Referendum on Gender Equality (THREADBANS IN OP)

The Dail is the platform made up of citizens. TDs are citizens.

Agree to an extent with this.

However sometimes it is an important change that they have lobbied about, that they are campaigning for.

As in this case but they lost sight of the most basic aspect of their representation.. Who exactly they were reresenting and what would serve those people most.

Do you want to see Citizens Assemblies having more power. A law that makes their recommendations mandatory?

Otherwise, it's an expensive talking shop that gives advice to the government which it can choose to ignore.

When the citizens Assembly come out with something the government like they use it as justification for something. When they suggest something the government don't like they will just ignore it. It's a pointless exercise to give the false impression that the government are listening to the people.

Baffling people still defending the concept even after this farce.

They don't seem to consider the enormous cost of these things as well. No sense that they care about the huge cost of it.

In all fairness they thought they were on a winner and a vote catcher for what was going to pass, Mary Lou wants power at all costs and yesterday outside the count centre scored a huge own goal, talking about bringing it back to the people and clearly so far removed from what the people’s vote is telling her in the referendum, the united Ireland agenda took a major step back yesterday for the shinners.

I have no issue with active organised groups lobbying for certain policy changes that are in their interest. Lobbying and putting forward your ideas is essential in democracy - as long as it is independent.

What I do have an issue with is public funding being used to further bend policy in favour of the NGO's that already have an outsized voice due to their public funding. There is no room for other voices, especially voices that are out of vogue even if they reflect the opinions of substantial portions of the electorate.

Public funding of NGOs have essentially allowed social policy formation to be outsourced to a handful of self interested, merrion st bubble, professional activists.

Eh, like this, you mean?

Just about on time! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.😊 Saw a lot of happy mothers out enjoying the day with their families.

A citizens assembly should be like Jury duty. It should be member of the public randomly selected. It should not be loaded full of NGOs and lobbyists. If that NGO/Lobbyists want to present their case to the citizens assembly, that's fine but they most certainly shouldn't be in the assembly.

If you wanted to invade Iceland, I'm sure you could find 100 to just throw into a citizens assembly that would be mental enough to go with it. Then you could try and invade Iceland because the citizens assembly recommend it. That's how ludicrous it is.

I'm surprised Vladimir Putin hasn't thought of that one.

You may be sick of the anti NGO narrative, but it's not come out of nowhere. Take for example the NWCI, in 2022 of its €1.13m income, €1.07m came from the State. The NWCI are an activist organisation, the definition of a lobby group and they are almost entirely State funded.

And you have it completely wrong too, it's not that NGO's kow tow to Government, but the other way around. With money and the associated programs they get access to politicians and media and with that access they get influence. A lot of influence.

It was not at all surprising that the Galway Chair of FF said on Saturday that NGOs have better access to ministers than the Party does.

The entire sector could certainly do with an assessment and audit.

Think Vlad has thought of discrediting all NGOs though. Its a known policy / campaign to try to turn every democratic country against NGOs.

Why? Because they provide aid and support and encourage people to fight for their rights.

You say that the citizens assembly is 'loaded " with NGOs.

Do you have proof of this?

It absolutely does not

The outcome of most citizens assemblies are pre-determined by the terms of reference and the demographics of the members.

They are simply a vehicle for government enacting policy while being able take a step back from responsibility by using it as a civer

A lot of people I spoke with are furious that Leo said we didnt understand the words . I understood them full well thank you Leo and I am not stupid . I understood and decided to say No and No . They need to role back on this notion that we are all stupid for not agreeing with them