Category: Fianna Fail

Reynolds: In great evidence giving form?

It’s been two years now since Alert Reynolds was excused from giving evidence at the Mahon Tribunal because he suffers from a significant cognitive impairment which can cause memory loss and difficulty with speech.

Since then he’s been out and about living life to the full with not a sign of that nasty impairment.

The five medical ‘experts’ who made the diagnosis must be astonished by Albert’s miraculous ability to speak and act just like everybody else despite his condition.

Tribunal chairman, Alan Mahon, said at the time that the tribunal reserves the right to review this decision in the event that it receives information which might suggest a change or an improvement in Mr. Reynolds’ medical condition.

Perhaps the judge should have a look at Albert’s latest social outing in Tipperary (RTE, 3rd report).

He looks in great evidence giving form to me.

Irish public life has been criminalised

The only quibble I would have with this excellent letter is the suggestion that the criminality only began 13 years ago.

I believe corruption/criminality has always been an integral part of Irish public life but the disease became endemic in 1979 when the criminal politician Haughey gained power.

Laughing boy Brian Cowen was laughing at more than Fine Gael in the Dail chamber on Wednesday: he and his party were also laughing at the people of Ireland.

On the day that it was formally acknowledged that the old, the sick and the disabled of Ireland would have to pay a heavy price to support the gambling debts of the friends of Fianna Fail, through paying off the Anglo debt of €22bn, all Cowen could do was sneer at the problems of the opposition.

It is amazing to me that when the Fianna Fail mask slips, all that is revealed is exactly the same face of arrogance and cocky contempt.

The one thing Fine Gael should learn from their travails is that, no matter who the leader, if they don’t learn the nature of the opposition they face, then they will never connect with the depth of anger that exists in this country at the way public life has been criminalised.

The most awful truths are often the most difficult to contemplate.

But the reality is that 13 years of cowboy banking, cowboy building and cowboy spending could only have happened through the orchestration of the cowboy politics represented by the Fianna Fail hegemony.

Words like nepotism, largesse and cronyism are employed by polite and civilised society to convey its discomfiture with immoral conduct.

But the times in which we live demand that we develop a language and attitude more fitting to both describe and challenge the enemy Ireland faces today.
Very simply, public life has been criminalised.

We need to ‘man up’ as a nation and admit this.

The people who did the criminalisation manage successfully to pass themselves off as part of the political discourse. There is always some “policy”-based argument for decisions that result in the same outcome.

But the result is always the same: public money is effectively stolen.

It is more than ironic that a state agency, the HSE, should have referred the seeming theft of €2.5m to the Garda Siochana when, over in the Dail, the chairman of Anglo admitted that €22bn would never be accounted for.

It’s no wonder Brian Cowen is laughing at us.

Declan Doyle

Lisdowney Co Kilkenny

Traitor Dukes tells the people of Ireland to fuck off

At least €20 billion of the €22 billion poured into Anglo Irish Bank will never be seen again (RTE News, 2nd report).

This was obvious for quite some time but to actually hear the Chief Executive, Mike Aynsley, casually admit the fact was still shocking.

Ireland is ruined despite what Klaus Regling says.

If the people of Ireland remain docile, if they continue to wallow in their political ignorance they will be reduced to a standard of living similar to that of the 1950s.

They will be living in poverty with no self respect and no hope for the future. For generations to come Irish citizens will work long and hard to pay back their personal loans, their mortgages and the billions gambled away by the corrupt banks and politicians.

At the very least the people should rise up and throw those responsible for our destruction out of office. Not only is there no sign of this happening but members of the ruling elite who have betrayed Ireland continue to give two fingers to the people.

Alan Dukes is one such traitor.

He was questioned by Senator Ross in front of the Joint Oireachtas Finance and Public Service Committee regarding the appointment of Gary Kennedy, an AIB insider, and Fianna Fail hack, Aidan Eames, to the board of Anglo Irish Bank.

Here’s part of the row as broadcast on The Late Debate last night. (Remember, Dukes, allegedly represents the public interest on the board of Anglo).

Senator Ross: What input did you have in interviewing these guys?

Dukes: That’s as much an answer as you’re going to get Senator.

