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HAVE YOU EVER discussed something of real importance to society and thought that something should be done about it?
Politicians and commentators often bemoan the apathy of the Irish public towards politics. Most often, it is the youth of Ireland that are accused of disinterest in current societal issues.
However, as we saw with the marriage referendum, when an issue is important to the youth of Ireland, they are capable of driving social and political change. The non-partisan, grass-roots nature of that campaign allowed young people to get involved politically without getting involved with political parties.
Rejecting the system
Previous low electoral turnouts have been interpreted as apathy – rather than a rejection of what was on offer. Una Mulally has astutely pointed out, that in the fallout from the economic crisis and year upon year of the same responses from politicians, it’s no wonder that young people are rejecting the system that has left us with so few opportunities.
When discussing the hugely positive participation of the youth of Ireland in the marriage referendum campaign, we wondered whether our young people needed the opportunity to engage with social issues outside the realm of party politics more often. It seemed that people are not apathetic about politics, they are just apathetic about politicians.
A review of the literature reveals multiple institutional barriers to engagement in politics by young people. This includes the lack of focus on politics and civic participation in our education system, the absence of easy ways of finding out more about these outside of the educational context and a narrow focus on voting as political participation.
This suggests that new ways of engaging the youth of Ireland with decision-making and social change are needed.
Doing something about it
This summer my friends and I were given the chance to engage in the Ideas Collective, a programme developed by Suas, a charity focused on educational development, which allows young people bring their ideas to reality.
Where people often talk about problems in society and come up with great ideas that rarely leave the lunch room, we had the chance to develop one of our ideas and with expert advice turn it into action.
Inspired by three great Irish examples which have used the possibilities of online citizen engagement in different ways, Dáilwatch, Uplift and Smartvote, we began to identify existing barriers to participation and think about what we could develop to counteract these. Since we felt this would need to have a deeply participatory spirit to it, we surveyed our target audience.
This revealed two important points – young people want to be more involved in making positive change happen in society, but they don’t know how to achieve this.
We needed to create a platform that was easy to use, incorporating engaging ways of learning about how change happens in Irish society and a way of advancing from discussions of these ideas online to developing these conversations further offline and turning them into action.
Civic engagement
With this in mind, we developed KEY Ideas + Decisions. This is a new civic engagement initiative created by young people for the young people of Ireland. This non-partisan initiative consists of online activities, including our website and social media presence, and offline activities which will include carefully designed participatory workshops and any action instigated by the participants of these workshops.
It will provide a space for people to inform themselves in a quick, easy and engaging manner about how change happens, and discuss the societal issues that are important to them. The workshops will focus on specific issues and our facilitators will guide our participants in creating an action plan to tackle this issue.
We plan to launch KEY Ideas + Decisions by the end of October.
Chris Noone / Vimeo
We are lucky in Ireland to have such an intelligent, creative and educated young population. The outcomes of the Ideas Collective programme shows that when young people are given an opportunity to develop their ideas and contribute to society – they will.
The Suas Autumn Ideas Collective programme is now enrolling looking for young people, just like Chris and the team, who want to make change happen. Deadline 27th September. For more details here.
Chris Noone is a PhD Candidate in the School of Psychology at NUI Galway. His work focuses on the mechanisms underlying effective critical thinking. Chris is passionate about citizen engagement and is hoping to further his knowledge and experience of this area. He took part in The Ideas Collective Programme delivered by Suas, Summer 2015.
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I’m sick of glorified local pot holes fixers pretending to look after the national interest.
Chris, Hugh won’t be happy with that picture of his leader.
Are they any photos available of Kenny, where he doesn’t look like an idiot?
I don’t know what his PR team are doing but it’s not work. Mortifying to see silly pictures constantly. The same for previous taoiseach.
No. Are there pictures of an Ass that doesn’t look like an Ass?. that’s your answer.
Most punchable face ever
Looks spot on to me, a school teacher out of his depth.
