tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58732302111032046232023-11-16T11:47:26.025+00:00Citizen Simonirishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-45476706153666115662012-03-24T12:19:00.000+00:002012-03-24T12:19:03.943+00:00Mahon Report - tell me something I dont already know15 years, at least €300,000,000 and still no-one is really held accountable.<br />
Tell me something I don't know.<br />
<br />
Ahearn is dishonest - we saw that when we joined the PfP without a referendum and Lisbon after a second go.<br />
That Flynn is a corrupt crook, we saw that with him - <a href="http://citizensimon.blogspot.com/2010/06/politicians-expenses-beverly-flynn-and.html"><b>and his family</b></a> - in Mayo. The guy's nickname in training college was Crackers.<br />
That Albert Reynolds abused power - quelle surprise.<br />
<br />
Dont forget we have a political caste in this country, and most can be found among the Members of the Comite d'Honneur of the<a href="http://citizensimon.blogspot.com/2009/08/trying-to-join-dots-iiea-cipa-ireland.html"><b> IIEA </b></a>- Bertie Ahern, Charlie McCreevy, Albert Reynolds, Ray Mac Sharry and the bauld Pádraig Flynn with dodgy political funding and questionable practices.<br />
<br />
The enquiry called for a ban from public office for corrupt politicians and removal of pensions.<br />
That is something I have wanted for years.<br />
<br />
The call for an independent corruption board is something I would like to see, but we need people outside the system. We need someone like<a href="http://citizensimon.blogspot.com/2010/01/bank-enquiry.html"><b> Eva Joly </b></a>to be in charge. Our system has too much cosy cartel at the top, there are too many ties and links on this Island - other than perhaps Shane Ross whose books show independence of thought and action.<br />
<br />
We cannot trust the legal system after all, an enquiry that told us what we already knew should not cost 300 million Euro, our lawyers basically milked the system for all it was worth.<br />
The point is the whole system is unfit for our current circumstances. We have a group of people who in the course of the last 70 years have learned to manipulate the way this system works. Its time to break the cycle.<br />
<br />
We need more accountability, more transparency and a list system - all the parties pay lip service to it, but none will initiate it <br />
<br />
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<br />
Deflection on the grounds of disclosure or a trial being held in camera are no excuse.<br />
Names, dates and locations can be excised and redacted, but details and context are valid questions.<br />
<br />
Its not the first time that he has tried to intervene in a similar case.<br />
In 2008, Norris called for a documentary, Fairytale of Kathmandu, to be postponed. The film documented visits to Nepal by poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh, during which he is alleged to have had sex with young men - about 16 years of age.<br />
<br />
It questioned whether he was sexually exploiting the boys.<br />
<br />
I have always felt very uncomfortable about the case, its not really clear - but clearly a charity worker having sex with 16 year olds (regardless of gender) is failing in duty of care, and remember here in Ireland the legal definition of a child is someone under the age of 17 for the purpose of the sexual offences (juristiction) act 1996<br />
<br />
The sexuality of a person does not matter, but abuse of a minor does.<br />
<br />
As an atheist I have to say for all the senators protestations about strong christian values, he would do well to remember Matthew 18:6 <i> </i><br />
<br />
<i>But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea </i><br />
<br />
Certain crimes should not and cannot be forgiven.<br />
An adult who abuses a minor through violation of trust, position etc. is a criminal.<br />
It is especially important to point out both cases involved poor, dependent persons of a foreign culture.<br />
<br />
Various bleating by Norris about the pederasty in classical Greece with such echoes to a trial like this is both unwise, and I feel sinister.<br />
<br />
We need more transparency in our body politic, not more cover-ups.<br />
<br />
On that note from the Irish Independent on the 5th we learned that David Norris received a disability payment for 16 years while out of work as a Trinity College lecturer -- even though he was well enough to be a "full-time" senator for the entire period.<br />
<br />
Mr Norris confirmed to the Irish Independent he received the payment, but could not specify exactly how much it was worth. He also initially refused to say what his disability was.<br />
<br />
The payment began in 1994 and ended in 2010.<br />
<br />
Over the period, while claiming disability he also received a senator's salary of about €61,073 and an annual leader's allowance -- the €23,383 Independent senators receive in unvouched expenses every year -- for his Seanad work.<br />
<br />
However, he initially would not say what the disability was, and insisted it did not stand in his way of being president, insisting he is in "perfect health".<br />
<br />
So at first, Senator Norris refused to comment on the disability payments - this is the clarification (?) recently released.<br />
<br />
At his official campaign launch this morning, he has revealed the payment is currently around €2,500 a month. It is non- A, B or C Hepatitis, contracted from drinking water in Central Europe in 1994......left him so tired he was unable to do his job lecturing in Trinity<br />
<br />
“I was medically advised it was not possible for me to undertake the stress of the very intensive lecturing and tutorial duties that I had,”<br />
Mr Norris said it was the university authorities who decided to place him on permanent disability and replace him with another academic, giving him time to focus on the Seanad.<br />
<br />
So well enough to lecture in the Senate, but not the School?<br />
<br />
He did concede that if it were now he may think differently about taking the payment while having another job: He insisted his health would not be an issue for him to become President<br />
<br />
Thats nice to know, so he can work then - even though it seems he may still receive disability payments!<br />
<br />
“For three years I did not take any alcohol at all, which you’re advised, with the small exception every Sunday at St Patrick’s Cathedral.” What is it with religion again??<br />
<br />
Further in that interview in relation to the abuse case Mr Norris again stressed he was acting on legal advice from Israeli and Irish lawyers .......which stops him disclosing controversial clemency letters he wrote for an ex-partner convicted of statutory rape.<br />
<br />
“This case involved real people,” he said.<br />
“It changed their lives and left deep scars.<br />
<br />
Real people, real scars?? No Shit Sherlock!!!<br />
Letters can always be released after censorship - and it seems all the correspondence related to gaining clemency for the abuser - so far as we can tell, not having seen the correspondence.<br />
<br />
But, as with the disability payments - this was done on advice - as were the disability payments but when asked to comment initially he asked not to go into the disability payment, saying there "<i>was a whole story about that</i>".<br />
<br />
Im sure there is!<br />
<br />
For the second time in a Presidential campaign we see that this may involve (another) rapid verbal u-turning change of tune - perhaps after "mature recollection"<br />
<br />
GUBU speak is alive and well in Joyces Dublin<br />
<br />
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But other state assets are being sold to create a short term solution to bail out banks - in an effort that will fail, that is, the bank bailout.<br />
<br />
Already our natural resources have been sold, as with <a href="http://citizensimon.blogspot.com/2010/07/shell-and-corrib-field.html" target="_new">gas and oil resources</a> - or with <a href="http://citizensimon.blogspot.com/2011/10/icelandic-indications-forestry-and.html" target="_new">coillte</a>, will be sold.<br />
We as a country do not have the best track record with privatization. Our Eircom flotation was a failure, Sugar and Steel went to the wall. <a href="http://connemaracroft.blogspot.com/2010/08/preserve-production-made-easy.html" target="_new">Sugar in particular was a very bad deal,</a> very short sighted and caused real loss.<br />
Aerlingus shares fell from over 2 euro to just over 60 cents. Aerlingus landing slots are worth more than flight revenue - this is a service, not a business.<br />
Now the ESB- the very foundation of our socio-economic structure is now up for sale. The ESB is a strategic company. The plan is not to retain any of the ESB but flog it.<br />
Control of the network grid is where the money is, and with our shabby history of regulation, better a public than private monopoly.<br />
<br />
It is a bad time to sell, the buyers know we are in a bind, it's like going to the pawn shop instead of the antique stores.<br />
<br />
Pat Rabbite talks about giving an assurance to the potential buyers that we could sell in the future. This neglects the point that this will hamstring future governments.<br />
<br />
The ESB and rural electrification was the jewel in the crown of the early free state. We need to think in creative terms, as they did - ambition on behalf of the nation, rather than assisting the private debts of banks.<br />
<br />
We need to look at visionary projects like <a href="http://www.spiritofireland.org/" target="_new">Spirit of Ireland </a>, keeping control of distribution, improving the grid and generating jobs and income - rather than that the current Government want to sell off an asset that has the real potential to really do something radical and creative and create work, improving the lives of the majority.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Of those responsible in Ireland, a small select group of bankers, politicians and senior civil servants, they are not being charged, they have been moved into NAMA.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">People say that the establishment link between politicians and property developers is a conspiracy theory, but the connections are clearly there.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Bertie Ahearn has instead of facing an investigation about links with property developers and banks has become a paid advisor to Parker Green International, a multi-national property developer.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We will not benefit enough from natural resources like the Corrib gas field, but we are also in danger of losing other resources like our state forestry, Coilte, in a drive to privatize state assets to bail out the banks.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Now Bertie Ahearn is working for the International Forestry Fund, financed by Hevetica Wealth AG - their intention is to take over Coilte, and get an area twice the size of County Meath at a bargain price from the new coalition Government.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://neilginty.blogspot.com/2011/03/fears-over-sale-of-irish-forests.html">Neil Ginty has written at length about this issue</a>. Its not just trees and land though, this is state owned property, minerals will lie under the earth, but we do not know what is there because the survey done is not subject to the freedom of information act.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Pat Carey’s signing off of the Corrib gas line on Election Day marked what many considered one last act of treason in giving the go ahead for Shell to build infrastructure that will pump gas from the west coast to their interconnectors in Britain."</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Bertie is being paid by a foreign company who want to purchase an area twice the size of County Meath!! Is it just me or is there something wrong about this?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The driving force behind the planned sale of state assets is Colm McCarthy. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">His report wants <a href="http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0420/mccarthy.html">to sell pretty much everything to the highest bidder</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As well as being a lecturer in UCD, Mr McCarthy also works with the ERSI and DKM Economic consultants.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Also on the board of DKM is Annette Hughes - a former BP employee. Ms Huges is an expert <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">on energy, with particular focus on interactions with demographics and regional development - one sees what that means in Mayo. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">She is also on the board of FÁS as well as being a Director of DKM.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This takes us back to the issue of resources, and the looming threat of fracking, a very destructive means of extracting minerals, and the ownership of vast tracts of land, that when privatized means we the people if we protest can be done for trespass.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We need to stop this happening. We need to hold those responsible for the financial crisis responsible, and certainly not put them into new positions of power to do further damage.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="font-null" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="font-null" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If default happens, so be it. If we need to revert to our own controllable currency so be it.