Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
So the EU thinks that our gangster state has been doing deals with companies like Apple – Shock horror.
But, a silver lining, the company may be forced to return a couple of billion of its ill-gotten gains to the state.
And what, one wonders, will the state make of this turn of events – happy days, I imagine.
It just goes to show that when it comes to dealing with our particular gangster state not even alleged tax evaders are safe.
Labour Senator Aideen Hayden is a traitor to Ireland and its people.
Hayden is a traitor because her loyalty is, first and foremost, to herself, to her party and to her government.
By definition, any politician who supports the type of stroke politics surrounding the McNulty scandal is acting against the interests of Ireland and its people.
Three times Hayden was asked to demonstrate her loyalty to her country and three times she chose to give her loyalty to the diseased political system that has brought catastrophe on the Irish people.
Do you think it was a stroke?
Hayden: I’m not in a position to say it was a stroke.
Was she incorrect in appointing him?
Hayden: I’m not going to say whether she was correct or incorrect.
Do we have openness and transparency here?
Hayden: Labour Party ministers when they are appointing members to state boards use the public recruitment process. I would suggest that Fine Gael does the same.
It could be argued that Heyden is not a conscious traitor in the traditional sense but that point is not relevant in Ireland any more.
Catastrophe was visited upon the Irish people in 2008 resulting in massive pain and damage to countless citizens.
Every political party has accepted that the political system played a major role in the disaster, it has been accepted that the system is not fit for purpose, that radical and immediate reform is urgently required.
This government, under the banner of a so-called democratic revolution, promised to implement such reform, to rid the country of stroke politics, once and for all.
This latest scandal give the lie to that promise. Hayden’s support of the lie places her in the camp of the traitors who have betrayed the country once again.
Hayden is not, of course, the only traitor. Taoiseach Enda Kenny is also a traitor and a liar, he lied when he said he would rid the country of gombeen politics.
Every politician who supports or defends this latest political stroke is a traitor. Every politician who fails to challenge this latest attack on democracy place themselves in the traitor’s camp.
The time for political reform in Ireland passed many years ago. The diseased system, peopled by gombeens, cowards and self-serving traitors, is irretrievably corrupt.
No reform will happen, no justice will be forthcoming, no democracy will operate until the rotten system is completely eradicated from our culture and replaced with a functional democratic system peopled by citizens who understand what it means to loyally serve their country.
Copy to:
Senator Hayden
Taoiseach Enda Kenny
Fine Gael
Labour
Marian Finucane was very angry.
I’m sickened she said, absolutely sickened.
So what triggered this uncharacteristic bout of high emotion from this most conservative, establishment journalist?
Was it the mayhem and murder in the Middle East? Was it the horrifying spread of the Ebola virus? Was it even the latest incidence of political or business corruption here in Ireland?
No, none of these. What sickened Ms. Finucane was the political maneuvering of various UK political parties in response to the Scottish independence referendum.
This from a journalist who rarely bats an eyelid when reporting on the ever present, cynical, lying, corrupt, self-serving, traitorous behaviour of our home grown politicians.
This from a journalist who regularly interviews these gangsters while treating them with the utmost respect.
What we are witnessing here is a uniquely Irish mindset.
If ‘sickening’ events happen in Ireland there is endless analysis/talk/waffle and whatever you’re having yourself. All the ins and outs, all the angles, all the possible responses/solutions and resolutions are discussed in never ending circles.
There is just one simple but unbreakable rule – you must never, ever, ever actually face or talk about reality.
The truth must never be actually acknowledged. To do so would be truly sickening, there would be journalists/politicians/officials and commentators gagging all over the place.
On the other hand, when ‘sickening’ events occur outside Ireland our commentariat can instantly recognise/assess and analyse the matter without the slightest hint of waffle or denial.
For example, later on during the same programme Ms. Finucane was shocked to hear that a FIFA report into corruption was to be kept secret.
She could see instantly that secrecy surrounding such a powerful and rich organisation could not be healthy.
But when reporting on Irish politics/business affairs she seems to be blissfully ignorant of the fact that Ireland is the most secretively governed state in the Western world.
