Labour unveils plans for reform
Labour has today vowed to crack down on political cronyism by demanding resignations of those appointed to State boards in the last three months.
Under the party's reform package they would call for a clear-out coinciding with the date the Greens announced they were on their way out of Government, November 22.
Brendan Howlin said appointments to boards and agencies should be open to qualified candidates and subject to Dáil scrutiny.
"Labour is determined to end the system whereby appointments to State boards are used as a form of political patronage and for rewarding friends and political insiders," he said.
"Boards and agencies have suffered because people at the top have been appointed on the basis of their political allegiances and friendship rather than on their ability to do the job."
Elsewhere on its agenda, the party would limit public sector salaries to €190,000.
On the funding of politics, Labour said it would cut donations to political parties to €2,500 and to €1,000 for election candidates.
They warned all aggregate sums above €1,500 given to parties and €600 for individuals must be publicly disclosed.
Mr Howlin said the party wanted to regulate political lobbying, including how soon ex-ministers and senior civil servants can work as a private lobbyists after leaving public service.
He said political reform had to be given priority alongside restoring economic fortune.
"To change the broken system we need a new Government, but we also need a party in Government that can be trusted to deliver on the political reforms that we need," he said.
Mr Howlin added: "One area that is crying out for reform is that of appointments to State boards and agencies.
"There are on an average between 90 and 100 appointments made each month to state boards and agencies each month.
"What this means is that since Fianna Fáil was returned to power in 1997 it has made in excess of 15,000 such appointments."
The Labour reform programme would also ensure good corporate governance is a legal condition of being listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and introduce a whistleblower's law to protect those who expose corruption or misconduct.
Also, the party plans to hold a 12-month convention to draw up a new Constitution for Ireland in the 21st Century.
It proposes to abolish the Seanad, strengthen the Dáil and make it more independent, with greater powers to hold the Government to account by increasing the number of hours it sits.
On public service, Labour said it would reduce the number of quangos and duplication of agencies and Government departments.
It plans to appoint a short-term minister to run an Office of Public Sector Reform, and reconfigure Government services so the public can access a number of public services on one phone number, website or office.
Labour also said it would hold ministers and senior civil servants legally accountable for decisions they take.
