Dáil debates

Tuesday, 19 January 2016

Confidence in Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection: Motion [Private Members]

 

9:00 pm

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

In the dark recesses of the Internet I found a great, aspirational document about how political cronyism can be dealt with. It is the Labour Party manifesto for the last general election, entitled "One Ireland: Jobs, Reform, Fairness". Section 9 of that manifesto is entitled “Reforming Politics” and it states:

Time for change

Labour’s pledge is that Ireland will never again be vulnerable to the kinds of abuses of corporate and political power that have risked our country’s sovereignty. To restore confidence at home and abroad in public governance, Ireland must make significant changes in the culture and framework within which business is conducted...

The first steps

- End political cronyism by opening up positions on state boards to all qualified candidates, and require appointments to be scrutinised by the Dáil...

Ending political cronyism

Labour will end the system whereby appointments to state boards are used as a form of political patronage and for rewarding insiders. In future, appointment to boards must be based on a demonstrable capacity to do the job.

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