Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Updated 3.15pm
THE TRANSPORT MINISTER Leo Varadkar has reiterated his distaste at legislation that allows cabinet ministers to drive in bus lanes.
The Irish Mail on Sunday reports today that the cabinet has “secretly” changed the law to allow cars carrying ministers to cut journey times by using the bus lane.
The Dáil was formally notified about the new legislation – which was signed off on by Minister Varadkar – on 20 October, but formal approval was not required. It’s within the Minister’s power to make changes unilaterally, and the Dáil is merely informed.
However, the Mail on Sunday reports that Vardakar wrote a handwritten objection on the official documentation, saying that he was in opposition to the change.
Minister Varadkar told RTÉ’s News at One today that he understands the information was released as a result of a Freedom of Information request, and while he opposes the use of the bus lanes, he did not release the information into the public domain.
He also said that while he didn’t agree with allowing ministers to use the bus lanes, “you have to abide by the cabinet decision”.
In March the new government had decided that all but three members of the cabinet would have to supply their own cars and that they would lose their Garda drivers. The Taoiseach, the Tánasite and the Minister for Justice and Equality were to retain a State-supplied car and Garda driver. The move meant that most ministers were losing the right to drive in the bus lane.
The Mail on Sunday reports that Varadkar, along with some colleagues opposed demands to reinstate the privilege. However, it was reported in July that the cabinet had given themselves permission to drive in bus lanes, and that the perk had been agreed at the final cabinet meeting before the summer recess.
The new rules mean that ministers still have to abide by speed and parking restrictions, and that they can only use the bus lanes when they are on official business.
Asked how strongly he felt about the issue today Minister Varadkar replied:
A minister always has the option of resigning, but I certainly won’t be resigning over bus lanes.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I agree. And still no Banking investigation.
We have ex politicians on pensions of €120,000 which they claim straight away and presidents on pensions of €180,000. The government has said it can do nothing about this yet the same government has said it will bring in legislation to allow it to cut public sector salaries if unions don’t agree reforms.
Hypocritical if you ask me.
Much of our problems are related to the Irish Constitution. It was written with a differnt plan in mind. Times have changed. Goals have changed and needs have changed. Yet the constitution has not. The ammendments to the constitution continues to place power in the hands of a few.. Politicians and the church. The people of this country will never hold oower until the current constitution is re-written.
I don’t know what we have here… But I certainly know it’s not democracy!
State boards? State Borgia more like
Sad to see that FG & Lab are just as bad as FF. Wasn’t I naive to think that they would be better!
Excellent article Sarah keep up the good work at informing us as to what is really going on in the country ,i bet you will not hear this on RTE at six o clock .
Thomas, You won’t make that mistake again I hope. They’re all just suited robots.
FG are continuity FF, the Labour leadership aren’t much better. Most people can see that now. James O Reilly, big Phil Hogan are enough proof. Enda backing them all the way.
And that totally sums up what is so wrong in our country ….. It’s not what you know , it’s who you know !
Well that’s the same everywhere. You can get jobs in big international companies through contacts and good impressions. So success based on your connections is the norm.
Where Ireland stands out is the fact that this carries over into the political system.
The current Ministers do not want to attack the current system because they feel that they can benifit from board positions in the future.
What’s boiling point for blood?
A handshake with Enda Kenny.
I hear that if you follow it up with a good head butt it cools you right down.
They’re a shameless shower
I mean, you’d think the thought might cross their minds that if they were to hand a plum job to a mate of theirs who hadn’t even applied for it, and the meeja got a hold of it that they might look slightly slimy and therefore feel embarrassed at having been caught out.
Nope, not our brave political masters. No such weak minded thinking to be found among that lot.
Sure they know they can’t lose their jobs, until the next election anyway. So it probably makes no difference to them!
Sorry… But if the horse was purchsed specifically to race, ans it can’t race…. What do you do…? You don’t give the horse another job in the racing industry. .. The horse is kept as a pet, put to pasture or becomes dog food.
Politicians are like horses. Either they are thoroughbreds who can run a great race or they can not. In the past 20 years our politicians have not run a good race… They haven’t been doing what they were put in place to do. They seldom do what they say they are going to do. So what choice do we have… But to put them out to pasture or turn them into dog food?
Hamburger joke anyone….
“politicians are like horses” yeah, full of sh1t !
What gets me is that minister deenihan can just blatantly appoint people against the rules, who probably aren’t even qualified, and not a thing will be done. In my job if you break the rules you are punished. That’s how the real world works.
Lol… If this country held as much passion for politics and its govermental systems as they do for hurling, football and rugby…. We would then see a great deal more of accountability and reform.
well what a fool was i thinking that these people f/g f/f lab wood be any different not one bit. but as i have asked b4 what can the people on the floor do. we all voted for change the last time out an it has made little difference only to the people at the bottom trying to keep it together
John… I truly understand your frustration. I have been trying to keep it together for years…. Trying to understand our government…. Regardless… I have found that Direct Democracy Ireland (http://directdemocracyireland.ie/) are definitely on the right track to making changes in our country. I’m not saying that they are the “end all be all”, but as a grassroots organization… Any one of us could add our voice for direction. Take a look at their website.
