If you could change one thing about Ireland...

11-06-2019 11:39pm

Finish separating Church and State by taking all schools and hospitals (and the associated properties) out of the ownership, control or influence in any capacity of religious orders.

It should be the norm to go from birth to burial without any interference from them.

rom · 11-06-2019 11:41pm

riclad wrote: »

Make the housing crisis the no 1 priority ,build 30 k housing units per year ,
give the council money to repair the 1000,s of empty council flats.
Even working people find it hard to find quality rental housing.
The tds, politicians are on high wages ,they are not looking to rent
a small flat or share a house with 4 other tenants .
Some international companys are now avoiding irish citys as a base , because there is a shortage of quality rental units.

Theres no accountability for any one in the government or the civil service,
if someone screws up they might maybe retire early with a nice pension .
When theres a big screw up, the people responsible will not be named .
But there will be committees and investigations which cost millions .
A report will be published which will be vary vague and no person will be named .
eg this happened, that happened ,
some dept or governmnet body did something or was not quick to react to certain events .
Unless someone commits financial fraud , or commits a serious crime ,
no one in the civil service is held to be responsible for anything

EU directive that basically means that all new social housing has to be A rated is something that is totally screwing everyone. A logical thing would be that the energy rating of new social housing needs to be in the top X percent of housing stock. A rated means that all the stock that the state owns should just be sold off as it will never be A rated.

Snow Garden · 11-06-2019 11:41pm

Fire everyone in the HSE and immediately rehire the resources that actually add value and do not duplicate effort.

no.8 · 11-06-2019 11:44pm

Complete rebuild of the health service (keeping any efficiently functioning elements)

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo · 11-06-2019 11:45pm

Build enough housing so they are not treated as a commodity.

Everyone needs to live somewhere. Basic functional accommodation for everyone. Anyone who wants anything better are free to buy anything better they can afford. Mortgages would be much cheaper.

Raise the amount at which the higher rate of tax kicks in.
Tax people on the dole. Then it can be seen as a payment they get, but it helps build a culture where everyone pays something from what money they get.

Every expense the government has should then be on the table.

I think the above approach would help foster better working conditions for most of society. It makes working pay. It makes getting a home easier. It takes away any incentive to 'play' the system. It allows working parents to have more flexible hours.

I think it would work for the betterment of society anyway.

whisky_galore · 11-06-2019 11:48pm

The ability to actually medium and long term plan infrastructure and urban development rather than the usual reactionary knee jerk style.

What needs to go: The 'sure it'll be grand' attitude, it's funny and twee in trivial circumstances but at the root of many ills, sweeping problems under the carpet in the naive hope they'll go away.

The sneaking regard for the cute hoor.

Lack of civic responsibility, Mé Féinism, stroke pulling.

NIMAN · 12-06-2019 12:14am

Moaning.

The constant moaning about how we are a third world country when we aren't. Far from it.

Like we are the only country in the world with issues.

ligerdub · 12-06-2019 12:25am

Omackeral wrote:

I'd like people to support an Irish football team as well as a British one.

So you want us all to support Derry City then? ;-)

(They'd love me for that one)

Thelonious Monk · 12-06-2019 12:25am

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

The weather, think France has the best all round climate, I'd happily change ours for theirs.

Very broad statement, the edges of Normandy probably have Galweigan weather half the time. Cote d'Azur though, perfect, you could have your own vinyard beside your McMansion

BuboBubo · 12-06-2019 12:43am

More trees.

ILoveYourVibes · 12-06-2019 12:47am

i would make it summer all year round!

GSBellew · 12-06-2019 12:50am

I'd change the elephant in the room, social welfare rates.

I await the anti dole bashing backlash.

Those who have never contributed should get sweet feck all, no more drop out of school and sign on, give a minimal allowance, access to shelter, want more? work for it in one of the many jobs available to those who are willing to work.

The dole should primarily be a safety net for those that have contributed, rates should be proportionate to contributions and paid over a period reflective of the number of contributions they have paid in.

ILoveYourVibes · 12-06-2019 12:53am

GSBellew wrote: »

I'd change the elephant in the room, social welfare rates.

I await the anti dole bashing backlash.

Those who have never contributed should get sweet feck all, no more drop out of school and sign on, give a minimal allowance, access to shelter, want more? work for it in one of the many jobs available to those who are willing to work.

The dole should primarily be a safety net for those that have contributed, rates should be proportionate to contributions and paid over a period reflective of the number of contributions they have paid in.

Lets get rid of taxes then.

Sexual Chocolate · 12-06-2019 1:03am

The way that we pay through our hole for motoring. Tax, insurance, petrol, the illegal vrt tax we pay.....

