Taoiseach Micheál Martin told Ryan Tubridy that the “checks and balances” built into regulatory systems – and the delays they cause – are part of the reason “president Trump and alternative [political] positions are being given greater credence today”, reports Breaking News.
Mr Martin made the remarks in a broad-ranging discussion on Ryan Tubridy’s podcast The Bookshelf.
He spoke about his top goals in Government, naming housing and disability as the two key issues he’s determined to make progress on during his term, reports Breaking News.
“I was very frustrated with disability on the last occasion, and [I’m] determined that we make a definitive breakthrough at all levels, and for housing likewise,” Mr Martin said, reports Breaking News.
He also said he had recently met with top civil servants from multiple departments, where he raised concerns about slow progress on major projects: “We’re not delivering fast enough, we’ve too many checks and balances.”
The Taoiseach addressed public frustration about delays, saying it’s a recurring issue when too many different elements are involved in a project, reports Breaking News.
He said he had spoken to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently about how both leaders feel restricted by the systems in place when trying to implement real change.
“That is the problem in modern liberal democracies,” Mr Martin said, “and it is why president Trump and alternative positions are being given greater credence, because there is a legitimacy to saying the Government has an entitlement [a prerogative] to get things done for the greater good”, reports Breaking News.
He also touched on his visit to the White House for St Patrick’s Day, saying, “every meeting I have, you have to have a clear set of objectives… I had clear messages I wanted to get across, such as the Irish contribution in terms of investment in America, the Ryanair thing and all of that”.
Mr Martin told Tubridy that maintaining strong ties between Ireland and the US is important not only for diplomacy but also to support other Government members: “A lot of this is about opening doors for others as well. It is an important relationship, so that when other ministers want to meet their counterparts, it happens,” reports Breaking News.
He appears as the latest guest in season three of the podcast, which is set to launch on Tuesday, April 22nd.
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