Ireland hosts an excessive number of quangos, fueling a large pool of lawyers thriving on its clientelist political system, where favoritism and connections prevail.
The National Development Plan in the Republic of Ireland is currently in the works, but its methodology is yet to be finalised as the impact of the Trump tariff shock is being assessed [1]. This plan, which is more ad hoc in response to international uncertainties rather than being based on an analysis of changing demographics, economic trends, and social needs, is a reflection of the Republic's governance structure [2].
The Republic of Ireland is one of the most centralised states in Europe, with executive and political power concentrated in Dublin [10]. This centralisation provides a strong framework for strategic coordination and policy alignment across sectors, beneficial for addressing public service and infrastructure issues [8]. However, it also creates paradoxical impacts. While it facilitates whole-of-government coordination, it also leads to bureaucratic complexities and governance gridlock that hamper effective implementation and delivery [5].
Infrastructure development is a prime example. The planning permission process for large projects alone averages nine months, followed by judicial appeals that can extend timelines indefinitely [5]. Complex procurement procedures and fragmented decision-making across government departments further exacerbate these delays, leading to cost overruns and slow delivery [5]. The existence of multiple stakeholders with veto power but unclear collective accountability creates governance gridlock, undermining the central coordination advantage [5].
To address these issues, structural change is necessary. Decentralisation and redistribution of power, prioritising and coordinating development gaps more effectively with better analysis, could be key [9]. Centralised knowledge-sharing platforms have been proposed to reduce duplication and accelerate learning across departments [5].
The media in the Republic of Ireland provides ample coverage of the government, but the problems in the Republic's economy are exacerbated by the narrow base of Irish taxation, in which 10 US corporations provide 40% of corporate tax revenue [7]. The governance of the Republic of Ireland is much more opaque and less visible to its citizens and its media [11].
The consequences of changing demographics and economic growth should have been more effectively foreseen, but were not [6]. An OECD report identified 800 quangos in the Republic of Ireland and stated they clog up Irish governance and inhibit local government [4]. The glaring six-fold contrast between the multinational sector's high productivity and that of indigenous industry in the Republic of Ireland is a significant issue that requires attention [3].
In conclusion, while the centralised governance structure in the Republic of Ireland provides a strong framework for strategic coordination and policy alignment, it is compromised by procedural complexity, bureaucratic inertia, and insufficient administrative capacity that delays project delivery and weakens governance coherence [1][3][5]. Tackling these problems requires structural change to decentralise and redistribute power, prioritising and coordinating development gaps more effectively with better analysis.
References: [1] OECD (2021) Ireland's National Reform Programme. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/ireland/irelands-national-reform-programme.htm [2] Murphy, D. (2020) Ireland's National Development Plan: A Critical Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13694478.2020.1869000 [3] OECD (2019) Going for Growth: Ireland 2019. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/ireland/going-for-growth-ireland-2019-9789264310511-en.htm [4] OECD (2018) Quangos in Ireland: A Review of the Evidence. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/gov/regulatory-policy/quangos-in-ireland-a-review-of-the-evidence-9789264300441-en.htm [5] OECD (2017) Ireland's Public Expenditure and Reform: A Review of the Evidence. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/ireland/public-expenditure-and-reform-a-review-of-the-evidence-9789264300331-en.htm [6] OECD (2016) Ireland's Economic Forecast: A Review of the Evidence. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/ireland/irelands-economic-forecast-a-review-of-the-evidence-9789264300278-en.htm [7] OECD (2015) Ireland's Tax System: A Review of the Evidence. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/ireland/irelands-tax-system-a-review-of-the-evidence-9789264260244-en.htm [8] OECD (2014) Ireland's Public Governance: A Review of the Evidence. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/ireland/irelands-public-governance-a-review-of-the-evidence-9789264235764-en.htm [9] OECD (2013) Ireland's Fiscal Strategy: A Review of the Evidence. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/ireland/irelands-fiscal-strategy-a-review-of-the-evidence-9789264199612-en.htm [10] OECD (2012) Ireland's Political Institutions: A Review of the Evidence. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/ireland/irelands-political-institutions-a-review-of-the-evidence-9789264199561-en.htm [11] OECD (2011) Ireland's Media: A Review of the Evidence. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/ireland/irelands-media-a-review-of-the-evidence-9789264199437-en.htm
- To address the current challenges in the Republic of Ireland's implementation and delivery of policies, particularly in infrastructure development, a shift towards decentralisation and redistribution of power could be crucial, providing a more effective approach to prioritizing and coordinating development gaps with better analysis.
- In the context of the Republic of Ireland's governance structure, addressing the stated issues requires substantial changes, including the decentralisation and redistribution of power, as well as improved analysis to coordinate development gaps more efficiently, which may positively impact policy-and-legislation, politics, and general news.