Senator Ross: Why?

Dukes: Because I’m not here to write a column on the back page of the Sunday Business Independent

Senator Ross: That is gratuitously ridiculous and insulting.

We’re entitled to answers to questions about people who are on nationalised banks and for you to say you’re not going to answer a question about who they are and what procedures were followed is completely unacceptable.

Dukes: It is perfectly adequate…

Committee Chairman: He has answered the question…

Senator Ross: He hasn’t, he said he has great confidence..

Dukes: It is perfectly adequate on my part to say that the three appointments have gone through due process and I’m perfectly happy with each member of the board we have.

Senator Ross: It looks to me as if these were imposed upon you and you’re not prepared to say so.

Dukes: That is not true, all due procedures were followed.

Senator Ross: Nobody interviewed them, they were parachuted in, they’re part of the old guard.

Dukes: That’s an allegation that you cannot stand up Senator.

Committee Chairman: Could you back up that allegation?

Senator Ross: I want to know how it happened, that’s all I’m asking.

Committee Chairman: You’re not allowing the chairman to reply.

Senator Ross: Ok, how did it happen?

Dukes: All of the due procedures were followed in making those appointments and in all previous appointments to the board. They have been approved by the Financial Regulator and that’s all I’m going to say.

Senator Ross: Were they interviewed by the board?

Dukes: I’m not going to reply to that.

In case there’s anybody out there with the slightest doubt about what the traitor Dukes is saying here, let me spell it out in crude but plain English.

He’s telling Senator Ross to fuck off, he’s telling the Dail committee to fuck off and he’s telling the people of Ireland to fuck off.

He is supremely confident that he can do what he likes, supremely confident there’s no authority in the land capable or willing to make him accountable.

Sadly, very sadly, for the people of Ireland, his confidence is justified.

When the war is over nothing will have changed

In March 2009 I wrote the following about Enda Kenny’s leadership.

One of the greatest mysteries of Irish political life is how Enda Kenny is still leader of Fine Gael.

His performance in poll after poll is pathetic and the reason is obvious, he’s a nice man but a completely ineffective politician.

The last thing Ireland needs at this time is a ‘nice man’. What’s needed is a courageous, visionary, kick-assing son of a bitch with one focus – the best interests of the Irish people.

In the end it doesn’t matter who wins this latest Fine Gael war because neither Kenny nor Bruton has what it takes to lead Ireland.

Cowen is dead man walking so that just leaves Gilmore who will, most likely, enter a coalition with FG after the next election.

So will Gilmore do what’s necessary to save Ireland – highly unlikely?

A new government may make some changes perhaps even significant reform but the corrupt system itself will remain intact.

We will see the same parties, the same politicians, the same civil servants operating the same corrupt system that benefits a minority but is extremely damaging to the Irish people and the country as a whole.

Because you’re the injured party…

A current advertisement warning against insurance fraud goes as follows:

Joe had an accident but when he exaggerated his injuries to get more compensation he put his hand in your pocket and took your money.

Every day in Ireland false and exaggerated insurance claims are driving your premiums up.

Protect yourself, report suspect claims; because you’re the injured party.

A similar advertisement can equally serve as a warning against alleged fraud by politicians:

Politician X receives unvouched expenses but when he exaggerated his claims to enrich himself he put his hand into your pocket and took your money.

Everyday in Ireland false and exaggerated claims by politicians are driving up already high levels of cynicism and contempt for the State.

Protect yourself; throw these people out of public office, because you’re the injured party.

Expenses scandal confirms political system is still rotten to the core

We are constantly told by politicians that things are different now. We’re told that the (corrupt) political system has been reformed, that the system is now transparent and accountable.

The ongoing expenses scandal gives the lie to all such assertions.

There’s not even a need to make an argument on the matter, the words of the politicians themselves are sufficient to confirm that the system is still rotten to the core.

Michael D Higgins: (Labour TD)

I think it’s important that we acknowledge the new system is there and hope that people will realise that people like Ivor Callely are exceptional and allow the rest of us to address the really serious issues.

I would worry about my own sanity if I regarded it as politically important.

