Enduring power of ‘permanent government’ - the Civil Service - may explain why only ex-ministers speak frankly after leaving government
Former minister for housing Eoghan Murphy’s recent memoir, Running from Office, is partly about Civil Service squeeze. He and politicians like Leo Varadkar conclude there is not much to be gained from becoming a 'lifer'. Photograph: Cyril Byrnelast month brought me back to the cabinet room of the early 1920s. It was sparsely populated, in contrast to the bloated ministerial ranks today.
Always a meticulous keeper of records, not unrelated to his earlier job in the post office, Mulcahy carefully curated his archive as one of the survivors of the upheaval, living until 1971. His papers are indispensable to historians of the revolution and his and his family’s decision, more than 50 years ago, to donate his papers to UCD represented the foundation block of what became an archive of the founders and builders of the State from both sides of the divide, many of them sworn enemies.
But surely more ministers are likely to lead to less effectiveness given the clogging and extra internal bureaucratic infrastructure such expansion creates? Former minister for housing, is partly about Civil Service squeeze. He writes of the “permanent government” stifling ministerial ambition and creativity. While acknowledging his own mistakes, he makes much of constant internal “pushback”.
Ucd Eoghan-Murphy Leo-Varadkar Civil-War-1922-1923 Richard-Mulcahy
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