</div><div class="font-null" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Iceland was warned that it would never borrow again if it failed to honour the debts of its financial sector. </div><div class="font-null" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But the country already seems to have been forgiven by the markets. </span></div><div class="font-null" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Icelandic government issued $1bn in sovereign debt in June at an interest rate of around 6 per cent. </span></div><div class="font-null" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This was twice oversubscribed by investors. The contrast with Ireland, which assumed responsibility for all the liabilities of its bust banking sector, is stark. </span></div><div class="font-null" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks to Dublin's blanket bailout, total government debt is now more than 100 per cent of GDP, four times pre-crisis levels. </span></div><div class="font-null" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And Ireland's reward from the markets has been a rise in the cost of insuring its sovereign bonds. Iceland's currency depreciation also looks good by international comparisons. </span></div><div class="font-null" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Latvia doggedly kept its peg with euro after the 2008 crash and has experienced a catastrophic 25 per cent decline in GDP and seen unemployment reach 22 per cent.</span></div><div class="font-null" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The economic policy orthodoxy through this crisis supported by McCarthy and others – sale of national assets and pushed by ratings agencies and European politicians alike – has demanded that the national governments honour the private debts of their banking sectors, protect their exchange rates, eschew capital movement restrictions, and impose massive austerity to earn back the confidence of bond markets. </span></div><div class="font-null" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Much of that wisdom was ignored by Reykjavik. And the early signs are that Iceland is doing quite well - it is a model that has been working, and it should be this model we adopt. Part of that is accountability, which again in Ireland is failing badly.</span></div><div class="font-null" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Also, our media is failing to address these issues. McCarthy is a commentator on RTE, but no-one elected him - why does an unelected person get to decide to sell of national assets?</span></div><div class="font-null" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="font-null" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</tbody></table>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-30286139707183083032011-08-10T08:12:00.010+01:002011-08-13T22:49:21.628+01:00UK riots, Irish lessons<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In the UK and in Ireland hope for many young people has been taken away, yet at the same time the materialist celebrity culture is fed to them 24 hours a day through advertising by any means necessary.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As Shaun Bailey, a conservative said, these kids, in the last 15 years, know all about their rights but do not realize their responsibilities.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">He also said on newsnight in the UK that although some may feel genuine grievances, the majority feel a sense of entitlement, that they can take what they want - I put that attitude down to our crass celebrity culture.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We no longer judge by color of skin or content of character, we do so by consumerism</span>– you are what you have. The mixed ethnic nature of the looting youth gangs is a pretty good demonstration of this.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">One can also understand the simmering anger, in actual fact a huge anger, but also a huge feeling of frustration - and it is justifiable. What is right and wrong! One law for the rich and one for everyone else.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">No corrupt bankers or politicians have gone to jail, people who caused the cutbacks and who get away with it. No one seems accountable.<br />
The hacking scandal in the UK has caused huge anger, the media behaving in such a callous manner.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Celebs who openly use drugs are not hassled in the same way as kids on the street.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We see bankers bailed out, corrupt politicians and a compliant, saccharine media who concentrate on the unimportant and there is little we can do to change that.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In Ireland we see cuts to public health, policing, the things now required but reduced, and the very rich or influential, banks, clerics and politicos, being unrepentant and untouchable.</span></div>Senator Calley in Ireland for example shows no shame, former Green politicians show no regret for supporting FF, Labour now support FG. Bankers still lead lives of privilege, they own their houses.<br />
<br />
With this comes a parallel society that has little hope. City centre youths have few opportunities economically, never own a house, have menial un-improving employment - if they are lucky.<br />
But the one areas they can access money is via drugs and criminality.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is a parallel economy, run by criminals who deal with competition in an increasingly violent way - as we see in Ireland.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Netherlands has many of the same problems at the margins as the UK with some young males from ethnic or economically hopeless groups, in many cases less integrated, but their access to the drugs business has been reduced through decriminalization and control.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Many youths are drawn to gangs not by the need for protection but by the supposed glamour of a lifestyle that is celebrated in many areas of modern culture.</span></span><br />
<br />
Recently the death of Amy Winehouse was given equal status and weight in the red top media as the Norwegian mass murder, and will continue to do so.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Growing acceptance of this trivial culture has helped create these riots.</span></span><br />
<br />
At the same time dispossession, hopelessness- you will never own a house, you will live as the state wishes - and shops crammed full of goods is brought together, who can be surprised that, with a little co-ordination via social networking sites, a peaceful demonstration in Tottenham should have turned into rioting and looting.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We see a reaction of a distant economic and political system as well as dumbed down celeb culture.</span><br />
<br />
A system that stresses materialist wealth, which constantly exposes us to increasingly sophisticated and ubiquitous advertising, yet which oversees the breakdown of communities and the impoverishment of millions in order to increase the wealth of a minority.<br />
<br />
We do not need to argue that these people are explicitly politicised, or fighting for some sort of social justice.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">They attack shops and business outlets, not police stations or political structures - this is about greed and envy, not politics. The shops are specific, fashion outlets - the marks of modern culture.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Many of these people appear to have been acting selfishly, competitively, and without thought for the consequences of their actions. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But these reactions have been conditioned, when consumerism and celebrity are the primary driving forces for peer endorsement, then envy and hatred, resentment and a sense of entitlement are the instinctive reactions of a dumbed down and greedy bunch of thuggish opportunists who lash out at their own communities and areas.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But it is also apparent that there is a simmering rage, and a demand for attention expressed through mindless destruction aimed at what they have been told they need. Whatever ones perceived or real resentments and grievances are, turning on ones own communities and economy solves nothing.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;">A major issue I believe is the erosion of civil rights, abuse of stop and search laws written by Tony Blair to 'combat terrorism' in 2005 have been used many thousand times by the police, not to catch mindless murderers but target male youths from the poorer areas, particularly those from the Caribbean community - the humiliation, harassment and obvious misuse of these powers leads to resentment and anger.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In Northern Ireland internment fueled the same emotions as did the army check points.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">One thing of note was how often one heard that baton rounds and water cannon have never been used in 'mainland UK' because of their effectiveness, yet it seems using them with reckless abandon in Northern Ireland was OK.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have written before about the importance of civil rights, and this is never more important than when including the dis-enfranchised into society, as with Dr King in the 60's in the US, or Vaclav Havel in Czechoslovakia, or John Hume in Northern Ireland, or the German Jews in the 30's, or the Palestinian people today.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For that reason I believe the embedded film is one of the most important made.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pXq5F8Dus-c" width="560"></iframe></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><br />
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irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-2856697423338402132011-07-26T02:27:00.001+01:002011-07-26T02:36:58.157+01:00Vatican RelationsWell, looks like finally an Irish Government has taken a realistic stand. As much as I dont agree with FG as a party, I need to say fair play to the Taoiseach.<br />
<br />
I have not followed events closely in Ireland recently, but the withdrawl of the Papal Nuncio from Ireland seems to be a logical result to the revalations of past years.<br />
<br />
In relation to the states relationship to the church, if there is one particular part of the civil service who are almost out of government control it is the DFA, their questionable indirect funding of the the Lisbon II yes vote being a good example. <br />
<br />
The DFA has a tendency to do as it wants, rather than reflect the stance of the elected Government. <br />
The last Taoiseach that reined them in properly was CJH in his dealing with Sean Donlon, in essence firing the fucker from his Washington post.<br />
<a href="http://www.moriartytribunal.com/evidence-of-government-ministers/the-john-bruton-sean-donlon-inquiry-into-the-second-mobile-phone-licence-process/" target="_new">Mr.Donlon is now of course assisting John Bruton</a> in saying in the eircom licence fiasco that he saw no evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of Micahel Lowry; or indeed on the part of anyone else.<br />
<br />
In a time of austerity measures and cutbacks, it is - in my opinion - time to close down the Irish Embassy to the Vatican, and move its functions 10 miles down the road to the Irish Embassy to Italy, if the Irish Embassy in Madrid can cover Morocco - then surely Rome can cover the city state.<br />
However, will the DFA allow the loss of such a plum position for itself?<br />
<br />
I am not one for jumping on the band wagon, in recent years it has become popular for some sections of the media to tirade against the church as a whole when there are a great many priests and nuns who have always done and continue to do great work. <br />
<br />
My problem has always been, and remains with, the hierarchy and their role in covering up crimes- particularly what one could refer to as the Roman college group, those bishops who are very close to the power base in Rome.<br />
<br />
This is best demonstrated in the distinct difference between the way Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has dealt with the situation in comparison with the high flying Roman gang.<br />
In their response to the Taoiseachs criticism the Vatican has, among other things said the “main reason” for the recall was so the nuncio could “consult” with those people at the Vatican involved in preparation of the formal response to the Cloyne report, requested by the Government.<br />
e.g. get the story straight.<br />
<br />
Msgr Gianfranco Girotti, number two at the apostolic penitentiary, when he told Il Foglio newspaper the Holy See would never accept Irish legislation that might attempt to break the seal of confession. “Ireland can pass all the laws it likes but it should understand that the church will never accept the obligation on a confessor to report to civil authorities . . .”<br />
<br />
The investigations to the best of my knowledge do <em><strong>not</strong></em> cover the confessional seal, they deal with the cover-ups by people like Cardinal Sean Brady. <br />
Taking affidavits and then forcing people to sign an oath of secrecy is not part of the confessional sacrament, nor is it legally binding.<br />
<br />
I feel is quite clear that in doing this to protect the institution of the church, he helped cover up a crime and pervert the course of justice.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vatican-recalls-ambassador-after-irish-pms-attack-on-church-2325947.html">http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vatican-recalls-ambassador-after-irish-pms-attack-on-church-2325947.html</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0726/1224301384626.html">http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0726/1224301384626.html</a> <br />
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</script><noscript></noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-13729828901791902782011-06-16T12:19:00.000+01:002011-06-16T12:19:26.127+01:00Iceland and IrelandOne of, if not the best political blogs in Ireland - www.publicinquiry.eu/ recently posted on the Ireland vs Iceland situation.<br />
A few months back, it was drummed into us by politicians that we did not want to be Iceland, that being Iceland was to be a financial leper.<br />
<br />
Well, lets look at the results of people power in Iceland. We keep being told about being on the Bond markets - Iceland returned to international debt markets for the first time since its banking meltdown more than two years ago as investors offered to buy twice the amount the government offered in dollar-denominated bonds.<br />
