On Saturday 25th January 2014, I attended the Reform Alliance Conference held at the RDS.
Prior to attending and at online registration, there was an invitation to make submissions on three areas.
1. political Reform 2. Economic Reform and 3 Health Reform
Below is my submission on number 1 Political Reform:
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Political Reform
For Irish Citizens
Summary
Reform of
politics and county administration process is critical. We need a “movement for change” right across
Irish society
Potentially this
Reform Alliance RDS Conference ‘open to all’, represents a new movement.
My name is David
Egan. I have never been a member
of any political party. However, as an Irish citizen, I have always voted. Even when living abroad 17 years, I
travelled home to vote on a number of occasions.
Reform of
politics and the way we are organised is crucial but also obvious. In my
opinion, REFORM is not enough. We
need a “movement for change” right across Irish society where everybody who
regards themselves as an Irish citizen is given the opportunity to be involved.
I am talking
about a new way of thinking and engagment combined with a “new long term vision
for Ireland” and its people.
This would
combine a number of critical factors
*The inclusion of
“Ireland Abroad” . Not just the 400k who left in recent years but the 250k who
left in the 1980’s.
*Thinking and
organising on a local regional level, all Island level, a new Celtic Country
Level (Ireland/Wales/Sctoland), Pan European level, Global level.
*Introduction of
a matrix system of organisation combined with traditional type organisation.
This current
decade of centenaries and in particular 1916, represent an appropriate timing
to look to the future.
The short term
question on politcal reform is how
we redefine the word itself “politics”
in order to motivate people and create an movement of new possibilities.
Example
In 1990, Malaysia
(former British colony) created Vision 2020, a thirty year plan. I have been travelling
each year to S E Asia since 1997 from Europe and have witnessed the dramatic
change of Malaysia and its people to become a leader in the region where Asean
HQ is now set up.
David Egan
Avoca, Co Wicklow