And ’tis truly a severely taxing penance listening to Enda the Monotonous.
photos like that don’t exist
That’s like asking if there are any pictures of Joan Burton where it doesn’t look like shes about to fly away on her broomstick.
that finger…
no edna looks loike an idiot all the time
The school children who kenny was teaching must have been over the moon when he left education.I agree with Margaret Daly about the finger kenny still thinks he is back in the class room scolding the general public lets get rid of him with his five point plan
Part of the problem is the failure of the Irish politician to accept responsibility for our attitude towards them. It’s a case of we’ve done nothing wrong..and of course their abject failure to accept responsibility for any of their actions.
Yes we’re fed up of the individuals but they’re a product of a system that always puts the party before the people’s they’re 10 years behind the curve when it comes to stay ing in touch with the electorate. Replace the way politics is fine and we may just get politicians who do what they’re elections to do..serve the people who
Put them in their jobs. System is a busted flush..someone let Edna Mehole and the rest of them know that.
And Bruton supporting evil like the TTIP. I bet VW wish that treaty was in place now, they could just laugh at regulators then.
No accountability
Only people to blame here are the voting public. Real change will never happen until we stop voting in the chancers.
No, it’s not the people. A choice of an apple or an orange will still give you fruit.
Politics in Ireland is dominated by a centre left consensus. It’s the same consensus which strangles the Irish media and prevents it from exploring different viewpoints. Irish politics does not offer a real choice to the electorate.
Political power in Ireland is vested in the elites embedded in the civil service.
It’s not supposed to work that way, but that’s the way they work it.
When the AG can stifle debate in the Oireachtas citing constitutional grounds, it becomes apparent that our elected representatives have no freedom to do whatever they may have been elected to do.
The power to legislate is understood to be a privilege to legislate, and because the electorate are unaware of this fact, there can only be dissatisfaction.
It takes a long time to become a convincing liar so by the time they get their seats they are well into the years ( speaking generally also they need time to tutor their relations for high offices )
I have always said the people of every town and County should vote for the Person who puts the Country first not their Counties.
Only then will we get rid of the rot.
von, we also need to vote for people who put the country first and not their parties. I think there are plenty of smaller parties and independents who would do just that. FF/FG/Lab are ultimately party before country
The writer fails to grasp the essence of clientelism (and we are along with Greece and Italy have most clientelistic systems) is a two way not a one way relationship. It is an echo chamber with both sides, politicians and public infecting one another. Despite spin to contrary this budget, after everything we ought to have learned from the depression, is a return to form, lucky bag political bribes to tribal groups, no coherent vision, just bribes. And it’s working. The truth is that too many of the electorate demand change but not in their constituency preferring to ring the whine line at RTE and talk to Joe than engage in modernising Ireland, expecting reform to happen in the next parish and picking winners on the basis of what they’ve promised you, not your country. Just join the dots to whom we elect with top polls. Wasnt the most recent by-election a return to fiefdoms,
We’ve had six waves of economic and social failure since The Free State. We’ve returned to the precise same formula that caused the last, learned nothing that has penetrated beyond chattering and unless it’s changed, we will repeat, once again exporting the best of us, those most capable of reform, abroad in almost what appears to be a de facto policy of exporting the biggest threat to an establishment that has emerged stronger not weaker from the crisis, just follow the breadcrumbs across three Dublin landmarks beginning with the secular temple and watch the golden parachutes over the depression.
So while it is popular to write that it’s the politicians that are at fault the truth is a much more complex relationship. Pyschology students might get closer by asking is learned helplessness, or a Stockholm syndrome here or is it that the Irish people haven’t a sense of ownership of their own democracy?
“exporting the best of us, those most capable of reform, abroad” HA HA HA Ha Haaaa. That a lovely insult to everyone currently in this country and if these people were so great why did they not stick round and make this place better and not run off at the first sign of trouble seems like something a capable person would do alright. I never knew carpenters, plumbers, electricians etc. were held in such high esteem in this country the educated elite so to speak, yet when they go abroad are full genius’
Er, as President of Renua, you are part of the same hypocrisy, Eddie.
I think you’ve missed the point here.
