OPINION: Is our local democracy doomed?

THE connection between the recent street rioting in Dublin and a meeting of elected municipal members in Seanad Éireann couldn’t be more stark or clear. Though different in context both in their own way point to a failure of political leadership at the highest levels.

In the first instance, the elimination of Town Councils and Borough Councils by a Fine Gael and Labour government of 2014 was in essence a naked power grab by the parties involved with a view to installing themselves in near perpetual government. Though Labour tried to distance themselves from the disastrous decision they acted too late as the damage had already been done. How the President of Ireland signed the bill into law is perplexing and cannot be explained away easily. indeed, why he did not refer the bill to the Supreme Court for adjudication will also remain a mystery.

The abandonment of our democratic system of government and the embracing of populist liberal agendas and identity politics sweeping much of Europe and further afield has and continues to have a corrosive effect on our way of life, communities, local economies and how our counties are managed. Today identity politics is in, with government favouring these power groupings rather than the collective good of the nation.

The disenfranchisement of the electorate to good local governance ‘of the people, by the people, for the people’ was sacrificed on the altar of political expedience for party political longevity. Perhaps the people should not have been surprised given the birth pangs of our nation over one hundred years ago.

The secrecy surrounding our municipal authority representatives’ meeting in Seanad Éireann regarding the deficit in local government needs to be explained clearly. This is telling on many fronts with the Leader of the House promising a report. This speaks volumes as to how deep the cleavage and alienation the electorate has grown from the elected. The fact that this meeting was barely reported on national media points to a very real concern that effects the inalienable rights of the electorate to be kept informed on matters affecting their daily lives.

This alienation between the electorate, elected and executive is very noticeable in urban and rural Ireland. This in itself raises serious questions regarding morality and ethics. For example, what is the moral imperative for the electorate to vote in elections when Executive rule is so pervasive? What moral principles can be applied to the electorate who exist on paper for voting purposes only particularly as all decision making is by Executive rule and dictat? How can national government govern ethically when such a deep gulf separates the electorate from government leadership and the decision-making process?

This failure can be seen right down the chain of public representation. How sad it is to see Ireland ranked fourth from the top globally for centralised government beaten only by China. Russia and Moldova. Not a record to be proud of. How can it be possible that the Federal Government in Brussels has not called in Ireland to explain why this centralisation of executive power and decision making?

A member of the municipal authority suggested that Westport, Castlebar and Louisburgh be formed into a borough. No doubt the suggestion was put forward in good faith but the thinking behind it is flawed. If this is the impoverished thinking of our elected representatives then local democracy is doomed.

We the people must hold the right to local governance to be a fundamental right and not subject to the arbitrary whims of political parties and independents. Our elected representatives need to be reminded that we are their employers that they serve us and not the other way around. Unless the electorate control political power and decision making at local level then the environment in which we live will be irreparably damaged.

The time has long since passed when tolerance of the populist, liberal agendas and identity politics ought to have been shelved for the good of the communities, counties and nation. In that regard bringing back town councils must remain a priority and demand of the electorate as our country heads into a year of triple elections.

A Mayo News reader, Tom Flynn lives in Westport.