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Parlon’s Move to Construction Industry to Give Green Party a Headache?
Read more about: Fianna Fail, Government, Green Party, Progressive Democrats 
They cannot be blamed for any of this but the move by Tom Parlon out of public life to head up the Construction Industry Federation could bring another headache for them in terms of the constant jibes they have been taking from the opposition benches. In their manifesto and at conference the Green Party committed to a “provide for an acceptable “buffer period” before civil servants /local government officials take up employment in related areas of the private sector;” The period mooted at conference was twelve months.
IF the Dail had not been on holidays, this would likely pose a bit of a problem for the Greens as the opposition pressured them to make a statement clarifying their position viz their government partners. This is not the Greens problem in that Parlon is not a serving minister in this government, they are not the PDs keepers and they have had a very short period of time in government. However the ethics that was addressed in the Green manifesto are on full display by a member of a government party and former minister in cabinet.
Though they cannot be held responsible for the Parlon case, this would certainly have drawn their ire from opposition and the opposition know it. It is another area where they will be pressured to extract some form of concession/change of practice.
ya forgot about that. think I posted about it as well.
This is a rock and a hard place territory for the Greens.
Holding onto their priniciples about ethics and making a grumble in public about this raises questions about why they haven’t grumbled publicly about the return of Beverly Flynn to the warm embrace of the FF family and a possible role in Government, or why they are holding the party line about the M3 when there are conflicting interpretations as to the legal position.
Keeping quiet like the new, weaker kid in the gang serves them ill as well. Their principles (and backbone) appearing to have been mortgaged to FF in exchange for a few square feet of Cabinet table.
One can only hope that behind the scenes there is some dissent and challenging of this. But at what further cost to the values of the Green Party? Ultimately it may be beyond their ability to affect anything in this case, but they should really look at how the ethics framework can be improved to ensure that this can’t happen again.
I don’t think the Green policy ever said anything about ministers as opposed to senior civil or public servants, but I suppose it’s a reasonable extrapolation.
As I say over on my own blog there are already clear policies for civil servants as regards the ethics of moving to contracts in the private sector. The question is whether the political heads of departments or departmental functions (such as the OPW) should be held to the same standards.
I suspect the Green’s policy about addressing the issue of civil servants moving to the private sector probably related to the fact that only those in ‘designated positions’ have to cool their heels for 12 months before taking on their new role where the rest simply have a requirement to notify the External Appointments Board of their Department.
However, if a civil servant holds a ‘designated position’ it is as a result of that role being delegated to them from the Minister – therefore it would be reasonable to insist on Ministers/Junior ministers being held to the same standard as civil servants who held a ‘designated position’ under the Ethics Acts.
Ciaran Cuffe issued a statement last night on the siutation,
“Until such time as the workings of Government are completely open and transparent there will be a view that those leaving public life have greater access to information than others. Providing a buffer period of twelve months, during which such politicians could not take up private sector employment relating to their previous area of responsibility, could help ensure that there is no perception of conflict of interest.
“The Civil Service Code states that former civil servants must seek approval where conflict may arise in accepting external positions. The purpose of these provisions is to ensure that there is no cause for suspicion of impropriety surrounding the post-retirement or post-resignation employment of former civil servants.
“These provisions are designed to foster a culture in which civil servants are aware of the potential for conflict of interest when accepting positions outside the Civil Service following their retirement or resignation. Similar provisions should apply to politicians who have been office holders.
“The Programme for Government states that there shall be a ‘buffer period’ before civil servants or local government officials can take up employment. It also states that the new Government will consider legislation to regulate lobbyist
Fuck the Greens.
I think that after Tara, after going into government with the PDs for the political equivalent of a handjob, after breaking so many promises, they’ve got no principles left.
WELL SAID NIALL