How this Irish American would reform Irish politics

kinvara7 is on the right track.Can't fault those idea's.

I remember My father organising anti EU rallies as far back as 1967.

Getting out of the European Union and Euro would be a great step. Germany will be running the show as they have tried several times in the past. The European Union will result in a huge anarchy and socialism extremism.

Posted by CitizenWhy on Aug 27, 2011, 09:45 AM EDT As an American, I find it hard to take any American telling any other country how to reform its political system. "Physician, heal thyself." I wholeheartedly agree.

A dificiency in the Irish system (and elsewhere) is the quality of those who get elected. The system favours those who are popular rather than able. That said, there are many able people in the Dail, however they are a minority. We need to bring better people into Irish politics. If we do abolish the Seaned, we should reserve X amount of seats in the Dail for people with certain backgrounds and experience. In my opinion, we should discontinue the office of President and make the Taoiseach both head of State and head of Government. The Taoiseach should be directly elected by the people and serve a fixed term. There should be a clear division between the executive and legislature. The Dail should be smaller, and local councillors should be doing more so that members of the Dail can focus on matters of national importance. The truth of the matter is that reform of political structures will only achieve so much. If we really want to bring about fundamental and lasting change to our Republic, we should be talking about the institutions at its foundation rather than its apex. We should be talking about how we can reform and improve our education system.

Larry you say that the 'profound systemic deficiency in Ireland... is the power balance between the individual politician and the political party.' You state that: 'under the status quo in Ireland, an elected official’s own beliefs, conscience and free will are subjugated to their party’s dictates'. In reality an elected official's 'beliefs' are shaped by what the reaction of their constituents will be. Many choose to vote according to 'their beliefs' when they believe that their seat is in danger. On other occassions you have a situation where Mr. T.D. just doesn't have a clue about the proposed legislation (how many do you think read the NAMA legislation prior to voting?) therefore he relies on others to tell them what to think. I think even if you actively promoted greater independence of thought and opinion, what good would it be in a house that is filled with people whos greatest political aim was to simply get elected and thereafter only think about the next election? Would it achieve better results? I don't think so; it would be the same but slower.

Americans need to sort out their own mess before even considering offering advice to other countries. Unlike America, the Irish are well capable of managing their own affairs. It is not up to the government to decide if the Senate stays or goes, that is a Constitutional matter which can only be decided by the people. The same applies to the number of TD's, which is decided by the people - not the government. Contrary to the regular moronic contributors to this tabloid, the Irish people do have power in the running of our country - unlike the Americans who are TOLD who their President will be, by a third party i.e. the Electoral College. In Ireland, the people alone make that decision. So the next time Americans have advice to give on government - keep it to yourselves and sort out your own mess.

We have enough naysayers in Irish politics who needs a disruptive fascist teaparty movement.

I agree with Citizenwhy....Americans really aren't in a position to be offering advice!!! And, that, pittsburghkid, I say because of the Tea Party....the worst thing that has happened to America in ages...unless you are a very rich person!!!!

Where this is interesting, I feel that you haven't looked at the whole picture, take Garret Fitzgerald, he changed Fine Gael, along with a couple of other into a modern liberal(in the Irish sense) party. He wasn't there for all that long before he became leader, and he didn't always tow the line. Declan Costello gave Fine Gael an ultimatum of publishing his Just Society or he would leave, TDs have powers but they need to use it in the correct way to get places. On the Irish Obama line, it is complete non-sense to think that Ireland needs one. Ireland has a prime minister as oppose to president, the Labour party tried to run a presidential campaign in February and it failed. Most parties in Ireland hold a selection convention to determine who gets on the ticket, often it is the case that only people who have been members for two years can vote. This stops people changing party and messing up their opponents selection process

You need a Tea Party to inject common sense into Ireland. An Irish Obama? It is going to take a few years for the Tea Party to undo the mess Obama has created. Ireland does not need an Obama.

As an American, I find it hard to take any American telling any other country how to reform its political system. "Physician, heal thyself."