better leadership: the green party’s plans to transform the political system

8/7/2019 Better Leadership: The Green Partys plans to transform the political system

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BETTERLEADERSHIP

The Green Partys plans to transform

the political system.

vote.greenparty.ie

RENEWING

IRELAND

ONFEB25THVOTEGREEN


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Better Leadership Transforming the Political System

Renewing politics

The Green Party firmly believes that our current political and public service systemhas failed the people. The depth of the current crisis requires reform at all levels ofpublic life. It is simply not enough to make changes to taxes and spending and hopethat a similar situation will not materialise in the future. We need radical reform.

The people's perception of politicians has reached an all time low in the wake of anumber of expenses related scandals and the obvious long standing co-dependenceof the main political parties and vested interests. People feel dislocated from thedemocratic process, believing that there is one rule for politicians and another for theordinary person. Failings have also been seen in the upper levels of the publicservice, where officials in receipt of huge wages failed to properly undertake the rolesassigned to them, or were hopelessly unqualified for them in the first place.

The Green Party is a different kind of political party we have never acceptedcorporate donations and as a result we are not beholden to big business, developers,banks, unions and other vested interests. We want to see all political parties meet thestandards that we have set. We want a democracy that truly represents the needsand entitlements of the population as a whole and not just a small, exclusive group.

Over the past three years we have set about implementing a comprehensiveprogramme of political reform: preparing legislation to ban corporate donations topolitical parties; paving the way for directly elected mayors in our main cities; leadingthe way in reducing salaries and expenses of Ministers and TDs; and instigating amajor review of how local government is structured in this country.

But we have only just begun. We want to continue in our work repairing our politicaland public service system so that they can be restored to a position of honour andrespectability both at home and on the world stage. Our vision for the nextgovernment sees this radical reform programme as being absolutely crucial.

Within six months of entering a new government, the Green Party will guarantee arange of sweeping constitutional changes which will enable the Irish citizens tochange politics and public life in this country. We believe the result will bring about acheaper, more efficient and better equipped public service, in which the public havefaith.

1. Opportunity to Create a New Constitution

The Constitution is the legal bedrock of the nation. Much of the criticism about thepolitical system and public life that has been made in the last number of years hasidentified Bunreacht na hireann as a cause of many of our problems. The GreenParty believes that one of the first actions the next Government should take is toconsult with the Irish people and ask them to put in place a citizens assembly, whichwould draw up a new draft constitution for the country. The draft constitution wouldthen be put to referendum.

Replacing our current constitution would have huge legal, political and historicalsignificance. That is why the Green Party believes that the public should beconsulted before such an undertaking is begun. Allowing the public to vote on


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affirming the process by which the new draft constitution would be created wouldsignificantly enhance its legitimacy and increase public buy-in to the process. Thiswould improve the chances of the subsequent draft being ratified by the public.

The Green Party believes that a citizens assembly is the most democratic way toachieve a consensus on a new draft constitution. Rather than having it written behindclosed doors as was the case with our current Constitution, or having a bodycomprised of appointed politicians or experts, we believe that the public should votefor the persons they wish to see involved in the writing of a new draft constitution. It isafter all, the most important legal document in the State.

Such a process has been followed in Iceland, where the elected ConstitutionalAssembly convenes this year. The idea is that people from all walks of life can putthemselves forward for election. The Green Party believes that this will result in alarge cross section of society being represented in the Assembly. A candidate willonly require 2.5% of the vote to get elected, making it accessible for minority interestgroups. We believe that 40 is a sufficient number of members to enable the

constitution to be drafted. We would support a 40% gender threshold on theassemblys membership.

Iceland has also instated a process of national gatherings, bringing together citizensto debate ideas. We believe that such a process could be used to help shape thedeliberations of the Citizens Assembly. They could further be used to include theviews of members of the Irish Diaspora and citizens living in Northern Ireland.

The Green Party will:

Within six months of entering Government, hold a referendum on establishing

a citizens assembly, which would within 18 months, draw up a new draftconstitution for the nation.

The Government of the day would be constitutionally obliged to put the draftconstitution to the country in a referendum, as a proposed replacement for thecurrent Bunreacht na hireann.

The citizens assembly would be made up of 40 members, elected from asingle national constituency through PRSTV, following the model recentlyemployed in Iceland. There would be a 40% gender quota.

In the event that the initial referendum on establishing a Citizens Assembly wasrejected, the Green Party would then act to bring forward individual proposals forconstitutional change to address public concern about specific aspects of the

Constitution with the first 12 months of the term. This would focus on much neededchanges to our political institutions: the Dil, the Seanad and the Presidency.

