Category: Government

Transparency and accountability anybody?

It’s difficult to keep track but I think the Rebecca O’Malley report was the fourth such report published in recent times concerning gross incompetence in the HSE and I think there’s another three in the pipeline.

These investigations/reports are now an integral part of the Irish ‘health’ system. We are constantly assured after each report that change is on the way, that from now on there will be accountability and transparency, that from now on patients will come first blah blah blah.

The honesty of the HSE bureaucrats, the honesty of Prof. Drumm, the honesty of Minister for health, Mary Harney should be judged by their actions rather than their empty promises.

Here’s how these low grade public servants reacted to the latest cancer misdiagnosis scandal in Dundalk, Drogheda and Navan (Six One News, 1st item).

They have refused to say how many patients are involved.
They have refused to say what hospitals are involved.
They have refused to say what year the misdiagnosis’s occurred.
They have refused to say when they became aware of the problem.
They have refused to say what the exact nature of the problem is.
They have refused (bizarrely) to say why they are refusing to say all of the above.

The consequence of this Soviet style secrecy is deep worry for thousands of Irish citizens who have had any treatment for any cancer over the last number of years.

Transparency and accountability anybody?

"A grotesque example of spin"

Rebecca O’Malley was on Today with Pat Kenny last Friday giving her reaction to the publication of the HIQA report into her cancer misdiagnosis (See here for previous post).

At the core of this case lies the life threatening monster that is the Health Service Executive (HSE). This is a monster that has put patient’s lives at risk in order to protect its own rotten system.

When Rebecca O’Malley went to the HSE expressing her concerns about other women who may have been misdiagnosed she was urged not to go public as it might cause panic.

She agreed on condition that an independent investigation be initiated. The HSE agreed but they were lying, nothing was done.

Eventually, O’Malley was forced, by the life endangering incompetence of the HSE, to personally assume responsibility for the lives of all the women who may have been misdiagnosed, she had to go public to force the HSE into action.

The man in charge of the HSE, Prof. Drumm said that Ms. O’Malley had been ‘let down’.

Let down??? The woman had been misdiagnosed and didn’t find out until 14 months later. Had to have a mastectomy, suffered gruelling chemotherapy and eventually had to have another operation because the cancer had spread.

When she asked the HSE to warn other women of the danger they may be in she was put under pressure to keep her mouth shut. When she asked for an investigation, they lied to her.

Let’s be absolutely clear about what happened here – A person or persons within the HSE consciously decided that it was preferable to risk the lives of an unknown number of women rather than admit to incompetence. These people are still there, still making decisions at the heart of the HSE monster.

And all Prof Drumm, this fool of a man, could say was that she was ‘let down’.

No wonder Rebecca O’Malley described his comments as a grotesque example of spin.

Appalling vistas and creeping censorship

On the 19/20th March last, the most disgraceful and alarming event in recent Irish history occurred when Grainne Carruth gave evidence before the Mahon Tribunal.

Carruth’s evidence to the Mahon Tribunal has raised the appalling vista that the current Taoiseach of Ireland, Bertie Ahern, may have lied under oath.

To my knowledge, only one media outlet, The Irish Independent, made any direct reference to this event.

“It has been apparent a number of times before in evidence that the Taoiseach of the country has been lying under his own sworn oath.” (Senan Molony, March 21st 2008).

To my knowledge, there has been absolutely no in-depth reporting or analysis of this event by any Irish media outlet and, in particular, by the national broadcaster, RTE.

I have no idea why RTE, and in particular, the station’s flagship news and current affairs programme, Prime Time, have decided to completely ignore this extremely important story.

Is it out of fear of the station’s political masters? Is it because the decision makers in RTE are incapable of facing the appalling vista that a sitting Taoiseach may have committed perjury?

Whatever the reason, the fact that RTE has ignored this important story is a scandal in itself.

On Thursday 20th March, when the full implications of Grainne Carruth’s evidence were clear, Prime Time remained silent on the matter.

The programme reported about standards in cosmetic clinics and the bulk of the show was given over to the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Do the Prime Time producers really believe that there was even a tiny minority of Irish citizens glued to their television sets as, once again, RTE analysed to death every detail of the Good Friday Agreement?

Did it ever occur to the decision makers within RTE that the majority of Irish citizens were expecting in-depth reporting and analysis of the dramatic and shocking revelations at Dublin Castle?

Are the decisions makers within RTE aware that they have an obligation both as national broadcaster and as media/news professionals to report on the most important and immediate events particularly when those events are likely to have profound implications for the Irish people and a serious impact on the quality of Irish democracy?

