No Accountability - No Trust

Yesterday, the US public relations firm Edelman announced that Ireland was experiencing a crisis of trust. Out of 22 European countries surveyed, trust in governance and business in Ireland ranked lowest and overall, trust in Ireland across a variety of industries is below the global average. Such platitudes however are unsurprising to anyone currently living in Ireland. For there to be trust, there must be accountability and where is such accountability in governance and business in Ireland today?

To have an effective state operating with a mandate that is truly endorsed by the people, the state must have the capacity and desire to respond to the demands of an active citizenry. The Fianna Fáil dominated government of recent decades has led the country from a period of supposed boom to very real bust. Naturally, there was a global recession and Ireland was never going to be immune, but there was also mismanagement on the part of the government that dramatically worsened the effects of the recession in Ireland. The current Taoiseach, was the Minister for Finance during the crucial years preceding the recession and should therefore bear considerable responsibility. However, instead of being held to account or even answering his critics, Brian Cowen was promoted to a position where he could do even greater damage – but for more remuneration.

To be fair and in line with the Edelman survey, governance relates to the political system that exists within Ireland rather than specific parties, so the lack of trust applies to the opposition also, though probably not in equal measure. The unfortunate state of affairs though is that despite the borderline criminal record of Fianna Fáil in government, the opposition parties have not inspired the general population to oust them from their position of power in favour. Unfortunately, the Government may be the thief but the opposition are the unwitting accomplice.

With regard to business, banks have naturally become the least trusted industry with a 23% trust rating. Again, the banks contributed to the global recession but rather than being held to account, they were protected. A few scapegoats were put up for slaughter and a cap on some ludicrous salaries was imposed. But in general, the same people who were responsible for the banking crisis remain on the bank’s boards and promotions to fill the places of the odd scapegoat or two have been from within. Worse still, the nascent inquiry into the banking system is to be a private affair which means that the transparency required for there to be accountability, which in turn could instil trust in the people, is absent. Instead the tax payer is simply saddled with a bill for NAMA with no mechanism to question the receipt.

Workers need greater unity and civil society needs better organisation. It is quite clear that there is not enough pressure on those within the political system to act equitably and effectively and until there is, there will no reason for them to need our trust.

Haiti and the IMF - Update

Here is your chance to call on the IMF to cancel Haiti's debt of roughly $891 million. Oxfam International has launched an action asking people to email Dominique Strauss-Kahn (head of the IMF) and demand that Haiti's debts are cancelled immediately.

CANCEL HAITI'S DEBT NOW

Haiti Needs Grants not Loans

Since Haiti gained its independence in 1804, it has been saddled with illegitimate debt. Initially, this was also coupled with the imposition of a ruthless blockade by Britain, which was subsequently imposed by Haiti's former colonial rulers France (to whom Haiti only finished paying compensation in 1947 for recognition of its freedom).

The US backed Duvalier father-son dictatorship (1957-1986) then accumulated hundreds of millions of illegitimate debt that was spent on personal loans by Papa Doc and Baby Doc and used to maintain their despotic rule. The money did not benefit the vast majority of the population in any way, shape or form. Yet, the world still demanded that the Haitian people pay back such loans. Last year Haiti finally qualified for debt cancellation worth roughly $1.2 billion, which was owed to the IMF, World Bank and the US Government, but the country still owes close to $1 billion.

Now, in response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the IMF is offering a new loan of $100 million, albeit interest free. Responding to criticism from those calling for debt cancellation for impoverished nations; the IMF said that it did not have a procedure to provide immediate grants. Interestingly, it does have mechanisms in place to provide immediate loans - loans that could tie Haiti into debt repayments for decades. The IMF does not have the mandate to act in this crisis and has nothing to do with development. Haiti's experience of the IMF in the 1990s was that it was forced to slash tariffs which allowed the US to dump its subsidised surplus of rice on the country, ruining the livelihoods of thousands of indigenous rice farmers. Its influence will not help the survivors of the earthquake and given the length of time it may take Haiti to repay such a loan, the IMF could wield influence for years to come. If any international financial institution is to get involved, it should be the World Bank, who could provide the same money in the form of a grant payment without any policy conditions attached.

Haiti does not need loans. It needs grants and it needs the balance of its debt to be cancelled. Now!

ICCL Review New DNA Database Bill

It is welcome news that the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) will undertake a review of the Irish Government's new Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2010 to establish if it falls foul of Article 8 (right to privacy) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In December 2008, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights issued a judgement in the case of S. and Marper v the United Kingdom, which examined the use and retention by state authorities of fingerprints, cellular samples and DNA profiles of persons suspected but not convicted of an offence. The judgement will have a massive bearing on the legitimacy of the Irish Government's bill and the ICCL's review will have to consider the following from the judgement;

(1) Retention of such personal data must strike a fair balance between competing public and private interests. The Court in the above case was disturbed by the blanket and indiscriminate nature of the power of retention in England and Wales.
(2) Provision for an independent review of the justification for the retention of such data should be made.
(3) Retention of unconvicted persons' data would be especially harmful in the case of minors, especially if the nature and gravity of the offence in question are not taken into consideration.
(4) Retention should be time-limited.

The Court concluded unanimously that there had been a violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights so the Irish Government should be aware that it has a small margin of appreciation and should listen to the ICCL's advice.

Haiti Appeals

After having suffered the worst earthquake in 200 years, there are an estimated 2 million people in need of immediate assistance in Haiti. The Red Cross has already speculated that 45,000-50,000 people have died and development organisations such as Oxfam have warned that the actual epicentre of the quake was in the countryside, to which there is currently no access.

Many governments have pledged resources, both financial and labour, and an emergency appeal has been made by many charities, NGOs and civil society organisations in order to provide assistance to the people of Haiti.

Every donation made will be needed to ensure that the people of Haiti can overcome yet another natural disaster and re-build their future. Immediate priorities will naturally be to provide safe water and shelter to the countless that have lost their homes. Medical supplies are in high demand and organisations such as the Red Cross desperately need funds in order to address the urgent needs of survivors.

Co-ordination among aid agencies is required to ensure the right kind of relief is effectively and swiftly provided. Many organisations have decades of experience responding to humanitarian crises and others have the acute skills necessary to provide much needed assistance. Some organisations specialise in responding to the immediate needs of survivors and others plan for long term development so that the survivors can re-build their lives. Some do both.

Naturally people will donate to organisations that they trust and this is important. Agencies already working in Haiti though or those with years of humanitarian response experience should be supported too. Quick fix solutions or organisations promoting holiday development will not sufficiently address the very real needs of the people of Haiti. Please give, but think about who you give to.