2. Ending Localism in the Oireachtas

One of the Green Partys founding principles is that power should be exercised at thelowest effective level. This means that issues that can be dealt with at a local orregional level should be devolved from central government to the appropriate body ata more local level. It also means that members of our national legislature, Dilireann, should not be trying to replicate the work of local councillors. The GreenParty will reform every level of administration to achieve these aims. Reform of theOireachtas cannot be separated from reform of local government.


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Dil ireann

Much of the recent talk of political reform has focused on the Seanad. We see this asa distraction from the real problem in Irish politics, a Dil that is no longer fit forpurpose. The current process of election to the Dil means that TDs are bombardedby constituency concerns. The current system also acts as a disincentive to peoplewho do not have a long time political background from entering politics and thus is abarrier to new ideas and expertise.

The Green Party proposes:

Reducing the number of TDs from 166 to 120 (a cut of over 25%). Having 60 of these elected from single-seat constituencies via STV. Having 60 elected from a national top-up list system. The top-up system will ensure that proportional representation is maintained,

and smaller parties are represented in Dil ireann in proportion to theiroverall vote.

Ensuring that the Dil should sit for a fixed five year term. Any early electionshould only come about by the failure of a Government to win a vote ofconfidence, and the acceptance by the President that an alternativeGovernment could not be formed.

Seanad ireann

Other political parties have committed to abolish the Seanad and branded thispolitical reform. The Green Party has always argued that the Seanad requires majorchange, but we firmly believe in its important role our bi-cameral democratic systemas a venue for more detailed debate on legislation. Our proposals envisage a smallerSeanad, but one which is directly elected. The large size of the panels we are

proposing will open the possibility for more independent and specialist candidates tobe elected. The wider third level panel will serve a similar purpose.

The Green Party proposes:

A cap on the number of Senators at 50 (a cut of 16%). Ending the practice of Taoiseachs appointments. That 10 Senators would be elected from a panel consisting of graduates of

third level institutions across the country. The remaining 40 would be elected from a list system, divided across 4

regional panels based on the 4 European Election constituencies. Thepossibility of allowing Irish citizens in Northern Ireland and abroad voting for a

number of Senators would also be examined. Persons choosing to exercise their right to vote on the graduate panel would

not be entitled to vote on the regional panels, ensuring each person had onlyone vote in Seanad.

Local and Regional Government

The Green Party will build on the work on local government reform that it has alreadydone in Government. We will increase the powers and democratic accountability ofregional authorities, to allow them to take on a range of functions currently exercisedat national or local council level. Town Councils and County Councils will bereplaced with a new tier of Town/District Councils, which will allow purely localdecisions to be taken close to the citizen. We will prioritise the passage of the DublinMayor Bill through the Houses of the Oireachtas. The introduction of a Site Value


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Tax will provide a sustainable funding source for local government, with less relianceon block grants from central government.

The Green Party proposes: To implement a new regional local government structure responsible for the

planning of water, waste, retail, housing and transport services. Councillors to be directly elected to the regional authorities, with a directly

elected head with similar powers of the directly elected Mayor of Dublin. Basic local government functions will be carried out by a new universal tier of

Town/District Councils. To increase the power of the citizen to influence local decisions through the

wider use of local plebiscites and participatory budgeting. To ensure that in making these proposed changes to local and regional

government the overall bill for salaries and expenses will not increase.

The European Parliament

The Green Party will: Introduce a list system and a national constituency for European Parliament

elections. Support efforts at European Council level to fix the home of the European

Parliament in Brussels and end the financially and environmentally wastefulsitting of the Parliament in Strasbourg.

Reform of Oireachtas procedures

In addition to constitutional and electoral reform, there are a range of measures thatmust be taken to improve the effectiveness of the Oireachtas, to increase the

accountability of the Government of the day, to empower the opposition parties andto restore public confidence in our democratic institutions:

In order to maximise the effectiveness of the work of our parliamentarians, we will:

Oblige all TDs and Senators to produce an annual report setting out, amongstother items, how often they spoke in the chamber, attended votes andengaged in committee work.

Provide for Dil ireann and Seanad ireann to sit for 45 weeks of the year,with sittings running from Monday afternoons to Friday lunchtimes with fulldays starting at 9.30am and ending no later than 7pm. Any changes to this torequire a two-thirds majority of the either house.

To increase accountability and improve the committee system, we propose:

That the Ceann Comhairle to be given the power to oblige members of theGovernment to give full and adequate information to the Dil. The CeannComhairle to be elected by secret ballot to remove the position from the gift ofthe Government.

