Will the Greens leave government without any political reform being achieved?

[Delusional or careerist?]

Stephen Collins piece in the Times on Saturday addressed the need for reform. He notes how little activity our politicians engaged with on Lisbon and noted 'the notion of national interest is beyond the ken many engaged in party politics. He added later 'this personalised, issue-free concept of politics is precisely what has brought the country to its current sorry pass.. He states later 'the emphasis being placed by the greens in their current negotiations with ff on the need for measures to transform Irish politics actually goes to the heart of the problem'

[teachertime]

...I don't think they will be leaving government anytime soon.

[lostexpectation]

but we still won't have enforcement any time soon

[Congalltee]

The last 2 years would be rendered fairly pointless if this is so. The only political reform they have achieved is a cap on spending in local elections.

Their priorities in my view should be:
1. Reducing the size of the dail to about 120.
2. Increasing the size of the constituencies.
3. Ban civil servants from responding to TDs reps on medical cards, social welfare appeals and planning applications.
4. Give Standards in Public Office power to initiate investigations. Give them full garda support/powers.
5. use senate to oversee all public appointments.
6. Ban corporate donations - they can't vote so why can view influence politics to reflect the views of their directors?
7. major major planning reform.
8. Give local authorities power to raise income from sustainable sources ie not development levies and car tax.

The legacy of these reforms would be far greater than the minor achievements to date. But will they see the bigger picture and extract concessions from the weakest FF leader ever?

Most of these are within the power of John Gormley - what is the reasons for his delay?

[Congalltee]

The last 2 years would be rendered fairly pointless if this is so. The only political reform they have achieved is a cap on spending in local elections.

Their priorities in my view should be:
1. Reducing the size of the dail to about 120.
2. Increasing the size of the constituencies.
3. Ban civil servants from responding to TDs reps on medical cards, social welfare appeals and planning applications.
4. Give Standards in Public Office power to initiate investigations. Give them full garda support/powers.
5. use senate to oversee all public appointments.
6. Ban corporate donations - they can't vote so why can view influence politics to reflect the views of their directors?
7. major major planning reform.
8. Give local authorities power to raise income from sustainable sources ie not development levies and car tax.

The legacy of these reforms would be far greater than the minor achievements to date. But will they see the bigger picture and extract concessions from the weakest FF leader ever?

Coalition government with FF is like the relationship between terrorists and their hostages, during reign of the PDs Everyone knew who played which role, under the Greens it is also obvious, but is in reverse.

[Congalltee]

The last 2 years would be rendered fairly pointless if this is so. The only political reform they have achieved is a cap on spending in local elections.

Their priorities in my view should be:
1. Reducing the size of the dail to about 120.
2. Increasing the size of the constituencies.
3. Ban civil servants from responding to TDs reps on medical cards, social welfare appeals and planning applications.
4. Give Standards in Public Office power to initiate investigations. Give them full garda support/powers.
5. use senate to oversee all public appointments.
6. Ban corporate donations - they can't vote so why can view influence politics to reflect the views of their directors?
7. major major planning reform.
8. Give local authorities power to raise income from sustainable sources ie not development levies and car tax.

The legacy of these reforms would be far greater than the minor achievements to date. But will they see the bigger picture and extract concessions from the weakest FF leader ever?

The Greens have fewer than 700 days in government left (about 70 days if you believe the rumours on the Docklands report). What can they say was their greatest achievement in political reform?

[civilservant]

The Greens have fewer than 700 days in government left (about 70 days if you believe the rumours on the Docklands report). What can they say was their greatest achievement in political reform?

What rumours on the Docklands report?