We overlook complexity of civil service at our peril

The complexity of civil-service structures is being dangerously underestimated by independent TDs, who have no experience of it, writes Gerard Howlin

THE centre of gravity of the next government will be outside the M50, and markedly less metrosexual or metropolitan than its predecessor. The demise of Labour is one reason. Based on policy papers from Fine Gael, for independent TDs, this government will address the regional imbalance that was partly responsible for upending its Let’s Keep the Recovery Going campaign. With the departure of two Green Party TDs, the remaining Dublin presence in talks with Fine Gael is limited to Maureen O’Sullivan, Katherine Zappone, Finian McGrath and Shane Ross. Geography, however, is only shorthand for changing priorities.

Enda Kenny and Fine Gael require support from the mainly rural TDs they are still talking to, before they engage with Fianna Fáil after next Wednesday. If a Fine Gael-led government, based on external association with Fianna Fáil, is viable, will Micheál Martin’s concerns bring a different emphasis to government priorities? His party’s gains notwithstanding, it remains much less urban than the country generally. What stands out in Fine Gael’s proposals is less their content than a glaring omission.