A mugs’ game - Another regulator understaffed

One of the recurring themes in Irish public life is our enthusiasm for enacting legislation but not enforcing it effectively. We give entirely laudable ambitions the force of law without matching them with the regulatory presence needed to make them real, transformative protections for citizens, especially when those citizens become consumers.

Expectations are established, like mental health services for children, only to be dashed because resources do not match the need. Everything from organic food production — there are no official inspectors ensuring organic is organic — to planning compliance protections seem wing-and-a-prayer ventures. Reports that communications regulator ComReg is has less than a quarter of the staff it needs to do some of its most important work over recent years is the latest confirmation of failure to properly represent and protect citizens.