Irish Election - Perceived Priorities & Real Priorities

There should be no difference, yet, to listen to the manifestos of all parties, the Real Priorities seem to have been overlooked.

Government is elected to Govern - to manage the Natural and Human Resources of Ireland and to support these resources with appropriate laws and infrastructures.

Yet, all we seem to hear, both from Fianna Fail; Labour and Fine Gael are variations on existing policies. Plenty of promises of spending increases on social programmes; childcare; reductions or abolition of stamp duty etc.

But no major reforms; no radical approaches to the management of our resources; no structured approach to infrastructures; no vision.

Essentially there is no Effective, Competent Management. No proper allocation of responsibilities to appropriately qualified Ministers.

Management of our outstanding Natural and Human Resources is fragmented, with responsibility being allocated, almost on a random basis - often following Cabinet reshuffles - to a variety of Ministries - Agriculture; Forestry; Fisheries etc. in respect of Natural Resources and Education; Health; Welfare etc. in respect of Human Resources.

This fragmentation allows the abdication of responsibility.

A single Minister for each of these key Resources is essential to good management. The previous sub-divisions, such as Agriculture; Health etc. could be more efficiently managed by professional Civil Service Managers.

Equally, Communications is inefficiently managed because of fragmentation. All aspects: Transport; Roads; Canals & Waterways; Telecommunications; etc. need to be under the control of a dedicated Minister. In similar fashion, the previously fragmented parts might be managed by Professionally qualified Civil Servants.

Such reform will not only concentrate management in a competent fashion, it will also provide career opportunities to suitably qualified personnel in the higher echelons of the Civil Service.

Justice and Defence might be amalgamated to provide an efficient framework to the maintenance of Law and Order.

Finance will evaluate the cost/benefit of all proposals from the three spending Ministries and budget for the necessary revenues.

A total reform of the present, inefficient, tax system requires immediate attention.

There needs to be serious consideration of a gradual easement of all taxes on Income to a consumption-based system, where all sectors of the population pay their due and equitable proportion of tax.

A distributed profits tax would overcome the many and varied schemes of avoidance currently in vogue.

All Four Ministers would vacate all constituency functions in order to allow for an impartial approach to their respective portfolios.

The taoiseach might want to continue as roving goodwill ambassador, without portfolio ……
Or power.

I haven’t mentioned the manifestos of the smaller parties.

The PDs want to restore Law and Order and maximise the Natural & Human Resources of the country, with added value a priority. While these are admirable aspirations, their method of conveying their message is somewhat less than diplomatic.

The Greens also have noble aspirations, but they should steer clear of the economy.

Sinn Fein/IRA want to impose a Marxist dictatorship along the lines of their comrades in Cuba and Venezuela.

Not much on offer, when you examine the detail.