Just days ago, for example, we learned that the Dept. of Justice refused to give any details whatsoever about mult-million euro contracts set up by the Reception and Integration Agency last year. Millions of euro’s and we’re told to take a hike, it’s none of our business, just keep paying the taxes.
She was even more shocked (perhaps even sickened) to learn that FIFA is a registered charity. What?….A billion dollar organisation is registered as a charity.
Again, Ms. Finucane instantly realised that such an arrangement could, at the very least, be somewhat dodgy.
But, again, her surprise suggests that she’s unaware that the charity industry in Ireland is, for the most part, a well greased mechanism for massive tax evasion and fraud. She must also be unaware that the industry, which is worth over 8 billion per annum, much of it taxpayers’ money, is practically unregulated.
Yesterday I wrote about Joan Burton’s visionless political pedigree most clearly exposed by her hypocritical attitude to coalition with Sinn Fein.
Here’s how I think a political leader operating outside the narrow-minded, corrupt, self-serving system under which Burton forms her political views would respond.
Tubridy: Mr. Sheridan, as leader of the New Ireland Party would you go into coalition with Sinn Fein?
Sheridan: Let me be absolutely clear on this question. What you are really asking me is – Do I think Sinn Fein has cut itself off from all paramilitary involvement, do I think the party now operates as a fully fledged legitimate democratic political party?
My answer is a resounding – Yes.
And I am not alone in this view. The United States, the United Nations, the European Union, the Unionist community in Northern Ireland, the Queen of England and the vast majority of citizens in the Republic, Northern Ireland and the UK also hold this view.
The only group of people who refuse to accept this political fact are the leaders of the mainstream parties in this country.
So yes, we would go into coalition with Sinn Fein if both our parties could agree on a reasonable and comprehensive programme of government particularly on economic policy.
Tubridy: But what about Sinn Fein’s violent past, what about the other mainstream parties who have rejected Sinn Fein because of its terrorist past? What about Joan Burton’s assertion that there remains a nexus between Sinn Fein and the IRA? Are you not worried that Sinn Fein may use that nexus to bring down the state?
Sheridan: Joan Burton’s claim that there remains a nexus between Sinn Fein and the IRA is very serious. If the claim is true then there could be very serious consequences not just for the citizens of the republic but also for those in the UK and indeed for the Peace Process itself.
To my knowledge there is no evidence whatsoever for the claim but if Ms. Burton is in possession of such evidence then she has a duty to make it public and forward details to the relevant authorities.
Tubridy: Do you think such evidence exists?
Sheridan: No.
Tubridy: Then why do you think she and indeed all the other mainstream party leaders continue to make such claims?
Sheridan: Political fear of Sinn Fein’s success, nothing else. Instead of accepting Sinn Fein’s bona fides like the rest of the world the mainstream parties have retreated into the dark cave of hypocrisy.
On the one hand they declare to the world how delighted they are with the Peace Process and praise Sinn Fein’s contribution while on the other they claim that Sinn Fein is still connected with terrorism and the IRA.
This political strategy is as weak as it is insulting to the intelligence of citizens of Ireland and the rest of the world. It is also an indication of how bankrupt the Irish political system is of real courage and vision, something that is absolutely vital for the future of our country.
Tubridy: Have you any advice for Joan Burton on this question?
Sheridan: Yes, as a new party leader and Tanaiste she has a golden and once in a political lifetime opportunity to make a real difference for her party.
By simply announcing that the Labour Party now accepts what the rest of the world accepted years ago she would immediately remove her party from the dark cave of hypocrisy leaving Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to hug each other in their cold political idiocy.
By accepting political reality Ms. Bruton would also elevate her position as a political leader and provide her party with a huge political advantage in negotiating what form the next government takes.
Tubridy: What are the chances that she will go down that road?
Sheridan: Zero.
Tanaiste and leader of the Labour Party Joan Burton is a less than ordinary political leader.
She is, like the vast majority of Irish politicians, a creature of our intrinsically corrupt political/administrative system.