ILoveYourVibes · 12-06-2019 1:05am

I would get rid of all the people. Cept maybe 30 of us.

boardise · 12-06-2019 1:05am

Radically and rationally recast the position of the ailing minority language Gaelic.
For starters remove the surreal article in the Constitutional declaring it to be 'the first official language' and make it optional in the education system after primary school.

Sephiroth_dude · 12-06-2019 1:05am

More affordable places to rent, more suitable dwellings for people who want to live alone.

ILoveYourVibes · 12-06-2019 1:07am

Get rid of RTE and Politicians.

ILoveYourVibes · 12-06-2019 1:07am

Make us a part of the UK again. And leave the EU!

Spotted Dick for all!

Sexual Chocolate · 12-06-2019 1:10am

GSBellew wrote: »

I'd change the elephant in the room, social welfare rates.

I await the anti dole bashing backlash.

Those who have never contributed should get sweet feck all, no more drop out of school and sign on, give a minimal allowance, access to shelter, want more? work for it in one of the many jobs available to those who are willing to work.

The dole should primarily be a safety net for those that have contributed, rates should be proportionate to contributions and paid over a period reflective of the number of contributions they have paid in.

There should be a maximum time in which you can claim it.

ILoveYourVibes · 12-06-2019 1:10am

Support minority religions more.

ILoveYourVibes · 12-06-2019 1:12am

Start a proper fashion industry shake up our tourist industry.

Day Lewin · 12-06-2019 1:31am

Improve the weather, and strictly curtail the claiming of "compensation".

(That compo culture actually dictates a lot of the restrictions that companies and groups struggle under)

Oh, and I'd tighten up the planning laws against bungalow blisters, vanity developments, and ribbon straggle; more, and more prudent, housing..

Hobosan · 12-06-2019 1:31am

I would put a tax on all people who stand in water.

ILoveYourVibes · 12-06-2019 1:36am

Hobosan wrote: »

I would put a tax on all people who stand in water.

:pac:

ILoveYourVibes · 12-06-2019 1:36am

I would put a tax on eyebrows so people would have to shave them off.

Triceratops Ballet · 12-06-2019 2:09am

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote:

Cooking and nutrition should be taught. And a basic exercise plan.

Cooking and nutrition are taught as part of home economics, at least they were in my day!

4068ac1elhodqr · 12-06-2019 2:17am

The weather is a big concern so far, however the country can't easily be shipped anywhere (unless outer SW sea territory or island building commences out towards Del Garda).

Instead put a large array of mirrors up in geostatic orbit, to blast down extra sun rays, use it also for interweb broadband satcoms stuff.

Arghus · 12-06-2019 3:01am

All these ideas are lovely lads,

but you have to fix the weather first. There's too much rain and not enough sunshine.

Mad_maxx · 12-06-2019 8:08am

Sexual Chocolate wrote: »

The way that we pay through our hole for motoring. Tax, insurance, petrol, the illegal vrt tax we pay.....

Road tax on a range rover here is treble that of the UK

ILoveYourVibes · 12-06-2019 8:15am

Mad_maxx wrote: »

Road tax on a range rover here is treble that of the UK

So is insurance.

facehugger99 · 12-06-2019 8:29am

I'd change the views/intellect of a majority of the electorate away from short-term, selfish thinking to long-term, prudent and socially beneficial considerations.

We have generally awful politicians and political parties that enact policies to cater for the lowest common denominators.

bear1 · 12-06-2019 8:33am

Weather
Motor tax.. Abolish it and make it pay as you go.
Actually grow our military.

Deebles McBeebles · 12-06-2019 8:36am

I'd pay the politicians double and half the minimum wage. Maybe bring in some kind of child labour to fill the gaps.

TuringBot47 · 12-06-2019 8:47am

bear1 wrote: »

Actually grow our military.

Why?
They're a useless bunch of deafened weekend warriors.

bear1 · 12-06-2019 9:04am

TuringBot47 wrote: »

Why?
They're a useless bunch of deafened weekend warriors.

Exactly why.

Turtyturd · 12-06-2019 9:05am

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

I would put a tax on eyebrows so people would have to shave them off.

A tax every time someone re-regs on here?

Dublin Spur · 12-06-2019 9:26am

sportsfan90 wrote: »

If you could change one thing about Ireland, what would it be?

For me it's the courts system and the sentences handed down. I'm so sick of lenient and suspended sentences that I now just avoid reading about court cases in newspapers. People on 100+ previous convictions pleading with the judge about their tough upbringing and how they've now turned their life around. Absolutely infuriating how it's repeatedly allowed to happen!