<br />
Iceland averted a sovereign default by refusing to let the Government bail out bondholders when its banks failed in October 2008.<br />
Iceland will enjoy economic growth of 2.2 per cent this year and 2.9 per cent in 2012 as its budget deficit narrows to 1.4 per cent of GDP, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.<br />
<br />
The island’s approach to resurrecting itself from financial ruin has won the praise of Nobel laureate Paul Krugman, who says Iceland is now better off than euro member Ireland.<br />
<br />
<strong></strong>On the other hand we elected FG and Labour who continue with failing FF policies, our services are being cut back, our hospitals sold, we are allowing development of frac drilling all at the behest of the EU/IMF.<br />
At the end of May, the banks’ total borrowings from the Central Bank in Ireland and the ECB stood at €156 billion, down from €160 billion in April.<br />
<br />
The gradual loss of deposits at the Irish banks over the past year has led to a surge in borrowing from the ECB which reached a peak last November, when banks here were in receipt of €136.4 billion in funding.<br />
The dramatic rise in Irish financial institutions’ dependence on ECB funding, at a time when other countries were reducing their reliance, is believed to have been one of the key triggers behind the IMF-EU bailout.<br />
<br />
What galls me most is yesterday, listening to Brendan Howlin, a Labour politician, talking about burden sharing in the country.<br />
Lets get this straight - the vast majority of people in this country were not involved in the banking sector or property speculation - <i><b>Why do we need to share the burden for the speculation of others?</b></i> I have an overdraft, why dont the banks pay back some of that?<br />
Instead, I am faced with stealth taxes like road tolls on top of road tax, and future additional costs with water metering and property tax on family homes.<br />
<br />
Paycuts and levies are applied to the lower and middle ranks of the civil service, not those in senior positions on whose watch the crisis developed.<br />
<br />
The citizen should come first, a wider range of the people, not just the bankers and speculators should be bailed out.<br />
I do not understand why banks could not be re-capitalised from the bottom up - i.e. subject to criteria, that people could not have transferred a mortgague from private banks to the state, in essence becoming council houses. As an addition to the National Solidarity bond, they could be regarded as assets for the state. The banks would have got their money and family houses would have been secured.<br />
<br />
The long running joke that tells us the only difference between Ireland and Iceland is one letter and six months is true, they are better off after 6 months, their economy is stronger and better than ours and they are not burdened with debts on the public purse for the private sector.<br />
<br />
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</script><noscript><p><a href="http://blogcounter.com/"><img style="border: 0px;" alt="Blog counter" src="http://blogcounter.com/log.php?id=simon&amp;=st=img&amp;showme=y"/></a></p></noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-8454958162774375812011-06-08T18:33:00.003+01:002011-06-08T20:51:27.078+01:00Water, A Human Right or an IMF cash cow<div class="MsoNormal">Well, water metering and charges are coming - another soft stealth tax.</div><div class="MsoNormal">If Ireland is famous for anything other than bankruptcy, it's soft rain.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What I mean by a soft tax is that it is something that cannot be avoided. We need certain things to survive; they are basic, food, water and shelter. Those are the fundamentals of life, and are not easy to move or source elsewhere.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Air can be covered by a carbon tax, shelter can be covered by a property tax, and water can be covered by metering.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The main aim of metering is of course to raise cash and in my opinion to eventually privatize in order to raise money in the short term to bail out the banks, and to avoid long term issues like pensions and of course, taking responsibility for failings in the system.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In Ireland, the main thing it seems to me is the abrogation of responsibility, where failure can be covered up by bureaucracy and being as obtuse as possible, and it seems impossible to hold people to account for failure in public services and banking.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So, why charge for water - to get money that will be used to service IMF loans that were taken to bail out the banks. I doubt very much that any water charge, be it flat rate or metered, will be ring fenced for improved infrastructure or treatment.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let’s briefly look at one part of Ireland first – Galway where €21.5 million has been available since 2002 for dealing with the cryptosporidium issue, yet there still are major problems with water supply in one of Ireland’s major residential areas and a premier tourist destination.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s now 2011 and still according to the Connacht Tribune there is still ‘Inadequate treatment’ of drinking water for 44,000 people.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Despite the €21m in 2002 and an additional €18.4 million this year from the EPA a total of 32 water sources in Galway are “at risk” of contamination – almost half of these having “inadequate treatment” for the cryptosporidium bug.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This leads to the situation where one part of the government (the EPA) using public funds to prosecute another government agency (Galway CoCo) whose legal fees and fines will be paid for from the public purse!!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">With all that money provided, one would think that Galway CoCo would sort things out.</div><div class="MsoNormal">But because of the current situation one can only say the Council is<u> ill equipped to run public water systems efficiently</u>. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Typically for Ireland, no one in Galway CoCo has been held responsible, no questions have been asked, and the county manager with all the other people who should be looking after this are still in place.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">With the IMF and World Bank if water services are sold off there is a precedent. It is not the first time that aid or assistance has been made conditional to the privatization - or rather the profitisation - of a substance as essential as water. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Bolivian Government turned to the World Bank for help against an economic meltdown – much like us bailing out the banks. The World Bank declared it would not "renew" a $ 25 million to Bolivia unless it privatized its water services. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It seems the World Bank believed that "poor governments are often too plagued by local corruption and too<i> ill equipped to run public water systems efficiently.</i>[and that the use of private corporations] opens the door to needed investment and skilled management"</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A 1999 Public Expenditure Review, the World Bank stated that “no subsidies should be given to ameliorate the increase in water tariffs” in Bolivia, i.e. no breaks for elderly or the poor.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Bolivia privatized its water services, giving control to a subsidiary of a multinational.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The multinational demanded, and won, a provision guaranteeing the company an average 16% annual return on its investment, leaving Bolivia's poor to bear all the financial risk – much like our public services are suffering cuts and a risk of privatisation to service the interest on the IMF/EU loans.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To ensure the legality of the privatization law 2029 was passed, which verified the contract and gave a virtual monopoly over <b>ALL</b> water resources. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This included water used for irrigation by peasant farmers, and community-based resources that had previously been independent of regulation and state run water supply.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The law was seen as the sale of water resources that had never really been a part of public service system in the first place, much like our community water systems.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This also included rainwater harvesting – but more about that later.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The corporation could not only install meters and begin charging at independently built communal water systems, but it could also charge residents for the installation of those meters.</div><div class="MsoNormal">This has - in an obtuse way - already happened in Ireland, our taxes are paying for the meter installation program – so a publicly funded metering system is already in place adding value to the product offered if, or rather when, the system is sold to investors. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Between January 1999 and April 2000 parts of Bolivia were placed under martial law following protests against public water systems being sold off to foreign investors and the sheer scale of cost increase.</div><div class="MsoNormal">This needs to be put into context. Bolivian families earning a wage of less than $100 per month were charged $20 for water - an increase at times of 300% - and threatened with having the water shut off. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When thousands tried to march in peaceful protest, then President Banzer - who ruled Bolivia as a dictator from 1971-78 - had police and army hammer protesters. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Those who opposed the water privatization scheme had their homes ransacked and some were flown off to a remote rainforest jail in an effort to silence them.</div><div class="MsoNormal">175 people were injured, two youths blinded and 17-year-old Victor Hugo Daza was shot thorough the face and killed: The ultimate penalty for challenging multinational corporate control of local water supplies</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The company who had taken over the water system was a subsidiary of US based Bechtel. Bechtel is a global giant, posting more than $12.6 billion in revenue in 1998 - $2.4 billion on Latin American projects alone </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Bechtel sought to pin the blame elsewhere released a statement claiming that "a number of other water, social and political issues are the root causes of this civil unrest." </div><div class="MsoNormal">Moving to shift the blame, a Bolivian government spokesman told reporters the "subversive" protest was "absolutely politically financed by narcotraffickers." </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Such labeling is done much in the same way that Shell to Sea protestors in Ireland have been labeled as provo sympathizers by parts of the media.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
The But the uprising had nothing to do with drugs: It was all about water, the coalition against the water charges was in fact led by a union representing minimum wage factory workers and including peasant farmers, environmentalists and youth.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The contract made with Bolivia's government was bad from the very beginning, a virtual guarantee that thousands of poor families would be hit with water rates they could not afford - as we are hit with cuts in Ireland.<br />
Bechtel now complains bitterly about that contract, but the fact remains that they negotiated it, signed it and implemented it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Bechtel workers removed the water company computers and financial and personnel records. Bechtel administrators left behind emptied bank accounts and more than $150,000 in unpaid bills. On top of all this suffering and damage, Bechtel now has the audacity to demand a compensation payment of $12 million from Bolivia.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<b>RAIN WATER TAX</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">You might think that a charge, tariff or license to collect rain water is nuts, but its not just in Bolivia that attempts have been made for a such a charge.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Elected public servants in the Washington State Legislature introduced a bill that will require an individual to obtain a permit to collect rainwater on their own property for their own use.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>In Ghana someone as supposedly caring as the UK’s Claire Short's true commitment - to a globalised economy run by powerful, mostly western capital - is exemplified by her "development" enterprise in Ghana. <br />
Her department told the Ghanaian government that it would get aid money only if it effectively privatizes the water supply, allowing British and other multinational corporations to make a killing.<br />
Making a killing can be taken literally in Ghana, where more than half the people lack a regular, safe water supply and children die from water-borne diseases. Since a "private-public partnership" was announced, water bills for the poor have begun to rise sharply in order to make the water industry "competitive" so that it can be sold off. The Christian Council of Ghana says that "to privatize water is like handing down death sentences to the urban and rural poor in Ghana, because they cannot afford to pay".<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Again in the US Colorado water law holds that every raindrop that falls on the state is already claimed by a water-rights holder. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<b>It is claimed that capturing rainwater could hurt stream flows and thus is akin to stealing. </b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You see, once water collection and distribution is commercialized, it becomes the intellectual property of the water distributor.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>In the UK we have even seen an attempt at a derivitive of a rainwater collection charge - privatised utilities services billed churches and charities like the Scouts for draining away rainwater that fell on their roofs. Protests by the Church and the Scouts Association, which said hundreds of its groups are having to choose whether they organise youth activities or pay their water bills.<br />
