In the UK, we can clearly see the importance of party choice. Under Blair there was a significant shift toward human capital investment (or productive social policy). This conditioned a large part of the public policy regime for 10 years. Under the Tories there has been a radical shift back to neoliberal economic orthodoxy – which is conditioning policy debate and decision making. No amount of institutional reform would change this. So whilst a reform of institutions is necessary in Ireland, it is not likely to change what really matters for policy outcomes – political coalitions and governments with distinct political programs.

Although it sounds almost cliched to say ‘we don’t have a left-right divide in Ireland’, its importance for policy debate/outcomes cannot be underestimated. Political parties make up government and condition public policy outcomes. Unless there is a radical shake up of our political parties and citizens are given a real choice over the type of government they want (i.e. moving away from a choice between conservative center-right and pragmatic center-right governments) things are not likely to change.

Media diversity and independence would be greatly assisted by strict rules limiting the extent and influence of owners and public officials over journalists and editorial policy. In addition, the sources of funding of media outlets and journalists should be open to the same level of scrutiny as we expect from political parties, public representatives and senior civil servants. Finally, actionable metrics testing the balance of media would ensure the electorate are fairly informed on the forces which shape their society and world.

The diversity and independence of the Irish electorate would be improved and more balanced by extending the full franchise to all Irish citizens. This would prevent the imbalances which have singled Ireland (and other countries with large emigrant citizenry like Greece and Portugal) out by a lack of varying opinions and critical self-analysis.

Perhaps the real problem is not finding effective solutions to Ireland’s governance problems, it is standing out to demand political action.

Where is her example of fee reduction or transparency?

I was at a conference some time ago in the Royal Irish Academy actually according to notes it was the 26th of November 2009 Ms. Hardiman was a spoke and was congratulated by Colm McCarthy for finding out, how many quango’s there were in Ireland. Somewhere in the region of 1008 I believe, as this was a closely guarded secret that the even the Board Snip supremo could not find out.

How many of these are still there? Practically all of them and if they are not they will have been subsumed into other quango’s. Also, McCarthy told us that most of these quango’s has been “hollowed out” from the Public Sector. Naturally, after being spawned the boys and girls of the PS still got the same money they were on previously. Think of it as a huge salary increase. You are still on the same money, doing half the work!

Under the Labour Party/Labour Unions and Mr. Brendan Howlin we can be assured of one thing, that absolutely nothing will change, thought a lot of new committees are again being spawned. The minister appointed to pretend to “reform”the public sector appointed someone who was put on probation and told that he could get a PS pension if he played his cards right!

This is going nowhere I think it is bring out the violins time for this country.

Elsewhere I commented on Colm McCarthy’s latest call (in yesterday’s Sindo) for a proper banking inquiry:
http://www.irisheconomy.ie/index.php/2012/07/08/colm-mccarthy-fours-years-on-yet-not-even-a-parking-ticket-issued/#comment-306882

It may have some relevance in this context.