Madam, – Labour’s reform proposals (Home News, January 7th) are a welcome recognition of the broken state of our system. Reform of the system is the single most effective strategic action that the next government can undertake. There are, however, two significant flaws.
1. Local government: the document lacks a section on local government reform. The current system requires TDs to concentrate enormously on local constituency matters, to the detriment of central government work. TDs know they could lose their seats if they behave otherwise.
Reform must include the strengthening of local government – including funding that is independent of central government. The electorate will soon know who to turn to when it comes to local issues and the TDs will therefore be able to focus on their central government mandate.
2. Convention: the proposed constitutional convention needs to be independent of the Oireachtas and its conclusions must be put directly to the people in a referendum that is binding on the Oireachtas.
The whole reason for the reforms is that the public has no confidence in government or in the parties (any of them). The reforms are meant to change the environment and the behaviour of politicians. You cannot expect to get solid support from the people unless the parties are seen to be outside the process. We have seen over the years far too many promises of reform that have come to little. – Yours, etc,