Author: Anthony

Chickens coming home…

Jimmy Guerin, brother of murdered journalist, Veronica Guerin was on Liveline today complaining about the high level of coverage given to the bacon crisis in comparison to the patchy coverage of Aiden O’Kane’s murder in Dublin on Sunday night.

Guerin claims that Government seems to give priority to pressure groups over those who are suffering as a result of crime, that nothing is being done, that the Government is inept, insincere and no real action is being taken to protect the vulnerable.

Guerin certainly has a good point but his argument is somewhat diluted when we recall that he’s a fanatical supporter of the corrupt Haughey, the principal architect of our corrupt and inept state.

Anti democracy campaign gathers strength

The Government is doing a very good job in recruiting allies to its strategy in the run up to Lisbon II.

The Oireachtas sub committee on European Affairs published its report on how to get around the democratic will of the people as expressed in Lisbon I.

Ireland could be “severely damaged” if things remain as they are and the country could suffer serious economic consequences in a two tier Europe the committee reported.

RTE also enthusiastically joined the Government’s campaign by doing a hatchet job on Libertas leader Declan Ganley. Ganley is seen by the Government as the greatest obstacle in its strategy to reverse the democratic will of the people.

The Standards in Public Office Commission, an organisation that’s usually as quiet as a mouse, has come out with all guns blazing in an effort to force Libertas to reveal the source of its funds.

Libertas has been issued with a formal warning and given one week to respond or face the consequences. To my knowledge this is the first time Sipo has actually issued a warning, formal or otherwise – to anybody.

The stark contrast between its strong attack on Libertas and its complete failure to challenge the secret funding of political parties suggests that this so called independent body is nothing more than a government pawn.

The McKenna and Coughlan judgements are also under attack. The McKenna judgement forbids government from using public funds to influence the outcome of a referendum. The Coughlan judgement ruled that both sides of a referendum should be given equality in terms of broadcasting.

Dr. Barrett, UCD School of Law said that the McKenna judgement “crippled the Government’s right to persuade the public of its cause and led to the emergence of groups such as Libertas.” The Coughlan judgement, according to Dr. Barrett “had the effect of neutralizing the role of political leaders.”

Clearly Dr. Barrett is deeply concerned by the problems an open democracy can cause to government wishes.

Fine Gael TD Jim O’Keeffe’s suggestion that the policy of giving equal airtime to both sides in a referendum debate “could result in a group such as a paedophile association being given 50 per cent coverage” is an indication of how obnoxiously low the Yes side are prepared to sink.

Redundancy – Irish style

A final decision has yet to be made on whether a redundancy option for workers at Aer Lingus is legal or not (Six One, 8th report).

The deal would see employees take a nine weeks pay per year redundancy package and then return to the airline under a new contract with lower pay and conditions.

If it is decided that the deal is legal Aer Lingus can claim a significant statuary redundancy rebate from the State and employees will receive very favourable tax treatment on their lump sums, all at the expense of the taxpayer.

It is, of course, a typical Tammany Hall tactic in order to ‘get around’ the law.

The Dept don’t want the hassle of more trouble at the airline, Aer Lingus want a deal with the workers but don’t want to pay for it and the workers want generous compensation for accepting a new deal from management.

The solution – agree a dodgy deal and make the taxpayer pay the cost.

Docile Irish – Passionate Thai's

I’m not familiar with the ins and outs of Thai politics but it was fascinating to witness the passion, determination and sheer delight when people power eventually forced the Prime Minister to step down on charges of corruption.

A constitutional court found that political parties were guilty of vote buying in the last general election. In Ireland vote buying, through Clientism, is an accepted part of our culture.

Thai people working in Ireland must be amazed to witness how docile the Irish are when it comes to political corruption,

Irish journalist treated roughly by FAS?

I heard a report that Niall O’Dowd, the New York based publisher of the Irish Voice, was very supportive of the disgraced FAS chief Rody Molloy. According to O’Dowd, Molloy ‘did the State some service’.

That phrase, associated with the corrupt Haughey, always gets my attention but I was puzzled about what possible connection O’Dowd could have to the scandal.

All was revealed in an excellent article by Maeve Sheehan in the Sunday Independent. It seems that O’Dowd is one of the legions of freeloaders who have benefited from the generosity of Irish taxpayer’s on the FAS gravy train.

O’Dowd couldn’t recall if a flight from New York to Houston Texas was paid for by Irish taxpayer’s but, reassuringly, he tells us he didn’t travel business class.

“Frankly, it was a very modest trip. We had dinner at a restaurant near NASA, not a fancy place, and another dinner at an Irish pub.”

What? I’m shocked, such shoddy treatment. Surely this man deserves compensation – an all expenses paid, round the world holiday perhaps?

FAS scandal – Entering phase three

The FAS scandal has now moved into phase three.

Phase one was the denial by Tanaiste Mary Coughlin that there were any serious questions to answer.

Phase two was the uncovering of the real story by the media, so called State authorities don’t do investigation/accountability.

Phase three requires a fall guy to avoid the risk of real accountability.

The Government makes an offer to Molloy that he can’t refuse – resign with full pension and entitlements or we’ll screw you into the ground.

Molloy has only two years to do before official retirement, time to take the money and run, time to abandon any pretence of serving the people. In return for his betrayal of the State he will receive high (but dishonest) praise from Government ministers for his ‘loyal and honourable’ service to the country.

As he legs it out the door with his bags of money and fat pension his ears ring with the last order from his political masters:

Don’t even think about playing the hero by appearing before the Public Accounts Committee’.

Titanic logic

In response to the FAS scandal Taoiseach Brian Cowen has instructed all heads of departments to check that their departments are not abusing taxpayer’s money.

Given the high level of incompetence and corruption in the civil service this is like the captain of the Titanic instructing the crew to make sure that lifeboats are properly painted as the waves lap around the bridge.

A pathetic hope

Incredibly, because Rody Molly has resigned he no longer has any obligation to appear before PAC to explain his activities.

Senator Boyle said PAC could insist but they would have to go through a complex legal process and he hoped Mr. Molly would appear on a voluntary basis.

So here we are as a country waiting for answers to very serious questions and all we have is the hope that the principal suspect will volunteer to cooperate – Pathetic