Does the Irish electorate care about corruption?

[mad world]

With regards to the recent general election do people think that the iRish electorate are particularly bothered about corruption in Irish politics. It seems to me that the the Irish electorate have a particularly high tolerance level for corruption and what do some of our elected representatives have to do in order to be booted out of public office. I doubt whether there are many countries (excluding France or Italy) in Europe that have a sneaking regard for corruption that the Irish electorate. It seems to me that there are sections of the electorate that deep dow in their hearts actually approve of corruption.

[Outside_The_Line]

With regards to the recent general election do people think that the iRish electorate are particularly bothered about corruption in Irish politics. It seems to me that the the Irish electorate have a particularly high tolerance level for corruption and what do some of our elected representatives have to do in order to be booted out of public office. I doubt whether there are many countries (excluding France or Italy) in Europe that have a sneaking regard for corruption that the Irish electorate. It seems to me that there are sections of the electorate that deep dow in their hearts actually approve of corruption.

Indeed, apathy is extremely prevalent amongst the Irish people. What more evidence does one need of this than the ignorance of people regarding the theft of our natural resources and destruction of our heritage sites? Not to mention the continued British presence.

[jerryp]

MW, I think you're right. I remember when some of the excesses of Haughey were revealed, I was shocked at the attitude of so many, " Sure, what more would you expect " or " That's the world of business for you ". We then went on to confirm such thinking by elections of Lowry, Cooper- Flynn, etc. Not to mention the " most cunning ",etc.

[The Earl of Desmond]

But is Ireland corrupt? I mean there is the cute hoorism and me feining and all that but no one has to bride a Garda or a civil servant to get anything and the corruption is at a level which most people don't get to. The actual issue of how it affects people is how the system is set up - and getting that changed ie so that all new housing estates have to have shops and schools and sports fields and be linked to roper public transport etc. No party is clearly setting out what it will change to deal with the midnset which allows parochialism to flourish in Ireland.

[FutureTaoiseach]

We do care about it, but it's not at all the most important factor in determining our vote. The most important thing is policy - most importantly the economy. Corruption does matter but mere allegations of corruption should not compel resignation from office. The Irish people have shown that they want "innocent until proven guilty" to be the standard of proof required to compel removal from office. Not some Blueshirt witch-hunt.

[The Earl of Desmond]

Policy! Are you taking the p - FT? If you ask a voter what the poicy of any party on any issue is they haven't the faintest - they don't even know themselves - we need a good health service and something for the kids - etc etc - is about the best response you could hope for.

Irish people vote with their pocket. I can guarantee you if someone was up against the wall on Monday and were dead set on voting the gov out and by Friday they had their giro and a few quid for a few pints then on Friday they'd vote for the government.

I wonder how many people voted FF and then the next day could not for the life of them tell you why they did it.

[FutureTaoiseach]

Well isn't the economy part of "policy"?

[Outside_The_Line]

Policy! Are you taking the p - FT? If you ask a voter what the poicy of any party on any issue is they haven't the faintest - they don't even know themselves - we need a good health service and something for the kids - etc etc - is about the best response you could hope for.

Irish people vote with their pocket. I can guarantee you if someone was up against the wall on Monday and were dead set on voting the gov out and by Friday they had their giro and a few quid for a few pints then on Friday they'd vote for the government.

I wonder how many people voted FF and then the next day could not for the life of them tell you why they did it.

So true.

[mad world]

I personally think that corruption is linked to the type of parish pump politics that is so prevalent in Ireland. Ireland would be less corrupt if wee simply abolished multi-seat constituencies and replaced them with single seat constituencies. Irish people also need to vote on national issues instead of local issues.

[alonso]

this thread on Quarryvale shows exactly what sort of people we call compatriots:

http://www.politics.ie/viewtopic.php?t=22659