Sunday, August 07, 2011

Ireland and the Eurozone Crisis

Prof. Morgan Kelly delivered the Hubert Butler Annual lecture on Saturday in Kilkenny as part of their Arts Festival.

This is a contribution to a thread on the Irish Economy Blog.

Radical solutions are needed to respond to a changing global economy but the radicalism should begin within our own direct spheres of influence.

The Sunday Independent quotes Ray Kinsella of UCD today, proposing leaving the euro — a hugely consequential move - - and Morgan Kelly referred to improving the education system.

However, in Ireland, four years this weekend after the onset of the credit crunch, the default mode remains to leave the tough issues and choices to the politicians.

The people who know best how to get an improved education system on limited resources are likely insiders who keep their heads down to avoid upsetting sacred cows.

The performance of the university presidents in particular, has simply been shameful.

It’s the same with the €2.5bn science budget, as referred to above.

Like motherhood and apple pie, education and innovation get universal plaudits.

The minister for education, an intelligent architect, should not be expected to produce miracles; In Enterprise, Bruton/Sherlock have replaced O’Keeffe/Lenihan and their soundbites on innovation are interchangeable.

‘Ecosystem’ and other jargon surely papers over a lot.

As for radicalism, while the 2008 state bank guarantee is now generally discredited, could someone enlighten me as to what is the current rationale for providing a state guarantee to workers who have the best pay and perks in the workforce?
*****
The number of taxis for hire in central Dublin at midnight at weekends is striking.

The High Court had mandated deregulation in 2000 and recently the joint labour committee system was declared illegal.

Strange or not in a system of strong vested interests, where the political system failed, the courts have only been asked to rule or have chosen only to see the need for remedy at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

@ Brian Mercer

The primary system doesn't resemble Saudi Arabia and teaching a number of languages is not an impediment to a successful educational system.
In fact our aspiration to restore usage of the native language, while not being willing to put up with the hassle, speaks for itself.