Change of tack by Clerk of the Dail? Lowry complaints are to be considered

This morning I had a look at the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995, which covers complaints to the Clerk of the Dail.

According to the legislation the Clerk of the Dail can reject a complaint if he/she is of the opinion that it is frivolous or vexatious.

With that in mind I again rang the Clerk of the Dail to enquire if all 83 complaints received in response to the latest Lowry scandal were deemed frivolous and vexatious

The Clerk can decide not to pass on a complaint to the Committee for Members Interests if he forms the opinion that the complaint is frivolous or vexatious or that there’s not sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case in relation to the complaint.

In relation to the complaints received in this case the Clerk will be sending all appropriate complaints, that is, any that are not frivolous or vexatious or whatever he deems to be, to the Committee for attention.

The Clerk of the Dail will write to all complainants (as required in the legislation) outlining his decisions.

The official could not tell me how many were deemed frivolous and vexatious but did confirm that a number of the complaints would be forwarded to the Committee for Members Interests.

Interestingly, she also informed me that complaints were still coming in.

Lowry won't be investigated?

I wrote yesterday about being heartened by the unprecedented number of complaints (83) made to the Clerk of the Dail in response to the latest Lowry scandal.

Since then I’ve come across an excellent article by Elaine Byrne (Sunday Independent) which could explain the large number of complaints.

In her article Ms. Byrne calls on readers to make an official complaint to the Clerk of the Dail.

I am asking you, dear reader, to do something about that. If you believe that Michael Lowry — asserted to be “profoundly corrupt” by the Moriarty tribunal and a tax cheat by the Revenue Commissioners — is telling the God honest truth, then ignore the following.

This is how you complain. It must be in writing.

“Subject to section five of the Ethics Act, I wish to make a complaint about Michael Lowry’s registerable interests with respect to undisclosed lands near Wigan.”

Sign it and post it to Mr. Kieran Coughlan, Clerk of the Dail, Houses of the Oireachtas, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

I spoke to an official in the Clerk of the Dail’s office yesterday, before I came across Ms. Byrne’s article, to ask if an investigation had been initiated as a result of the complaints.

No, because the complaints would have referred to the fact that he hadn’t declared land and yesterday he amended his register of interests and declared the land.

So your office is taking no action for the many years in which Mr. Lowry failed to register this land?

No.

This sort of twisted; arrogant logic by our so-called enforcement authorities is one of the principal reasons why Ireland has descended to the status of banana republic.

OPW still refusing to answer questions

I spoke with an official at the Office of Public Works (OPW) yesterday morning about my questions regarding the missing art work from Leinster House.

To date I had been communicating with OPW officials via their Press Office.

I was assured by this official that she would look into the matter and call me back before noon.

Predictably, there was no call back. After several attempts today I finally spoke with the same official who made it crystal clear to me that my questions were not going to be answered.

When I asked for the specific rule/regulation/law she was basing her refusal on she told me to put my request in writing.

This is my fourth email to the OPW requesting answers to very simple questions.

Answers that would be forthcoming immediately and without fuss if I lived in a functional democracy.

Dear…,

Re our phone conversation today regarding the missing art work from Leinster House.

I would be grateful if you could confirm to me the precise rules/regulations/laws on which your office is refusing to answer my questions on this matter.

Yours Sincerely
Anthony Sheridan

Fraudster Mick Wallace thinking of quitting politics?

I see the fraudster and tax cheat Mick Wallace is thinking of getting out of politics.

This follows an embarrassing turnout to an event he was organizing in his own constituency.

Could this be another indication that Irish citizens are waking up to the damage done to the country by electing low grade representatives?

Are Irish citizens finally waking up?

It is reported in today’s Irish Examiner that an unprecedented 83 complaints were made to the Clerk of the Dail regarding the latest Michael Lowry scandal.

Personally, I’m heartened by this development. For years I have been making complaints and asking questions, both orally and in writing, in response to the corrupt activities of politicians and officials.

I have always been, and still am, treated by these people as nothing more than a crank.

