World-renowned thinker Edward de Bono is proposing a Minister for New Ideas for Ireland. But, Frank McNally cautions, there are dangers in politicians getting big ideas
In the current political system, "ideas" are what TDs get when they've been left too long on the back-benches. Fully developed, they generally result in the replacement of the present party leader by one who may be more conducive to the back-benchers' career prospects. But the world-renowned mind trainer Dr Edward de Bono is hoping to change this, and broaden our politicians' way of thinking.
When he addresses a conference on Ireland's future this week, Dr de Bono will urge the Government to appoint a "Minister for New Ideas". Such a move would make Ireland "a world leader" he believes; although an element of doubt seems to creep in when he adds: "If nothing else, such a ministry would emphasise the huge importance of new ideas in tackling social problems."
The suggestion stems from his basic and oft-repeated argument that creativity is a skill like any other: one that needs to be learned and practised deliberately. You can't just wait for inspiration to strike, he says, trying to undo the centuries of damage caused by stories about Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree, or Archimedes having a bath.
De Bono is already a major influence on the way we think about thought. His "lateral thinking" techniques are practised the world over, and may even be used secretly by some Irish politicians.
Certainly, anyone who has attended the tribunals at Dublin Castle can only have marvelled at the ability of witnesses to find creative solutions for the problems put to them by tribunal counsel - problems such as: "What is this money doing in an offshore bank account in Jersey?" "Lateral" doesn't do justice to the thought processes of some of those cross-examined. Whatever about their ability to think "outside the box", the thinking inside the witness box has been excellent.
The trouble is that this would come under the "negative achievement" category, in de Bono's system, which - like crime, anti-social behaviour, and back-bench plots against the party leadership - arises when opportunities for "positive achievement" are denied.
For all the influence of de Bono's lateral thinking techniques, however, Dáil speeches are still more notable for longitude than latitude. And any Minister for New Ideas would have to overcome a fundamental distrust for intellectualism that affects Irish society at large and politics in particular.
New thinking is encouraged among Dáil candidates only if it has a vague, mystical quality. An aspiring TD may have a "vision" - indeed, it's more-or-less expected - and even occasionally a "dream". But any tendency towards concrete ideas is quickly nipped in the bud. The suggestion that somebody is developing "notions" acts as an early warning system and is usually enough to prevent any full-blown concepts emerging.
At the highest level, admittedly, governments do occasionally establish "think tanks" to tackle problems. But even the term "think tank" - with its implication of short, intense activity, requiring breathing apparatus - reinforces the idea that thinking is not an everyday pursuit.
Whether the New Ideas portfolio would be a full ministry, with its own department, is another question. It's arguable that such a minister wouldn't need a headquarters at all, since his or her best work could be done in dark cafés or during long walks in the park. Even the State car might not be necessary, although a nominee for the job would surely argue that anything less than the full trappings could undermine public respect for his office.
The other big problem would be demarcation. Politics is fiercely territorial, so if you had a minister responsible for the area of new ideas, tensions would inevitably arise if other ministers started getting ideas too. Yet it's a well-established fact that good ideas are infectious; and - as happened in Renaissance Italy, for example - that creative genius in one person can spark it off in others.
Indeed, if the Minister for New Ideas was successful, the Cabinet could become a hothouse of creativity, a bit like late 15th-century Florence. And you couldn't run a Government like that. Nevertheless, the Taoiseach may be given food for thought. A Ministry for New Ideas might cause as many problems as it solved, and could be a poisoned chalice for the person appointed. But Mr Ahern may reflect that, if nothing else, it could also be an opportunity for the long-delayed promotion of Willie O'Dea.
"The Future is Ours - Be the Change" conference takes place at Jury's Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin, on Tuesday and Wednesday next. The event is organised by The Wheel, a network of groups from the community and voluntary sector. Further information from tel. 01-4548727, or www.wheel.ie