Vote Sack #1!

2010 – TEDxDublin Event (Speaker) –“Reality Rather the Rhetoric of the Creative City”[28]
2010 – Hard Working Class Heroes - “Industry Panel:Fame”[29]
2009 – Darklight Festival: Pop Culture Symposium panel[30]
2009 – Electric Picnic: Leviathan:_Political_Cabaret ‘The BP Fallon Orchestra & Chorus’ panel[31]
2009 – Absolut Fringe –Barry’s Tea Talk Series: ‘Recession: Opportunity Knocks’ (Panelist)[32][33]
2010 - Tin Tin - Leading Role in 2010 blockbuster "Tin Tin" [34]

When public money is in short supply, it’s more important than ever that it is used to its best effect. During the boom, the politicians and the government plastered over cracks in our institutions with money, rather than rebuilding them properly. That option isn’t open to us now, and the debate needs to become smarter. We need to use the assets of the State properly, and everyone who receives public money does so with our trust.
Many at the top level of the public service are very well paid and there must be an expectation placed on them that they will work hardest for our money. We need to end the scandal of top-level public servants supplementing their income with private consultancy.

The mutual resentment between the public and private sectors is a negative distraction from the real issues that need to be addressed in the public service. We need to revisit the Croke Park Agreement to come up with a more realistic plan for lasting partnership amongst the stakeholders, and which – once and for all – addresses problems with efficiency in public institutions. The government has commissioned, overseen and publish endless reports on these issues, but rarely are the recommendations that stem from these reports implemented, and in many ways they act as a get out clause for real reform and real action, which is what we need.

That debate – a new public service debate – needs to happen in public rather than behind cloased doors in Croke Park. Both public servants and private citizens should be able to see the way in which their money, their jobs and their taxes are being used as negotiating tools. Croke Park has failed because the grassroot members of the unions didn’t have an imput into the document they’re expected to agree to. Bring the debate into the public. I believe that all future public sector debates should be undertaken in the Chamber of Seanad Eireann.

Currently studying History of Art and Classical Civilisation at Trinity College, Dublin.

AnonoBoy wrote: »

As revelant as being a teacher or an auctioneer (which seems to be what most of the Dail is made up of!)

Lauder wrote: »

Boris Johnson studied pure Classics at Oxford and is a bloody good Mayor for London, who is not afraid to put the City's interest over his own popularity.