I watched this Prime Time programme with a mixture of amused derision and growing anger that RTE cannot or will not accept the possibility that a sitting Taoiseach may have perjured himself.

As this massive elephant rampaged around the room, Prime Time and every other RTE news programme on radio and television studiously ignored the reality of what had happened.

On Tuesday 25th March Prime Time covered primary school education and yet another story on Northern Ireland – the Omagh bombing.

On Thursday 27 March the programme reported on the increasing pressure on Ahern to clarify his evidence to the Mahon Tribunal but the real story of possible perjury wasn’t mentioned.

Anyone with even the slightest interest in what was revealed at Dublin Castle would want to hear discussion of the possible implications if Ahern is ultimately found to have perjured himself. What is perjury, has anyone else committed perjury in a tribunal, how is the crime dealt with in other jurisdictions – Silence from RTE.

In the meantime, Bertie Ahern announced his resignation. Again, RTE and the media in general have practically ignored the obvious reason for his resignation – the smoking gun produced by Carruth’s evidence; the evidence that has possibly exposed the Taoiseach as a perjurer.

The matter has now been practically forgotten about as the media concentrate on Cowen’s succession.

This scandalous failure to meet its obligations has also raised another disturbing development regarding RTE. It now seems that politicians are free to dictate the conditions under which they will deign to be interviewed.

RTEs This Week programme had a prior arrangement with Bertie Ahern (before his resignation announcement) to discuss the Good Friday Agreement. He only agreed to go ahead with the interview on condition that the theme remained substantially the same.

Listening to the interview, it was obvious why Ahern insisted that RTE comply with his demands. We were subjected to a self congratulatory account of how Ahern, single-handedly brought peace to Northern Ireland

It is now common to hear RTE broadcasters inform viewers that Government ministers or spokespersons are ‘not available’ to answer questions and then turn to a reporter for a cosy chat on crucial issues that have consequences for every citizen in this state.

Neither is it unusual to be told that a politician or official will only participate on condition that they are not challenged by any other interested party or they will only answer specific pre arranged questions.

Apparently, the national broadcaster has no problem with what is, in effect, creeping censorship and manipulation of information.

Copy to:
Prime Time
All other RTE News and Current Affairs programmes

Reaction to the good news

Reaction to the good news. (My comments in brackets)

Bertie Ahern – “I want to re-focus the political dynamic of this country. Recent developments have not motivated my decision. It’s nothing to do with the tribunal.”

(So, why is he resigning? Because the political dynamic of the country needs to be re-focused. And why does it need to be re-focused? Because of Ahern’s troubles at the tribunal – But…..)

Senator Eoghan Harris – “You have only to look at his face on television to see an honest face.”

“This became an extraordinary symbiosis of frenzy between a certain section of the media intent on building circulation and the Mahon Tribunal intent on justifying itself.”

(It is believed that Senator Harris was speaking from the Third Quadrant of the Intergalactic just to the left of Mars. It is not known whether he plans returning to Earth anytime soon).

Noel Whelan; journalist and Fianna Fail supporter – “His career doesn’t end in failure, it ends under pressure.”

Michael Kennedy; Fianna Fail TD – “It’s trial by media. Most of this story has been driven by the media looking for stories.” (Michael is a backwoodsman).

Brian Dobson – (RTE presenter covering the event, losing the run of himself for a moment while interviewing Fine Gael TD, Leo Varadkar.

“You accused the Taoiseach of lying in the strongest possible charge, I think, that can be laid against anybody and you might be persuaded to withdraw that term.”

Leo Varadkar; (Replies, referring to Dobson’s infamous ‘weepy’ interview with Ahern).

“You asked him did he receive any other payments and he said; ‘there were no other payments’. We know that not to be the truth, so he certainly peddled untruths to you.”

(My goodness, is there no stopping that cheeky young buck from saying nasty things about his betters?)

Noel Whelan – (Responding after a visibly angry Dobson asked – Is this the kind of thing we can expect from the Opposition?)

“The epitaph of Bertie Ahern’s political career will not be written by the Leo Varadkar’s of this world and that’s for sure.”

Margaret Conlon; Fianna Fail TD – “I do not agree with the way he was tried by the media. For all of us living in a democracy that is a sad place we have come.” (Margaret is a backwoodswoman).

Mary Hanafin; Fianna Fail TD and Minister for Education –

“He certainly didn’t have to go because of anything that came out of the tribunal.”

(This politician is ruthless and ethically blind. The good of the country and its people are way down her list of priorities – a woman to be watched).

Greens: How high do you want us to jump Bertie?

