IN THE normal course of events, incoming governments rapidly lose their appetite for reform and revert to tried and trusted procedures. This cannot happen on this occasion. There was an overwhelming mandate for political reform given to all parties – not just Fine Gael and Labour – in the recent election. Confidence in the new Coalition, which will enter office tomorrow, will be determined, first of all, by its programme for changes in the political system and timescale for implementing them. There are ambitious but politically difficult proposals set out in the programme for the new government.
Fine Gael and Labour should remember the wilderness of opposition over the last 14 years, the overweening power of the Executive on the Dáil, and the opportunity now to make parliament a more meaningful political place.
The clamour for change in the campaign should not exclude consideration of proposals, like the abolition of the Seanad, which should be debated in the cold light of a non-party political day.
A constitutional convention will consider changes to the PR system, the number of TDs and a reduction in the voting age, along with other issues. It is scheduled to report within 12 months. What is not clear is whether referendums to abolish the Seanad, to give Dáil committees full investigative powers and to strengthen the rights of children will go ahead immediately or be delayed in order to take account of its recommendations.
The overwhelming power of the Executive will be addressed through granting more effective oversight to the Dáil and enabling opposition parties introduce and debate private members’ legislation during longer working weeks. Strict limits will be placed on Cabinet confidentiality and the remit of the Ombudsman will be extended. Legislation will specify the legal responsibilities of ministers and their civil servants and both groups may be held accountable for their actions or failures. The same will hold true for executives within State and semi-State organisations. The appointments system for top civil servants will change and the interview panels will contain a majority of outside experts. These reforms will empower opposition TDs and make for more effective and accountable government. The new Opposition of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and Independent TDs will have a vested interest in ensuring the incoming government lives up to its promises.
The feather-bedding of ministers from the outgoing government has delivered proposals to cut the salaries of incoming ministers and end all severance payments. In future, no sitting TD will receive a ministerial pension and no retired politician can qualify for a pension before the age of 65. These are unpopular undertakings within the Leinster House club.
The powers of county managers will be circumscribed and elected representatives will be given wider responsibilities. Some of these reforms were promised in the past. The new Coalition has to deliver now.