The title might be somewhat misleading but the piece is not a rant about politicians. It’s about empowering people to make the changes that they want and to facilitate a move away from how politics was traditionally conducted in this country. As a psychologist, I would argue that learned helplessness, Stockholm syndrome (or criticising those who lack a sense of ownership of their own democracy) are blame-strategies, looking back rather than forward.
An initiative like this is more about how to move on and help people to develop that sense of ownership and pride in Irish politics. KEY Ideas + Decisions seems to have the exact aim you describe… to move beyond chatter… and yet you’ve knocked it. It seems to demonstrate that some of “the best of us” have not yet been exported.
Let’s not go down a “romantic Ireland’s dead and gone” route here… there are still some very intelligent and capable people hoping to learn something from the events of the recent past and make change in Ireland. Empty rhetoric does not change politics. This group are trying to DO something.
I think you’ve missed the point here.
The title might be somewhat misleading but the piece is not a rant about politicians. It’s about empowering people to make the changes that they want and to facilitate a move away from how politics was traditionally conducted in this country. As a psychologist, I would argue that learned helplessness, Stockholm syndrome (or criticising those who lack a sense of ownership of their own democracy) are blame-strategies, looking back rather than forward.
An initiative like this is more about how to move on and help people to develop that sense of ownership and pride in Irish politics. KEY Ideas + Decisions seems to have the exact aim you describe… to move beyond chatter… and yet you’ve knocked it. It seems to demonstrate that some of “the best of us” have not yet been exported.
Let’s not go down a “romantic Ireland’s dead and gone” route here… there are still some very intelligent and capable people hoping to learn something from the events of the recent past and make change in Ireland. Empty rhetoric does not change politics.
So while it is popular to write about six waves of economic and social failure since The Free State… This group are trying to DO something.
Some fair points there, Teresa but I’d have major concerns about the like of Renua claiming that they’re some mechanism for change; Lucinda Creighton, Eddie Hobbes, Billy Timmons and Terence Flanagan, Finbarr Filan’s…come on.
“Pyschology students might get closer by asking is learned helplessness, or a Stockholm syndrome here or is it that the Irish people haven’t a sense of ownership of their own democracy?”
You couldn’t make it up…
Well you’d certainly like to think that politicians could AT LEAST read an article and interpret it properly, rather than just using it as an opportunity to rant about their opponents. Hopefully critical thinking will be one of the things discussed in the KEY Ideas + Decisions initiative!
He’s not a politician, you understand, just the President of Renua….
Sound like a party you’d vote for?
Oh gosh… No no, I’m so overwhelmed with political apathy that I’ve given up at this stage…
Basically zero accountability, heading up a party of Fine Gael cast offs, lecturing the little people about the necessity of change…
Spare me.
yippee im not alone!!
Politicians and political system in this country is a not so funny joke.
But I wonder how many of the posts here will mention the voting electorate’s role in an unworkable system. If politicians and political parties were honest about the realities of governance and campaigned on same, no one would vote for them.
The “what will you give me if I vote for you” approach fuels this ridiculous system, but no one wants to talk about that, as we don’t do personal responsibility in this country.
You only get to vote for whom ever offers themselves as a candidate. The parties pick who they think is the most electable. Ability to actually do the job does not seem to be a consideration.
You say that MK76, as Noonan prepares a giveaway budget to try and bribe the electorate into returning FG. You might equally say that that political parties are to blame by saying “Vote for us and we will give you this”, so the point is null. In general, people do want honesty and fairness and, as been shows by the recent recession, are prepared to sacrifice to get it. When political parties then turn to backstabbing and penalising those same people by putting their needs second to greed and vested interests, that the trouble begins.
The point isn’t null actually. Until such time as people are willing to vote based on reality, with a more national (rather than local) outlook, then history will continue to repeat itself.
It will never happen, as one side or the other will have to take a leap of faith.
MK and how do you circumvent the inept idiots put forward by political parties?
We could go around in circles all day. The point is null because the people don’t have the power to change the system, only to change the politicians. In 2011, when we, in good faith and more than a little naivety, did vote for fairness, equity and honesty as promised by FG, what did we get?
