At least regime change didn’t cost lives here

THERE is no doubt in anyone’s mind that our system of Government needs to be reformed. The only way to do that properly is to agree that there are no “sacred cows” from vouched expenses to the existence of the Seanad, from ministerial cars to whether we need five seat constituencies or not.

From national politicians having the time to look at the bigger picture and local politics having the power and money to do the local stuff “all politics is local politics” should become a mantra of the past. Also, the relationship between semi-state companies and government departments. I find it incredible that the HSE in the shape of public hospitals seem to rip off the VHI (a state company) on the price of a hospital bed.

With the recent “goings on” of our politicians both inside and outside Dáil Éireann there has been a lot of comment in the media, by the opposition and by commentators in general. I have heard it called a fiasco, shenanigans, an appalling vista. I have heard people say that when they are abroad, they are ashamed to be Irish, that they couldn’t explain what was “going on” in Ireland.