Perhaps Irish citizens are finally waking up to the enormous damage being done to them and their children by this diseased state.

Irish expats: Still waiting for the vote

I was talking to an American friend who is living Germany the other day when the subject of expat voting came up.

When I mentioned that Irish citizens are not allowed to vote once they leave the country she laughed thinking I was joking.

When she realised I was serious she was astonished.

But…she said….how can that be? You’re still a citizen, with a passport, with full rights…surely?

No, I said. Once you leave, even for a day, you’re disenfranchised immediately.

Hold on, she said, still in disbelief. Most countries allow their expats to vote, well at least democratic, developed nations.

Not the Irish I assured her but we do debate the matter every couple of years.

Here’s some information on the issue.

Currently, there are around 115 countries and territories – including nearly all developed nations – that have systems in place to allow their emigrants to vote

A 2006 study of countries that allow their emigrants to vote included:

21 African nations
13 North and South American countries
15 Asian countries
6 Pacific countries

His boniness Sir Bono is humbled by the generosity of Irish taxpayer's

So there was Sir Bono the Great enjoying a midnight swim – naked – while partying in the South of France.

He was joined by a naked Catherine Mayer (now Time Europe editor and the journalist who recently put Enda Kenny’s face on Time Magazine).

Also present, and also naked, was rock singer Michael Hutchence, now deceased.

Bono had never met Mayer before and when told she was a journalist said:

Please write that mine (his Bono?) is bigger than Michael’s.

Well it seems that his Greatness is still strutting around displaying his ‘Bono’ to anyone willing to pay due homage to his enormous ego.

We’re told Enda Kenny was granted an audience with his boniness last year to ‘discuss affairs of state’, no less.

Apparently, his Greatness is willing to sacrifice some of his valuable time to act as an ambassodor for Ireland.

He would of course have to ‘serve’ his country from his base in Holland where he operates comfortably as a tax exile.

All the same his Greatness is very impressed and indeed humbled by the incredible generosity of ordinary Irish citizens who, despite suffering severe economic pain (and paying very high taxes, don’t forget the taxes) are still willing to contribute generoulsly to the overseas aid budget.

Comedian Jack Whitehall, on a recent edition of the excellent BBC comedy panel quiz QI, neatly summed up his boniness as follows:

He’s been going around for the last twenty years with his head up his arse.

I couldn’t agree more.

Office of Public Works refuses to answer questions regarding missing art works

I received a second reply from the Office of Public Works (OPW) Press Office in response to my list of questions regarding the art works missing from Leinster House.

It was pretty much like the first reply, that is, a general overview of what the office does but no answers to my questions.

I rang the OPW Press Office and spoke to the official who sent the email.

She informed me that the information they possess is only as good as they get from OPW officials. She very kindly agreed to re-submit my questions to OPW officials.

I received an email from an OPW official (through the Press Office) effectively telling me to take a hike. My questions were not going to be answered.

Both emails are reproduced below.

Good afternoon Mr. Sheridan,

I refer to your email. Please see response below:

The OPW Art Management Office manages the State Art Collection.

As you are aware it is currently undertaking a major inventory project and is therefore not in a position to confirm any works as being unaccounted for.

The inventory involves photographing and cataloguing art works and decorative objects in the State Art Collection that are located in many State properties.

Leinster House is one of these properties. There are over 700 art works catalogued on the OPW art database under the location of the Houses of the Oireachtas complex (which includes all buildings).

OPW does not release inventory details while the project is ongoing.

Please note that within the buildings in the Leinster House complex, there are: 365 prints, 290 paintings, 24 sculptures, 21 drawings, 14 photographs, 6 reproductions and 4 textiles.

There are works by important Irish artists such as Leo Whelan, Seán O’Sullivan, Maurice McGonigal, Patrick Hickey and Tom Ryan on display alongside numerous works such as James Hanley, Sonja Landweer, Mary Fitzgerald, Stephen Vaughan and Cora Cummins.

