And so 2012 is born, and a happy new year to all. But what do we wish for public policy in the next 12 months, and will our hopes be realised?
For a start, it would be a pleasant surprise if the authorities faced up to their responsibilities and took some action to reduce the burden they are placing on the taxpayer. Too many state-sector operatives seem to think that spending cuts only apply to public services and not to themselves. Wrong! An estimated 70% of spending on the health service alone is made-up of salaries and other remuneration. It's probably a similar breakdown of costs in the other public bodies, so let's start with the biggest items on the expenditure list before closing down hospital wards and old-people's homes.
We are also facing into the new era of funding local services through local taxes, such as the household charge and water metering. This sounds fine in theory, if it wasn't obvious that the councils will simply use the money as another way of bolstering their pay and privileges. This is unacceptable.
There is, apparently, an individual called the 'Local Government Auditor' who is supposed to investigate local authority spending for any sign of waste or inappropriate use of public funds. He has been conspicuous by his absence. The simple truth is that there has been zero oversight of public spending in the local authorities, which have acted as a massive slush-fund for favoured cronies and organisations at the expense of the taxpayer. We cannot allow this mafia to get their hands on more of our money, through the new taxes, without verifiable and enforceable safeguards against waste and embezzlement.
Finally, the new government will eventually have to grow a backbone and scrap the Croke Park Agreement. It is simply unaffordable without beggaring every other part of Irish society. Although, who knows, perhaps that's the plan?
