Latest news with #TDs
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oakland football vs. McCallie scrimmage highlights
Highlights of Oakland football's scrimmage vs. McCallie on Aug. 8. The Patriot starters outscored McCallie 3-1 in TDs.
Irish Times
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Ireland has too many quangos and too many lawyers feeding off its clientelist politics
If government is the group of people who run a state and the formal rules and institutions by which they do so, governance is how they go about that through networks, processes, interests, ideologies and political actors at different levels. The Republic of Ireland has a well-defined and clearly identifiable government structure, formally accountable through elections and the Oireachtas and amply covered by media . In contrast its governance is much more opaque, less visible to its citizens and its media coverage is patchy and uneven. This matters because the Republic currently suffers from a series of problems – in housing, energy, water, climate, health and care infrastructure and in its economic model – that arise from suboptimal governance just as much as from short-sighted or incompetent governments. These problems are often made more visible by comparisons with similar states in Europe and elsewhere. This State is one of the most centralised in Europe , whether defined by the functional and geographical concentration of executive and political power in Dublin or the comparatively puny powers of both parliamentary and local government. Such centralisation puts an onus on political leaders and executive managers to get things right through coherent, integrated policymaking. READ MORE The abiding localism of Irish life is channelled to the capital by networks of TDs, private lobbying and clientelism that dominate the distribution of resources. That perfectly matches the retail, consumerist and reactive side of everyday Irish politics – and provides much of the media agenda. Less often discussed are the resulting poor outcomes across a range of public services because more local and regional structures of governance are unavailable to policymakers. [ Fintan O'Toole: The three pillars of Ireland's political system are crumbling Opens in new window ] Instead policymaking is often outsourced to quangos (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations). An OECD report identified 800 of them and said they clog up Irish governance and inhibit local government . Notorious examples of poor practice and opaque structures in health and educational bodies provide daily headline news. If we are over-quangoed we are also over-lawyered in planning and insurance per head of comparable European populations. These issues show up plainly in how Irish governments responded to the growing population over the past decade during the economic recovery and expansion after the financial crisis. Immigration of skilled labour through work permits has increased the population by 16 per cent, or more if refugees are also factored in. Imperatives of economic growth drove the expansion; but it was not accompanied by plans to increase housing and infrastructure to provide for a growing and more complex society demanding greater public services. Instead market forces prevailed, but they failed to meet that demand. [ Chronic inability to build anything big in the State is baked into the system Opens in new window ] These widening gaps were identified by some analysts and commentators, and they then became part of the political and election agenda. But they have dominated public debate only since being put there squarely by big economic players and international organisations over the past year. Infrastructure deficits inhibit new investments, they say – and that coincides with wider concerns about how vulnerable the Irish economic model has become to international shocks, particularly from Donald Trump. Hence the level of interest in the National Development Plan and its methodology. Rather than base it on an analysis of changing demographics, economic trends and social needs which generate development priorities, its method is more ad hoc in response to the uncertain international backdrop. Detailed project plans await definition, as the scale of the Trump tariff shock is assessed. In the meantime, different Government departments are allocated capital expenditure envelopes based on their bargaining power. How will the updated National Development Plan shape Ireland in years to come? Listen | 35:59 It's a far cry from the strategic foresight approach to governing increasingly advocated by analysts, companies, the EU and international organisations. That involves gathering information about relevant trends and potentially disruptive risks, developing scenarios about plausible futures and integrating such insights into anticipatory planning. The OECD has advocated such an approach for Ireland and there are several initiatives in government and academia to apply them. Had they been deployed over the past decade we could have been better prepared to tackle these development gaps – not to mention linking them to the equally plausible prospect of a united Ireland. Notwithstanding the highly centralised nature of Irish government, it has lacked the capacity to aggregate governance coherently and to resist particular interests. The consequences of changing demographics and economic growth should have been more effectively foreseen, but were not. For that politicians and executive managers should share the blame. [ Tariff 'uncertainties' could 'weigh heavily' on Irish economic growth Opens in new window ] The problems are exacerbated by the narrow base of Irish taxation, in which 10 US corporations provide 40 per cent of corporate tax revenue, along with the glaring six-fold contrast between the multinational sector's high productivity and that of indigenous industry. Tackling these problems requires structural change in the Republic's governance to decentralise and redemocratise power, by prioritising and co-ordinating development gaps more effectively with better analysis. That would help repair the seriously widening distributional and political gaps between older and younger generations.
BreakingNews.ie
27-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Guess the TD quiz: Who said the country's housing situation is 'like The Hunger Games'?
From fiery Dáil exchanges to passionate speeches on housing, climate, international affairs and more, Ireland's elected representatives have delivered their fair share of memorable (and sometimes controversial) quotes in recent years. Whether you're a political junkie, a casual news follower or just love a challenge, this quiz will test your knowledge of Ireland's TDs and their most recent reported-on quotes. Advertisement They make the laws, lead debates and dominate the headlines, but can you tell which TD said what? Take our quiz to find out!
