Why haven't FFG implemented any Reform in the last 30 years?

Cluedo Monopoly

Given the local elections are around the corner, I am amazed how none of the political parties are outlining the lack of much needed public sector reform. We are decades talking about it. But nothing gets done. The 2015 Public Sector Standards Bill was drafted and looked promising but alas it was never pushed through the Dail by FG. It's 9 years under review now.

We've had expensive Tribunals and many reports, multiple RTE Investigates and Primetime programs and even a comprehensive Fine Gael New Politics document in 2011 calling for the need of reform and more powers to the organisations (e.g. SIPO) that monitor waste, planning corruption, fraud, mismanagement etc. Everyone acknowledges the need for more reform and accountability. But nothing gets done.

Fine Gael's New Politics manifesto before the 2011 election stated this:

"The finger of responsibility must, in the first instance, point directly to the massive
policy failures of the recent Fianna-Fail led Governments and their willingness to promote
the interests of a so-called “Golden Circle” over the interests of the Citizen. Under Fianna
Fail a political culture developed which ensured that the bankers and the developers were not
dealt with before it was too late. A culture which tolerates cosy cartels and high costs in the
private sector and ignores the need for radical reform in the public sector."

and

"Any credible plan for reforming the political system must deliver real change to Ireland’s
“permanent government” – the public sector generally, and the civil service in particular."

We all remember the "show me the money" and "i want loads of money RTE Investigates video from a corrupt Fine Gael councillor who was getting paid to provide planning. I believe he is still a councillor. Madness.

The most recent RTE Investigates program summed it up well (Be careful, it could make you angry reading about the chronic waste and expense abuse)

https://www.rte.ie/news/investigations-unit/2022/0323/1287882-council-chamber-secrets-local-authorities/

Local government was a key focus of the Mahon Tribunal's work. The public was promised that political reform in this sector would be swift and emphatic.

The then-Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O'Sullivan, said that the report's recommendations would be implemented "to ensure such behaviour can never, ever happen again".

Her government colleague, Phil Hogan, the then-Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, said he would examine the report and "take whatever further steps are necessary to restore and underpin confidence and transparency in the local government system".

The Mahon Report recommended various changes to legislation concerning local authorities, including the tightening up of rules about conflicts of interests, enhanced reporting requirements for councillors and public officials, and increased powers of investigation for the Standards of Public Office Commission.

In 2015, the prospect of ethics law reform was on the political agenda when a proposed piece of legislation, the Public Sector Standards Bill, was presented to the Dáil.

"For the first time, a uniform framework of ethical regulations will apply at national and local level in Ireland," said Brendan Howlin, the then-Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in a Dáil debate in January 2016.

Of course, all of this sounded promising. But progress on the legislation later ground to a halt.

In August 2017, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe wrote to the Oireachtas Finance Committee to warn that it was "essential that the Committee now quickly moves" to schedule the completion of the committee stage of the proposed legislation.

But this request had little impact.

When asked for an update on the legislation in June 2019, an Oireachtas official replied that the Dáil term was due to finish the following month and that "All our remaining meetings are fully accounted for, and there are no plans to deal with this Bill in the remaining time".

The delays continued, and once the 2020 General Election was called, the bill died.

With the Public Sector Standards Bill now a distant memory, the Government's latest initiative is a "review" of ethics legislation. In November 2021, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, told the Dáil that this review had begun, describing it as "a very significant body of work".

"We still have outstanding recommendations from tribunals of inquiry that reported several years ago, and I am determined to make progress in that area," said Mr McGrath.

Given the pace of reform, it doesn't appear that anything meaningful will happen anytime soon.

As John Devitt of Transparency International Ireland put it, "Turkeys don't vote for Christmas."

=================

Reform anyone? Any party? Ever? New Politics was just FG lies?

skimpydoo

Reform will never happen as long as FF, FF, Labour or the Greens are in government. They like things the way they are as it suits them and their cronies. You have to wonder why Eamon Ryan has 8 advisors and why Leo Varadkar had 8 advisors. If reform was implemented the amount of advisors Ryan and Varadkar would have been cut.

If a new party gets in government after the next election they will execute reform and if they go in with any of the current government parties or Labour it must be one of their red lines that is enacted ASAP and not started near the end of their government term as it will leave us with what we have now. Kicking the can down the road for the next government to deal with.

Cluedo Monopoly

Why would FFG want reform? Great money in planning corruption. First reported by The Ditch.

https://www.ontheditch.com/fine-gael-candidate-withdrew-objection/

===

Marian Agrios pulled out of contention for a Drogheda Rural seat on Louth County Council on Tuesday after it was reported that she had allegedly received money and building work at her home in return for withdrawing a planning objection.

In a statement, Ms Agrios said: “What occurred was wrong, and I am extremely sorry for it. It should not have happened.”

In her reaction to a report on The Ditch news website, she said her name would still appear on the ballot paper, but she appealed to constituents not to vote for her.

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/fine-gael-candidate-drops-out-after-planning-allegations-1631066.html

Floppybits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122146585#Comment_122146585

Just on this what happened to Leo Varadkars 8 advisors when he stepped down? Were they let go or were they dished out to other Ministers as advisors? Surely Varadkar doesn't need advisors anymore now that he is just a back bencher twiddling his thumbs till the Dáil is dissolved and the General Election begins.

keeponhurling

Political parties will generally try to push the interests of their members/voters.

There is no way that anybody who wants to see significant reform will be even considering voting for FF or FG.

FF and FG know how elections and politics work. They are competing for the voters who prefer the status quo.

It's like asking why don't right-wing parties introduce left-wing policies, or vice versa. Because they don't want to and nobody expects them to.

skimpydoo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122196846#Comment_122196846

Sorry, Leo had 8 advisors before he stepped down.

purifol0

Well there are a few reasons

1. Votes
2. Unionization
3. Strike action
4. Pay: politicians pay and public sector pay are now linked!
5. (Most controversial) Public sector is vast majority female and this is increasing due to women's inherent in-group preference (sexist hiring policies). Any attempt by male politicians to change this or even fire women is political suicide.
6. Most people don't care enough, therefore politicians don't have to care enough. If they can throw money at a problem they will.
7. If politicians actually wanted to reform the public sector they would need the h support of the public - only way to get that is to publish full salaries and pensions and lump sums with names attached.

Floppybits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122200109#Comment_122200109

Apologies my mistake Leo have 6 advisors, its Eamon Ryan who has the 8.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-40055030.html

jmayo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122200152#Comment_122200152

A lot of truth there.

The HSE and public health system for instance is vested interest riddled and the moment anyone tries to make any changes they rattle someones cage and it is stopped.

And by vested interests I include admin staff unions, nursing unions, technical workers unions, consultant and doctor representative bodies, civil servants, patient groups, public pressure groups and political lobbyists.

And politicians do not want to anything in case any of the above get rattled and cost them votes.

BTW I see this thread framed in such a way that assumes that other parties bar FG, FF, GP, Labour would actually do something.

That is a load of shyte when you see the alternatives been very much pro union and only too willing to stick their own snouts in the trough given the chance.

gossamerfabric

I had a hope when the Troika came to town that the rent-seekers and insiders would be finally left carrying the can and removed from the landscape. if it didn't happen then it never will.

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122200152#Comment_122200152

It won't be easy but the fish rots from the head. Start with planning corruption and dodgy councillor expenses/waste in local councils. We know it's rife. Give SIPO and ombudsmen the powers they need. How many times have politicians said that SIPO needed more powers?