It really is incredible that RTE has yet to realise the gravity of what happened at the Mahon Tribunal last week. The station seems to be completely oblivious to the fact that a sitting Taoiseach has apparently lied.

Even if we allow that the station is ultra conservative; that it is cautious to the point of panic in case it offends its political masters, it still doesn’t explain why the most important and serious political event in decades is being effectively ignored by the broadcaster.

There has, of course, been plenty of peripheral discussion surrounding the fact that the Taoiseach apparently lied under oath but no mention of perjury, alleged perjury or possible perjury, not even an explanation of what perjury is – Nothing.

Saturday View serves as a good example of how frightened RTE is of facing the reality of the situation (My comments are in brackets).

Politicians on the panel were Fianna Fail TD, oops; I mean Green Party TD, Mary White and Fine Gael TD Leo Varadkar.

The RTE presenter, Rodney Rice started off by moaning,

“Once again we cannot avoid examining the Taoiseach’s travails.”

His first couple of questions left listeners in no doubt that RTEs policy of studiously ignoring the reality of the situation was going to continue.

White was asked the totally irrelevant question – Were the Greens forced into making comment on Ahern? This was followed up by an even less relevant question to Varadkar – why haven’t we heard from your leader (Enda Kenny)?

Varadkar – to his credit, wasn’t going to be sidetracked.

“It’s not good enough (for the Taoiseach) to give clarification, the Taoiseach swore an oath in the tribunal that the monies lodged in his building society account were salary cheques and swore on oath that he never dealt in sterling.”

Rice quickly jumped to the Taoiseach’s defence.

“But the one place he can do that again is back in the tribunal and he will do that presumably.

(The obvious question here is; how many times does the Taoiseach have to apparently lie before RTE accepts the reality?)

Varadkar – “What he can do, perhaps for the first time, is come in and tell people the truth… The fact is he swore under oath at the tribunal that the money was salary cheques and he didn’t deal in sterling so he has to come into the Dail now and admit that he perjured himself in the tribunal.”

(No doubt in Varadkar’s mind as to what has occurred).

“If he does not do that then anything he says in the Dail has to be unacceptable and I want to know from the Greens…if what he says in the Dail contradicts what he said under sworn oath in the tribunal will that be acceptable to the Green Party?”

White – “Mahon was set up by all parties and we shouldn’t prejudge it and while revelations coming out are certainly getting up people’s noses around the countryside we will await the outcome of the Mahon Tribunal.”

(Pure Fianna Fail speak).

Varadkar – If it’s still your view that we have to wait until the tribunal makes its report what is the purpose of asking the Taoiseach to make a statement?

White – “Well, I think when Ms. Carruth appeared at the tribunal I think the level was lifted up about public interest in the tribunal…and a little bit of clarification would be no harm at this stage…in any coalition it’s good now and again to clear the air and that was the reason for the intervention.”

(So for the Greens this has nothing to do with a Taoiseach lying, nothing to do with ethics in public office, nothing to do with the truth. It’s all about ‘a bit of clarification’, to placate those pesky citizens who are jumping up and down, demanding accountability).

Varadkar – “It’s becoming increasingly clear that what the Taoiseach has said in the tribunal and what he said in the Dail and what he said to the public hasn’t been true.” “There are things that we can be certain of that are separate from the tribunal. We can be certain that the Taoiseach is a liar.”

Rice – (Intervention). “Well, now that’s un-parliamentary language. You would be asked to withdraw that in the Dail so why don’t you withdraw it here and be polite.”

(Clearly, RTE has adopted the truth avoiding strategy so successfully employed in our National Parliament – You can say what you like but straight talking is forbidden).

Varadkar – “I won’t because it’s the truth.”

Rice – “Why won’t you be polite?”

(About the serious matter of a Taoiseach lying under oath).

Varadkar – “Because it’s the truth.”

Rice – “He (Ahern) has said some things that you regard as contradictory and which may or may not be irreconcilable.”

(The evidence is incontrovertible – Ahern’s words are on record under oath, Carruth’s words are on record under oath and the tribunal has produced signed bank receipts that confirms both of them are liars).

Varadkar – “He said he never dealt in sterling, he said he didn’t have any bank accounts, he said that he consulted the tax authorities on his affairs. None of these things are true. If you want me to rephrase I’ll rephrase in parliamentary language; peddling untruths. He’s been peddling untruths; he’s a fraud, he hasn’t paid his taxes and he’s a thief.”

(Again, no ambiguity here).

Rice – “So you want him to go.”

Varadkar – “Of course, if those things are not red lines, what are red lines?”

Rice asks White – “What do you need?”(From Ahern).