<br />
Essentially, if the Politicians are pushed, whether you were to collect rainwater or not - you could end up paying companies with a profit motive for - rainfall !!!<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">In Ireland we have all the right elements, corrupt or inefficient public officials, inept public services, a financial crisis caused by an elite that is used as leverage to create monetary advantage for multinational corporations and a political/media caste who don’t give a damn.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-77209614447213832732011-06-02T16:39:00.001+01:002011-06-02T16:40:58.258+01:00What went wrong, and what else - the bailout.OK - we have been bamboozled by bullshit, that is the first point.<br />
Using multi layer words that we are vague about is a means of control, ignorance leads to apathy.<br />
<br />
Bondholders, bail outs, front loading etc. are all terms used to confuse and divert questions.<br />
<br />
A bondholder is an individual or entity that is the bearer of a currently outstanding and active bond.<br />
<br />
A bond is a type of debt capital instrument that is used to generate funds for the issuer.<br />
<br />
Debt capital is the capital, usually money, raised through issuing bonds. <br />
<br />
A debt instrument is any type of documented financial obligation (i.e. an IOU note) that describes a debt that is assumed by the issuer of the document (i.e the bank)<br />
<br />
Our banks wanted money to loan out to speculators, so they issued bonds to raise money.<br />
<br />
Other banks and investors saw the bonds on offer with their return rates and bought them as a way to make money in the long to medium term, so they gave our banks cash for IOU's and became bond holders.<br />
Lets call this cash Block Ai<br />
<br />
The Banks then took Block Ai and broke it up to give to individuals who speculated on returns - i.e. both parties gambled. Lets call this Block Aii<br />
In Ireland, this was in reality a very small circle of people.<br />
<br />
The banks also loaned money to people to buy the houses built by the speculators.<br />
Lets call this Block Aiii<br />
<br />
The banks gambled 3 times on Bloc A <br />
- 1: that they would get it back and repay Block Ai<br />
- 2: that the speculators who took Block Aii would pay them back to fund Block Ai and<br />
- 3: that they would get a secondary return from same property through private mortgage debt, Block Aiii<br />
<br />
When issuing block Aiii we have seen that quite often this was done in a very slipshod fashion with Government Ministers like Charlie McCreevey getting very large loans with little or no oversight.<br />
<br />
To add to the risk factor loans were not really secure. When you borrow a large amount of money you generally are asked for collateral, something you own of value, as a guarantee against the loan in case things go wrong.<br />
<br />
In the case of the speculators, they were allowed to use property <i>they did not actually own outright</i> as collateral. They were taking loans on the back of property that was already subject to repayment of another loan.<br />
This is called leverage.<br />
<br />
Then part of this precarious system, Block Aii, went pear shaped when repayments stopped and this had a domino effect on the unsecured leveraged loans. <br />
<br />
The Government, or more correctly, Brian Lenehan and Brian Cowen, overnight took possetion of the banks IOU notes, this was the deposit garuantee - promising to provide money for loans they did not have. <br />
<br />
To cover this potential cost they borrowed more money from the same investors who had supplied the initial speculative capital to the banks.<br />
<br />
The investors could then deposit those IOU's in the guaranteed banks, and withdraw the money so the Government gave them back the 2nd loan, and still have to pay off the initial loan with interest.<br />
<br />
The Green/FF government borrowed money to pay off a loan.<br />
<br />
This was the bailout.<br />
<br />
It is clear that when the bond holder loans money to the issuer (us, the tax payer represented by the Government) to cover the initial loan, it is to the benefit of the bond holder as they get a bigger return on the loan. <br />
<br />
When they are loaning a secondary amount to get their initial capital and interest rate back, they increase their income by adding to the 2nd loan at higher rates.<br />
<br />
In essence, they are loaning us our own money at interest.<br />
<br />
Since 2008 there has been an international campaign to socialise debt, i.e. to cover the risks of speculators by penalising the general population.<br />
<br />
In order to cover the banks exposure, the IMF and EU made us take out a further loan of €85 Billion.<br />
Among the conditions attached to this are exploitation of national natural assets like minerals, resources and public services by the corporate sector.<br />
<br />
We are told that if we do not accept these conditions and provisions the world will collapse around us.<br />
<br />
The word default is being used as a scare tactic. Default does not mean we do not pay, it means a negotiated settlement to ride out this economic crisis, and repayments in a sustainable and equitable manner.<br />
<br />
This is what the people of Iceland did.<br />
<br />
But we the Irish, all 4 million of us, are faced with a per person debt burden that is off the radar, we are dragged by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour, independents like Lowry and Healy Rae and the Greens into paying for a debt that is not, and never was, our responsibility.<br />
<br />
It is an outrageous scam and an unjust act. On the 85Bn loan we each need to pay something like €44K through increased taxes and levies, loss of services and loss of proper revenue from resources - this without the consideration of interest.<br />
In 2013 our annual repayments will be around 9Bn per year - we are per capita the most indebted nation in the EU, with a deficit of 32% i.e. we will need to borrow a further 2.88 Bn per year just to pay a debt caused by a small group of bankers - put into context, that's about twice the amount we spend on the defence forces annually.<br />
<br />
If this state of affairs is allowed to persist, we and the next two generations have three choices.<br />
1-Stay here impoverished subsisting on inadequete social welfare<br />
2-If lucky enough to have a job, pay huge taxes for crap services or<br />
3- Get the fuck out of dodge.<br />
<br />
If you are reading this, my advice on savings and investments is to move them to an overseas bank, or use an independent bank like<a href="http://www.triodos.co.uk/en/business/coverage/ireland/"><b> Triodos</b></a>.<br />
<br />
The IMF deal will be bad for Ireland, in the Asian economic crisis of the 90's those countries that bought into the IMF policies faced tremendous disruption, those that refused did quite well.<br />
The IMF is a private venture company, supported by multi national corporations who covet resources and income, things like health insurance, oil and gas.<br />
<br />
I am not saying that as a conspiracy nut, UNICEF calculates that over half a million children every year under the age of five die due to IMF policies.<br />
As countries are diverting resources away from social provisions like health care and pensions to repay debt, those most affected are the poor, especially women, children and the elderly. UNICEF’s 2000 report says 30,000 children die each day due to poverty.This poverty is generally caused by corruption AND debt servicing at an unsustainable level.<br />
<br />
What can we do - well - start here<br />
http://enoughcampaign.org/<br />
We need to say No to a conjob - We need to say enough is enough, we need to educate ourselves, empower ourselves and take back our country, our future and that of future generations.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5873230211103204623&postID=7720961444721383273"></a><br />
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</script><noscript>&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://blogcounter.com/"&amp;gt;&amp;lt;img style="border: 0px;" alt="Blog counter" src="http://blogcounter.com/log.php?id=simon&amp;amp;amp;=st=img&amp;amp;amp;showme=y"/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;</noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-24617506646553171652011-03-07T12:15:00.001+00:002011-03-07T14:15:36.620+00:00A New wave of NepotismKeep an eye on your local councils. Lets see how many family members are appointed to council seats now vacated by elected TDs moving to the Dail.<br />
<br />
In fairness it has been pointed out to me that Labour want to avoid this -<br />
The Labour Party alledgedly are trying to stop nepotism in the party, but after the FG deal we will have to wait and see.<br />
<i><br />
" <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0304/1224291281668.html" target="_new">LABOUR FAMILY dynasties are at risk following an edict from head office that relatives of TDs will not be considered for vacated local authority seats.</a> "</i><br />
<br />
Already the Michael Healy Rae seat on Kerry coco seems to be going to retired TD, and father, Jackie. <br />
<br />
Some of these are double whammys, in that the newly elected TD's sometimes have two seats, one at county and one in town.<br />
<br />
The other appointments now coming are the Taoseachs appointments to the Senate, a 60K per year job not including expenses.<br />
It is astounding that the caretaker Taoiseach, a man who is no longer an elected official, has the gall let alone the right to appoint a failed Fianna Fáil election candidate - Darragh O Brien - to the Senate <br />
<br />
They have no remorse.<br />
The media are even worse -Terry Prone (Irish Examiner)<br />
<br />
<i>Toughest of all, of course, is the situation, today, of those who lost their seats, their livelihood, and in some cases, their self-respect. We have become so furious and cruel a society that the general reaction to their loss is “serves them right”.</i><br />
<br />
It is deeply insulting to the millions of Irish people who are victims of our corrupt political system to witness self-righteous journalists like Prone accuse them of being cruel because they are furious and want justice.<br />
his is especially the case when failed politicians get massive pay-outs having instigated policies that saddle the tax payer with massive debt.<br />
<br />
And of course, the most sycophantic of the lot - RTE's Marian Finucane:<br />
<br />
<i>This must be a terrible personal tragedy for him (Brian Cowen’s fall). I mean to see the party he loves so much, to be at the head of Government of a party that you’re so proud of that brings in the IMF, I mean on a personal level that has to be very difficult.</i><br />
<br />
Isn’t it amazing that a politician who has led a privileged life, who won a seat on the basis that daddy died and he got the by-election - who has never wanted for anything, who was among the best paid politicians in the world, who is retiring with a fortune at the expense of the people he betrayed can be described as a tragic figure?<br />
<br />
It is for these reasons of corruption, of unwarranted influence, this unacceptable cost that I helped start <b><a href="http://amhrannua.com/">Amhran Nua </a></b><br />
<br />
<b>LIST OF COUNCILLORS ELECTED TO DAIL EIREANN 2011</b><br />
<br />
Ann Phelan (LAB) - Carlow/Kilkenny<br />
Kilkenny County Council (Thomastown)<br />
<br />
Pat Deering (FG) - Carlow/Kilkenny<br />
Carlow County Council (Tullow)<br />
<br />
Sean Conlan (FG) - Cavan/Monaghan<br />
Ballybay Town Council, Co. Monaghan<br />
<br />
Heather Humphreys (FG) - Cavan/Monaghan<br />
Monaghan County Council (Clones)<br />
<br />
Tom Barry (FG) - Cork East<br />
Cork County Council (Mallow)<br />
<br />
Sandra McLellan (SF) - Cork East<br />
Cork County Council (Midleton) & Youghal Town Council, Co. Cork<br />
<br />
Jonathan O’Brien (SF) - Cork North Central<br />
Cork City Council (Cork North West)<br />
<br />
Dara Murphy (FG) - Cork North Central<br />
Cork City Council (Cork North East)<br />
<br />
Jim Daly (FG) – Cork South West<br />
Cork County Council (Skibbereen)<br />
<br />
Noel Harrington (FG) – Cork South West<br />
Cork County Council (Bantry)<br />
<br />
Padraig MacLochlainn (SF) – Donegal North East<br />
Donegal County Council (Inishowen) & Buncrana Town Council, Co. Donegal<br />
<br />
Charlie McConalogue (FF) – Donegal North East<br />
Donegal County Council (Inishowen)<br />
<br />
Thomas Pringle (IND) – Donegal South West<br />
Donegal County Council (Donegal)<br />
<b>Pringle replacement: 31 year old teacher John Campbell, Glenties, Deputy Pringle’s Director of Elections.</b> <br />
<br />
Robert Dowds (LAB) – Dublin Mid-West<br />
South Dublin County Council (Clondalkin)<br />
<br />
Derek Keating (FG) – Dublin Mid-West<br />
South Dublin County Council (Lucan)<br />
<br />
Clare Daly (SP) – Dublin North<br />
Fingal County Council (Swords)<br />
<br />
Alan Farrell (FG) – Dublin North<br />
Fingal County Council (Howth/Malahide)<br />
<br />
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (LAB) – Dublin North Central<br />
Dublin City Council (Clontarf)<br />
<br />
Sean Kenny (LAB) – Dublin North East<br />
Dublin City Council (Donaghmede)<br />
<br />
Dessie Ellis (SF) – Dublin North West<br />
Dublin City Council (Ballymun/Finglas)<br />
<br />
John Lyons (LAB) – Dublin North West<br />
Dublin City Council (Ballymun/Finglas)<br />
<br />
Michael Conaghan (LAB) – Dublin South Central<br />
Dublin City Council (Ballyfermot/Drimnagh)<br />
<br />
Eric Byrne (LAB) – Dublin South Central<br />
Dublin City Council (Crumlin/Kimmage)<br />
<br />
Joan Collins (PBP) – Dublin South Central<br />
Dublin City Council (Crumlin/Kimmage)<br />
