Irish Election are pleased to announce our collection of Irish 
France goes for smaller government
Read more about: Democracy, Government
French President Nicolas Sarkozy named his ministers today. A comparison with the Irish set-up is instructive. Here’s Sarkozy’s government. It’s his Prime Minister, 15 ministers, and 4 additional “secretaries of state” not indicated on the graphic. That’s it. Sarko cut the slots down from about 30 before. Now here’s Bertie’s government. 14 Cabinet ministers and incredible 17 junior ministers. It’s nearly more exclusive not to be a minister. Is it fair comparison?
Yes and no. It should be pause for thought that France can run one of the world’s largest economies, 60 million people, and one of the most elaborate level of state services in the world with the same size of top political layer as Ireland. Furthermore, French ministers need not be elected representatives, so in principle Sarko could look at actual job qualifications and not just whether it’s someone’s “turn” to get a job.
On the other hand, it is a Presidential system, so the additional layer that the Elysee Palace represents should be taken into account. And some basic level of functions are required of any state, regardless of size.
But still. Government reform is one of those issues that never really made it on the electoral agenda, and now seems even less likely to do so with so much attention on the exact financing of a proposed 2300 extra hospital beds. If financing was the only issue, the Celtic Tiger should have been able to solve more problems than it has. And one thing we know for sure about Sarko — he’ll sack ministers ruthlessly if they underperform. Hard to think of any such example in the last 10 years in Ireland.
Only one female minster of state…very representative!
I meant to make a point like that. Sarko put 7 women in his Cabinet. I suppose one can say that because he didn’t have to pick from the legislature, he had more latitude to impose an effective 50% quota. But does Bertie really think that the women TDs are less fit than the men for minister of state positions? Or longer term, is there a plan to get more women TDs?
But then again, how many minsters are actually chosen for their ability to run a multi-layered & complicated department spending millions of euro of tax payers money each year?
In my opinion seniority, geography and ability (in that order) is how positions are actually awarded. Sad state of affairs.
True. I mean, is Dick Roche given a full ministry because of his skills and talent? Is Brian Lenihan Jr. given a junior ministry because he’s less talented than someone like Dick Roche? As for Mcdoell in Justice… Talent has little to do with ministries in Ireland.
As always, a great opportunity to develop a good blog has been dissipated by an empty debate about the rights of women - in Government - or out of it.
The real issue here is that Nicholas Sarcozy has REDUCED his Cabinet - by 50%.
Neither Fianna Fail nor the opposition seem capable of grasping that concept.
In earlier debates on the reduction of WASTE, I posed a solution, which involved one TD per 100,000 of population. In Ireland, this would amount to approximately 40 TDs - too many perhaps, but a move in a positive direction.
But reducing the Cabinet to SIX Ministries is not only possible, but necessary, if we are to have an effective; efficient; dynamic; competent government.
Taking the French example, we would have Ministries for the following areas of responsibility:
FINANCE;
JUSTICE & DEFENCE;
NATURAL RESOURCES;
HUMAN RESOURCES;
COMMUNICATIONS &
A FIRST MINISTER WHO WOULD ROTATE & CONTINUE,AS AT PRESENT, AS FOREIGN MINISTER.
Can anyone concerned (and obsessed) about women in government see any negative aspects of such a Cabinet?
The cost savings would run to billions annually, and reduce greenhouses emissions from the Gulf Stream; the helicopters and the myriad gas-guzzling limousines.
However, it is difficult to see any of these crypto-socialists giving up their pensions and their myriad perks.
SOS, one reason why the presence of women is notable is that Sarko showed that with enough guts, one can slash the number of ministers and bring more women into top positions. But anyway, I totally agree with your broader proposal — fewer TDs and far fewer departments of government. I think in the Irish case one test of common sense that would at least move us in the right direction is to cut the number of junior ministers. 17 is crazy. Sarko has 4. Would any future government be willing to say that we don’t need any more than e.g. 10?
The reality is that neither the incumbents nor the various parties that aspire to replace them, are prepared to give up the MERCS. & PERKS.
They will all want the goodies (even the so-called socialists, notwithstanding the exhortations of Sean Healy’s Poverty Party); the several pensions; the overseas junkets; the haircuts; the spin-doctors…
Even Respect…
What they all seem to forget is that they work for US - the tax-payers of Ireland - They are OUR EMPLOYEES.
Yet, to listen to the hot air they emit, one would wonder if they have any idea of service!
There is a small amount of talent in the body politic; hard workers; clever, resourceful people; competent people.
One can think of Liz McManus; Richard Bruton; Michael McDowell; Mary Harney; Charlie McCreevy;
Joan Burton; Seamus Brennan; Brian Cowen…
And then one thinks of Martin Cullen; Bertie Ahern; Michael(One-trick-pony)Martin; in fact almost all of the rest…
And Groan…
And Moan…
And wish that we had Nicholas Sarcozy.