73 Reviews in the Progranmme for Government are a lesson in kicking an Industrial Sized Can Down the Road
Aontú Leader & Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has criticised the Programme for Government stating; in a time of crisis people desperately want a new government to succeed however there is no doubt that the Programme for Government does damage to that hope.
Tóibín: “Ireland is in a critical state. The underlying crisis in Health, Housing, Infrastructure, Regional & Rural Development have been joined by a colossal Covid-19 threat. The economy, people’s livelihoods and the fabric of society are in a difficulty like never before. People genuinely want to a government in place who will really get to grips with these challenges”.
“The Programme for Government has undermined significantly that hope. This programme for government is predicated on more reviews, more discussion, and more committees, commissions, assemblies and organisations. The proposed coalition government has pledged to establish no less than three Citizens’ Assemblies, two working groups, four committees, at least four taskforces, an expert group, at least two councils, at least two forums, seven commissions, and at least 73 reviews. This is the hallmark a government unwilling to make a decision and kicking an industrial sized can down the road”.
“This isn’t a case of an impossible equation precluding us solving the housing crises, or protecting our nursing homes, or fixing our healthcare system. The solutions are there and have been discussed many times before by politicians and expert groups. For example to fix the housing crisis, there needs to be unprecedented construction of social housing and an end to speculation in the private sector. The debates have been had. Reviews commissioned. Now what is needed is not more talk, but the political willpower to do what is needed. Clearly, the new government does not believe themselves to have that willpower.”
