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The Corporate State - How is Ireland really Governed

  • 10-02-2011 1:30pm
    #1
    CDfm
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭


    I seem to have a bit of a different perception of how Ireland is ruled and governed than a lot that I see written here.

    In January, John Bruton said that Ireland is really run by civil servants who use the Dail to rubberstamp their rule and that as Taoiseach he didn't do enough to reform it.
    Bruton in scathing attack on political system

    printer.gif

    JohnBruton05INTERNAL.jpgJohn Bruton

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    06/01/2011 - 14:15:29
    Former Taoiseach John Bruton claimed today that Ireland is run by civil servants who use TDs and Senators to administer their rule.

    In a scathing attack on the political system, he also suggested countless corruption tribunals were necessary because Government ministers were not fully answerable to the Dáil.

    Mr Bruton insisted a new referee-type chairman was needed in the Dáil to order Cabinet members to properly respond to questions and make sure planned laws are wholly debated.

    The ex-European Union ambassador to the United States also admitted he did not do enough during his three years as Taoiseach to reform how Ireland is run.

    “I’ve thought about it a lot since though,” he said.

    Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/bruton-in-scathing-attack-on-political-system-488245.html#ixzz1DYsfGVE6

    So earlier in the year I had a quick look at this in the History Forum on how the system evolved and the theory behind it . It is a short little thread. It evolved under Sean Lemass and a Senior Civil Servant named TK Whitakker.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056127781

    I also started a thread on Dail/Political Dynasties to really have a look at what "ruling elites" there are as politics seems to be a family business and there is more of it than you think.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=70573402&utm_source=notification&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=notify#post70573402

    Politics is about winning elections and government is what happens after that.
    Tagged:


Comments

  • #2
    thebman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,012 ✭✭✭✭thebman


    Isn't that the ceann comhairles role though?

    Chairman of the Dail I mean??


  • #3
    CDfm
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    thebman wrote: »
    Isn't that the ceann comhairles role though?

    Chairman of the Dail I mean??

    The Ceann Comhairle controls the business of the house when it is in session.

    It is a non-political procedural role. He ensures that parlimentary rules are followed.

    What he does not do is ensure the Government exercises proper authority over the Civil Service or adopt sensible policies.

    The Watchdog function of opposition is where.

    That is the job of the opposition and a measure of their success is how they perform in oppostion.

    Take the Central Bank reports I have seen it written that David Beggs had opinions as a Board Member at variance with the main board reports.

    In their last two election manifesto's Labour & FG followed the governments growth forecasts. Where is the original thought. They are leaders in waiting FFS.

    Where is the insight ???


  • #4
    Baralis1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 350 ✭✭Baralis1


    CDfm wrote: »
    What he does not do is ensure the Government exercises proper authority over the Civil Service or adopt sensible policies.

    It's a lot of control for a chairman to force the government to answer questions, decide what authority they exert over civil servants and what policies they adopt are sensible or not. Sounds like a dictatorial role.


  • #5
    El Weirdo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,647 ✭✭✭✭El Weirdo


    Yes Minister.


  • #6
    CDfm
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    El Weirdo wrote: »
    Yes Minister.

    Excellent BBC Comedy about a British Minister being manipulated by his Civil Service Mandarins



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  • #7
    CDfm
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    Baralis1 wrote: »
    It's a lot of control for a chairman to force the government to answer questions,

    That is part of his function
    decide what authority they exert over civil servants and what policies they adopt are sensible or not. Sounds like a dictatorial role.

    He does not do that.

    He ensures the parliment functions which is a bit different to ensuring that the Government functions. There are rules ,procedures and standing orders which the House operates.

    The government exercise's the executive authority over the state and government departments and is accountable to parliment.

    It is the oppostions duty to see that the government is functioning and exercising its authority. And to point out its failures.

    Effectively, it sets the benchmark of how it will behave when it is in oppostion.

    I think John Bruton's statement was very significant for all politicians as what he said was that the governments , including his Government, failed to exercise executive authority over the civil and public service.

    No politician has denied it.


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