<br />
Eoghan Murphy (FG) – Dublin South East<br />
Dublin City Council (Pembroke/Rathmines)<br />
<br />
Kevin Humphreys (LAB) – Dublin South East<br />
Dublin City Council (South East Inner City)<br />
<br />
Sean Crowe (SF) – Dublin South West<br />
South Dublin County Council (Tallaght Central)<br />
<br />
Eamonn Maloney (LAB) – Dublin South West<br />
South Dublin County Council (Tallaght South)<br />
<br />
Mary Mitchell O’Connor (FG) – Dun Laoghaire<br />
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (Dun Laoghaire)<br />
<br />
Richard Boyd Barrett (PBP) – Dun Laoghaire<br />
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (Dun Laoghaire)<br />
<br />
Paul Connaughton (FG) – Galway East<br />
Galway County Council (Ballinasloe)<br />
<br />
Colm Keaveney (LAB) – Galway East<br />
Galway County Council (Tuam)<br />
<br />
Derek Nolan (LAB) – Galway West<br />
Galway City Council (Galway East)<br />
<br />
Brian Walsh (FG) – Galway West<br />
Galway City Council (Galway East)<br />
<br />
Sean Kyne (FG) – Galway West<br />
Galway County Council (Conamara)<br />
<br />
Arthur Spring (LAB) – Kerry North/West Limerick<br />
Kerry County Council (Tralee) & Tralee Town Council, Co. Kerry<br />
<br />
Brendan Griffin (FG) – Kerry South<br />
Kerry County Council (Dingle)<br />
<br />
Tom Fleming (IND) – Kerry South<br />
Kerry County Council (Killarney)<br />
<br />
Michael Healy Rae (IND) – Kerry South<br />
Kerry County Council (Killorglin)<br />
<br />
Catherine Murphy (IND) – Kildare North<br />
Kildare County Council (Celbridge)<br />
<br />
Anthony Lawlor (FG) – Kildare North<br />
Kildare County Council (Naas)<br />
<br />
Martin Heydon (FG) – Kildare South<br />
Kildare County Council (Athy)<br />
<br />
Barry Cowen (FF) – Laois/Offaly<br />
Offaly County Council (Tullamore)<br />
<br />
Brian Stanley (SF) – Laois/Offaly<br />
Laois County Council (Portlaoise)<br />
&<br />
Portlaoise Town Council, Co. Laois<br />
<br />
Patrick O’Donovan (FG) – Limerick<br />
Limerick County Council (Newcastle)<br />
<br />
Robert Troy (FF) – Longford/Westmeath<br />
Westmeath County Council (Mullingar West)<br />
<br />
Gerald Nash (LAB) – Louth<br />
Louth County Council (Drogheda East) & Drogheda Borough Council, Co. Louth<br />
<br />
Michelle Mulherin (FG) – Mayo<br />
Mayo County Council (Ballina) & Ballina Town Council, Co. Mayo<br />
<br />
Regina Doherty (FG) – Meath East<br />
Meath County Council (Dunshaughlin)<br />
<br />
Peadar Tóibín (SF) – Meath West<br />
Navan Town Council, Co. Meath<br />
<br />
Ray Butler (FG) – Meath West<br />
Meath County Council (Trim) & Trim Town Council, Co. Meath<br />
<br />
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan (IND) – Roscommon/South Leitrim<br />
Roscommon County Council (Castlerea)<br />
<br />
Tony McLoughlin (FG) – Sligo/North Leitrim<br />
Sligo County Council (Sligo Strandhill) & Sligo Borough Council<br />
<br />
Michael Colreavy (SF) – Sligo/North Leitrim<br />
Leitrim County Council (Manorhamilton)<br />
<br />
Seamus Healy (WUAG) – Tipperary South<br />
Tipperary South Riding County Council (Clonmel) & Clonmel Borough Council<br />
<br />
Ciara Conway (LAB) – Waterford<br />
Dungarvan Town Council, Co. Waterford<br />
<br />
John Halligan (IND) – Waterford<br />
Waterford City Council (Waterford South)<br />
<br />
Simon Harris (FG) – Wicklow<br />
Wicklow County Council (Greystones) & Greystones Town Council, Co. Wicklow <br />
<br />
There are also two MEP positions, Joe Higgins in Dublin and Alan Kelly from Tipperary.<br />
<br />
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<br />
As I said in a previous posting, I was delighted to see Luke Flannigan returned.<br />
<br />
However, the group must be careful. To enter into any arrangement with a discredited politician like <a href="http://citizensimon.blogspot.com/2010/09/independent-dependency-1-lowry.html">Michael Lowry</a>, Tipp North, a dynastic spawn like <a href="http://citizensimon.blogspot.com/2010/08/it-is-all-very-well-and-good-to-talk.html">Michael 'son of jackie' Healy Rae </a> from Kerry or rats off a sinking ship like <a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/mattie-mcgrath-cuts-ff-ties-and-declares-independence-2011-01/">Mattie McGrath</a> in Tipp South would be a major error.<br />
<br />
These three are career political opportunist's.<br />
<br />
As for FG and Labour, the Labour parlamentary party should listen carefully, very carefully, to their grass roots.<br />
<br />
Yes, it is important to be in Government and affect positive change, but Labour should not help FG to sell off or privatise public services.<br />
Ireland is not the UK, and as we saw with the Eircom debacle, privitisation in such a small country has a high rate of failure, and room for corruption.<br />
<br />
It is quite possible to support legislation that is to the benefit of the country while in opposition, but retain the independence that the Greens and PDs lost as junior coalition partners.<br />
<br />
But then again, the main leadership of the party is ex democratic left and workers party, having gone from perhaps 5 seats to taking over the labour party and now having 37 seats, the attraction of weilding power for people like Gilmore and Rabbite may be too much to resist.<br />
<br />
As well as that it seems Labour are falling further into dynastic habits with Sean Sherlock and Arthur Spring being returned.<br />
<br />
With 20 seats and little in the way of policy or moral difference, it could be quite possible for FG to do a deal with FF, a recipricol Tallaght accord if you will<br />
<br />
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<noscript><p><a href="http://blogcounter.com/"><img style="border: 0px;" alt="Blog counter" src="http://blogcounter.com/log.php?id=simon&amp;=st=img&amp;showme=y"/></a></p></noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-40065942100683499182011-02-28T13:10:00.000+00:002011-02-28T13:10:34.366+00:00ElectionWell, FG had a huge win - we will see how they go and I wish them well.<br />
I really do not see the difference between FF and FG, and I am worried about utilities like our ESB, funding of the health service and stagnation in politics, I do not think FG will deliver real political reform.<br />
<br />
On other fronts there has been mixed news.<br />
<br />
Shane Ross in Dublin, Luke Ming Flannigan and Thomas Pringle in Donegal South are great steps forward, independent, honest and forward thinking people may help to change our flawed system.<br />
<br />
Personally, seeing Pringle and Flannigan elected is great, these two candidates were pointedly ignored by RTE.<br />
<br />
But there have been dissappointments, people like Michael Healy Rae and the FF 'independent' Tom Flemming been returned in Kerry south is bad, dynastic and opportunistic politcos getting back in to milk the system.<br />
Lowry being returned in North Tipp is also bad, the man is a prime example of pothole politics.<br />
<br />
The Greens were wiped out, this may allow the grass roots of the party regain control and refocus their ethos in the right direction, rather than holding on to power for the sake of power itself.<br />
<br />
Galway West returned Eamon O Cuiv, but got rid of Frank Fahy. FG's straetgy failed here as they were beaten by 'independent' Noel Grealish and a real socialist independent Catherine Connolly. Labour did well here with Mr Nolan, a replacement for the formidable Michael D Higgins - a man I hope will be our next President.<br />
<br />
In Dublin Central, FF were wiped out - and Mary Lou McDonald got in despite the blegarding she faced from the press while an MEP<br />
<br />
Although I dont like negative politics I was delighted to see Paul Gogarty lose in Dublin Mid West, his were the first election posters I saw, about 12 hours after the election was called, on the other hand it was a bit sad to see Trevor Sargent lose in North Dublin, a good public servant who, unlike FF deputies, did not need to beforced to resign on principle.<br />
<br />
Dublin North Central saw the end, for now, of the Haughy/Lemass dynasty - although one has to say that Sean Haughy is a very decent man.<br />
<br />
Chris Andrews from Dublin SE who failed in his brief and his first cousin Barry in Dunlaoire are more dynastic politicians gone as are Connor Lenihan in Dublin SW and Mary Hanafin also in Dunlaoire. <br />
<br />
It was dissappointing to see Ivana Bacik lose out in Dunlaoire as she has been a great champion of womens rights.<br />
<br />
Connors big brother Brian Lenihan survived the Dublin cull in Dublin West, the man who as minister for finance made decisions that led us to the brink of disaster, a precipice on which we still teeter, but another of the Lenihans - 'Aunty' - Mary O Rourke went to the wall in Longford/Westmeath - very badly with only 3046 first choices out of 57,525 valid votes.<br />
<br />
In Galway East, Labour had a major victory with Colm Keaveney from my Alma Mater being returned to the Dail, although seeing adynastic FG candidate also elected is a bit hard.<br />
<br />
More thoughts later<br />
<br />
<br />
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</script><noscript></noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-40170585355338293552011-02-21T21:22:00.001+00:002011-02-21T21:35:19.700+00:00Where Next??Well, we have an election in a few days, and it looks like FG may even form a single party government.<br />
FG, like FF, are a throwback to the foundation of the state, a party that came into existance as a result of a civil war almost a century ago.<br />
<br />
Einstein I believe once said that lunacy could be defined as repeatingthe same action again and again and expect a different result.<br />
<br />
FG and FF have dominated Irish politics since the foundation of the state, voting for either will make no difference, as I have said before our political system is outdated, dynastic and not fit for purpose.<br />
Essentially FF and FG are two cheeks of the one arse, quite happy to give the illusion of choice to a disillusioned public.<br />
<br />
What we need is real change, and FG, a party with internal rifts, will not achieve that.<br />
Their proposals at political reform are window dressing, their leader is the son of a former politician as is the current Taoiseach.<br />
<br />
I think the worst aspect of FG is that they wish to privitize state assets like the ESB in order to continue the bank bailout.<br />
It is hard to get an actual accurate picture of how much it will cost, upwards of 40Bn Euro, and that is not our debt. The tax payer should not be expected to pay for the gambling debts of reckless bankers and speculators.<br />
<br />
If there is to be real change, to break from the perpetuation of a two party system and all their vested interests, we need to go to a list system, reducing the amount of constituancy politicians and electing people for national office on a national basis, not select people by accident of address and their standing within a particular political party.<br />
<br />
The only long term solution to our current problems is to adopt Amhran Nua policies on electoral reform.<br />
<br />
In the short term, to deal with our incredible debt the next Government has to take immediate steps.<br />
<br />
1 - Publically refuse to use the ECB/EU credit card facility of Nov 2010 on the grounds of it being self defeating. <br />
2 - Take emergency steps to balance the budget, immediately: The government has spend 2-3 years looking at potential cuts so there should'nt be a mystery of where to find them. Lead from the top: bonfire of the quangos and luxuries. It wont save all the money but it will set the example. <br />
<br />
3 - Resolve the banks immediately with a take it or leave it offer to creditors to take equity or nothing. Not as a bluff. As a reality. The only government interest should be maintenance of a payment system. Cite EU commitment to competitive markets free of state support. <br />
<br />
4 - Reverse NAMA: Write off the "NAMA" bonds in exchange for giving the banks full ownership of the NAMA SPV in proportional ownership. <br />
In refinancing the banks, a mechanism must be developed to re-finance from the bottom up - i.e. within certain perameters, the family home, the primary residence, must be secure - given that, mortgauges could be partially bought by the Government and the % of the residence would in essence become a council house. <br />
<br />
5 - Having finished up with the bank crisis and removed the uncertainty over the states contingent liabilities, start concentrating on growing the economy by tackling the sheltered sectors and vested interests that act as a drag on real economic activity. <br />
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</script><noscript></noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-62806553721139409822011-02-09T13:42:00.002+00:002011-02-09T13:56:00.203+00:00Quangocracy IrelandIn 1961 Eisenhower in his farewell address warned against unwarranted influence, and we in Ireland should be warned by this due to our current situation, because forewarned is forearmed.<br />
<br />
We the People failed in our democratic process to guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by a media, financial and political complex.<br />
<br />
The potential for failure due to the rise of misplaced power exists, and as we have seen in Ireland, has had direct and dire effects, with 150% of our current tax collecting ability tied up in a dysfunctional banking system.<br />
<br />
This danger as we have seen exists, and it persists, and has had a direct effect on our sovereignty with the IMF/ECB control of our financial independence. <br />
<br />
We have had in Ireland, in the past ten years a confluence of these interests, bankers, developers, speculators, an utterly corrupt political establishment and an utterly incompetent, unaccountable civil service.<br />
<br />
The situation is that while relatively few people really benefited from the boom - we had the biggest gap between the rich and middle classes after the USA - the ruthless greed of the few has caused the situation to become strange in that private debt has become a public burden.<br />
<br />
Our schools, hospitals and people will suffer due to the greed of the few for decades.<br />
<br />
As I have said before, a disproportionate amount of Irish politicians come from dynastic political families.<br />
Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are really two cheeks of the one arse in that they go to the same schools and colleges, the same restaurants, the same social events, take the same vacations, own holiday homes in the same areas and as we saw recently belong to the same golf clubs.<br />
<br />
Politicos rely on developers, business and bankers for political funding.<br />
Politicos rely on control or collusion with the media for political support.<br />
Nowhere is this more apparent than the influence of Tony O Reilly<br />
<br />
<br />
As I have said before, You don't need a formal conspiracy when interests converge.<br />
They don't need a meeting, they have like interests and know what is good for them and their ilk - and they are getting it.<br />
<br />
We seem to have an unseen, unelected government on this Island - a Quango state.<br />
<br />
Legislation is not determined by elected officials, it is now determined by private meetings, Quangos whose appointee's are not subject to approval by parliamentary oversight.<br />
<br />
These quango decisions are made in private, in secret.<br />
<br />
No official should be able to withhold from a free press and public the facts they have a right to know, as these decisions and facts affect peoples lives.<br />
<br />
Fianna Fail, with their abuse of the Freedom of Information act, have stifled a great deal of information - in particular with unvouched expenses, undisclosed earnings and details of meetings that have been supressed.<br />
<br />
The concept of secrecy should, as JFK said, be repugnant to a free and open society.<br />
<br />
For a fuller disclosure on quangos <b><a href="http://www.politicalworld.org/showthread.php?t=6584">I would advise you visit this excellent thread at politicalworld.org -</a></b> but this is a list of the quangos you pay for, whose decisions form government policy, and many of whom you may never have heard of.<br />
The other thing you will find is that a great many people have multiple appointments, due to nothing more than political affiliation, so this system of patronage ensures they have additional income for their loyalty.<br />
<br />
<div style="color: black;">Advisory Board for Irish Aid<br />
Advisory Council for English Language Schools<br />
Affordable Homes Partnership<br />
Agriculture and Food<br />
An Bord Bia<br />
An Bord Pleanála:</div><div style="color: black;">An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta<br />
An Daingean Education Support Centre<br />
An Post (ta Total Mayhem)<br />
Office of the Appeal Commissioners for the purposes of the Tax Acts<br />
Aquacultural Licensing Appeals Board<br />
Army Pensions Board<br />
Arts Council, The<br />
Athlone Education Support Centre<br />
Athlone Institute of Technology (ta Total Mayhem)<br />
Attorney General, Office of the<br />
Beaumont Hospital Board (ta Total Mayhem)<br />
Blackrock Education Support Centre<br />
Board of Trinity College Bord Altranais<br />
Bord Gais (ta Total Mayhem)<br />
Bord Iascaigh Mhara<br />
Bord na gCon<br />
Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge<br />
Bord na Mona (ta Total Mayhem)<br />
BreastCheck The National Cancer Screening Service<br />
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (ta Total Mayhem)<br />
Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (ta Total Mayhem)<br />
Building Regulations Advisory Board (ta Total Mayhem)<br />
Carlow County Enterprise Board<br />
Carlow Education Support Centre<br />
Carrick-on-Shannon Education Support Centre<br />
Cavan County Enterprise Board<br />
Cavan Education Support Centre<br />
Censorship of Publications Appeal Board<br />
Censorship of Publications Board<br />
Central Statistics Office<br />
Chester Beatty Library<br />
Chief Medical Officer of the Civil Service<br />
Chief State Solicitor, Office of the<br />
Children Acts Advisory Board<br />
An Chomhairle Leabharlanna<br />
Citizens Information Board<br />
Civil Defence Board<br />
Clare County Enterprise Board<br />
Clare Education Support Centre<br />
Classification of Films Appeal Board<br />
Coimisiún Logainmneacha, An<br />
Coiste an Asgard<br />
Combat Poverty Agency<br />
Comhairle na Nimheanna<br />
Commission for Aviation Regulation<br />
Commission for Communications Regulation<br />
Commission for Energy Regulation<br />
Commission for Public Service Appointments, Office of the<br />
Commission for Taxi Regulation<br />
Office of the Commissioner of Valuation and Boundary Survey of Ireland<br />
Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests<br />
Companies Registration Office<br />
Company Law Review Group<br />
Competition Authority<br />
Comptroller and Auditor General, Office of<br />
Connemara & Árann Education Support Centre<br />
Córas Iompair Eireann (ta Total Mayhem)<br />
Cork City Enterprise Board<br />
Cork Education Support Centre<br />
Cork North Enterprise Board<br />
Courts Service<br />
Crafts Council of Ireland<br />
Dental Council<br />
Dental Health Foundation<br />
Digital Hub Development Agency<br />
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement<br />
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions<br />
Donegal County Enterprise Board<br />
Donegal Education Centre<br />
Drug Treatment Centre Board<br />
Drumcondra Education Centre<br />
Dublin Airport Authority <br />
Dublin City Enterprise Board<br />
Dublin Docklands Development Authority<br />
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies<br />
Dublin Port Authority<br />
Dublin Transportation Office<br />
Dublin West Education Support Centre<br />
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Enterprise Board<br />
Dundalk Education Support Centre<br />
The Economic and Social Research Institute<br />
Economic and Social Research Institute Committee on Top-Level Appointments in the Civil Commission on Public Service Appointments <br />
Employment Appeals Authority<br />
Enterprise Ireland<br />
Environmental Protection Agency<br />
Equality Authority<br />
European Regional Development Fund<br />
European Social Fund Financial Control Unit<br />
Fáilte Ireland<br />
Family Support Agency<br />
FÁS<br />
FÁS International Consulting Limited<br />
Financial Regulator <br />
Financial Services Ombudsman’s Bureau <br />
Financial Services Authority of Ireland <br />
Fingal County Enterprise Board<br />
Fire Services Council<br />
Food Safety Authority of Ireland<br />
Foras na Gaeilge<br />
Forfás<br />
Further Education & Training Awards Council<br />
Gaisce Gradam an Uachtarain<br />
Galway City and County Enterprise Board<br />
Galway Education Centre<br />
Garda Siochana Complaints Board<br />
Gort a Choirce Education Support Centre<br />
Health and Safety Authority of Ireland<br />
Health Information and Quality Authority<br />
Health Insurance Authority<br />
Health Research Board<br />
Health Service Executive<br />
Heritage Council, The<br />
Higher Education Authority<br />
Higher Education and Training Awards<br />
Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal<br />
Horse Racing Ireland<br />
Houses of the Oireachtas Commission<br />
Housing Finance Agency<br />
Industrial Development Agency<br />
Information Commissioner, Office of the<br />
Injuries Board <br />
Inland Fisheries Board<br />
Institute of Public Administration<br />
Institute of Public Administration <br />
Central Bank of Ireland <br />
Integrate Ireland Language and Training Awards<br />
International Education Board of Ireland<br />
Ireland - US Commission for Educational Exchange, Fulbright Commission<br />
Irish Auditing & Accountancy Supervisory Authority<br />
Irish Aviation Authority<br />
Irish Blood Transfusion Services Board, The<br />
Irish Dental Health Authority <br />
Irish Film Board<br />
Irish Film Classification Office<br />
Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal <br />
Irish Human Rights Commission<br />
Irish Manuscripts Commission<br />
Irish Medicines Board<br />
Irish Museum of Modern Art<br />
Irish National Stud<br />
Irish National Opera<br />
Irish Prison Service<br />
Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology<br />
Irish Sports Council<br />
Irish Water Safety Association<br />
Kerry County Enterprise Board<br />
Kildare County Enterprise Board<br />
Kildare Education centre<br />
Kilkenny County Enterprise Board<br />
Kilkenny Education Support Centre </div><div style="color: black;">Labour Court<br />
Labour Relations Commission<br />
Land Registry<br />
Laois County Enterprise Board<br />
Laois Education Centre<br />
Law Reform Commission<br />
Leargas The Exchange Bureau<br />
Legal Aid Board<br />
Leitrim Enterprise Board<br />
Limerick City Enterprise Board<br />
Limerick County Enterprise Board<br />
Limerick Education Centre<br />
Local Government Computer Services Board<br />
Local Government Management Services Board<br />
Longford Enterprise Board<br />
Louth County Enterprise Board<br />
Marine Institute<br />
Mayo Education Centre<br />
Mayo Enterprise Board<br />
Meath Enterprise Board<br />
Medical Bureau of Road Safety<br />
Medical Council<br />
Mental Health Commission<br />
Mining Board<br />
Monaghan Education Centre<br />
Monaghan Enterprise Board<br />
National Advisory Committee on Drugs<br />
National Archives<br />
National Building Agency<br />
National Cancer Registry, Ireland<br />
National Centre for Guidance in Education<br />
National Centre for Partnership and Performance<br />
National Centre for Technology in Education<br />
National College of Ireland<br />
National Concert Hall<br />
National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism<br />
National Consumer Agency<br />
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment<br />
National Council for Special Education<br />
National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery<br />
National Council on Ageing and Older People<br />
National Development Plan Community Support Framework Evaluation Unit<br />
National Development Plan Community Support Framework Information Office<br />
National Development Plan Community Support Framework Information Technology Unit<br />
National Disability Authority<br />
National Drugs Strategy Team<br />
National Economic and Social Council<br />
National Economic and Social Forum<br />
National Education Welfare Board<br />
National Gallery of Ireland<br />
National Library of Ireland<br />
National Milk Agency<br />
National Museum of Ireland<br />
National Qualifications Authority of Ireland<br />
National Rehabilitation Authority<br />
National Treatment Purchase Fund<br />
National Roads Authority<br />
National Safety Council<br />
National Social Work Qualifications Board<br />
National Treasury Management Agency <br />
National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission <br />
National Development Finance Agency <br />
National Social Work Qualifications Board<br />
National Sports Campus Development Authority<br />
National Standards Authority of Ireland<br />
National Statistics Board<br />
National Tourism Development Agency<br />
National Treatment Purchase Fund<br />
Navan Education Centre<br />
Offaly County Enterprise Board<br />
Office of the Revenue Commissioners <br />
Office of the Ombudsman <br />
Office of the Information Commissioner <br />
Office of the Chief Medical Officer for the Civil Service <br />
Office of the Appeal Commissioners <br />
Office of Public Works<br />
Ombudsman for Children, Office of the<br />
Ombudsman, Office of the<br />
Ombudsman for the Defence Forces<br />
Opticians Board<br />
Ordinance Survey Ireland<br />
Patents Office<br />
Pensions Board (?)<br />
Pensions Ombudsman (?)<br />
Performance Verification Group: Civil Service<br />
Performance Verification Group: Education Sector<br />
Performance Verification Group: Health Service<br />
Performance Verification Group: Justice and Equality Sector<br />
Performance Verification Group: Local Government<br />
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland<br />
Pobal<br />
Port of Cork (Authority?)<br />
Port of Waterford Company<br />
Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board<br />
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council<br />
Press Council of Ireland<br />
Private Residential Tenancies Board<br />
Probation Service<br />
Property Registration Authority<br />
Public Appointments Service<br />
Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland<br />
Railway Procurement Agency<br />
Registrar of Friendly Societies, Office of the<br />
Registration of Titles Rules Committee<br />
Registry of Deeds<br />
Rent Tribunal<br />
Revenue Commissioners, Office of the<br />
Roscommon County Enterprise Board<br />
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland<br />
Royal Irish Academy<br />
Royal Irish Academy of Music<br />
Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital (Board?)<br />
Safefood<br />
Science Foundation Ireland<br />
Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA)<br />
Shannon Development<br />
Skillnets.Ltd<br />
Slig County Enterprise Board<br />
Sligo Education Support Centre<br />
Social Welfare Appeals Office<br />
State Claims Agency<br />
Social Welfare Tribunal<br />
South Cork Enterprise Board<br />
South Dublin Enterprise Board<br />
St Luke's Hospital Board (Hmm)<br />
Standards in Public Office Commission<br />
State Laboratory<br />
Sustainable Energy Ireland<br />
Tarbert Edcuation Support Centre<br />
Teaching Council, The<br />
Teagasc<br />
The Abbey Theatre<br />
The Arts Council<br />
The Building Regulations Advisory Body<br />
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board<br />
Thurles Education Support Centre<br />
Tipperary North County Enterprise Board<br />
Tipperary South County Enterprise Board<br />
Tralee Education Support Centre<br />
Tuam Education Support Centre<br />
Údarás na Gaeltachta<br />
University of Limerick<br />
Valuation Office Ireland<br />
Valuation Tribunal<br />
Veterinary Council of Ireland<br />
Western Development Commission</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