The same thing has happened with appointments to statutory boards for the RIAI. Suitable candidates are recommended, government ignores ans substitutes political appointees.
What’s most sad is when it happens with charities. 2 ex ff ministers head of charities so very sad
which ones are they head of ?
Promised before the election ???, Finn fail are promising transparency now, go figure ,
Is it incompetence or just being cute f..kers,
No surprise there, If we want real reforms and guarantee they are happening? There’ll have to be a revolt by the citizens, make heads roll and go through every department with a fine tooth comb!
This cronyism is nothing new for FG and Labour since they got into power.
I’ve been writing about it since they first got in. No one seems to want to pay attention until now?
Why indeed is this news only now? Its being going on by our crooks in power from the beginning.
Reform haha !! Remember Enda slagging of FF over their Galway races tent and in one of his talks on this he said that when he was in power he would do away with the Galway races tent culture and in fairness he did,…….he had one at the Punchestown racing festival.
No reforms until the get caught or forced to.
Why would they appoint somebody with a pulse,
It always amuses me whenever they appoint a board or committee to look into something they seem to have plenty of these muppets to choose from at a minutes notice
Dailwatch.ie is hosting a Twitterchat around ‘Political Representation in Ireland’ on the 6th of Feb from 12-2pm. To join the conversation tweet @dailwatch at this time
Yes John . But not here because that would piss off a friend of a friend that got him the job . And some day soon his friend will need a job so the circus rolls on
Thanks Sarah, it is hard to find decent journalism in this country. Keep up the good work. More people with your talents are needed.
Agreed.
What do we expect, we keep voting in the same big three again and again and somehow think we will get change.
“A 2012 report by the Institute of Directors In Ireland on the efficiency of state board appointments in Ireland found that the majority of board members of state bodies are concerned by the lack of transparency around the appointment process, and feel that there has been undue consideration given to the skills required to fulfil board positions”
Do you mean to say that “undue consideration given to the skills required to fulfil board positions” is a bad thing? Board members were concerned that their selection process involved too much questioning of whether they had the right skillset?
One problem we have with filling positions on state boards is we have a large contingent of totally inexperienced armchair pundits applying, with little or no experience in anything, let alone the position they are going for. They may be passionate and angry about the state of the country, but it doesn’t make them a good board member. Experience and skills do count.
By the same logic, it would be good to see a list of who is on state boards and how their resume justifies their role. It should neither be a retirement perk for politicians nor a platform for political activists. It should be a responsible productive knowledgeable board member with demonstrable experience to add value to whatever body they are posted to.
your talking bull .
Nice try troll, your cohorts have been unmasked once again…jobs for the boys is alive and well under FG and labour..
Labour’s discontent at a broken system was the base of their GE campaign, FG promised an open and transparent government…all lies but hardly surprising, FG never had any integrity.
Jobs for the smartly skilled, experienced and knowledgeable. If you don’t count yourself among them, that’s one person’s fault – yours.
I’m not a close buddy, relative, sibling, wife or husband of any serving member of this disgraced coalition and that is the main criteria and skill needed to get a state job these days…you can try dress it up, most FG sycophants try to spin their way out their blatant disregard for employment rules.
Maybe the new national anthem should be a combination of the Boomtown Rats Banana Republic and Ghost town by the specials. This so called clarion call by Enda Eunuch Kenny to make Ireland the best and most transparent country to do business in wiped away with this article. Maybe the CHANGE FG and LAB were really talking about was to have their party lackeys in these position for a CHANGE from the previous FF lackeys.
If they can be appointed in that manner, they can be removed in a similar manner.
Same old, same old! ‘Not what you know WHO you know’ this mentality of the Irish political elite never changes. The likes Deenihan ignore the rules and get away with it, they know they can in the land of NO accountability. The Labour/Fine Gael mob are just as bad as the FF/PD/Green mob who went before them. CRONYISM is what makes Irish politics tick, the ‘Ill scratch your back if you scratch mine’ way of doing things is all these parasites know. They use the state boards to reward their crony’s simple as that. None of these positions should be filled without an application being made, an interview process and a background check to see that people being appointed can actually do the job. It is yet another example of banana republic government from the shysters who run the dysfunctional state. Gombeenism of the highest order!
It is more and more obvious that we are run by “tribes” much like African Banana Republics. This is because there are no significant ideological differences between the main parties and we sheep just flock to one or other tribe for historical reasons. I am all for taking care of our own (all things being EQUAL) but this latest carry on is ridiculous. The sooner we understand the limitations of our “tribal” system the sooner we replace it with a normal Left /Right Dail tension which will stir meaningful debate on key national issues as opposed to “who got a medical clinic in their back yard.”
Solutions, 1st past the post at election time, reduce their numbers, have a list system for people interested in running state departments,
At lest do something, the present system doesn’t work
A sub committee appointed by a committee to inform the committee that a sub committee has been appointed….
Lol, dan
Its really sad but the state gravy train for the faithful is trundling on. Corruption is so ingrained in the ruling classes and because of nepotism you cant see the join between goverment/banks/public mandarins/big business. Anarchy is the only way to address the problem.
You sound someone who doesn’t know what they don’t know.
have your say