I don't care what it takes - they can double my USC to pay for extra prison officers, they can build a massive prison next door to my house, I really don't care how it's done once the scumbags are taken off the streets and there's an actual deterrent for the type of people that feel the law doesn't apply to them.

100000% this
Plus the abolishing of concurant sentening

12-06-2019 9:31am

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

i would make it summer all year round!

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Lets get rid of taxes then.

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

I would get rid of all the people. Cept maybe 30 of us.

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Get rid of RTE and Politicians.

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Make us a part of the UK again. And leave the EU!

Spotted Dick for all!

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Support minority religions more.

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Start a proper fashion industry shake up our tourist industry.

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

I would put a tax on eyebrows so people would have to shave them off.

"If you could change one thing about Ireland..."

I withdraw my earlier considered response. Let the church keep the schools. When it's become so bad that people can't even count to one, it's gone too far to be saved.

Ragnar Lothbrok · 12-06-2019 9:32am

A united Ireland first and foremost.

However, even that wouldn't fix the weather.

beggars_bush · 12-06-2019 9:32am

scumbags

people who commit minor crimes should do community service in their areas which would involve picking up litter etc

Igotadose · 12-06-2019 9:34am

Change the constitution:(stolen from US Bill of Rights):

The Dail shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
---
Gets rid of the pervasive stink that is the RCC and all its minions (looking at you, HSE). No more church influenced schools, hospitals, politicians, ...

IAMAMORON · 12-06-2019 9:35am

Nothing, It is what it is , and i love you.

We should be more grateful for what we have.

Ok, maybe dark chocolate Loop D Loops ?

Sonny noggs · 12-06-2019 9:38am

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

i would make it summer all year round!

Won’t affect the rain if today is anything to go by.

Marhay70 · 12-06-2019 9:46am

TuringBot47 wrote: »

While it's all we have at the moment, democracy gives us some of the most inept leaders. Maybe introduce a system where people have to train and complete courses in leadership, do exams and go through serious interviews and screening to become a member of government.

Democracy doesn't give us inept leaders, stupid Irish people who can't see the wood for the trees give us inept leaders

Plopsu · 12-06-2019 9:46am

After 5 convictions, any further convictions should carry the maximum tariff for the crime. Nobody will get life for stealing a bicycle but they will get the longest sentence they can. I believe the majority of crime is recidivist. If we made a serious effort to get those people off the streets, I'd imagine the crime rate would plummet.

Wanderer78 · 12-06-2019 9:48am

Plopsu wrote:

After 5 convictions, any further convictions should carry the maximum tariff for the crime. Nobody will get life for stealing a bicycle but they will get the longest sentence they can. I believe the majority of crime is recidivist. If we made a serious effort to get those people off the streets, I'd imagine the crime rate would plummet.

Would it really, or would it just cause an overall rise in the cost of running our judicial system?

Sonny noggs · 12-06-2019 9:50am

Plopsu wrote: »

After 5 convictions, any further convictions should carry the maximum tariff for the crime. Nobody will get life for stealing a bicycle but they will get the longest sentence they can. I believe the majority of crime is recidivist. If we made a serious effort to get those people off the streets, I'd imagine the crime rate would plummet.

Plus get rid of this concurrent sentencing lark, consecutive only please. And remission to be earned not automatic.

handlemaster · 12-06-2019 9:59am

It wouldnt be just one thing... .

Longer Jail sentences , after 10 convictions you get automatically 10 years
Weather more sun
false claims such as accusations of rape, or even claims for compensation are dealt with more sturdily with an eye to what would have been the implications for the accused or the plaintiff
Better child care facilities for all, those earning more would contribute more
Same or close to same maternity for fathers , allowance of the sharing of the maternity leave
higher penalties for speeding drivers, linked to your income
Fines etc handed out by the court are linked immediately to your payments wheather that be your salary or social welfare payments
For council housing the offer of the free house can be anywhere on the island of Ireland, including northern Ireland , the welfare payment been taken care of by the jurisdiction from where you come. If the housing offered after the second offering is refused you are taken off the list.
DNA testing for absent parents and rapid decisions on payments to be made to the parent in charge of the kids
Fathers rights to their kids be automatically enshrined in law
All education becomes non denominational unless the schooling is privately paid
Phasing in of a 4 day week

Plopsu · 12-06-2019 10:05am

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Would it really, or would it just cause an overall rise in the cost of running our judicial system?

I'd imagine there would be a rise in cost if we were actually keeping career criminals in jail. I'd also say there would be savings elsewhere.

If you could change one thing about Ireland...

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