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</script><noscript>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://blogcounter.com/"&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;img style="border: 0px;" alt="Blog counter" src="http://blogcounter.com/log.php?id=simon&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;=st=img&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;showme=y"/&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-75159750175881980142011-02-08T19:18:00.004+00:002011-02-08T20:41:53.045+00:00FF/FG and associates - same old crapWhat we need to look at is politics as a business. And business means profits, and profits means you look at who benefits.<br />
<br />
For starters a disproportionate amount of Irish politicians come from dynastic political families.<br />
They go to the same schools and colleges, the same restaurants, the same social events, take the same vacations, own holiday homes in the same areas and as we saw recently belong to the same golf clubs.<br />
<br />
Politicos rely on developers, business and bankers for political funding.<br />
Politicos rely on control or collusion with the media for political support.<br />
<br />
You don't need a formal conspiracy when interests converge. They don't need a meeting, they have like interests and know what is good for them and their ilk - and they are getting it.<br />
<br />
The bank bail-out took care of reckless bank speculators who were pals with politicians - Charlie McCreevey and Celia Larkin never had to go through the formal channels at Nationwide, and CJ was afforded special treatment at several banks.<br />
<br />
The choices that really matter in this country have been reduced, there are two main political parties, a handful of banks and insurance companies.<br />
<br />
Dep. Creighton - who did not cow-tow to Kenny after the failure of the so called heave, and has maintained her integrity at least. However, one feels she is bound for the back benches.<br />
<br />
"<i>It is not a good image for any political party to be in receipt of donations from developers who are associated with NAMA</i>" <br />
She insisted that there could be no room in Fine Gael for "<i>cute-hoor</i>" politics, which she said had "<i>defined and tainted Irish public life like an incurable cancer</i>"<br />
<br />
She was right in one respect, and to go further, the strains of clienism, gombeenism, dynastic politics and the appointment of utterly incompetent but politically loyal people to government bodies are an incurable disease that has long infected FG as well as FF.<br />
<br />
Media coverage and convergence of interests is also an issue.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://citizensimon.blogspot.com/2010/07/shell-and-corrib-field.html">I have written before about Paul Williams 'reporting' on the Shell to Sea protesters.</a> After his incredible biased reporting for TV3 and a tabloid he has been a corporate guest of Shell at the 2007 England Rugby match at Croke Park, part of what Shell told the Phoenix was their “stakeholder engagement list.”<br />
<br />
Shell spends huge amount of money on PR, in 1998 “Shell spent US$30 million on contracts with PR company Fishburn & Hedges alone.”<br />
<br />
The article “Irish Times Shell PR” in the May 22 issue of the Phoenix looks at how in Ireland Shell have successfully changed the line of the Irish Times over the last two years to the point where now the Irish Times now frequently send their crime correspondent to cover protests in Erris.<br />
<br />
What I did not write about Paul Williams boss.<br />
<br />
Protesters are attacked and marginalized in the press, yet no questions are asked about Ray Burke - who is one of the few politicians in this country that went to jail for corruption - and his role in the deal.<br />
Bertie Ahern, whose personal finances have never been fully explained, also further did favors for the big oil companies.<br />
<br />
Exxon Mobil was awarded licenses for exploratory drilling in the Porcupine Basin, which is in the Atlantic roughly parallel with Clare and Kerry.<br />
For the exploratory bid Exxon Mobil combined in a consortium with Providence Resources.<br />
<br />
Providence Resources are also engaged in exploration off the south east coast of Ireland. <br />
<br />
If the Shell deal goes through, that sets a precedent to increase profits to other companies, like Providence Resources.<br />
<br />
Forty five per cent of Providence Resources is held by Sir Anthony O’Reilly, and his son is the company’s CEO.<br />
<br />
Tony is also, of course, CEO of, and owner of a large shareholding in, the Independent News and Media group.<br />
IN&M owns the Sunday World, the Sunday Independent, the Star, the Irish Independent, the Evening Herald, part of the Sunday Tribune, and many local papers in Ireland.<br />
<br />
There are clear grounds for linking the commercial interests of the O’Reilly empire, and the political influence it wields through its major media holdings.<br />
A politician attacked in such a wide range of press is looking at electoral failure.<br />
<br />
To look at this in the context of oil and gas consider the wild unsubstantiated slanders which have been directed at the Shell to Sea campaign in Mayo by O’Reilly papers.<br />
<br />
Something which they engaged in earlier, and to a much greater extent, than the rest of the national media.<br />
This reached a crescendo of almost parody in August 2007 when one columnist opined “Shell has been scandalously remiss in not employing someone to bump off a few of these fellows” as ““the rule of law has to be enforced, by apparently harsh measures if need be”. <br />
<br />
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</script><noscript>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://blogcounter.com/"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img style="border: 0px;" alt="Blog counter" src="http://blogcounter.com/log.php?id=simon&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;=st=img&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;showme=y"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-37787828779254424782010-12-24T16:20:00.000+00:002010-12-24T16:20:46.902+00:00Julian AssangeAssange founded the WikiLeaks website in 2006. He has published material about extrajudicial killings in Kenya, toxic waste dumping in Africa, Church of Scientology manuals, Guantanamo Bay procedures, and banks such as Kaupthing.<br />
<br />
Most notoriously-he published classified details about US involvement in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. <br />
For his work with WikiLeaks, Assange received a number of awards and nominations, including the 2009 Amnesty International Media Award for publishing material about extrajudicial killings in Kenya and Readers' Choice for Time magazine's 2010 Person of the Year.<br />
He has recently been targeted, with a major attempt made to supress Wikileaks, and to sideline and smear him with what remain <em><u>allegations</u></em> of rape<br />
<br />
In relation to Ireland Wikileaks has shown that our politicians caved in to Vatican pressure to grant immunity to church officials in the investigation of decades of sex abuse by its clergy. <br />
The Irish government politicians were reluctant to insist Vatican officials answer investigators' questions, the leaked cables indicate.<br />
The Vatican did not any investigators questions - Files detailing abuse requested by the police were not handed over. That is obstruction of justice. <br />
<br />
One thing about the Lisbon II treaty I worried about was the EU extradition warrant.<br />
Ireland has not taken this action with people who ordered or were involved in the cover-up of child rape even though we have evidence that happened.<br />
<br />
<br />
You and I can be now sent to another EU country with no presentation of evidence, as has happened with Assange. It requires only the filling out of a form requesting that a person be detained and sent to another EU state with no evidence or reason.<br />
<br />
The primary golden thread that runs through Irish and British law is the presumption of innocence, that we are all innocent until proven guilty. He is entitled to that presumption.<br />
<br />
Assange has offered to be interviewed in the UK by Swedish investigators - but does not wish to go to Sweden as he is worried that the US then may try to have him extradited.<br />
<br />
He has good reason to worry.<br />
<br />
The U.S. is set to bring spying charges against Julian Assange.<br />
<br />
<br />
Prosecutors are said to be finalising their case against the whistleblowing website.<br />
A lawyer for Assange, Jennifer Robinson said she understands U.S. charges are ‘imminent’. <br />
<br />
Assange, who is on bail in the UK fighting extradition hearing over rape accusations in Sweden, is likely to be prosecuted under the U.S.’s Espionage Act. <br />
<br />
This law makes it a crime to receive national defence information if it is known to have been obtained illegally and could be used ‘to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of any foreign nation’.<br />
<br />
The U.S. Justice Department declined to comment.<br />
<br />
Attorney General Eric Holder confirmed however that he had ordered ‘a very serious, active, ongoing investigation that is criminal in nature’.<br />
<br />
<br />
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</script><noscript></noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-32626332108715409952010-11-29T11:11:00.002+00:002010-11-29T11:11:40.455+00:00More bad newsWell, lie after lie - mistruth after mistruth and the usual bending of words have gone on, and there is still no general outcry in Ireland.<br />
<br />
The banks will be saved, but the state is in financial trouble due to this.<br />
<br />
Fianna Fail, in dealing with the ECB and the IMF have created a scorched earth policy to ensure that any succesive administration will be forced into at least 5 years of unpopular decisions over which they will have little or no control.<br />
<br />
Mass privitisation of semistate services look like they will be pushed through, and with our history in the Eircom privitisation, one can be fairly sure that it will be a mess.irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-36604191211952393482010-11-11T00:32:00.002+00:002010-11-14T16:13:43.533+00:00Further dependencyWell, we have now a decision on the Donegal by-election, if we get that far without a general election.<br />
However, the FF/Green machine will appeal at the cost of about half a million euro of tax payers money.<br />
<br />
There are other elections that are needed for vacant seats, and the working majority will be reduced.<br />
Already, FF are at each others throats.<br />
<br />
Mary Coughlan and North West MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher became embroiled in a row about whether or not he was approached to contest the Donegal South West byelection.<br />
<br />
<br />
Mr Gallagher who was given something like 24 hours notice to run as an MEP has said an approach was made to him by senior figures in Fianna Fáil to contest the Dáil seat he himself vacated in June 2009 when he was elected to the European Parliament.<br />
<br />
With MEP income and perks for so little work outside the spotlight of the Irish media, I dont blame him for telling FF to F Off<br />
After all, it was his slipping off to Europe that created the vacancy way back in 2009 I believe, abandoning those constituants who had voted for him in what can only be called a palenesqe deriliction, putting party before his own people.<br />
<br />
Ms Coughlan told local radio station Ocean FM yesterday she did not believe the cope was approached but Mr Gallagher responded by saying the Tánaiste, the Irish deputy prime minister was “not in the loop” about the behind-the-scenes moves. <br />
Though no opinion poll has been taken, in the Green corner Sinn Féin candidate Senator Pearse Doherty has been installed by bookmakers as the clear favourite. <br />
It was his successful High Court challenge against the 16-month delay in holding the byelection that has bought it on stream.<br />
With the December budget coming on about the 7th, and 14Bn Euro in cuts proposed FF and the Greens will have a hard sell, although Green party members in Donegal broke away from the Dublin leadership quite some time ago.<br />
<br />
In the red corner Labour is expected to run Frank McBrearty Jnr, the victim of Garda corruption, who surprisingly won a seat on the county council.<br />
<br />
In the blue corner the Fine Gael candidate is sports journalist Barry O’Neill.<br />
<br />
And in other bad news from Donegal for FF, Jim McDaid has resigned his seat - the same guy who was stopped driving drunk the wrong way down a main road - guess his sense of direction has improved and its good to get while the gettings good.<br />
<br />
However, one thing I would think is that FF will run the byelection in Donegal mid-week, when students and workers may not be able to get to the polls - it gives them a higher turnout among the older population who tend to vote for them, when the cope ran up there they did not count votes - they weighed them.<br />
<br />
But in terms of dependency, if FF lose this one, their majority will be further reduces, forcing them to depend more on Lowry and Healy Rae types.<br />
<br />
Most dissappointing is the Greens support for the government.<br />
<br />
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</script><noscript></noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-35362664255407834942010-09-10T15:48:00.001+01:002010-09-10T16:09:59.620+01:00Independent dependency 1 - LowryPartially due to an out of date electoral system, in the Irish republic we have a situation where Independents frequently hold the balance of power.<br />
Quite often, independents like the late Tony Gregory are honourable people, with no blemish on their record and who really want to make things better for their constituency.<br />
But other independents are frequently those who have lost a party whip, and as we saw in the case of Beverly Flynn, get back to base eventually.<br />
Our constituency based system means local clientism is what is important, far more important than national issues. One current TD worth mentioning, who supports the current Government is Michael Lowry from Tipperary North. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlyAX6RqwoWtSPi-l95O1mQ-hK7BltOaH_KX1Ki4DpwNt39uNEJ7PlIY1RneHp-mBkODV1gYTqw125pFw3LQPjmZKL4mEvptbU66nGJi5PUwK8ZC7KkbTQI26s8Pq4V4f3OTjjpWOIS0s/s1600/lowry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlyAX6RqwoWtSPi-l95O1mQ-hK7BltOaH_KX1Ki4DpwNt39uNEJ7PlIY1RneHp-mBkODV1gYTqw125pFw3LQPjmZKL4mEvptbU66nGJi5PUwK8ZC7KkbTQI26s8Pq4V4f3OTjjpWOIS0s/s320/lowry.jpg" /></a></div>Lowry had started his working life as an apprentice at Thurles based Butler Refrigeration in 1971.<br />
