Reflections on the Irish State

by Fitzgerald, Garret

• ISBN13: 9780716527756
• ISBN10: 0716527758
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-01-01
• Publisher: Irish Academic Press

Summary

In recent years Ireland has experienced rapid change, economically, politically, socially and constitutionally, yet until now there has been no sustained multi-disciplinary study of these critically inter-linked spheres. In this new groundbreaking book, written for the non-specialist reader, former Taoiseach or Prime Minister (1981-1982, 1982-1987) Dr Garret FitzGerald reflects on the fundamental changes that have occurred and on their far-reaching consequences. Examining the forces that have drawn almost all Irish political parties to a common centre, the book questions the rationale and relevance of the current party political structure, and delves into the ever controversial area of ethics in politics. In the economic sphere the book discusses, among other issues, the profound impact of demographic change on Ireland's economic performance, and considers the social and psychological consequences of the rapid rise in average living standards, as well as the problem of reconciling a lo

Author Biography

Garret Fitzgerald is now an active Chancellor of the National University of Ireland, which comprises four of the State's seven universities.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. vii
Preface	p. ix
Introduction: general reflections on politics	p. xiv
Irish independence: rationale and timing	p. 1
Economic comparisons	p. 25
The Irish Constitution	p. 39
The Irish party system and the problem of localism	p. 60
Integrity in public life	p. 72
The Electoral System	p. 89
Irish demography	p. 103
The productivity of Irish education	p. 126
State and Church	p. 134
Ireland and Europe	p. 153
Ireland, Britain and Northern Ireland	p. 170
Notes	p. 193
Index	p. 195
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