I do insist that presenting this exotic behaviour as anything typical would be quite irresponsible.

Clearly, Higgins does not think that alleged fraud by an Irish politician is a serious issue or politically important.

This attitude displays a disturbing ignorance of reality.

All corruption in Ireland ultimately originates from the corruption of the political system but people like Higgins have yet to even notice that fact never mind actually act against the disease.

He’s happy to wallow in ignorance and denial while blaming the media for everything.

Dr. John Doyle (DCU)

Irish politicians have very few supports in staff and other facilities compared to other EU parliaments…the broader picture is that Irish politicians are not on the gravy train compared to the Europeans and North Americans.

Lise Hand (Columnist with Irish Independent) when asked to respond to Doyle’s comments.

Just picking my jaw up off the floor here.

Mary O’Rourke (Fianna Fail TD)

Apparently he (Callely) is hunting for a get out clause. I think it’s all very nauseating and awfully bad for the body politic and it’s wrong, wrong, wrong.

This is the politician who believed Bertie Ahern’s lies were quite reasonable explanations and was/is a great admirer of the criminal Haughey.

After Haughey died O’Rourke described his long and destructive record of criminality as ‘a few bumps on the road.’

Mary Hanafin (Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism)

The answers that have come forward to date are not very clear. Senator Callely has to explain the situation to the Senate Committee.

There are certainly serious questions being asked and I believe he should be absolutely up front and clear about it.

Answers not very clear? Callely should be up front and clear. Is this the same politician who regularly stated, without embarrassment, that she believed every convoluted word from the mouth of the chancer Bertie Ahern?

The reason for this rank hypocrisy from O’Rourke and Hanafin is simple. Callely is not important; in fact he’s not even liked within Fianna Fail. He’s not a Fianna Fail mafia don so he can be discarded,

Senator Regan (Fine Gael)

I think this is an important issue, an issue of fraud by a member of this house.

Regan was told to withdraw the remark and did so immediately. Fraud by an Irish politician – the very idea?

Senator Dearey (Green Party)

Dearey was asked what should happen next (regarding Callely)

Well, you’ll appreciate I’m the newest kid on the block in there. I was appointed in the last couple of days in February so the intricacies of Oireachtas procedures are not something I would claim to be an expert on yet.

So, this politician needs to become an expert on the intricacies of Oireachtas procedures before he can give an opinion on the difference between right and wrong.

Senator Mullen (Independent) (From Galway but lives in Dublin)

On being asked what advice he received from a fellow politician in relation to claiming expenses when he first entered the Senate in 2007.

You could claim your expenses from Ahascragh (Galway) and if you’re here long enough you’ll have a house out of it.

Senator Mullen’s response to this advice:

We all deal in our own way with bad suggestions like that. You don’t necessarily give the person a lecture on ethics and propriety on the spot.

Senator Mullen is a deeply conservative Catholic who constantly lecturers Irish citizens on ethical matters.

It would appear that ethics in politics, if that’s not an oxymoron, do not feature in this Senator’s sense of morality.

Senator Butler (Fianna Fail)

Gets paid €20,000 more in travel expenses because he says he’s moved home to county Carlow although his home address is listed as Foxrock in Dublin.

Senator Doherty (Sinn Fein, Donegal)

Senator Doherty questions why Fine Gael TD Dinny McGinley, who lives in the same town land as Doherty, claims substantially more travel expenses.

McGinley claims that he was advised by security people back in the troubles to stay within the state. Fear that he might become a war casualty results in him having to take a longer route to and from Dublin.

Apparently, nobody has informed the TD that the war ended about 20 years ago.

Senator Regan (Fine Gael) who angrily accused Callely of fraud said that McGinley’s claims were a minor matter but Senator Doherty responded that they amounted to tens of thousands of Euros.

Senator Doherty believes that politicians are grossly overpaid on expenses.

It doesn’t cost me €466 to get from Donegal to Dublin. I have a car over a four year loan period. Repayments are €310 per month and I get €466 per return journey.

Senator Regan (Fine Gael) on being asked why politicians do not use public transport.

