govwaste.ie
Welcome to govwaste.ie. A website for which there should be little or no need if we had a national parliament that worked. What we have because of its adversarial structure is one that cannot work. Perhaps many of the nearly 40% who decided not to vote did so because they know this and cannot see an offer of change. The behaviour of all in the Dail on Wednesday 22nd January 2025 will only worsen the level of public engagement. Sadly our government system appears to be a waste of time (spent fighting), energy (fighting absorbs energy), talent, money, and more. It leads to dysfunction as we saw on the 22nd. For the remainder of the 34th Dail this dysfunction will be there, no doubt raising its ugliness daily. Shame on those who take part. Instead of arguing they should be demanding an end to this wasteful behaviour. Govwaste is now going to take the lead in calling for this.
Consider if two identical businesses started tomorrow and one allowed its workforce to divide into two or more opposing camps, each with its own leader and who got into constant conflict with the other groups.
Then consider the other business which made sure that while there was an overall leader that it was the responsibility of that leader to unite everyone.
We all appreciate that we will always have “camps” (in this case parties). That’s human nature. We cannot and should not change this but we must always be looking for ways to integrate rather than cause conflict and division.
The best way to unite people from different camps is to give individuals from each camp some responsibility.
Ironically to get a group of independents on board this is what FF/FG have done but in this case to get an majority which lead to inevitable fighting with what is a very large minority.
To avoid the waste of time, energy, talent that is the result of all the fighting Govwaste has a proposal. In the interest of all, most especially our young people who need both leadership and hope. Govwaste proposes our elected representatives elect a leader using the PR system who will then appoint ministers from all parties. These posts are not as powerful as one might think. It’s the collective democratic vote of the people first and then the democratic vote of their elected representatives who should be the ultimate decision makers.
The elected leader’s success and legacy will be how well the whole parliament worked. The TDs who will be given extra responsibility will now be judged by the voters on their roles rather than as opposers.
The only vote that needs a group whip system in place in the vote on the Budget.
Finally, we cannot continue with the present system.
If you read this far. Thank you.
Govwaste also suggests that we cannot continue with a parish pump politics system, rewarding (that’s democracy) but demanding that an elected TD continues to provide services that they are not employed to do once elected to a national parliament. Why go to your TD when you have councillors, public offices for all departments and wonderful citizens advice offices?
Many TDs came from our Councils. Some only spent a few weeks there before bringing the role of councillors with them to the Dail. If they are not now prepared to put the national interest first govwaste suggests they go back to their council jobs and let people who will give more of their time to national interests take over.
National interests are local interests. Local interests are for local councils. Those local councils can well negociate with any on behalf government
Govwaste believes that many TDs (suggest media does a poll) would like to see this parish pump politics ending but like election posters, they are afraid not to partake. As things stand they may be right. We need to help them break this cycle. The voters need to make this demand if we are to move forward.