She has no vision whatsoever for Ireland and its people.. She is, like the majority of politicians, so much a part of the rotten system that’s she’s completely unaware of how desperate citizens are for a leader who will destroy that system and replace it with a genuine democracy.
Her recent appearance on the Late Late Show where she was questioned about her attitude to coalition with Sinn Fein confirms her political ignorance and ineptitude. (My analysis appears in brackets).
Ryan Tubridy: Would you go into coalition with Sinn Fein?
Burton: I believe Sinn Fein still has questions to answer. There’s a nexus between Sinn Fein and the IRA.
(There is no nexus between Sinn Fein and the IRA. The entire world has accepted this fact and have moved on. The mainstream and backward Irish political system refuses to accept this fact preferring to operate where’s it’s most comfortable – in a self-serving bog of hypocrisy).
Tubridy: Give me one question they have to answer.
Burton: Well, I never felt the armed struggle and killing people were necessary.
(Tubridy is asking her to provide a fact, she dishonestly replies with an irrelevant opinion).
Tubridy: But you know there was a peace process?
Burton: And I am a very strong supporter of the Peace Process.
(It’s hypocritical and illogical to reject Sinn Fein while at the same time claiming to be a very strong supporter of the Peace Process given that Sinn Fein is a major pillar of that process. If Burton was honest she would reject the Peace Process on the grounds that Sinn Fein still has questions to answer).
Tubridy: So what’s your problem?
Burton: The issue is in terms of Sinn Fein in government, their economic policies for instance.
(Again, dishonestly avoiding the question by changing the subject).
Tubridy: That’s got nothing to do with the armed struggle.
Burton: You have to look from a range of factors, I would have been in my twenties when all of the violence broke out.
Tubridy: All in the past.
Burton: No, no, I make democratic choices, I don’t like violence.
(Once again dishonestly avoiding the question).
Tubridy: Do you support the administration in Northern Ireland?
Burton: Absolutely.
Tubridy: So how can you expect, an hour and a half up the road, a Sinn Fein party to sit with the DUP and yet here you say Sinn Fein are not fit for government.
Burton: What I’m saying is that Sinn Fein have questions to answer.
(The circle of hypocrisy is complete).
Burton is already a failed political leader because her visionless mindset is the exact same grey colour as all the other mainstream political leaders in Ireland.
Tomorrow I will publish how a visionary, progressive political leader would respond to the coalition with Sinn Fein question.
If Joan Burton ever gets to read my view she will be utterly bamboozled because she will be attempting to read a language that she has never learned.
Copy to:
Joan Burton
Did you wake up Saturday morning worrying about how the UK Orange Order was coping with the prospect of an independent Scotland?
No, neither did I but RTE insisted on informing us that a UK Orange Order parade was taking place in Edinburgh in support of the NO vote.
How many Irish citizens even know, or care, that a UK Orange Order exists?
It’s all part of RTEs chronic obsession with all things Northern Ireland.
When Paisley died Friday morning, RTE went into meltdown. Even though they’ve been preparing for his death for years they still panicked.
At 1250, regular transmissions on radio one were suspended. They simply couldn’t wait another ten minutes for the scheduled news broadcast.
It’s been pretty much RTE Paisley radio since then.
The entire One O’Clock news, Liveline, Drivetime. Six One News, Nine News – all effectively dedications in honour of a man whose greatest talent was his ability to fill others with such hatred that they willingly went out and brutally murdered fellow humans in the name of his particular god and country.
The RTE Paisley show continued on the Marian Finucane Show Saturday morning with at least one scheduled item cancelled in order to tell the nation, yet again, what a great man the bigot was.
No prizes will be awarded for guessing the content of RTEs This Week programme later today.
So what about Paisley’s home country, how did the UK media react to his passing?
Channel 4: No mention whatsoever in the headlines. May have been mentioned later but clearly the event was not seen as earthshaking.
ITV: Paisley’s death was the third item on the evening news.
BBC 4: His death was the fourth, and last, item on the headlines.
The bigot Paisley has headed off and already he’s been praised for his part in the Peace Process. That makes him the 920,253rd contributor.
