“Disconnected” is a common way to describe the democratic discontents in Irish society and politics after recent fuel price protests and other complaints about the Republic’s highly centralised governance and many infrastructure gaps. That links us to a wider international discourse on democratic decay and how populism fills the void. These issues need urgent attention amid the State’s undoubtedly real wealth and wellbeing.

The three youngest Fianna Fáil TDs said their party leadership was disconnected during the protests, complaining about its centralised and arrogant management style. Protesters made similar criticisms about unrepresentative farm and haulage organisations.

These problems are linked to wider structural questions and infrastructure gaps in Ireland and associated governance shortcomings.

The agriculture and food economy empowers richer producers, processors, exporters and established organisations and loads fuel price risk on to more vulnerable freelance suppliers of on-farm services. The agri-food sector represents about 8 per cent of the Republic’s GDP and 6 per cent of its workforce; the 12 per cent of dairy farms, maybe 18,000 in all, are the most capital intensive and highest earning, while the far more numerous beef sector adds no net value after EU subsidies, is owned by older men – many working off-farm – and faces long-term decline. Ninety per cent of the State’s food output is........

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