The Dail reconvened today after a 40 day holiday period. Business commenced with a very welcome piece of news from the Taoiseach. Mr Cowen pledged the establishment of a special Task Force on Indecision.
The Task Force will investigate whether or not the current government is ‘floundering’ in the face of the economic crisis and report back to an Ombudsman for Decisiveness, a role that is shortly to be filled on the Taoiseach’s nomination.
Mr Cowen moved swiftly to deny that he had any problems with democratic accountability. ‘No, I have no problem with democratic accountability,’ he said, before qualifying: ‘but as long as I am running this Government I will run it as I see fit, as I believe, based on my philosophy.’
The Taoiseach spared the House an explanation of his philosophy, but he is widely understood to be a pragmatist of the William James school.
*
The Task Force will investigate whether or not the current government is ‘floundering’ in the face of the economic crisis and report back to an Ombudsman for Decisiveness, a role that is shortly to be filled on the Taoiseach’s nomination.
Mr Cowen moved swiftly to deny that he had any problems with democratic accountability. ‘No, I have no problem with democratic accountability,’ he said, before qualifying: ‘but as long as I am running this Government I will run it as I see fit, as I believe, based on my philosophy.’
The Taoiseach spared the House an explanation of his philosophy, but he is widely understood to be a pragmatist of the William James school.
*
Minister for the Environment John Gormley spoke next. He had intended to phase out incandescent light bulbs from June this year, but has decided not proceed with the measure until September, when the EU will require us to do so.
‘The EU plan is more ambitious,’ Mr Gormley told the House. ‘There’s not much point in passing legislation now if the EU was going to require us to do so in the near future.’
Last week Mr Gormley refuted claims by resigning Green councilor Bronwyn Maher that the Green party was ‘only implementing EU policy.’
*
Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith told the House that as much as €400 million could be saved if farmers were to take the ‘mature, patriotic and courageous’ decision not to claim the repayments owed to them by the Government for the successful Farm Waste Management plan.
Members of the FF party pressed the Taoiseach to give a ‘state of the nation’ address to the country but he just smiled.
‘The EU plan is more ambitious,’ Mr Gormley told the House. ‘There’s not much point in passing legislation now if the EU was going to require us to do so in the near future.’
Last week Mr Gormley refuted claims by resigning Green councilor Bronwyn Maher that the Green party was ‘only implementing EU policy.’
*
Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith told the House that as much as €400 million could be saved if farmers were to take the ‘mature, patriotic and courageous’ decision not to claim the repayments owed to them by the Government for the successful Farm Waste Management plan.
Members of the FF party pressed the Taoiseach to give a ‘state of the nation’ address to the country but he just smiled.
*
Shortly after 11 o’ clock positive news from Kerry trickled into Leinster House. A pub and shop owned by Páidí Ó Sé was unanimously rezoned by Kerry County Council. The pub and shop are now a village. Up until now the land had been a prime special amenity, a designation that scenic landscapes receive. Mr Ó Sé will now be able to build a sports interpretative centre and a commercial residential development for the citizens of his premises. A ripple of nostalgia touched the Fianna Fail parliamentary party.
Mr Ó Sé was made president of Bord Failte ‘because he is my friend,’ former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern emphasized at the time.
Mr Ó Sé was made president of Bord Failte ‘because he is my friend,’ former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern emphasized at the time.
No comments:
Post a Comment