That all Oireachtas Committees will have the power to compel witnesses tocome before them. Committee Chairs to be allocated to all partiesproportionally rather than be in the gift of the Taoiseach. Outside interestgroups would be able to directly input at committee stage of relevantlegislation.

To allow the Opposition to play a full role in the working of the Dil, webelieve that Oireachtas Committee Chairs should be allocated under a


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D'Hondt system as used in Northern Ireland for allocating ministerialpositions.

A committee week should be held approximately every month. During thistime the Dil and Seanad would not sit and committees would not beinterrupted by Dil and Seanad votes.

To empower the Opposition, we will:

Extend the Opposition parties' Private Members Time and facilitate individualmembers of the Dil, through a lottery system, to obtain time to introducePrivate Members bills and motions.

Adjournment Debates to be replaced with Commencement Debates chosenthrough lottery, to allow the issues of the day to be discussed on the day.

Recognise parties in the Dil if they have at least five members. Allow weighted majorities in the chambers and committees to approve

changes in standing orders and in the making of some decisions. This wouldpromote more co-operation between Government and Opposition. For

example, a two thirds majority would be needed to reduce the number ofscheduled sittings, however special sittings could be called by one third of themembers.

The Opposition to be given greater access to briefings from the civil serviceon legislative proposals.

3. Women in Politics

At the heart of an equal society is equal political participation amongst men andwomen. Ireland languishes in 82nd place in a world classification table of womensrepresentation in parliament. There were 23 women in the 30th Dil, accounting for

just 13.85% of seats. The figure for Seanad ireann is only marginally better, where

approximately 20% of members are women. At local level women account for 17% ofmembers of local authorities and just 12 per cent of the members of regionalauthorities. Without an adequate number of women in politics government decisionsmay not adequately reflect the concerns and experiences of women.

A number of factors have been identified as barriers to women's full participation inpolitics, including childcare, family friendly working hours, candidate selectionprocesses and the perception of Irish politics as an old boys club. An Oireachtascommittee report identified the five Cs: child care, cash, confidence, culture andcandidate selection procedure. These factors are linked. Progress in one area willlead to progress in others. An increased number of female candidates, for example,would change the political culture within which women try and enter politics, which in

turn would give potential women candidates more confidence.

While the National Women's Strategy 2007-2016 identifies the political parties asbeing responsible for efforts to increase the number of women participating in politicsit is clear that this approach is not working. Government action is necessary.

In Government the Green Party will implement the following measures:

As part of Dil reform we will change the timetabling of Dil and Seanadsitting times to start earlier in the morning and finish in the afternoon.

Reform the Dil term to make it more compatible with the school term. Provide TDs with the opportunity to take full maternity/ parental leave with a

pairing arrangement to cover that period of leave.


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There is also a need for legislative reform to try and increase the number of womenin politics. The Green Party will:

Amend the system of State funding to political parties so that a proportion ofsuch funding is linked to a requirement for a political party to have at least40% of its candidates at a general election from both genders. The legislationwould include a sunset clause for the ending of gender candidate quotas andwould also link political funding to a requirement for 40% of a party'scandidates being from both genders at local and European elections.

4. Uachtaran na hireann/The President

Our Head of State plays an important role representing Ireland on the internationalstage, while at the same time performing vital democratic duties at home. We believethat this role can be further enhanced through the implementation of a number of keyreforms.


Provide for a Citizens' Initiative of 20,000 voters to become an additionalmeans of nominating candidates for the Presidency.

Abolish the automatic right of re election, and introduce one term of fiveyears with the possibility of re-election for another five year term.

Eligibility for election be broadened and made open to any EU citizen whowas born in the EU area who has maintained continuous Irish citizenshipfor a preceding period of 10 years prior to that date.

Remove the minimum age of 35 years for eligibility and replace with 18years.

5. Transparency

Ending Corporate Donations to Political Parties and Candidates

The Green Party is the only political party in the Dil that does not accept donationsfrom private companies. We want to see a definitive break between big business andpolitics in this country. We have seen the dire repercussions of too-closerelationships between our larger political parties and key vested interests. We mustnow draw a line in the sand and ensure that these harmful associations areeradicated from the political landscape in this country. We must also introducegreater transparency to the funding of politics through implementing therecommendations of the Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption

(GRECO)1.


Pass legislation to ensure that only citizens can make political donations andthat private bodies including corporations and businesses would be forbidden,and underpin this with a constitutional referendum if necessary.

Implement the GRECO recommendations on the transparency of politicalparty funding, including requiring political parties to maintain and publishproper accounts, extending the period during which election spending mustbe declared, and reducing by at least half, the thresholds for declaringpolitical donations.