Irish Examiner
17-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
'Undercapitalised' developers struggle to scale up house building, TDs to hear
Developers have struggled to scale up housebuilding due to many being 'undercapitalised' since the financial crisis, the Housing Agency will tell TDs today, Tuesday. The Oireachtas housing committee is due to host the Housing Agency and the Land Development Agency during its meeting on Tuesday afternoon, with both due to highlight challenges to housebuilding. In his opening statement, Housing Agency CEO Martin Whelan will tell TDs that ongoing capacity constraints within the construction sector are 'significant barriers to delivery'. These constraints include a shortage of zoned, serviced land as well as the current structure of the Irish development and construction sector, Mr Whelan will say. 'On the private side, few housebuilders outside the largest and institutionally-backed entities have a good pipeline of ready-to-go sites, and even when they acquire land that is zoned and with planning, infrastructure shortcomings and blockages can impede delivery,' Mr Whelan will tell the committee. 'Undercapitalised since financial crisis' On the capacity of the construction sector, Mr Whelan is due to say that most developers have 'remained undercapitalised since the financial crisis'. 'This significantly limits their ability to scale up development activity, with many operating on a project-by-project basis rather than on a programme of concurrent development projects,' Mr Whelan will say. 'On the construction side, where we appear to be at, or close to, full capacity, the challenge is one of productivity — how can the industry do more with existing resources?' In particular, Mr Whelan will cite the need to further adopt the use of modern methods of construction. The Housing Agency chief is also due to call for an increase in the number of staff in local authorities and approved housing bodies to deal with the rise in the number of social homes. This is to support 'good estate management and tenant services', Mr Whelan will say. CEO John Coleman is expected to tell the Oireachtas housing committee about challenges facing the Land Development Agency, including a lack of zoned, serviced land, the cost of delivering apartments, and legal challenges to planning permissions. Picture: Mike Shaughnessy He will tell TDs the Housing Agency has been working with an 'industry consortium' to develop a social and affordable housing apprenticeship, which aims to address the skill shortage in the area. It is expected apprentices will begin enrolling next year, he will add. On capital investments, Mr Whelan will tell TDs and senators that to reach 50,000 houses a year, there will need to be approximately €20.4bn worth of finance allocated to housing, of which €8.2bn must be equity. More apartments needed In particular, he will say this requires more apartments to be built, which require more equity to be provided. He will cite research from the Central Bank, which says equity finance fell from an average of €2.5bn in 2021 and 2022, compared with €450m in 2023 and 2024. 'The availability of this type of equity financing is particularly important for meeting supply targets for residential development over the medium term,' he will say. The CEO of the Land Development Agency (LDA), John Coleman, is expected to tell the committee there are a number of challenges facing the agency, including a lack of availability of zoned, serviced land, the cost of delivering apartments, and legal challenges to planning permissions. He will also highlight 'a lack of investment in the rental sector', as well as viability challenges to unlocking brownfield sites for development due to remediations costs associated.
Irish Times
15-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
TDs and senators question if €7m Dáil broadcasting contract is value for money
A cross-party group of 125 TDs and senators, including a Government Minister, has called for a review of the estimated €7 million contract for audio and video coverage of Oireachtas proceedings, with questions around its value for money. In a letter to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, which runs Leinster House, the public representatives, including Minister of State Jerry Buttimer , said there is a 'compelling case' for the commission to directly employ the 10 full-time and 20 part-time professional broadcast workers providing the coverage, 'given the extremely concerning working conditions and pay issues'. They allege 'precarious and uncertain working hours, withdrawal of pay during Oireachtas recess periods – including Christmas – lack of pension entitlements, pay that is significantly below the industry norm, lack of any retainer payment and a culture of criticism from management'. 'These workers are left to rely on social welfare for periods when the Oireachtas is not in session.' READ MORE The letter also says 'it is difficult to see what a contract with a private company adds to the services they provide given that all the skilled work is carried out by these workers and their equipment is provided by the Oireachtas itself'. The first five-year contract was issued in 2011 for €7 million. TDs and senators are attempting to establish the current value of the contract 'and how this money is spent'. Pi Communications, the current contractor, which provides a similar service to the Northern Ireland Assembly , has said the contract operates on a 'pay per public minute model'. Based on the 2011 contract, this meant €250 an hour for each hour of broadcast, as well as an overall contract fee. The employees broadcast the live feeds of the Dáil, Seanad and committees. They also oversee the archiving of all feeds. The company said the workers have a guaranteed fixed amount of work 'each full sitting week', with 'certainty of income for their contracted work'. However, one employee, who did not want to be named, said most of the employees are on 'casual part-time contracts' with 'only one day a week guaranteed, which is very precarious'. Some workers have no guaranteed days and are only brought in occasionally, the employee said. In response, Pi Communications said: 'We are surprised and disappointed that some who have commented on our operations did not first fact-check the accuracy and veracity of ill-founded claims.' The company said the employees earn substantially more than the national living wage, with attractive bonus arrangements and receive paid leave and sick leave. Employees 'are free to work on other projects or for other employers, as is the norm in our industry'. It said salaries are regularly benchmarked and commensurate with roles, skills, experience and responsibilities. Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide, who co-ordinated the TDs. and senators' letter, said public representatives question 'the value for money' the contract provides. They believe it would be cheaper for the Oireachtas to pay the workers directly. He said the 'only overheads in the contract would seem to be the employees' pay', as the equipment is supplied by the Oireachtas. The issue has been referred to the Public Accounts Committee and to the Oireachtas Media Committee. The letter says the contract is due for renewal this year. It adds that any review should include an in-depth investigation into the issues raised by the broadcast workers, which they have previously attempted to resolve through industrial relations mechanisms. Included in the group of 125 calling for the review is Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Social Democrats acting leader Cian O'Callaghan, and former journalists Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael) and Alison Comyn (Fianna Fáil), both of whom are senators. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission has said the workers and Pi Communications are in dialogue at the Workplace Relations Commission and it would not be appropriate 'to undermine the industrial relations process'.
