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I've decide to ensure that regular people can comment on some of the ideas received by the Ideas Campaign. It has struck me as very odd that a self described Grass Root campaign doesn't allow grass roots people to comment on the ideas they've received. So here's the first batch and I'll be post the others as the day goes on.
The best approach would be to cut and paste the particular idea you want to comment on into a response and then make your comment otherwise it will be impossible to follow.
Ideas: batch #1
The Ideas Campaign - sample of ideas received since campaign launch
Here is a selection of the ideas that have been pouring into the Ideas Campaign website. Please note that some have been edited, for space or clarity. An idea’s inclusion on the website does not indicate it will be included in our final action plan for the Government.
Agriculture and Food
My policy idea is to introduce small half acre ‘plots’ for the general population to produce their own produce - after all we are in a monetary “wartime” situation.
All-Island Economy
There is an unnecessary duplication in Ireland between infrastructure in the north and the south. We could do a lot to improve the economic outlook for the entire island by working more closely together in transport, road and rail infrastructure and the delivery of health services. The objective of this all-island approach would be to reduce the amount of public money we spend on these necessary services.
In addition, the north is a lower wage, lower price economy, and the south needs to move towards changing its higher wage, higher price status as a means of attracting more foreign direct investment.
Construction
Many schools are awaiting government funding for either their construction or renovation and have outline or defined planning permission. In the interim, they are using temporary rented facilities to tide them over until the government approves construction.
We need the communities where these projects are currently ‘approved’ to invest in them. If 100 persons invest in the project with €10k each for a 1% share there is €1million immediately available for the project.
These investors can then offer the government the use of the facility at a 7% cost to the government per annum. This would work out as cheap as or cheaper than the rental cost for the temporary facilities currently in use. This project will also get construction companies back to work, generate tax revenue and stimulate spending.
The government is committed to a certain level of investment in NDP infrastructure projects. We should refocus this investment into a school rebuilding programme where there is a large amount of prefabs etc. These projects should not be tendered to contractors, but should be project-managed with a focus on building five schools for the cost of three at 2008 costs.
* (This idea is very long and detailed and has had to be edited for space
reasons).
Culture
Hold a music and dance Olympics in Ireland to boost tourism.
Culture
Create an ‘IFSC’ for the creative industries. Attempts to ‘hub’ industries and to cluster the tech sector -around ‘The Digital Hub’ for example - have meant that auxiliary industries like advertising, media, fashion without a technological edge have been excluded.
The ‘Creative’ Industries span advertising, through to film-making, entertainment and fashion. Simply put, my idea is to create a brand for Ireland to become a hub location for the likes of media conglomerates, fashion houses and advertising and marketing agencies.
A combination of our geographic location, our language and our entrepreneurial spirit - not to mention decent tax breaks - should enable us to compete with London, Paris or Amsterdam as a hub for marketing and entertainment/lifestyle excellence.
Education
Education in Ethics needs to form part of the core school curriculum from primary school onwards. The purpose of this is to ensure that we instill in our children, the leaders of the future, what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
It is clear to me that despite the State’s reliance on the Roman Catholic Church to provide primary and secondary school education, it has not delivered a values framework which supports the development and creation of a society which places significant value on behaving in an ethical manner.
This needs to change if we are to ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
Green Business
The government should set up a domestic offsetting scheme that rewards companies by allocating equivalent carbon permits for activities to reduce emissions.
Such a scheme could provide a revenue stream for Irish projects in areas that are not covered by the EU ETS.
Innovation
I grew up and worked outside Ireland and now live here. In line with views expressed by David McWilliams, I have been aware of the enormous community of Irish people all over the world. The potential of this community is totally undervalued by us in Ireland
Innovation
Innovation has to start at a young age. Malcolm Gladwell’s recent book Outliers has been a great inspiration for me. I highly recommend it if you want to consider where the most effective and influential people get their start - it’s when they are young.
I believe a rich, in-depth learning experience - even in a short burst during the summer - could give young people a pivotal experience to get them excited about learning and explore their own potential.
As a teenager in the US, my experiences of taking part in weekend classes at the local university were enriching. I got a taste of the seriousness, rigour and energy of that environment. It was so different than my high school experience.