1 See Appendix 1


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Establish an independent Electoral Commission, building on the work alreadyunderway in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment.

Reforming Appointments to State Boards

In government, the Green Party commenced a process of reforming the way in whichpeople are appointed to State Boards. Historically, appointments to State Boardshave been perceived as a hotbed of cronyism, used by the main political parties toreward friends and supporters with positions of importance.

As part of the next government we will continue this reforming work immediately byimplementing an administrative process by which Ministers and/or the Oireachtascan advertise publicly for vacancies for nominations.

This system will commit all new board vacancies to be advertised, and the

relevant Minister and Department will select nominees from theseapplications. Departments will be directed to maintain a register of the directors of state

boards under their remit, and will include dates of appointment and expectedretirement dates and vacancies.

At the same time, we will commence work on legislating to set this open andtransparent system on a statutory footing. This legislation will be enacted no laterthan six months from the formation of the next government.

The legislation will outline a procedure for the publication of all vacancieslikely to occur, invite applications from the general public and from the

responses, create a panel of suitable persons for consideration ofappointment.

The legislation will also specify numbers of persons to be appointed by aMinister and will facilitate the appropriate Oireachtas Committees to makenominations to the panel.

In order to restore the publics faith in our political system we must ensure that weremove all remnants of the cronyism and the you scratch my back Ill scratch yoursapproach that have shaped our democracy for decades. Elected representatives atall levels of our democracy should place the importance of their official functionabove their personal interest.


Develop a set of clear unequivocal sanctions for misconduct in office,including removal from office.

Require elected members to declare their liabilities as well as their assets intheir Statutory Declaration where it applies.

Restore and extend Freedom of Information Legislation. Introduce a Register of Lobbyists, including professional, corporate and NGO. Introduce legislation to protect whistleblowers.

6. A More Open and Flexible Public Service


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Political reform must be accompanied by changes in our civil and public service.Greater accountability of the Government in the Oireachtas means greater flexibilityin how the Civil Service operates. The Green Party believes that the Civil Service canmaintain its non-political character while engaging in more interaction with thepolitical system. Opposition parties should have access as a matter of course tobriefings from departmental officials on emerging legislative and policy proposals.

Key to developing a more modern and effective public service is ensuring that thoseentrusted to run and deliver our public services are amongst the most talented andskilled people in the country.

A truly flexible system allows its staff to develop, progress and move within itsconstituent parts, unimpeded by archaic boundaries and structures. Promotionsshould be on merit and work experience outside of the sector should be valued.

As part of its Government agenda, the Green Party worked to ensure that all seniorpositions from Principal Officer grade (and its equivalents) upwards, are opened up

those working outside the service.

However, it is necessary to take some further steps to ensure that senior positionsare not only open to outsiders, but seen to be open to outsiders.

Chief amongst these steps is the reform of the Top Level Appointments Committee.This powerful body is responsible for filing top positions such as departmentalSecretaries, Assistant Secretaries and Commissioners. It determines the criteria forthe selection process and the interview process. This committee is mainly made upof civil servants. Although technically senior positions are open to those outside ofthe service, experience has shown that external candidates are rarely successful. Inorder to ensure greater independence and a level playing field for outside

candidates, this committee should be reconstituted with an external chairperson. Thenumber of external members of the committee should outweigh the number ofinternal members. Reforming the Top Level Appointments Committee will also senda powerful signal to qualified external candidates that the public service is open tothem.

The Green Party believes that the ongoing reform of the public sector should bespecifically assigned as part of the portfolio of a senior cabinet minister.

7. Enhanced IT Usage & Value in Central Government


Introduce a Government CIO position in order to maximise IT capabilities with responsibilities covering procurement, governance, interoperabilitystandards and legislation. We will deploy appropriately qualified person(s)with the necessary mandate and resources in order to oversee the effectiveapplication of IT across all government departments.

Ensure that all public procurement contracts are structured to avoidexpensive lock-in scenarios in terms of both vendor product and expertise.This includes ensuring that unnecessary preference is not given to largecompanies over indigenous SMEs on a false premise of risk reduction, andalso, the proper evaluation of free and open source software technologiesalongside proprietary products.

Exploit where applicable the Cloud Computing/SaaS model based on valuefor money, security, access and sustainability factors amongst others.


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Provide greater access to public services via a citizen portal, servicesrepository and location-centric Smartphone applications.

Publish public data (as per the current Tim Berners-Lee initiative) to supportexternal activity and innovation.

better leadership: the green party’s plans to transform the political system

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