle defence is used very widely across Europe.
I wonder if it is something unique now due to some bigger force like the ageing population, economic malaise, etc or an updated version of how the state always avoids difficult challenges until it’s too big to ignore.
Another crystal clear article, and to the point. Thank you. A well established FF mind-set of: "Whatever you say , say nothing", while, "standing idly by", when it matters"
Sinéad's articles point to the much desired need of governance capable at solving problems. I'd suggest the first problem is how to solve for a government which appears unwilling to take action.
I don't accept the notion that elected officials want to achieve failure. Is it that we're dealing with a perversely set of incentives that encourage the avoidance of a problem rather than seeing a problem as an opportunity to build a career on the back of successful change?
Reasons Not to Solve the Irish Housing Crisis
a) Solving the problem can't be achieved within the electoral life cycle - no upside for next election
b) Entrenched interests in the status quo don't want a solution an know how to bend their TD's ear
- Existing landlords don't want more housing which will potentially eat into margins
- Homeowners - don't want the inconvenience of new construction near their domiciles
- Homeowners don't want new inventory - it will decrease the value of their asset
- New homes mean new residents which will further stress existing services - schools, transport, health etc
c) Culturally Irish expectations from government is low. Its a product of the colonial experience and the expectation of failure
d) Avoidance of complex interlocking issues - call it the laziness factor - fixing this requires focus and effort - some folks just don't want to work that hard.
e) Corruption - This is an assumed problem - "they're all crooks" - I don't doubt that it's a factor but I sense that its likely less widespread than complaints indicate. Corruption is cited by voters who need an explanation for the failure
Very well analysed and presented, thank you.
It's a fundamental tenant of systems analysis that when confronted with a problem rather than drill down as in engineering you take it up a level.
Psychologically this is difficult for people as instead of attempting to identify a flawed component i.e. reducing the size of the problem you are attempting to solve you are in fact increasing its breadth.
My own view is that too much attention is focused on the politicians and not the civil service. I think we better need to differentiate between policy failure conceptually (politicians) and the implementation of those policies (civil service, government agencies etc.). So for instance if the management of the health service was prepared to do more than just ask for additional funding and point out the policy failures that have led to the staff shortages they are experiencing we would have a more honest debate.
I agree totally with the points raised here and in your previous post and understand your anger. But, how do we address and solve the problem? Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail could stand muppets with a rosette in most constuencies in Ireland and get elected. This is not going to change any day soon. Who is willing to use the enormous Wealth Fund and invest it in infrastructure? Turkeys I'm afraid tend not to vote for Christmas. The status quo must at all costs be upheld. As an Irish man living in the Netherlands, I often despair the non promotional election system here. But it does sort out one major issue. Long term investment projects are not knackered by local bickering, but are fixed in stone and mostly come to fruition. How many generations before Ireland sees this?
Is it true that in the Netherlands, many Ministers are not drawn from the Parliament? Here, in the Republic of Ireland, the 15 members of the Government must be members of the Houses of the Oireachtas - with no more than two being Senators. In addition, the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance must be TDs.