The IT here in Sligo has some 20 computer labs, many lecture halls and classrooms and resources lying fallow over the summer months. It seems like something great could be done with these facilities. I see an opportunity and I just want to get it off the ground.
Innovation
Universal Design is a simple but powerful concept - designing things to be accessed, understood and used by people regardless of age, size or ability. It applies to buildings, to products and to ’soft’ environments like computer systems and the Internet.
As populations age and dependency ratios (the number of people at retirement age versus those of working age) becomes a critical issue in western countries, Universal Design is becoming a very hot topic.
Ireland already has a taken a leadership position by establishing a state-supported Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (Home) under the Disability Act 2005.
My idea is that the Government should attempt to make Ireland a centre for excellence in Universal Design. Build it into our thinking and hot-house our capabilities in this area.
Start with those already working in construction, product design and IT / Internet and offer intensive, subsidised training. We should work down from there to third level and second level, and also raise overall public awareness of the Universal Design concept.
Pharmaceutical / biopharmaceutical / medical devices
My idea is for what is known as a ‘Translational Research Network’. This is a network of clinicians and scientists dedicated to developing new medical treatments for patients. Translational research occupies a unique space at the interface of basic science research and clinical practice.
Scientists and clinicians collaborate to transform new scientific discoveries into new treatments for patients. This involves the molecular dissection of the fundamental characteristics of disease to allow treatment to be more individualised/patient-specific.
It is part of the journey towards personalised medicine where therapies are tailored to the patients’ genome.
Healthcare benefits include more sustainable health services, better prognosis, the optimisation of drug dosages, fewer side-effects and improved quality of life for patients.
Economic benefits include:
- Supporting the pharmaceutical and related healthcare industries
- Attracting foreign direct investment
- Supporting high-level employment growth
- Sales/outputs of new medicines
- Income from production, lab and clinical trials services
Ireland has the capability to build this network at a relatively low cost as the translational wing of the Irish Clinical Oncology Research Group (ICORG) has already had considerable success and has developed blockbuster medicines such as Lapatinib, Sulindac and Herceptin.
If we make this a priority and train and fund the key people required, we can expect huge returns in the medium term. Enterprise Ireland would fund most of the infrastructure and costs of clinical trials. Other countries are investing massively in this area - here is just one example: National Cancer Institute USA
Pharmaceutical / bio pharmaceutical / medical devices
I have my own business in the medical device sector. Last year, this sector accounted for approximately 10% of our GDP. We have huge potential to grow that sector, but it has to be driven by market need (or in this sector clinical need). This market/clinical connection is one we have not yet strategically pursued.
We have some ad hoc connections with leading clinicians, but no structured and concerted approach to make hundreds of connections with the opinion leading clinicians in the world market.
Sectoral and national plans are required for this. As part of funding and focusing on sectors and potential markets like this, Pareto Analysis must be applied now.
* (This idea is very long and detailed and has had to be edited for space reasons).
Policy
We should make it a national policy that all business, service etc reduce their cost to the consumer by 10% - the hairdresser is 10% less, the bin man 10% less, the doctor is 10% less, the shopkeeper reduces his profit margin by 10%. I will sell our custom-made curtains for 10% less.
This way, all services will be cheaper so our reduced wages will go further and hopefully we will be able to restore some of our competitiveness. Businesses may survive and a reduced profit is better than 100% of no business.
Policy
Short term measures to stimulate the economy and create jobs may not be getting the focus they require.
These proposals are for a ‘tax package’ setting Ireland apart internationally as a location for business. These could generate significant investment in new and existing multinationals and indigenous export companies.
- As part of the Government Guarantee Scheme for the banks, set up a new fund - managed by the banks - which would invest over €500 million this year in export-oriented businesses headquartered in Ireland. Impact: Ireland will become a ‘Mecca’ for companies all over Europe and the world in setting up and developing emerging knowledge intensive businesses
- Companies certified by Enterprise Ireland (and Country Enterprise Boards) who have not made a profit, because of their investment in research and development, should be give an Income Tax rebate. Impact: This would allow these companies survive and develop into profitable, sustainable enterprises, especially in cases where they are finding it difficult to raise funds.