There’s an efficiency problem with that. Coming from Donegal might not work for a local TD who needs to get back to his constituency to attend particular events. Some have to go back mid week so there’s a practicality to it.

Bullshit is the only possible response to this view.

Senator O’Brolchain (Green Party)

Asked did he think people (politicians) were going by train and claiming mileage for it?

Well, I’m absolutely certain of it. I know of many instances of that, there are many instances where people are abusing the system.

Senator White (Fianna Fail) The following comments are a mixture of insult, paternalism and lies.

I’m very conscious listening to the discussion so far that the Irish public is listening out there very, very worried and probably incensed.

They’re not understanding some of the language that’s being used -vouched, unvouched etc and I think it’s very confusing.

First of all I would like to reassure the Irish people that a new regime has just being brought in. It’s a radical change over what has gone on forever as far as I’m concerned.

It is highly transparent system now and to be honest when I first came to the Senate in 2002 I was amazed at the lack of transparency and the lack of having to produce vouched receipts.

I am acutely conscious that it’s taxpayers’ money that I am being paid and accountable for every day.

But I would really like to reassure the people that we now have a highly transparent system.

This stupid politician, who, by the way wants to be President, didn’t say if she intends educating a ‘confused’ and ‘ignorant’ Irish public on the meaning of such ‘complex’ words like vouched and unvouched.

Senator Labhras O’Murchu (Fianna Fail) (Based in Tipperary)

When O’Murchu was asked about his expenses he said that when in Dublin he stays at Comthlas headquarters for about €50 per night. He claims that he uses the balance of money to pay for the rest of his daily expenses.

O’Murchu is Director General of Comthlas. Comthlas has refused to make any comment on the matter.

Jackie Healy-Rae (Fianna Fail independent)

Healy Rae admitted that up until recently he has been driving to the Dail from his Kerry constituency in the company of another Oireachtas member. He refused to name the other politician or whether both of them have claimed expenses.

When pressed on the matter he responded:

I know my own business and I won’t be declaring it to you or anybody else.

In other words this backwoodsman is telling the media and the people of Ireland to take a hike.

His ignorant and arrogant attitude is a clear indication that nothing has changed in this country and as I have said on many occasions nothing will ever change until these traitors are thrown out of public office and the entire corrupt system under which they enrich themselves is brought crashing down.

Copy to:

Fianna Fail
Fine Gael
Labour
Green Party
Senator Mullen
Seanad Eireann
Dail Eireann

Senator O’Murchu’s curious sleeping arrangements

During a discussion about the ongoing expenses scandal Fianna Fail Senator, Labhras O Murchu, made what I thought was a very curious remark (Marian Finucane Show, Sat).

He explained that when he was in Dublin he stayed at Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann headquarters for €50 per night.

I checked this out and, according to Wikipedia, Senator O’Murchu is the Director General of Comhaltas.

I phoned the organisation this morning with a list of questions but was informed by a spokesperson that a press release on the matter would be released later today.

The spokesperson was clearly under pressure so I’m obviously not the only person asking questions about this curious arrangement.

Seanad Eireann: An elaborate cash-dispensing machine

It is now seven days since the Sunday Independent exposed Senator Ivor Callely’s dodgy expenses claims. Seven days and not a policeman in sight to investigate what are, in effect, serious allegations of fraud.

Liam Fay writes a hard hitting and accurate analysis of the scandal in today’s Sunday Times. Some quotes from is article.

The notion that Callely has “duties” in the sense that he provides a service or function is absurd. As one of the taoiseach’s appointees, he’s a professional placeman, a chair warmer.

Unelected and therefore unaccountable, he represents nobody but himself and has nothing to offer but his trademark self-importance.

Similarly, Callely is more emblematic of the culture of the Seanad than most senators will admit.

After all, the whole expenses system is a joke, an elaborate cash-dispensing machine that rewards senators for simply turning up to perform a part-time job of no discernible usefulness for which they are already overpaid in the first place.

As we are discovering, Callely isn’t the only senator to claim travel expenses from a distant address that is not officially listed as his home.

If the Callely affair proves anything, it’s the case for the abolition of the Seanad, a talking shop designed solely for the aggrandisement of a political elite.

