A nation divided by tribalism outsources its politics to Europe

A total of 90% of Irish law now comes from Europe, according to an expert on a radio programme. 90%. Only 10% of what we elect TDs to do is actually being done in this country. Just as companies outsource their manufacturing to China, we as a nation have outsourced our legislating to Brussels and Strasbourg.

We do the 10% to stay in practice. To keep our hand in. So if it’s discovered, as it was last week, that half the legislation governing healthcare in Ireland was built on a faultline in the constitution, we can lash in there and produce a legislative patch to keep Mary Harney in business.

We do displacement activity, to distract from the fact that the main business has moved to another plant, overseas. Displacement activities like the Dáil committee, which provides paperwork, media coverage, extra cash in the back pocket and the hope that, over time, a participating TD might become as forensic and fearsome a committee combat commander such as FG’s Michael Noonan.