* (This idea is very long and detailed and has had to be edited for space reasons).
Policy
Would it not be better to have a person in tax-free employment than on the dole costing the state money?
Policy
Generic drugs are much cheaper than branded drugs and could save millions in government finances. Why not push for these obvious savings?
Policy
Thousands of us have been putting money aside for our retirements over the past number of years into pension funds. My proposal is simple. Those of us in our twenties/thirties who are watching our pension investments dwindle should be allowed to access a percentage of these investments to cover the months/years ahead. This legislation could be limited to those who have become unemployed.
Retail
My idea is simple. Each shopper switches to at least one Irish product - for example, I changed from buying Benecol plant sterol lowering cholesterol margarine to Kerry Foods’ plant sterol lowering cholesterol margarine.
It’s the same product, the same price, but it’s Irish. I am also buying Donegal Catch fish, instead of Bird’s Eye. I have also switched to Irish honey and I shop in the farmer’s market in Dun Laoghaire. If enough shoppers did this, this would go to preserving/creating Irish jobs.
Retail
My idea is an interim short term solution for border towns in ROI - with particular reference to Dundalk — to regain the business of all the Dublin/ Kildare/ Meath shoppers and shoppers from further afield who are traveling to Newry and other northern towns for their shopping.
Retailers in southern border towns need to analyse prices in the north and then price match as far as possible with their northern competitors. They could attract shoppers into Dundalk and other towns on the basis of a price match campaign. Ok, retailers in Dundalk may not be able to turn a profit doing this, but they may just be able to stay in business.
Retail
This idea isn’t new; it’s already very successful in Britain. What might be new is that it could help the lease car trade which is surely suffering in the downturn. Car clubs here in Britain allow you to join a club for a small set fee, then hire a car if and when you need it.
You pay for each hire by time/petrol. It’s environmentally sound: people only use the cars when they need them, taking public transport if they don’t absolutely need their own wheels. It saves money - you can get rid of your car and all its costs - insurance, tax etc.
Services
My idea is this; encourage small and medium businesses to outsource some of their operations to local freelancers. This can apply to any sector. I’m currently in the early stages of setting up such a business providing an administration and human resource function.
I began with an idea for this business late last year at just about the time the dreaded “R” word first surfaced but feel it’s an idea I can still pursue. I’m not only thinking in terms of my own business, but of all other providers of freelance services be it administration, photography, design, marketing etc.
It seems to me that it would be less expensive for smaller companies to outsource when necessary rather than hire a full time or part time employee. Services can be offered on a fee-for-service basis allowing clients outsource as their business demands. This approach would allow them to focus on their core business competencies.
Social and Voluntary
I am a qualified plumber and unemployed. I have received two phone calls from local families who have had problems with their heating systems. They could not afford to get the problems fixed and both were left with no heating. I called to both families and resolved both problems free of charge. I am fully sure there are many families that are now in the same situation.
My idea is to set up an emergency plumbing/heating service - a service that is not profit driven, a service that provides assistance to the less fortunate in today’s economy.
The main reason why most services are expensive is due to the outlays. The costs of insurance, transportation, fuel and premises all have to be taken into account when invoices are made.
With some assistance I am certain these outlays can be reduced and a low cost service provided. Talks could be had with local Councils to secure insurance.
* (This idea is very long and detailed and has had to be edited for space reasons).
Sport
Bring back betting tax as gambling is a luxury and has the potential to put a vast amount of money back into the exchequer.
Sport
Working in sport it is frustrating to see that a lot of the state money invested in sport goes to ‘equestrian’ sport. This is a sport that makes enough capital in its own right and does not need the support of Government/ISC funding.
I think that they need to go ahead with the Abbotstown Development and with the allocation of Sports Capital Grants. I also believe the Local Authority Swimming Pool Program needs to go ahead as a matter of urgency. Everyday there are reports of increasing rates of obesity and the Government unfortunately have a short-term vision for the sports’ budget.
If sport is not invested in now, then the HSE will be paying €60,000 per person for special beds to hold obese patients in 20 years time.
