We need to eliminate our democratic deficit

AS we contemplate the formation of a new government, it is striking how governance itself and the role of the public service have been so absent from the debate.

Increasingly, many supposedly public service providers are operating to their own agenda and purpose — an agenda and purpose often at odds with the democratically decided objectives.

We have a health service that is controlled by an unelected executive, a transport service that is unwilling or unable to be innovative, a public service broadcaster that seems to exist as a forum for the promotion of colleagues and a local government system that is not allowed to do the job it is capable of.

Ironically, it is denied that opportunity by those very politicians and bureaucrats who have proven their own inability. These thoughts were brought to mind the other morning as, along with other parents, I dropped my children to school. There to greet us all as the cars were parked for less than 10 minutes was a fleet of Park Rite vehicles clamping and collecting fines while people tried to exercise that difficult balance between parenting and work.

When Dublin councillors voted for clamping, it was never intended as a vindictive revenue collector.

This is but one of many examples of the bureaucracy exercising powers never intended because of the weakness of our democratic system. It would make a nice change if, in the latter stages of the election campaign, some media attention could be given to the comparative weakness of our democracy and the need for people to take back control through their elected representatives.

Cllr Dermot Lacey

66 Beech Hill Drive

Donnybrook

Dublin 4