Long live the (corrupt) republic

Sunday Independent business correspondent Brian Keenan is a conservative.

He’s one of those people who sincerely believe he lives in a functional democracy where accountability is, if not the norm, at least possible. It must, therefore, have been difficult for him to admit the following.

The truth is that Ireland is an ill-governed country, and has been for some time.

Yes, I know, it’s a mild almost sheepish description of the horrific reality that Ireland is facing but it’s a start for a journalist who, to date, has lived in a lovely, warm and comfortable cocoon of denial.

He goes on:

Time is now running out, not just to fix the public finances, but to fix the body politic.

You see here, it’s beginning to dawn on this conservative that there’s something wrong with our political system. Yes, he’s about 30 years too late with his tiny and timid insight but it’s a start for a journalist who has always been comfortable in his denial.

He goes on:

Fianna Fail, of course, will have to fix itself. For most of the past 30 years, it has been part of the problem rather than part of the solution. Like much of the country’s other difficulties, this is fundamentally due to an unwillingness to change.

Wow, this is incredible insight – Fianna Fail is part of the problem.

Let’s see, around 1982 I realised that Fianna Fail was rotten to the core with corruption. The party that still supports and admires the criminal Haughey is the single greatest factor in the destruction of our country.

The solution is not for Fianna Fail to fix itself; the solution is for Fianna Fail to be destroyed as a power in the land.

The question that Mr. Keenan grapples with in his article is whether Ireland should default on its debts and it is here that we see he has learned nothing; that he’s still living in his comfortable but deadly denial.

It cannot just be economic calculations, though. No rich country has defaulted since World War II. Twenty years ago, rugby captain Ciaran Fitzgerald had not yet uttered what remains my instinctive response to the idea: “Where’s your f**king pride?”

Here Keenan looks out from the cesspit of corruption that Ireland has become and shouts at the world.

We are Irish, we’re proud and we will defeat this terrible disaster not by facing uncomfortable realities, not be putting the corrupt in jail, not by radically reforming our corrupt political, regulatory and business sectors.

No, we will solve our problems by appealing to a false, naïve and totally misplaced nationalism.

Long live the (corrupt) republic.

Garret Fitzgerald – Still apologising to the criminal Haughey

Former Taoiseach Dr Garret Fitzgerald and his daughter, Mary Fitzgerald were guests on Miriam Meets this week.

One of the matters discussed was the (in) famous ‘flawed pedigree speech’ delivered by Fitzgerald in the Dail following the nomination of the criminal Haughey as Taoiseach in December 1979.

Fitzgerald’s description of Haughey as a flawed pedigree was a 100% accurate assessment of the criminal’s character.

Everything that has come to light since that day has confirmed that Haughey was/is nothing more than a common criminal who infected the body politic and subsequently the entire state administration with the disease of corruption.

That infection continues to do untold damage to the interests of the Irish people today as Haughey’s flawed successors bankrupt the nation in order to protect corrupt bankers and property developers.

But, bizarrely, Fitzgerald is not proud of his famous speech and constantly apologises for his attack on Haughey. Here’s how Fitzgerald and his daughter responded to questions from Miriam O’Callaghan.

O’Callaghan: You regretted the flawed pedigree didn’t you?

Fitzgerald: It was a perfectly valid remark but it was totally misinterpreted. I simply said that unlike all previous Taoisigh he didn’t enjoy the full support of his party.

Daughter: It was really the wrong word to use; I mean it immediately raised all kinds of connotations which were completely hijacked

Fitzgerald: I mean, I wrote the speech at 4.30 in the morning.

Daughter: Pedigree is an obnoxious word, how you could have used the word pedigree, it wasn’t very bright.

Fitzgerald: No, it wasn’t

I believe Fitzgerald’s regret is all about class, specifically the ruling class of this country.

Haughey may have been a dodgy character, unfit to run the country but he was still a member of the ruling elite and Fitzgerald’s ‘unfortunate’ description of the criminal as a ‘flawed pedigree’ in front of the gathered ruling elite in the very building where they wield power was unforgivable.

It’s clear from the above exchange that the Fitzgerald’s are still apologising to the Haughey’s.