White – “We’re not going to grandstand and jump up and down and wave green flags and we’re not going to prejudge what the Taoiseach of our country is going to say on Wednesday. We will listen.”

(Yes, Mary, and when you’re done listening, Ahern will instruct you and your party to jump and the only question remaining will be – How high Bertie, how high do you want us to jump?)

Copy to:

Mary White
Leo Varadkar
Green Party
Fianna Fail
RTE (Saturday View)

Fianna Fail clones

Fianna Fail must be very happy with the situation they have created for themselves. While they enjoy all the benefits of power they have Fianna Fail clones, formerly Green Party TDs, to go out and deal with all the unpopular issues.

Mary White, alleged deputy leader of the Green Party, did a fine job on Saturday View parroting Mary Hanafin’s excuses for breaking promises on class sizes (See here).

White told us that while she was passionate about reducing class sizes unfortunately, there had been a ‘slight slippage’ in the economy and therefore the promised reduction in class sizes would not be met this year.

White made great play about her business background, suggesting that she knew more about complicated economic issues than hard pressed parents.

The issue, however, is not complicated at all. The Greens have enthusiastically adopted the traditional Fianna Fail policy of making ruthless cuts against the neediest in society when there is even a hint of ‘a slippage’ in the economy.

It’s incredible to consider that while Fianna Fail took decades to evolve into a ruthless, self-serving political party, the Greens have slipped effortlessly into the same role in a few months.

Recently, the spokesman for the Greens on education, Paul Gogarty, said in the Dail that he was ashamed and embarrassed at the Government’s commitment to education.

Mary White should also be ashamed and embarrassed but somehow I doubt that she is.

Copy to:
Green Party
Mary White

HSE monster rampages on

Good to see that the Irish Medical Organisation agrees with the opinion of this website that the Health Service Executive (HSE) is “an administrative monster that is unaccountable to the taxpayer.” (Six One News, 10th item).

The use of facts and statistics to make a point usually causes the eyes to glaze over but these figures, I think, will astonish and shock.

This Week (4th item) – 23rd March.

Since the HSE took over from the old health boards administration and management costs have risen from €492 million in 2005 to €587 million in 2007.

The number of administration and management staff in the HSE at the end of September 2007 was 18,421 compared to just over 16,000 in a similar category at the end of 2004.

In 2000 there were six grade 8 people in the Department of Health – Today, there are 714. (Grade 8 is a high level, high pay position).

In 2002, (An election year) 26,000 new public positions were created, many of them in the HSE.

There are now administrative and management staff for every 2.5 doctor and nurse in the HSE.

News at One (7th item) – 26th March.

150 extra grade ‘A’ jobs were created last year when only 50 were sanctioned. Meanwhile, cutbacks have seen 400 people on trolleys, a 10% increase in waiting time for a wide range of surgery, withdrawal of home help for children and the elderly.

The HSE has only managed to stay within overall budget by diverting development and capital monies away from key government priorities intended to address the needs of an ageing and expanding population.

Minister for Education – It's black and it's white

I see our esteemed Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, is still making idiotic statements in relation to class sizes.

Last Tuesday (1st item) she repeated an assertion originally made here that the number of students in a class has no bearing on the quality of education received. Here’s what she had to say on this occasion:

“All the international studies show that there’s no correlation at all between the number of children in a class or the investment that goes in and the outcome.”

The Minister apparently believes that students struggling in an overcrowded and under-resourced inner city school receive the same quality of education as students attending well resourced, well equipped schools.

So why bother with making commitments to reduce class sizes, she was asked.

“Because we recognise, for the younger children in particular, it can have an impact.”

So, the number of students in a class has an impact and it hasn’t an impact on the quality of education.

And we wonder why this minister is first in line to tell us she believes every lie coming out of Bertie Ahern’s mouth.

Tammany Hall passports – Update (2)

I spoke with an official from the Dept of Foreign Affairs yesterday for an update on the review being conducted by the Dept concerning the special passport service provided by TDs (See here).

He didn’t have the terms of reference to hand but informed me that the review had commenced and was expected to be completed before the summer recess.

Essentially, TDs and Senators will be asked for their views on the service and a check is to be made on other jurisdictions to see if a similar service is provided.

Nothing to do with me.

This is how Seamus Brennan defended his €1,650 per night hotel bill (Six One News, 6th item).

“We genuinely don’t want to waste taxpayer’s money, genuinely; it’s the last thing on our minds. We’re in the hands of embassies and in the hands of Dept’s very often when bookings are made.”

Are we to assume from this that Brennan would have no problem if he was booked into a cheap B & B? Or is it the old story; I’m just the minister in charge, the man with ultimate responsibility – nothing to do with me.