Modes of Politicization in the Irish Civil Service

Aodhán Mac Cormaic was born in Dublin and is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK, and Dublin City University, Ireland. He was awarded a Doctorate in Governance by Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 2015.  He has worked for almost 30 years in the Irish civil service, for most of that time in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.  Aodhán has worked closely with numerous Government Ministers, including Éamon Ó Cuív and Síle De Valera, both grandchildren of Éamon De Valera.  He also worked for a time with President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, during his term as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.

Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Interviewing Elites - Key Questions for Research design.- Chapter 3. Theoretical Perspectives and Politicization in Other Jurisdictions.- Chapter 4. The Politico-Administrative Relationship in Ireland.- Chapter 5. A Common View but Conflicting Evidence.- Chapter 6. The Irish Case from a Theoretical Perspective.- Chapter 7. Conclusion.

"The book provides a good overview of the subject matter as well as some new qualitative analysis of the theories in an Irish context. It makes good reading for any student of public administration and generalists alike. This is partly due to the range of theories and examples covered and partly due to the clarity in which it is presented." (Stephen Beamish, Administration, Vol. 66 (4), 2018)

“The book provides a good overview of the subject matter as well as some new qualitative analysis of the theories in an Irish context. It makes good reading for any student of public administration and generalists alike. This is partly due to the range of theories and examples covered and partly due to the clarity in which it is presented.” (Stephen Beamish, Administration, Vol. 66 (4), 2018)