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Do Civil Servants run this country?

  • 10-03-2010 02:16PM
    #1
    Elenxor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 485 ✭✭


    Ministers come and Ministers go., but it's the Civil Servants who keep the show on the road.
    That is my understanding of it, anyone else agree?


Comments

  • #2
    Captain Slow IRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,651 ✭✭✭Captain Slow IRL


    no.


  • #3
    drunkmonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,897 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    yes


  • #4
    PeterIanStaker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭PeterIanStaker


    big business and the media run the country, then scapegoat the public servants when it goes belly - up.


  • #5
    Biggins
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    They keep the wheels turning daily while the mob in the Dail try to do the steering.
    Pity the later lot's driving is all over the place, they are causing crashes and failing to even bother to look to see what might be coming down the road!


  • #6
    meditraitor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,207 ✭✭✭meditraitor


    I run this country, now whats your problem .:mad:


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  • #7
    jetsonx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,327 ✭✭✭jetsonx


    Oh yeah, its certain civil servants like those who work in the the Dept. of Finance who give "advice" to the government and rubberstamp bills like NAMA that will bankrupt the country for the next 30 years, who keep the show on the road alright...

    When was the last time you heard of a senoir Irish civil servant resigning because of a morally wrong (and economically catastrophic) bill such as NAMA?


  • #8
    mikom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    Elenxor wrote: »
    t it's the Civil Servants who keep the show on the road.

    Rarely civil and rarely servants, in my experience.


  • #9
    Elenxor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 485 ✭✭Elenxor


    Biggins wrote: »
    They keep the wheels turning daily while the mob in the Dail try to do the steering.
    Pity the later lot's driving is all over the place, they are causing crashes and failing to even bother to look to see what might be coming down the road!


    That's my thinking on it,so......
    why do we need elections at all?


  • #10
    Biggins
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    meditraitor wrote: »
    I run this country, now whats your problem .:mad:
    Wel now that you mention it...
    I have boil on me bum that needs lancing. :D
    Elenxor wrote: »
    That's my thinking on it,so......
    why do we need elections at all?
    Thats a good question and one I have thought a lot about lately.

    Its easy to state the standard line about how we all get to have a voice but as far as I can see, once your in, your led down the road of questionable actions based on what everyone else has done before you.

    Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely


  • #11
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,968 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    The Civil Service are known as the Permanant Government for good reason. They are the ones who run department Minsiters esp Juniors. Nothing gets done unless Heads of Depts say so.


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  • #12
    meditraitor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,207 ✭✭✭meditraitor


    Biggins wrote: »
    Wel now that you mention it...
    I have boil on me bum that needs lancing. :D

    I will send harney around later, 7pm alright?


  • #13
    PeterIanStaker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭PeterIanStaker


    meditraitor wrote: »
    I will send harney around later, 7pm alright?

    She's in New Zealand, could ya send one of the Seoige sisters instead?:D


  • #14
    orourkeda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,918 ✭✭✭✭orourkeda


    Taoisigh and Government ministers come and go.

    Senior Civil Servants spend their careers in the civil service. Of course they run the country


  • #15
    Biggins
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    meditraitor wrote: »
    I will send harney around later, 7pm alright?
    What year will she actually arrive? :confused:


  • #16
    bonerm
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,595 ✭✭✭bonerm


    If I've learnt anything from watching The Thick of It it's that civil servants are all fat dumpy middle aged women who don't run the country, but will advise and explain to the minister in question why their proposals for reform cannot work in reality .The minisister will then ignore this advice and press ahead with the same plan .... mainly because Malcolm Tucker bullied them into it with his delightful brand of psychopathic verbal harrying.


  • #17
    Elenxor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 485 ✭✭Elenxor


    Oh all right!!!..I'll come out of the closet...

    I have an irrational hatred of Mount Harney!!!!!:p:p


  • #18
    stovelid
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,252 ✭✭✭✭stovelid


    Elenxor wrote: »

    I have an irrational hatred of Mount Harney!!!!!:p:p

    Most normal people would never mount Harney.

    No shame there.


  • #19
    Biggins
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    Elenxor wrote: »
    Oh all right!!!..I'll come out of the closet...

    I have an irrational hatred of Mount Harney!!!!!:p:p

    While you were there, was there a chap by the name of Cruise hiding in it?


  • #20
    ART6
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,632 ✭✭✭ART6


    PeterIanStaker wrote: »
    big business and the media run the country, then scapegoat the public servants when it goes belly - up.

    The Irish Times thinks that big business runs the country.
    The Irish Independant thinks that Aerarann passengers run the country since they are their main source of circulation.
    The Irish Daily Mail doesn't think anyone is running the country.
    The Irish Mirror think the unions run the country.
    The Irish Sun doesn't care who runs the country as long as they have big tits.


  • #21
    twinytwo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,478 ✭✭✭twinytwo


    PeterIanStaker wrote: »
    big business and the media run the country, then scapegoat the public servants when it goes belly - up.

    you having a laugh the public sector is a joke and black hole for money.. and yes they shouldnt be blamed for the current situation but they can hold the country to ransom and most of them need a swift kick up the back side


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  • #22
    Biggins
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    ART6 wrote: »
    The Irish Times thinks that big business runs the country.
    The Irish Independant thinks that Aerarann passengers run the country since they are their main source of circulation.
    The Irish Daily Mail doesn't think anyone is running the country.
    The Irish Mirror think the unions run the country.
    The Irish Sun doesn't care who runs the country as long as they have big tits.
    You too watched "Yes Prime Minister" last night? :D


  • #23
    IvySlayer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,190 ✭✭✭✭IvySlayer


    Biggins wrote: »
    You too watched "Yes Prime Minister" last night? :D

    That is a brilliant show!

    Humphrey ftw


  • #24
    Biggins
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    IvySlayer wrote: »
    That is a brilliant show!
    Humphrey ftw
    Absolutely.
    Have ALL the boxsets

    I was just watching that episode (The Ministerial Broadcast) particularly last night on a Sky station and thought to myself "wow, this seriously sounds like too close to home!"


  • #25
    Elenxor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 485 ✭✭Elenxor


    IvySlayer wrote: »
    That is a brilliant show!

    Humphrey ftw

    Ah crap...missed it!
    What channel is it on?


  • #26
    Coriolanus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,879 ✭✭✭Coriolanus


    Yeah, running it into the ground more like. As much contempt as I have for politicians, there are some in the upper echelons of the civil service that are much worse.


  • #27
    Mr. Incognito
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,798 ✭✭✭Mr. Incognito


    Read Delaney's book recently- I firmly believe they do

    http://www.rte.ie/arts/2001/0712/delaneye.html


  • #28
    Biggins
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    Elenxor wrote: »
    Ah crap...missed it!
    What channel is it on?
    G.O.L.D.
    Sky 110


  • #29
    ejmaztec
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,259 ✭✭✭✭ejmaztec


    Biggins wrote: »
    Absolutely.
    Have ALL the boxsets

    I was just watching that episode (The Ministerial Broadcast) particularly last night on a Sky station and thought to myself "wow, this seriously sounds like too close to home!"

    That's because the FF manifesto got mixed up with the old tv scripts at the printers.


  • #30
    Biggins
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    ejmaztec wrote: »
    That's because the FF manifesto got mixed up with the old tv scripts at the printers.
    If only! At least then we would get an occasional intentional laugh from the Dail cast.
    As it is, its just tears. :(


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