General Election will solve nothing without reform - Daly

General Election will solve nothing without reform - Daly

At a time when the political process in this country has proved to be an absolute failure, a root and branch change to the structure is required or the next General Election will only be an exercise in musical chairs according to Cllr Richard Daly.

“On both sides of the political divide there have been calls for dramatic change in how this country is run and the urgent need for reform. The abolition of the senate has been proposed by Enda Kenny and Dep Michael Darcy has further suggested that the referendum to affect this should take place simultaneously with the General Election. The senate latterly has become a consolation prize for losing Dail candidates and last year over 2 million euro was claimed by senators in expenses alone with little value to the taxpayer. Dep Kenny further proposed a dramatic reduction in the number of Dail deputies but definite figures and introduction dates need to be introduced. Minister Noel Dempsey announcing his departure from the political stage recommended an equally dramatic reform to the political process but failed to outline how this should take place.

For decades the Civil War politics of Fianna Fail vs Fine Gael have dominated the political landscape in Ireland which finally was consigned to the past with a Fianna Fail Minister delivering the oration at the Michael Collins commemoration in 2010. Today the political divisions resemble support for football teams rather than clearly delineated political philosophy. Candidates for election are chosen more on their potential popularity than on their political beliefs or talents which sees political parties courting media and sports personalities rather than politically and economically competent or experienced practitioners. This is less likely to give us innovative political thinking and more likely to perpetuate the status quo.

We need to develop efficiencies within our political system both locally and nationally. The role of politicians should be to ensure that systems work, that citizens have access to services and rather than lobbying for individual persons or projects ensuring that all are served. There needs to be finite and transparent processes as to when roads are surfaced and schools are built so that each individual project is not at the behest of a politician but is catered for in an efficient system.
Our country may be broke but not broken irreparably. We have natural resources, home grown talent, a strategic location and a resilience which will overcome our current downturn. We just need political reform and we need it urgently.