And now you’re going to jump ship and vote for the next guy who tells you what you want to hear?
I’m sure that bottle of snake oil will cure all the ills.
The majority of the seats in the Dail are inherited and the politicians all speak only after consulting with their highly paid pr representatives. RTE make sure that the establishment interests are publicized and everything else is ridiculed or ignored…..
Its our own fail for condoning corruption and the fire sale of natural resources the acceptance of private banking losses as national the blatant disregard for principles and promises and the tip the cap mentality that scares people into voting fir all of the above. Bankers will be bankers politicians will be politicians unchecked and held unaccountable they will run riot over the people they are suppose to serve. Its a game your playing get smart or get beaten.
There is deep and multi-faceted political reform on at least one manifesto but the harsh truth is that the general public are NOT greatly engaged by political reform. See Carlow Kilkenny. Neither will a discombobulated flash mob be effective, the system itself needs reform at the roots, the electoral system, the pushing power down through the Oireachtas from the 4 Ministery politburo, much more collegiate politics, etc etc. There’s no shortage of logic about needs fixing and how, there’s a dearth of will to do it and politicians know it. When it comes to winning at constituency level bribery by the incumbents relying on the fear tactics of TINA (There Is No Alternative) vs Fairy Godmother Economics and promises by many in the opposition.
There’s been zero reform. Irish Water proves that, we remain with a captive Govt, on the outside by an EU that insisted on loading private debt on to the sovereign and internally (just follow the money) to powerblocks the banking class that wrote the insolvency laws to make them useless and permanent insiders first back to the trough, meanwhile the link between productivity and reward has been crushed, leaving middle Ireland reading about a recovery but experiencing none of it.
Eddie…RENUA are just the other cheek of the same FG arse, there is nothing different about them.
Lucinda backed every single move of FG except for one because her God got in the way. As for banking she never objected to anything this Government did while she was under their cosh. Infact she backed everything.
So why don’t you go back to making money off the poor distressed people of Detroit, it’s about as ethical as..you…get.
It would be good inter generational skill sharing to hook up with those too disillusioned with the political system to get involved directly. There are lots of activists that see more credibility in changing things from the outside because the inside is too stagnant and corrupt. They’ve spent years learning “how” and I’m sure most would be happy to share that insight
Great point Theresa!
I’m willing to share any time. I’ve been on a county development board and numerous strategic policy committees. A whole new world!
Id love to see young people in there. Unless they’re entrenched in party politics from childhood there’s no way they’d take it. Enough of them could change the system and they’d have allies!
I’ve also noted that there needs to be a good gender mix. Too many men get lost assuming leadership and ego trouble. Too many women can cat fight. A healthy mix keeps all in check. Trouble is we’ve too many men in the policy and decision making roles.
This is what the Irish people think of the muppet at the top of the page! He has no respect from his fellow country men/women. He is an absolute snake of a man! Enjoy. http://youtu.be/xwxHfiY9L2U
The problem is that we don’t have the choice, we are supposed to be a democratic state but the top of the pyramid gets to choose anyhow.
The country needs serious reform getting rid of cronyism and the stagnant system of party politics employing the whip system.
At the end of the day most politicians don’t give a shite about the average working or lower class as they will ride on the gravy train out of here anyways when the shite hits the fan.
Yet again we have another term coming in and we are stuck trying to choose the best out of a bad lot of liars it’s who lies the best gets on that’s how politics work here.
People don’t seem to get the point that we the people employ the government. We pay their wages and their lovely big pensions for doing feck all but riding the tide.
Would it be an idea to let independents lead the country at least they are not party affiliated. And we get to choose who gets in instead of choosing a party that are full of hanger on’s that we didn’t vote for and don’t want in government.
Kenny was a hanger on and as bad eggs do he rose to the top and not by doing a good job but just shafting everyone in his way. You can liken Irish politics to the mob the ones at the top get protected and the foot soldiers on the ground get fed a few crumbs to get the votes in.
