Re: Impending Coup
I'm sure a sufficient number of bye-elections would be called immediately in the event of protest resignations reducing the number of TDs to that level
Ireland is doomed to be a sickly member of the 'developed' world as long as the vast majority of our TDs are parish-pump merchants. And as such, they are very susceptible to pressure from vested interest groups like ICTU.
Most TDs realise what we need to do to sustain a health society and economy i.e.
-Introduce radical electoral reform - retain PR, but based on single seat constituencies
-Introduce a list system
-Eliminate the Senad - possibly replace with an upper chamber that is elected through universal suffrage - if there is a credible rationale for a second chamber. I'm personally not convinced there is such a rationale.
-Reduce number of TDs significantly - to 1:50,000 voters
-Reduce size of cabinet - Taoiseach,Finance, Education,Health,Welfare,Environment,Industry,Agriculture and one miscellaneous(tourism,Gaelteacht,defense etc.)
-Eliminate junior minister role - farm out tasks to TDs instead
-Radically reform local government- thus allowing TDs to govern the country, while local issues are managed locally
An approach along these lines would facilitate a step-change in the way we are governed. It would free the Dail from the shackles of the parish-pump mentality, and from the gombeen brigade. A list system would make it possible to headhunt the best and brightest, from industry and academia for roles in government.
It would encourage TDs to take a longer term strategic view of the direction the country could and should take - as this is the benchmark the voters would use i.e. national elections for a national perspective.
I'm sure this approach would generate its own problems, however, it offers the possibility of a step-change in the quality and effectiveness of governance.
Unfortunately, not one TD in the Dail is willing to promote such an agenda - and so, Dail reform will continue to be a pious aspiration of the opposition - which is quickly dropped once power is secured.
So rock on ICTU and the IFA,IBEC, and the Consultants, the Law Library, and Healy-Rae, and Lowry and ....you are free to run this country....into the ground....