Sporting initiatives should not be scrapped; they should be increased! Another idea is to stop the politics in Irish sport. We want the Olympic dreams of younger generations to have a hope of being fulfilled. We have to invest in sport.
Technology
Skype is free telephony online. It is also a language development tool. With Skype you can see, hear, and text your student simultaneously as well as reading from the same website or discussing the same website.
An Ghaeilge is a natural linguistic resource unique to Ireland, and 48 universities worldwide now teach Irish.
If Gaeltacht communities and households with access to the internet via broadband set up contacts with universities or the Diaspora interested in the language, skype Gaeilge lessons could ensue. This could promote cultural and linguistic tourism and strengthen the language itself.
Tourism
Dublin Port has the potential to be transformed into a major European hotspot for leisure and tourism. It could be modelled on Sydney Harbour and could have major casinos, conference facilities, and sports arenas for indoor and outdoor sports.
A major marina and small private airport could be offered free of charge for a number of years to attract the really “high flyers”. There would also be a commercial tourism centre for the general tourist who is interested in travelling to Dublin and Ireland. The existing shipping port would be transferred to the proposed deep sea port in Balbriggan.
The port area should include the bay area from Howth to Dun Laoghaire with new beach areas developed around Sandymount in the south and the Sutton in the north. The possibilities are endless - we need to have vision to see how this project could be brought home.
The Government should take a controlling interest in this project, but tender it worldwide to attract a consortium of major tourism promoters. This is a 10/20 year development project that will give Dublin all its major infrastructural transport facilities. It is akin to the development of Euro Disney in Paris, maybe even bigger.
Tourism
We need to get more people into the country. And here’s how. Our planes are flying out to such places as America, Dubai, Russia etc. and some are coming back with 20-25% empty seats. So what we need to do is, in conjunction with our embassies around the world, give these seats away free of charge.
Those who get the seats will be responsible for their return trip home. Here is how the economy wins: people who avail of the free seats to Ireland have to stay somewhere (hotels), they have to eat (restaurants), they will socialise (pubs) and they will buy gifts (retail).
This is a simple measure; it only needs the willpower. These seats are empty - let’s fill them
Transport
Many cars on the road haven’t passed an NCT test. Insurance companies should be legally obliged to need evidence of NCT pass certs before giving insurance (including renewal) and the motor tax office should be obliged to confirm similar information before taxing a car.
By doing this, garages, big and small, will get business from cars being serviced and repaired. Also, it may encourage some people to scrap their old banger and purchase a new car. Finally, would this not also ensure that the cars on our roads are safer? This can only be a good thing. If this test isn’t enforced in all areas, why bother getting it done at all?
Transport
With disposable income falling through redundancy, pay cuts and imminent rising taxation, we should - in parallel to innovative job creation - cut down on unnecessary spending on transport.
We need serious, prolonged, in-your-face campaigns to get us to car share and use buses and bikes where appropriate.
Involve large numbers of high profile people from business and public life to sell the message on condition that their time is voluntary.
We need campaigns to persuade office managers to accept less flexible commuting patterns of employees who switch from cars to car pools and buses.
Compensate in part through flexible work-at-home arrangements. Have visible but very modest rewards for people’s efforts - e.g. gift vouchers for cars with 3+ adult passengers coming off the M50 slips (ditto on the ring roads in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford) and pay for it with a modest fuel.
* (This idea is very long and detailed and has had to be edited for space reasons).
Transport
It must surely be more economical and ecologically friendly to share transport. A transport website recording vacant space on trucks or containers might assist businesses in continuing to export goods while reducing their costs.
This system might also be applicable to domestic transport, thereby reducing traffic and costs to business. Needless to say, this could only apply to packaged goods and not bulk contained freight.
Transport
The government should give a grant of €250 for a course of driving lessons to anyone buying a car.
With more cars on the road there will be more tax revenue for the government. Making drivers safer will also reduce road accidents and save the country money.
Every road death costs the government upwards of a 350 road deaths last year cost the country upwards of €350million. Less death and destruction on our roads will save millions.
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Originally Posted by Dios