Haven’t we had enough of this corruption! Now is the time to revolt and dissolve the Dail
You’re expressing a commonly held frustration John but it is the model that’s the problem, unhappily, a flash mob of independents, can’t, by definition, govern. Who are you going to ring at 4am and how can an oxymoron like an alliance of independents hold longer than the heat from their handshakes? How long do you think independents in Government would hold when theres a golden opportunity to break ranks for popularity gains? Those who crave the love of the mob spend their lives terrified of its disapproval -isn’t that the polar opposite of leading from the front?
John, then what is necessary is the right of recall and the citizens’ initiative which existed in the Free State Constitution – and was deliberately dropped from the current constitution by De Valera and his mob, in their own self interest to be re-instated by Referendum. Many people see the need for necessary reforms but are powerless to bring this about since we are reliant on the members of political parties to push these reforms. Since many of the necessary reforms attack the privilege of the civil service and the Political parties there is no enthusiasm whatever to bring about meaningful reform. I am aware that more than one crack-pot measure will likely ensue, but that is the price of democracy. Undemocratic or harmful initiatives will be voted down by the sensible people of this country.
Politics and politicians are the same in most countries and unfortunately we would be the same also. Most take on the job with the best intentions but the system needs to change. People need to change also, it’s people asking politicans for favours etc that needs to change.We get what we are entitled too without having to canvass for it.
Many fall for it but people are sick of the lies and corruption with spin…
Political Parties are just private clubs, financial predators who max citizens taxes for their own and vested interest benefits just like Landlords max peoples Rent and Banks max peoples Debt.
Tipping point for a new political order.
No no, we’re also sick of politics.
Does the article have a point?
Its sounds like another intellectual rant derived from the author’s frustration with the electorate for not choosing right-on candidates from the nice part of town to represent them.
Politicians aren’t stupid. They say the things they do because they’ve learned over a long period of time that that’s what it takes to win votes.
The author should go off and run for the Dail if he thinks he has a secret formula.
Rather than being sidetracked by noisy politicians desperate for self-interested media exposure, the young Irish voters should be looking at the country from the top downwards and working out which political party has the right policies to make Ireland a better country that is capable of providing them with a better living rather than the
“Play it again Paddy” emigration solution to unemployment-underemployment>
Just have a squint at our debt which the youth will inherit:
http://www.nationaldebtclocks.org/debtclock/ireland
Perhaps the Irish youth vote should consider Sinn Fein. Perhaps it will seek debt forgiveness and lift
the corporate tax rate to 18%, similar to the UK. Perhaps it is a contrarian case of the Devil you dont know being better than the Devil you know? Would there be something historically apt in voting-in Sinn Fein in the Centenary Year of the Rebellion: a back to basics!!!
Has Fianna Fail, Fine Gael or Labour got the right policies to retire this debt? I dont think so. While the budget is still in deficit this mountain of debt will increase and kicking the can down the road is not the solution for our youth. Neither is the sweetheart 12.5% corporation tax.
Like Martin Luther King, I had a dream. I dreamt that thousands of rich Irish people donated a year’s salary to
the Republic to retire debt (the Republic owes almost E47K per man, woman and child) . This bout of Irish nationalism was inspired by those who sacrificed their lives for the Country beginning with the Easter Rising 1916.
In my slumbers I thought that this was a magnificant patriotic gesture only dwarfed by the supreme sacrifice made by our 14 1916 leaders. As I lay there I was filled with pride to see our top public figures line up with their offerings lead by himself President Higgins and followed closely by our politicians, civil service top executives and the CEOs of major Irish and Multinational companies with Catholic bishops is close persuit. Such was my overwhelming
gratitude that I threw-in ten Euros left over from the last aged pension checque which was earmarked for a new bottom set of teeth.
But like all good dreams, I woke up to the clear light of day and listened to our pollies hustling to get their snouts in the trough before the next election. And when I got a mug of stirabout in me so that I could think clearly I just wondered if at least that Sinn Fein Politicians could donate their 2016 salaries to the State to defray the mountain of national Debt, Its only money and not the firing squad a cairde Gael!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talk Is cheap.
BL
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