We begin with a slightly idiosyncratic - and highly stylised - discussion of how Ireland went from a nation of farmers to a high-tech economy, missing out on industrialisation. Our focus is on one very simple question: Having got Ireland to ‘here’, why is the current crop of leaders incapable of dealing with known problems that have known solutions?

Previous generations of politicians and civil servants eventually took big and brave decisions. Perhaps backbone discovery requires a crisis. But we have had plenty of those recently, and have at least one right now. And nothing ever changes. Where are the giants now? The ones who, like Alan Dukes - and others - many years ago, took great personal career risks to do the right thing?

Has democracy reached its limits? Small, sometimes single-person, blocking coalitions can impede or stop any policy they don’t like. NIMBYism on steroids. Many economies will recognise this one.

Today’s crop of very smart politicians have worked out that the route to success - or mere survival - is to never make a mistake, never annoy anyone. That means never taking a decision. Let others do that and watch them fall by the wayside. Rise without trace.

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