Treat TDs as humans, pleads psychiatrist turned politician

Vulnerable to criticism? Stopped trusting your own judgment? Always believe the last thing you read or hear?

Then you could well be one of that select band of 166 men and women who manage the State's affairs, Dail deputies.

In a psychological profile of the modern TD carried out by the consultant psychiatrist Dr Moosajee Bhamjee, the former Labour TD for Clare draws on his experience during five years at Leinster House.

In an unpublished paper entitled "The Psychology of Politics", Dr Bhamjee paints a bleak picture of the effect the corridors of power have on the individual. Having served at Leinster House between 1992 and 1997, he says: "I was surprised at how useful my psychiatric training was when trying to understand politics.

"In my time in the Dail, I saw how the personalities of TDs changed under constant attack. They became unsure of themselves, stopped trusting their own judgment and as a result became very vulnerable to criticism."

He adds: "Some became obsessed by TV news programmes or newspapers and always believed the last thing they heard or read. Others became withdrawn.

"Though constantly in company on the job, they simply began to refuse to listen to what people said, often while giving every impression of being interested."

He observes that there are tricks of the trade every politician must learn. "One of them is never to give definite opinions on anything. Another is to seek ways of suggesting agreement with people.

"This habit starts to seep into the TD's personal life. They never agree or disagree but always give the impression of agreeing without saying anything definite," he writes.

He adds: "The TDs quickly learn the political jargon: the terms are well known: inquiry; look into it; inform the deputy; make representations; contact the Minister; brief and debrief; interim report.

"Every profession has its jargon, but the political one is bizarre. It's used very often to hide inactivity, not to decide on a course of action. Some politicians do come to believe that words are a substitute for actions."

Dr Bhamjee concludes: "Bashing TDs is a national hobby. But I think the public pays dearly for this custom. We would have much more effective politics and politicians if we decided to be fairer to our elected representatives.

"We should recognise they are human, that they have families and they live under enormous psychological pressure."