RSVP Media Group

In the difficult times we are facing, I believe Mr Cowen, has lost a great opportunity to introduce real change and display a strong leadership for this country.

Every day in my life I am meeting people from all sectors of the community. This morning I met a taxi driver from Clondalkin in Dublin who was injured in a road traffic accident, then a couple trying to sell an apartment in Gorey, County Wexford. After lunch I met a young gentleman who is experiencing work problems in a factory based in Limerick. The list goes on and on.

There is terrible disillusionment with our politicians amongst the people I am meeting every day. Many of our politicians are totally dedicated to the task of trying to get this country ‘back on the road’. Many of these politicians work long days, nights and weekends.

However, they are working within a system that is fundamentally flawed.

Appointing Ministers to run important departments in the country should not be influenced by: -

(a) What part of the Country they come from or

(b) How loyal they are to the Taoiseach.

I remember, many years ago, a Minister who had lost out on the general election rushing into the office, on the last day, to appoint three loyal fundraisers to boards of semi-state bodies. I know this goes on within all political parties. However, the fact that it seems to have been standard practice over the years, does not make it right!

The recent cabinet reshuffle was nothing more than a cosmetic exercise.

I have absolutely no difficulties with Pat Carey, Tony Killeen and/or Batt O’Keeffe. However, I am at a loss to understand, why the Government doesn’t “lighten up the arena” and appoint some young blood to the cabinet. Personally I would hope that certain individuals like Michael McGrath TD from Cork South Central or Neil Collins TD for Limerick West (and others within their age group) have a great future and should be considered, even at an early stage, for either junior ministerial posts or senior cabinet positions. However, there is no point in appointing these young people unless they are then encouraged to take on the system.

The time is right for fundamental change.

The fundamental change I am talking about is as follows: -

1. The abolition of the vast majority of quangos in this Country which are a huge drain on financial resources. These are costing billions of euros a year. I see them as bodies to look after ‘the boys’!

2. The serious and fundamental changes that are required within the HSE.

3. Fine tuning of the public service. Again it is the frontline workers and the lower paid that should be supported and assisted while many redundancies, in my opinion, are required at the top end of the Public Service sector.

4. An aggressive and creative approach to job creation. I certainly would be in favour of young blood heading up a Department concentrating on getting people back to work. We need innovative ideas such as the assignment of Social Welfare payments to employers who take people off the unemployment register and to make up the difference (up to the minimum wage level) in order to give employment.

5. Setting up a national recovery bank to help inject capital into small and medium term businesses.

6. Implementation of many of the recommendations contained in the McCarthy Report.

7. Abolition of the Senate.

We can go on and on with ideas. However, the country needs a lift.

I have been particularly impressed by so many, who are getting through each day, with many obstacles being created. I have always said that it is not achievements that impress me but the obstacles one has to overcome to attain those achievements.

I am not impressed, as Chairman of Country Crest Limited, to be continually writing to the ESB and to the Government seeking their assistance to connect a Windmill Turbine on our property at Rathmooney, Lusk, County Dublin to the national grid.

I find it extraordinary that it is going to take almost a year and a half for us to get a connection, at an exorbitant cost, to the national grid, despite the fact that the Green Party are in government. Not a day of the week goes by when I hear about the importance of “green initiatives”.

The Company, of which I am proud and honoured to chair, spent a lot of money in erecting a Wind Turbine which could benefit not only the company and our employees but also businesses and houses in the

surrounding area. We cannot achieve our objectives! Why not?

Because of the influence of Unions in the ESB!

I believe a great opportunity was lost in the recent reshuffle to fundamentally change the political system and the manner in which it is operated in this Country. This opportunity has, in my opinion, now been lost.

I have concerns that none of the other political parties have the

will- power and courage to implement many of the fundamental proposals that are required to assist each and every one of us.

I hope I am wrong!

___________________

DR. GERALD KEAN

Editor

gerald.kean@keanbusiness.ie

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