Posted online: Jul 21st, 2010

By Claudia Kennedy
reporter

All roads lead to Glenties this week as the town hosts the 30th annual MacGill Summer School on the theme of “Reforming the republic—issues of politics, economics and accountability”.
This year’s event got underway on Sunday in the Highlands Hotel with former Taoiseach, Dr. Garrett Fitzgerald delivering a hard hitting speech. The former Fine Gael leader questioned those in public life saying they needed to be more accountable for their actions. He also launched a scathing attack on those evading tax particularly independent TD Michael Lowry.
“Rural tolerance of, or even support for, tax evasion extends well beyond those who have actually engaged personally in this practice.” Dr Fitzgerald also questioned the government: “The clear evidence of gross political incompetence in our economic governance during the past decade calls for a radical reform of our political system”.
Meanwhile as he delivered the Tenth Annual John Hume Lecture, NI Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, called for unity for all First World War veterans and a renewed focus on co-ordinating all public services on an all Ireland basis.
“I believe that Ireland is now set on a course towards unity, convergence, inclusion and lasting peace. In this way we will deliver equality, prosperity and reconciliation for all our people in all their diversity. We will build a nation of which our children can be proud and a republic worthy of the name”. Mr McGuinness also extended his sympathies to the crash victim families of Inishowen.
On Monday evening Transport Minister Noel Dempsey called for reform of the electoral system, stating that once politicians got elected they were under further pressure to get re-elected.
“Of course it is important to represent individual clients, but the more important part of the job is ensuring that the system works for every
citizen, not just to come to the TD.
“Our current system makes such betrayal inevitable because of the priority we place on re-election,” he said.