OPW Art Management Office continue to work closely with Leinster House staff re the State Art Collection and it is expected the inventory will be completed within the next 3 – 4 weeks.

Regards

Good afternoon Mr. Sheridan,

I refer to our telephone conversation. As agreed, I reverted to the Art Management Section in OPW. Please see response below.

“The OPW Art Management Office is currently engaged in the inventory check in Leinster House.

The Office is aware that the art works located in Leinster House are the property of the State and take this inventory review very seriously.

Staff are now working on this project in co-operation with staff from Leinster House.

It is not possible to present information on the inventory at present as it is in progress and the results are not yet complete.

As the collection is a circulating one, it is general policy for collection management purposes not to release precise locations of art works as these works move from location to location and information tends to date quickly.

It is also policy not to release detailed information on locations for security reasons.

Please assure Mr Sheridan that the OPW is completely focused on this inventory. We are being supported in this endeavour by the staff in Leinster House.

Please advise Mr. Sheridan also that his interest is appreciated but it is not possible to release such details while we are working on the inventory”.
I hope this clarifies the matter.

Regards

Mary O'Rourke: Talking out of both sides of her mouth

Mary O’Rourke’s book, Just Mary, received a warm and cuddily review from the panel on the Marian Finucane Show this morning.

She also received a lovely warm reception on the Late Late Show from both the audience and Ryan Tubridy.

This capacity of Irish citizens to treat those principally responsible for the destruction of the country with warmth and respect is an indication of just how far away we are from any meaningful reform of our corrupt political system.

Mary O’Rourke is a loyal member of the most corrupt political party in the country. A party which is principally responsible for destroying the wealth, hopes and dreams of the great majority of Irish citizens.

She is also a strong supporter of the the criminal Haughey who played a major role in the destruction of the state.

I will grant O’Rourke one thing, she’s an expert at talking out of both sides of her mouth at the same time.

I’ll further concede that she has managed to fool practically the whole country that she’s a straight talking politician of honesty and intergrity.

The following is just one example of the ability of this gombeen politician to speak out of both sides of her mouth.

In an interview with John Murray (RTE just can’t get enough of O’Rourke) she tells of how Bertie Ahern shafted her in the 2002 election in favour of Donnie Cassidy.

The point to keep in mind as you read her comments is that she’s looking for sympathy for alleged wrongs done to her but at the same time cannot actually bring herself to accuse Ahern or her beloved (corrupt) party of any wrongdoing.

Murray: Why would they have wanted to shaft you Mary?

O’Rourke: I wasn’t a wide boy now, I wasn’t a wide boy. You know what I mean?

Murray: I don’t.

O’Rourke: I wasn’t on that inner circle.

Murray: Donnie was, you were deputy leader of the party but weren’t part of the inner circle is it?

O’Rourke: Yes, something like that, I wasn’t open to all sorts of things, I just wasn’t and I think that was the reason.

Murray: What sort of things?

O’Rourke: Ahh, I don’t know, sort of deals of one kind or another. I didn’t want to know about them.

Murray: Deals? Now I am intrigued

O’Rourke: Well I don’t really know because I’m not hiding anything from you, I just didn’t know but I did know that I wasn’t included in the golden inner circle for some reason or another.

I did fine to be deputy leader, man woman thing, you know.

(O’Rourke is here trying to escape the line of questioning by suggesting that she was shafted because she was a woman but Murray persists).

Murray: But wide boys and deals. Are you talking about stuff that shouldn’t have been happening?

O’Rourke: No, I just think there were things that were moving and moving around and happening which I sort of half knew and half didn’t know.

And maybe it was as well I didn’t know and the only way I wouldn’t have known was, phuemfff, disappear Mary, disappear. Rub the magic lamp and she’s gone.

This last comment is the Irish version of Donald Rumsfeld’s known unknowns.

Here’s some straight talk that O’Rourke would never understand never mind actually accept as true.

Mary O’Rourke is a traitor to Ireland and its people just like her brother, Brian Lenihan Snr. And her nephew Brian Lenihan Jnr.