The new party this country needs...

...think there's a thread elsewhere on Amhran Nua. Frankly I'm not so sure this country needs more ideology, a new approach to Europe, a different type of republicanism, more capitalist or socialist ideas. Tbh, I'm not really interested in hearing someone else think up new aims and build a party around that, although good luck to them.

What it possibly needs is an anti corruption party. Just someone to stand up in many constituencies and say they have no allegiances, they owe no favours, they are running to bring some integrity back into politics. Take Martin Bell in the 1997 UK elections, solely to take out Neil Hamilton.

axer

Deleted User wrote: »

...think there's a thread elsewhere on Amhran Nua. Frankly I'm not so sure this country needs more ideology, a new approach to Europe, a different type of republicanism, more capitalist or socialist ideas. Tbh, I'm not really interested in hearing someone else think up new aims and build a party around that, although good luck to them.

What it possibly needs is an anti corruption party. Just someone to stand up in many constituencies and say they have no allegiances, they owe no favours, they are running to bring some integrity back into politics. Take Martin Bell in the 1997 UK elections, solely to take out Neil Hamilton.

You cannot get into power without some people doing you favours. Where does the party get its money from to put up posters etc? You idea is an idealogical dream but a non runner.

axer

axer wrote: »

Where does the party get its money from to put up posters etc? You idea is an idealogical dream but a non runner.

I suspect you'd get a fair few people who are just so fed up they would contribute money. I don't mean on some 'what can they do for me' basis, but solely in an effort to curb the excesses of the current incumbents.

Darragh29

But do you not think that the gravity of our woes now require a party to have more than an anti corruption platform???

P. Breathnach

So we get a Dáil full of non-corrupt people in white suits whose only election platform was to oppose all corruption. Then somebody asks "what do we do now?" and the whole thing freezes up: they have no mandate to do anything other than be honest, and it would not be honest to implement policies that were not in their manifesto.

I don't think we get a Dail full of anti-corruption TDs or they will get into power and have to consider issues like taxation. I can't remember that Martin Bell being asked too many questions on his attitude to global warming. Single issue candidates have often run here, say on matters like local hospitals, and they have a habit of throwing a real spanner in the works. Why can't the single issue be corruption?

Darragh29

Deleted User wrote: »

I don't think we get a Dail full of anti-corruption TDs or they will get into power and have to consider issues like taxation. I can't remember that Martin Bell being asked too many questions on his attitude to global warming. Single issue candidates have often run here, say on matters like local hospitals, and they have a habit of throwing a real spanner in the works. Why can't the single issue be corruption?

I'd say why can't anti corruption be one of the many items on the list of things that will be taken seriously.... I mean look at what we're asking for here, the situation is that bad, we're looking for a party to come along and basically assure us that they won't be corrupt!?!?!?! Being part of government is one of the highest honours a citizen can expect the people of the country to give him or her, and we feel that we have to get a party that will commit to nothing other than to not be a corrupted party in government???

Darragh29

Darragh29 wrote: »

I'd say why can't anti corruption be one of the many items on the list of things that will be taken seriously...

Because there will be a difference of opinion on other matters. I mean, NAMA should be taken seriously, but 2 people who might well agree that sleaze must be tackled out may have completely differing economic ideas. This is a country where we are presenting a coalition of FG and former Workers party members as the alternative!

I think the issue of corruption is now so great in this country that one could cobble together people of differing politcicl ideology who agree that, say, County Kerry should not be represented by a gunrunning terrorist, a CC who fiddled while Rome burned, an independant who is entitled to free travel yet claims he pays for it (which I think means he's screwing us twice as oposed to just once!) etc.

Biggins

If we are talking about corruption, myself, here is some of the changes I'd like to see:
I thrown these out at random. Discuss and pull apart if ye wish.
Its just food for thought the way my head sometimes thinks - and more often than not, its wrong!

* Clearer, every day accountability of state expenditure and state payouts to those that are serving in the publics name. All vast majority of state financial records to be available to the public in order for them to see where exactly their tax Euros is being spent - the exception being state related security issues, in some cases.

* Stronger accountability by those who work for the state as elected public representatives. They being paid a more responsible wage in line with the public and not the far over inflated and perked, un-vouched, current amount.

* It its not done beforehand, an adoption of a fairer system where the Ceann Comhairle is selected by ALL members of the Dail and not just by the government of the day.

* An accountability system for TD's that are voting on issues. No TD will be allowed to participate in a vote where the outcome will effect them directly one way or another. This means that if a TD also owns for example; a public house, he must either abstain from such a vote that might effect the drinks/business property/profit industry, etc which might be in conflict with the normal voting procedures that are for the common good.

* Any person wishing to stand for future election must have their tax clearance certificates up to date. Any current sitting TDs that have yet to obtain their tax clearance certificates, will have a limited period of time within a set out time limit boundary allocated. The penalties for not having their affairs within order within a specific period, will be the loss of their elected seat, pension benefits and a possible additional fine for every month they fail to further obtain such certificates.

* Lobbying of any elected official shall be strictly controlled. Any attempts to buy/persuade a decisive decision by immediate gain to the elected official or by promise of such gains after they leave office, and that elected person will be held accountable for their unlawful action which conflicts in the interest of the common good. Accountability will extend beyond their years as acting as an elected official. Anyone found guilty of carrying out such lobbying will be sentenced severely with a possible loss of property, business and/or monetary savings.

* A public disclosure system where all elected officials be they at local or national level, list all (direct or indirect) their present businesses.
ANY laws passed with their participation, will be investigated and where it is found that they directly or indirectly benefited from the outcome of such a Dail vote, that elected person will be held accountable for their unlawful action which conflicts in the interest of the common good. Accountability will extend beyond their years as acting as an elected official. Anyone found guilty of carrying out such lobbying will be sentenced severely with a possible loss of property, business and/or monetary savings.

* Much clearer day by day public available listings of what elected officials are doing and where they have been, what benefit it might be to the state and to the people.

* All those standing for election to state for the record their business relationships for public record. Non-disclosure leading to possible loss of seat if conflict of interest is shown and/or tried to be hidden from scrutiny. Also all elected representatives will be penalised to the point where all monetary gain made during the elected period, will be retroactively paid back to the state.

* Any vote that takes place in the Dail, through a subsequent system that is easily accessible and FREE (by a state website service for example) the public will be able to see by clear listing by date, policy, amendment, etc, who exactly voted, what way abstained and who didn't vote at all and/or was not present.

* Applying government high level department experts and professionals desired by state minister TD's, to be examined for available positions, ratified/passed by a qualifying all party committee before being hired.

turgon

While I dont agree with all Biggins said I think there are some good suggestions there. What I would like to see is an online record of which way everyone voted. The US Senate do this on the page for Senators. This page also gives the "party line." The other two options should be abstain and not present.

K-9

Deleted User wrote: »

...think there's a thread elsewhere on Amhran Nua. Frankly I'm not so sure this country needs more ideology, a new approach to Europe, a different type of republicanism, more capitalist or socialist ideas. Tbh, I'm not really interested in hearing someone else think up new aims and build a party around that, although good luck to them.

What it possibly needs is an anti corruption party. Just someone to stand up in many constituencies and say they have no allegiances, they owe no favours, they are running to bring some integrity back into politics. Take Martin Bell in the 1997 UK elections, solely to take out Neil Hamilton.

We tried that with the PD's.

ei.sdraob

Liberals ftw

wherever they are