Michael D struggling with presidential workload.

It's quite clear he's telling the dail to quit rushing legislation through

I'm fairness MDH raises a fair point albeit very diplomatically put. There has been quite a lot of legislation pushed through in a very short space of time. I would argue however, he had the option of calling a council of state or referring legislation to the supreme Court for consideration, he choose neither and that begs some questions given the argument he raises, in essence was he too rushed to fully scrutinise the legislation?

Of course there are those who believe he's there just to rubber stamp government wishes, I tend to disagree and would have concerns not enough scrutiny has been put into alot of legislation recently that even the most objective observer would have to say, was rushed through the Dail, I get urgency, but not sloppyness.

For the record, if less time was spent reciting poetry and talking nonsense, MDH might have more time on his hands, the Aras has turned into an extension of the Abbey Theatre FFS

The president must have a belief that a measure is unconstitutional before he referred it to the Supreme Court. It much the same with calling a council of state he must have reasons why he is unhappy with the legislation.

To do that he must read through the legislation bill and see issues he may feel are in need on consideration. His problem is that he has 7 days to review legislation before he signs it. If 2-3 bills need to be considered in a timeframe of 7-10 days it requires a lot if reading and re-reading if a bill. As well he may require a legal opinion from a trusted legal advisor before he considers the necessity of calling a CoS to consider referring a bill to the SC.

It not just a matter of referring a bill to the SC because he feels he has not time to analyse it

Another reason not to send a bill to the SC is that if the SC finds it constitutional the constitutionality of any part of that bill can never again be challenged.

Your welcome, I couldn't resist 😂😂😂

He's a glorified rubber stamper who's finally having to do a little bit of work for a good salary and has staff on hand to help with everything, the Dáil's job isn't to make life easy for the president, it's to pass legislation, given the nature of politics, there will be peaks and troughs, a good president would have planned for that.

If there's a constitutional issue, call it, otherwise put in a few late nights and get the work done. Biden, at a similar age, doesn't seem to have any issues in both getting the bills, orders and memos in place and then reading what's passed to him and getting them signed.

You'd need to be right thick to think that Higgins problem here is that he feels too overworked.

Its clear as day that he is making a point to the government about what they are doing.

My only problem is that he isn't being strong enough, he is being far too diplomatic.

I don't get it. Raise a valid issue about inconsistent workflow, response is ageist accusations of incompetence. I hope none of you manage people.

When did he moan to the media?

It's not only unexpected, it is unprecedented and a direct result of bad planning on the Government's part. Much of the recently rushed legislation has been caused by rash decisions being taken and implemented by Government, only to find out later that they actually required legislative input.

It is only right that the President raises a warning flag when he sees a problem arising with the political process... that is literally his job.

You don’t appear to understand.

he didn’t complain about his own workload.

rgds

Too much legislation being forwarded? Not enough time to consider it all? He's being paid to do a job. He should do it.

Regards...jmcc

Not a fan MDH at all, I just don't like the man to be honest, but, he's 100% right to fire a shot in this regard. It's ludicrous that somebody could digest that much legal work in such a short time frame.

Very unusual for him to make a public statement like that, things must be bad. I suspect that what is happening here is (based on my experience in the public service) that government and possibly the CS are

-putting issues on the long finger

-operating in a reactive and shambolic manner

-panicking and rushing things and looking to make them someone else's problem

Similar to a rubbish boss who is asked for a complex report months ago but only passes it on to one of his staff on a Friday afternoon of a bank holiday weekend and it needs to be done NOW and must be PERFECT.

Legislation can only and should only be referred to the Supreme Court if its constitutionality is in question. This idea that the President should just start referring legislation for no reason other than some people dont like the legislation is nonsense and even in some cases potentially dangerous because it blocks further possible legal challenge

He isnt complaining about his workload and to suggest he is, is dismissing his concerns.

This is infact NOT what I said, I raised the ligitimate concern that if the President was in essence Rushed, Under pressure etc, there's a strong possibility legislation he's signing into law has not infact been properly Scrutinised. He states quite clearing large voumnes of legislation which we already know was rushed through the Dail, landed on his Desk to be dealt with.

One would assume, Hope he carefully reads the legislation but by default and on his own admission, he was put under pressure. I'm only suggesting, given these circumstances there is, no matter how small, a possibility the legislation is not being fully scrutinised before be signed into law.

I've made no reference to liking or disliking any of the legislation forwarded to him albeit I would have to say, it was certainly rushed, no one is denying that.

This is a question I'd like answered also 🤔