Resisting change - Speed of reform still far too slow

It is hard to reconcile Irish conservatism, our political, professional and social inertia, our never-say-die devotion to processes or principles that have failed repeatedly, with today’s received wisdom that man has seen more change in the last century than in all of humanity’s existence.

It is far easier to identify the consequences of our resistance to the new, our visceral fear of how change might move the goal posts to our individual or sectoral disadvantage.

It is not coincidental that one of the first stumbling blocks preventing a more modern, fairer society identified by the troika were the professional monopolies, some of them still self-regulating, that dominate our business, health, and justice systems. It is typically Irish, though, that Government assurances that reform will be imposed in these areas must be taken with a pinch of salt. That is not to question the sincerity or intent of would-be reformers, but rather their ability to outlast the age-old cabals’ resistance to change.