Taoiseach rules out loosening the party whip

Scofflaw · 09-10-2013 2:21pm #1

At least the discussion over loosening the party whip has got as far as the Taoiseach providing an answer, but regrettably the answer is a non-answer stone wall:

Eight backbench Fine Gael TDs, who are part of the so-called ‘five-a-side club’, called on the Taoiseach to implement reforms including loosening the party whip, having a week solely dedicated to committee work and allowing backbenchers more time to question the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste.

Kenny appeared open to some of the ideas saying the deputies raised “valid points” but was firm on the party whip system and not changing it.

He said: “I have been in governments where there was a minority situation, or very close to it. One cannot have instability. What might be one person’s crisis of conscience is another’s political crisis.”

Kenny did say that there would be an opportunity in the pre-legislative stages of bills for TDs to give their views “irrespective of whether it is in accordance with government philosophy or not”.

But he said the issue of stability is important for international investors and there needs to be certainty about the government being able to continue in office.

He continued: “In a tight future election outcome, for example, people may ask whether the Government will be able to continue in office. Without stability, one cannot have investment.”

Dublin South-East TD Eoghan Murphy said that he did not necessarily agree with the Taoiseach and said it was about the principle of parliament being able to hold the government to account.

He said: “I believe we should have a non-whip vote on the Order of Business in regard to the taking of legislation and the amount of time allocated in that regard.”

But Kenny responded: “A country in which there is instability loses that trust in terms of growing its economy. These are issues about which we must be, and will be, serious in the time ahead.”

http://www.thejournal.ie/enda-kenny-party-whip-fine-gael-five-a-side-1120758-Oct2013/

Goodness, how do countries that fail to use the three-line whip on absolutely every vote (that is, everyone but us) manage to survive?

cordially,
Scofflaw

micosoft · 14-10-2013 10:33pm

I presume fear of losing control - the first past the post system that gives you "safe seats" gives the Government of the day substantial enough of a margin to ensure they can survive many votes without invoking the 3rd line. Every seat in Ireland is "unsafe" leading to a more variable voting pattern. Finally an eye is being kept for the next two years - he may have margin now but it could get wafer thin towards the end.

Sierra Oscar · 14-10-2013 11:19pm

So much for Enda being the crusader political reformist. :rolleyes:

sarkozy · 14-10-2013 11:41pm

Well, they're falangists, and a budget's coming up.

hatrickpatrick · 15-10-2013 12:30pm

Reform Dail standing orders which punish unaffiliated TDs and this problem, to a large extent, goes away.
The whip is only as scary as it is because once you lose the whip, you lose almost all your rights as a TD except to vote on bills. In fact, to be honest the ideal Dail system would be one in which parties were allowed, but standing orders and Dail rules made no distinction whatsoever between affiliated and unaffiliated TDs.

Cody Pomeray · 16-10-2013 12:28am

I share the sentiments of the users on this thread, but what exactly does this have to do with the Taoiseach?

The Dáil and the Seanad have sole legislative authority. They don't realize their own power, and by that I mean they don't grasp it. Prisoner's Dilemma.

jimmycrackcorm · 16-10-2013 12:35am

I don't see the problem with the whip system, after all non-government tds are not subject to the government whip.

If people object to the whip system, then simply vote for only independents. Some legislation is unpopular but necessary as shown in the recent protection of life bill.

Taoiseach rules out loosening the party whip

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