The former Secretary General at the Department of Justice, Brian Purcell, resigned from his office on 28 July last.
Purcell resigned following a damning report that found a ‘closed, secretive, silo-driven culture’ at the department with ‘significant leadership and management problems.’
I rang the Dept. of Justice today for an update on Mr. Purcell’s position and experienced that closed, secretive culture at first hand.
I eventually got on to a civil servant who has not yet being infected with the secrecy virus.
Official one:
Me: Has Brian Purcell being reassigned yet?
Official: You’ll have to put that in writing.
Me: Why, it’s a very straightforward question. It’s public knowledge that he’s being reassigned. I just want to know has he been reassigned yet.
Official: I’m not privy to that information. I don’t know, I couldn’t answer that.
Me: Could you put me in touch with somebody who can answer my question?
Official: You’re going to have to send in any requests in writing, it’s an office policy here.
Me: Where does that office policy come from?
Official: It’s our own office policy, it helps us keep track of what’s coming in.
Me: So you’re telling me the Dept. of Justice doesn’t answer any questions whatsoever unless they are in writing.
Official: In this office it has to be in writing.
Me: Really, does your office have that rule in writing?
Official: I’m only new at the job here so….
Me: Ok, but you are making a statement about the office policy which is very important.
Official: I don’t want to give you any information that’s incorrect.
Me: Ok, could you put me on to somebody who can tell my about your office policy.
Official: Can you hold the line for a second?
Me: Yes, thank you.
The official transferred me to another office.
Me: Has Brian Purcell being reassigned yet?
Official: No, not yet.
Me: When do you expect that to happen?
Official: The post has been advertised and the closing date is 18 September so it won’t be before then.
Me: Thank you.
Former Environment minister Phil Hogan is a liar. We know this by simply looking at the facts surrounding the establishment of Irish Water.
When the €50 million consultancy fees scandal broke Hogan effectively denied he knew anything about the details.
He claimed he was merely aware of the overall cost.
It’s not my job, (it actually was his job) it’s a matter for Irish Water, I allow the professionals to get on with their job.
Junior Minister Fergus O’Dowd supported the Minister saying that neither he nor the minister were sent the information regarding the €50 million.
We now know that Hogan signed off on a document which outlined in great detail the costs involved in setting up Irish Water.
The document in question was signed by Hogan and bore the stamp – Seen and approved by the Minister.
Now this stamp/signature is very important. It exists to protect civil servants from being blamed for making decision without authority. It exists to prove that a Minister has read and is fully aware of very important details on any particular matter.
Some journalists have suggested that perhaps the Minister signed the document but didn’t actually read the details. This doesn’t wash.
Seen and approved by the Minister means he has read and approved the entire document.
He did therefore, by his own admission (his signature) read and approve the documents and was, by extension, fully aware of all its details.
In other words, Hogan micromanaged this issue right down to his signature.
His denial of this fact makes him a liar.
But in common with most politicians Hogan is not worried about any possible consequences. His arrogance overrides any such concerns and his arrogance is justified – there won’t be any consequences.
Neither is he alone in his lying. Lying is an ingrained part of Irish political culture. Lying during elections, lying to constituents about favours, lying under oath – all part of the gombeen culture that destroyed our country.
I see Cardinal Brady has been praised for his role in the Peace Process.
That makes him the 920,252nd person to have made a contribution.
It shouldn’t be long before the Peace Process hero’s outstrip those who fought in the GPO in 1916 which now stands at a grand total of 993,435.
Of course there will be the usual begrudgers who will insist on criticising the good Cardinal for his failure to act to prevent the horrific rape, buggery and other horrific abuses of countless innocent children by the monster priest Fr. Brendan Smyth.
What these people forget is that Brady had his whole career ahead of him not to mention the good name of the god he so loyally serves.
His defenders will, I’m sure, resort to that tried and trusted defence invoked to defend the criminal Haughey and the liar Ahern – History will be kind to him.
Much kinder, I’m sure, than the monster Smyth was to his innocent victims.