I was thinking about all the nonsense over the government's planned "decentralisation" and you know what should be done? Move the whole government - lock, stock and barrel - to a new greenfield site. A new Washington, Canberra or Brasilia. Pick an underpopulated, not overly touristy area and build a great new capital city there. An exhausted bog would be ideal.
Think of the benefits. Dublin's housing shortage will be over in a hurry (although, on second thought, the value of my property would plummet). Those civil servants who are afraid that leaving Dublin will put them too far away from where the real decisions are made won't have to worry. The Taoiseach and everyone on down will be in "New Brasilia", Co. Offaly.
And, such a move will create a healthy distance between the job-creating, money-making, creative work force and the dead hand of government. I think it would be better for the wealth-creating sector to see the government as a rival, which it is, of course. Moving it to a new city will help crystallize that.
