by David Farrell (November 17, 2010) Now that the EU/IMF are en route it can only be a matter of time before the pretence that we’re not being bailed out is dropped. In due course we will learn just how painful things are about to become for each one of us. Already the economists are…
Posted by Michael Breen (16 November 2011) The international media’s spotlight has been firmly on Ireland over the last few days. The talk of the town is of an IMF or European-led bailout. This raises several interesting questions. Why now, with the state apparently funded until June 2011? What sort of terms would be offered…
posted by Elaine Byrne The excellent Irish State Administration Database is now accessible at http://www.isad.ie This resource provides a dataset capturing the establishment, growth and evolution of Ireland’s state administration from the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922 to the present. In so doing, it constitutes a major research infrastructure for the humanities…
Posted by David Farrell (November 12, 2010) UCD’s John Hume Institute will be hosting a one day conference on the 17th November looking at the opportunity for change created by the Agreement Generation, those raised with the peace process and the 1998 Agreement. The peace process, the passage of time and generations with different frames…
Posted by Elaine Byrne The Labour Party published a Private Members Motion yesterday which sets out 29 separate proposals for government and public administration reform. Labour The proposals can be found here and cover a wide range of measures including cabinet confidentiality, freedom of information, whistleblowers legislation, political contributions and electoral spending limits, registration of…
Posted by Elaine Byrne Will Oli Rehn’s call for long-term Irish economic planning at long last give the government the proverbial kick up the behind to get the Irish decision making process in order? The short-termism that dominates Irish decision making was best demonstrated by the myopic and stupid decision in 1977 to abolish rates…
Eoin O’Malley 8 November 2010 Fine Gael’s new document on the reform of the public sector is released here. It’s a big document with a lot of stuff that seems more about actual policy that design of government. The main ideas is to make government smaller, and more responsive to the needs of citizens.
Post by David Farrell, November 8, 2010 Fine Gael’s latest policy document — in part a rehash of existing policies, in part some new ideas — is to be welcomed not least because it helps to keep reform on the policy agenda. While it’s launch may not have gone as smoothly as the leadership would…
Adrian Kavanagh, 5 November 2010 On the basis of the most recent general election results in Donegal South West, this might be expected to be one constituency where Fianna Fail could actually have a realistic chance of winning a by-election (thus becoming the first government party to do so since Noel Treacy won the Galway…
By Matt Wall Fintan O’Toole’s summary of the reforms that he proposes in his new book: ‘Enough is Enough’ advocates ’30 key steps’ to that we need to take to reform democracy in Ireland – many of which have been debated intensely on this site. Some of these are more contested than others, there are well-rehearsed arguments on either…
Irish Politics Forum 