Each week in the run up to the General Election, JOE is asking a representitive from each of the main political parties to answer a burning question relevant to Irish men in 2011.
We’re not putting any spin on their answers: we ask the question, they give us their answers, and we print what they tell us.
Representing Sinn Féin on our virtual panel of Dáil Deputies is the TD for Donegal South Pearse Doherty.
Question: “Given that the political system as it stands appears to have failed us, do we now need a radical change in the way politics in Ireland is done? And if you return to the 31st Dáil can you give us five things that you’ll urgently be pushing for?“
Answered by Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty TD
Simply, yes. It is widely recognised that the way the political system in this state is run is totally out of step with the people. The culture of mercs and perks is alive and well with golden handshakes and elite cliques the norm. Sinn Féin recently launched our proposals for political reform. In it we make many proposals including:
– Change the law to allow for the impeachment or removal from the Dáil any TD involved in corruption, deliberate misuse of public money or fraud.
– Abolish the Seanad in its current form.
– Cut ministerial salaries by 40% and TDs’ salaries by 20%.
– Cap wages in the public sector at €100,000. Tackle expenses corruption by ending the payment of un-vouched expenses.
– Reform how the Dáil is elected to make it more representative. Elect one-third of the Dáil from a list system and the other two-thirds from seven-seat constituencies based on our current PRSTV system. Consideration to be given to reducing the number of TDs in the Dáil.
– Make the Dáil more accessible to the public, increase the number of days the Dáil sits, and introduce family-friendly sitting hours.
– Increase the power of TDs to hold the Government to account and to question the Taoiseach and Ministers on issues of importance.
– Give TDs the ability to have a real influence in the formation of legislation and give all TDs the power to bring forward draft legislation for consideration by the committee of which they are a member.
For more on our political reform proposals visit http://www.sinnfein.ie/files/PoliticalReformDoc.pdf
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