A new generation’s first lesson in politics: this government is a joke
For the last 83 years the Lords Mayor of Cork carried on a tradition of visiting schools after their election and giving the kids a half day.
It was probably their first sighting of a politician at first hand and the release from school for a couple of hours left them with a good impression of the breed, at least for a few tender years.
Now, the minister has robbed them of their half-day and ensured that they will have a jaundiced view of politicians long before they even reach voting age.
This year Lord Mayor Colm Burke, like his predecessors, sent off a letter to the minister seeking approval for the half day on his visits to the schools, which for decades was just a formality.
He got back a letter which was a load of bureaucratic rubbish as far as the kids in the local primary and post-primary schools are concerned, as they saw the once-a-year half day disappear.
And, with the same stroke of his ministerial pen, Mr Dempsey gave them a sharp lesson: don't take anything for granted, certainly as far as politicians are concerned.
The Minister's refusal was predicated on the Social Partnership Agreement 2003 2005, Sustaining Progress, which I'm sure the kids have never heard of nor could care tuppence about.
His reply to the Lord Mayor blathered on about the thrust of the modernisation of the education sector to minimise the disruption to the education of primary and post-primary pupils... blah blah blah, ending with an asinine aspiration.
"I hope that you will appreciate that continuation of this tradition [the half day] would not be in keeping with the spirit of the new agreed modernisation arrangements."
It was a futile hope on his part and one which expresses all too clearly the lack of common sense prevailing in the Government about so many issues.
In fact this lack of common sense, and the depressing realisation that the government is managing this country by diktat, instead of consensus, has led to a sense of total frustration on the part of the vast majority of people.
This is compounded by the unfortunate absence of any viable opposition in the Dáil, and although the latest opinion poll showed the popularity of the government and Taoiseach had plummeted, it looks as though they will be re-elected at the next general election.
Which is precisely why I would not be at all surprised if a popular movement emerged aimed at giving the government and the opposition a major wake-up call at the local and European Parliament elections to be held next year.
Because ordinary people of all political shades are sick and tired of being treated as imbeciles by a government which is not listening to them, it is possible that those elections will be used as a vehicle to voice that frustration.
For local authority elections, anybody can nominate himself or herself. Or one can be nominated by a local government elector registered in the area, with no deposit to be paid.
To be eligible, all you have to be is an Irish citizen, live in the country and be at least 18 years old. And (this is very important) you may be nominated to stand in more than one area.
Consider what would happen if 1,000 people decided to stand in all the wards in Cork city at next year's local elections. Then imagine what would happen if that were replicated throughout every ward in the country or even half of them.
An outlandish notion? I don't think so. Across all sections of society there are grievances which are not being addressed by the government and an ineffective opposition. which is useless.
The latest decision of the Minister for Education in relation to the half days for schools is an example of the idiocy that prevails.
The determination by Minister for Health Mícheál Martin to go ahead with the global ban on smoking despite the hardship its going to cause to 30% of the population is another example of dictatorship.
He could implement the ban with goodwill on all sides if it were done on a logical basis over a longer period, with due cognisance taken of compromises to enable that to happen.
As if that's not bad enough, people will be encouraged to become informers, a breed which has always been treated with contempt in this country for historical reasons.
The laws regarding alcohol consumption are so confused that most people do not understand the implications, and this will be more confusing from next Monday when other regulations become law.
For instance, anybody under 21 years will have to produce ID in order to get a drink in a pub, no matter how well-known that person is to the publican.
Then, if such a person on reaching their 21st birthday is refused a drink a day or two later because they are not carrying ID, they can sue the publican under the equality legislation.
Even the whole question of which ID is acceptable is confused, because it can differ from premises to premises.
From next Monday, it will be illegal for an underage person to drink at home without the consent of their parents and at the risk of a fine of €1,500 on their parents.
Obviously, that cannot be policed, except if such an underage person is found drunk in a public place. But in that case, all a parent has to say is that the young person had parental permission to drink at home and there will be no prosecution.
Ridiculous, isn't it?
Then there is the spectacle of people being thrown into jail because of the bin tax protests, despite the fact that others are seen to escape the full rigours of the law from anything from tax evasion to corruption.
This week the government completed the purchase of a new jet costing over €8.5 million, which is extraordinary when one thinks of anything from health to education, from deplorable public services to a lack of gardaí, where the money could be spent.
According to Minster for Defence Michael Smith it will meet the increased need for official travel during the forthcoming EU presidency.
Seeing that the presidency lasts for six months, it would have been cheaper to lease a jet for that length of time and spend the millions on more pressing needs.
But, then, what's more pressing than the creature comforts of our Government?
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