He worked his way up to sales manager, a position that bought him into contact with Ben Dunne, as Butler Refrigeration installed and maintained refrigeration systems for one of Ireland's largest retailers, Dunnes Stores.<br />
<strong>DUNNES DEVICES</strong><br />
Ben Dunne, a well known Irish business man saw his family business increase turnover from IR£300M to IR£850M between 1983 and 1993.<br />
He devised a method of gaining influence and control over companies that supplied goods and services to the supermarket chain, a system that created a series of companies which were, in effect, subsidiaries of Dunnes.<br />
<br />
One such company was run by a Minister in the Fine Gael led government at the time, Michael Lowry, first elected to the Dail in 1987.<br />
His contact with Ben Dunne and the financial donations he secured for Fine Gael played a critical role in his rapid rise in the parliamentary party, so much so that he was from 1994 to 1996 Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications.<br />
Lowry left his job at Butler Refrigeration soon after his election, and in addition to his work as a TD he also started up a consultancy work for Dunne's.<br />
He then set up a company, Garuda Ltd, that traded under a different name - Streamline Enterprises - and started to conduct work for Dunnes, after Ben Dunne had told the TD he was no longer going to use Butler Refrigeration, and offered Lowry the work.<br />
<br />
The auditors to Streamline would be Dunnes own inhouse team of Oliver Freaney and Co.<br />
Dunnes chief accountant, Michael Irwin - on secondment from Oliver Freaney would have full access to Streamlines accounts.<br />
An arrangement was reached whereby Streamline would work for Dunnes and be paid in a way that a modest profit would be returned annually.<br />
<br />
The second part of the arrangement - and the most lucrative - was that Dunne would give Lowry a <u>personal</u> bonus.<br />
This payment was essentially based on how pleased Dunne was with the services Lowry provided.<br />
Lowry told the McCracken tribunal that Dunne had told him "<em>The bottom line is, if you are good for Dunnes Stores....I will certainly make it worth your while and your company will be successful <u>and you will be a wealthy man</u></em>"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77Tawp8gMQZYrKt86fo9dBgIxNpDMOaen2pJpNSl-1CnY9sJKiibhFpMmNyPeqFfUkLm6XA2Hg4b8I_RzjDN2etIiuz4obTwFUBww3OxZQXGAZPALIdmoAgdv0aaEx1CMJxmdOmPMrprN/s1600/Michael-Lowry2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77Tawp8gMQZYrKt86fo9dBgIxNpDMOaen2pJpNSl-1CnY9sJKiibhFpMmNyPeqFfUkLm6XA2Hg4b8I_RzjDN2etIiuz4obTwFUBww3OxZQXGAZPALIdmoAgdv0aaEx1CMJxmdOmPMrprN/s320/Michael-Lowry2.jpg" /></a></div>In addition to his TD salary, provided by the tax payer, he received a number of large payments from Dunne amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds. <br />
These payments were given to him in such a way that allowed tax evasion, much of the money was lodged in offshore accounts.<br />
<br />
The McCracken tribunal ruled that by accepting payments and evading tax in the way that he did, Lowry made himself vulnerable to all kinds of pressures from Dunnes Stores had they chosen to apply them.<br />
<br />
Regardless of Mr. Dunnes actual intentions, the threat of disclosure about the offshore accounts or indeed the threat to cut off a lucrative source of income could have been used to apply pressure on a senior government politician to obtain favours.<br />
<br />
At the McCracken Tribunal it was also revealed that Dunne had paid IR£395,000 for an extension to Lowry's home. This allegation prompted Lowry's resignation from the Cabinet in November 1996. <br />
He also resigned from FG to run as an independent.<br />
<br />
It is an appalling situation that a Minister benefited from the black economy starting shortly after his election - if such a person can behave in such a way without serious sanctions, it is very difficult to condemn others who similarly flout the law.<br />
<br />
<strong>TELEPHONE TROUBLES</strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsV7dMePtZigcms6e4OEiEjJcSs0z4xtxqcqEP52idSYpXpjdzb889dDqtQ_vpNF0nFHvSqBlHqYxQW2UPKsAtVNLQBpsSlNAmxbYE5m8_rfdgAmQXSj-DOODOs9xo2NRFaE-xfSFsBye/s1600/lowry3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsV7dMePtZigcms6e4OEiEjJcSs0z4xtxqcqEP52idSYpXpjdzb889dDqtQ_vpNF0nFHvSqBlHqYxQW2UPKsAtVNLQBpsSlNAmxbYE5m8_rfdgAmQXSj-DOODOs9xo2NRFaE-xfSFsBye/s320/lowry3.jpg" /></a></div>The circumstances surrounding the awarding of the second GSM mobile phone licence to the Esat Digifone consortium in 1996 (the biggest contract ever awarded by the State to a private company) by the FG led government has been the focus of the work of the tribunal since 2007. <br />
<br />
The tribunal is still investigating whether money changed hands prior to the awarding of the licence to Esat Digifone by then Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications Michael Lowry TD. <br />
<br />
Denis O'Brien of Esat Digiphone has claimed preliminary findings by the tribunal effectively state that the Esat consortium was “illegally” issued with the state’s second mobile-phone licence because he had a “corrupt” relationship with Michael Lowry.<br />
<br />
<strong>THE COST OF CORRUPTION</strong><br />
Lowry, as a TD has a current salary of €106,000 and Independents allowance of €41,000 provided by the tax payer - and this does not account for the pension rights he is entitled to.<br />
In March 2010, it was estimated the McCracken tribunal had cost the state approximately €39 million, with final costs expected to exceed €100 million. Up to February 2010, the biggest earners are (including VAT): <br />
John Coughlan SC: €9,046,499, Jerry Healy SC: €8,861,924 and Jacqueline O'Brien SC: €6,334,134<br />
<br />
To date, Michael Lowry has not been charged with any offence like tax evasion. <br />
<br />
Due to the questions about the phone licence, a number of failed bidders are suing the state over the handling of the competition process.<br />
<br />
Payback has been limited. In early 2007, Lowry announced that he had made a full and final settlement of all outstanding payments with the Revenue Commissioners. His company Garuda had to pay €1.2 million after a Revenue audit. He also paid almost €200,000 to settle his personal taxes<br />
<br />
<strong>TRUE BLUE</strong><br />
However, it is clear that the ties to FG still remain. In 2009 1,400 people gathered to celebrate the political career of Michael Lowry. Prominent among them were two important public figures associated with FG. Ivan Yates, a former Fine Gael minister for agriculture and a successful businessman and Seán Kelly, a highly distinguished former president of the GAA, then a Fine Gael candidate and now FG MEP for Ireland South.<br />
<br />
The Tipperary politician is a self-pitying cheat and a liar – yet still his career is deemed worth celebrating. <br />
At the 1997, 2002 and 2007 general elections, Lowry topped the poll in his constituency. <br />
<br />
Clearly, as Dunnes would say, better value politicians beat them all.<br />
And Clearly, we have learned nothing.<br />
<br />
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</script><noscript></noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-9557836069546069232010-08-28T12:37:00.003+01:002010-08-28T12:48:25.309+01:00Political Funding and more expensesIt is all very well and good to talk about limiting <u>registered</u> contributions by companies and individuals to political parties but there is a reason the old parties agreed to this system.<br />
<br />
Now the Irish tax payer is to fund political parties on the basis of how well they did in the last election, that makes it a lot harder for new, small parties and to a lesser extent sitting independents.<br />
<br />
Bear in mind that Beverley Flynn had to be forced to give up her independents allowance despite rejoining the FF party.<br />
<br />
I have seen Amhran Nua ideas being lifted by FF, FG and Labour, so not only do they have a lack of new ideas, they also have an unfair advantage in funding - and it is money and media exposure that win most elections.<br />
<br />
Why should the tax payer fund a political party, particularly when one would have profound disagreement with what they stand for, e.g. FF's NAMA support, as well as problems with FG and SF policies<br />
<br />
That is creating a further democratic deficit, copper fastening the bottom planks of the established caste and crew on the ship of state from the people whom they are meant to serve.<br />
<br />
They really do not want change on this Island, and unless people vote for alternative, protest, parties - there is the probability that the caste will ride out this squall<br />
<br />
Political parties received a total of €13,603,264 in state funding for 2009, according to figures released today by the Standards Commission. <br />
<br />
The money was paid to the parties under the Electoral Acts and under the Party Leaders Allowance legislation.<br />
<br />
<br />
Five parties (Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Féin and the Green Party) received funding of €5,438,385 under the Electoral Acts and those five parties along with the Progressive Democrats received €8,164,879 under the Party Leaders Allowance legislation.<br />
The funding is not subject to income tax and may not be used for electoral or referendum purposes. <br />
The level of funding is linked to pay increases in the civil service; however, the legislation which governs the funding is silent on pay decreases. <br />
Qualified political parties must furnish to the Standards Commission Statements of Expenditure of the funding received.<br />
<br />
Non-party members of Dáil and Seanad Éireann also receive funding under the Party Leaders Allowance legislation. <br />
The amount payable to each non-party member of Dáil Éireann during 2009 was €41,152 and the amount payable to each non-party member of Seanad Éireann during the same period was €23,383. <br />
<br />
The total paid to non-party members was €306,000. Non-party members are not required, however, to provide a Statement of Expenditure of the allowance to the Standards Commission, or to any other authority. <br />
<br />
The Healy Rae Clan have done quite well out of expenses. The Healy Rae brothers are defending one hundred thousand euro in expenses they claimed from Kerry County council. <br />
An Irish Independent investigation reveals Danny and Michael Healy-Rae, were paid a total of €196,000 for 2008/2009.<br />
In the meantime TD Dad Jackie Healy Rae claims he does not have a travel pass. <br />
This is despite the fact that Deputy Healy Rae is entitled to apply for a free pass for public transport as he is over the age of 66. <br />
Everyone aged 66 and over living permanently in Ireland, is entitled to the free travel scheme. <br />
Deputy Healy Rae travels to Dublin on average once a week while the Dáil sits, incurring a fee of up to 72 euro per return train journey. <br />
Deputy Healy Rae is then claim's expenses for these journeys. <br />
<br />
<br />
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</script><noscript></noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-2385664366013851502010-08-25T17:44:00.000+01:002010-08-25T17:44:37.299+01:00Ivor CalleyIvor Calley has been caught out on expenses, and yet he still clings on to the senate seat gifted to him by none other than Bertie Ahearn.<br />
The only apt quote I can think of is from Oliver Cromwell <br />
"<em>You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately... Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!</em> " <br />
<br />
Not only has he caused himself grief, he has also given Paul Gogarty a chance to give himself a bit of positive veneer work to save his skin, even though he continues to prop up the Fianna Fail party. <br />
<br />
Dan Boyle of the Green Party, another Senate Apointee, called on Ivor Calley to resign from the Seánad. <br />
One unelected Senator calls for another unelected Taoiseach nominee to resign <br />
<br />
Another person jumping on the bandwagon is Fianna Fail TD Mary O'Rourke who said the controversial Senator should step down from the Seanad and stop looking for a way out of his problems. <br />
<br />
Funny how Boyle, Gogarty and O'Rourke jump on the easy target while totally silent on the by-elections. <br />
<br />
<br />
This follows his resignation from Fianna Fail following a Seanad Committee investigation into his expenses claims. <br />
<br />
The Committee found him guilty of "conduct unbecoming".<br />
There are others who sould be examined as to their expenses, Beverly Flynn in particular. RTE has failed in this regad, but at least TG4 had the guts to start looking into things.<br />
<br />
<br />
The corruption allegations in the Calley case also draw attention away from the far more serious cuts in public services, NAMA and the fact that the people of Donegal South West do not have proper representation. <br />
<br />
Calley is just one example of a corrupted and broken system. <br />
Another quote from Vince Cable MP worth mentioning is that "Sometimes the best thing a government can do is simply get out of the way" i.e. let the Gardai look into fraud and corruption - like falsified recieptsirishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-70970660868919087512010-08-10T22:53:00.001+01:002010-08-11T00:14:50.993+01:00The stroke shafts the shower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/archive/00164/mrs_164199t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mx="true" src="http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/archive/00164/mrs_164199t.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Despite his closeness to Mary Hanafin, the Stroke has struck FF in recent times. In what was called a gentlemans agreement, it was arranged to 'divvy up' the chairmanship of various comittees on Galway County Council.<br />
<br />
There are 5 Strategic Policy Committees (SPC's). The chairpersons position is worth more than 5000 Euro per annum.<br />
<br />
FG and independents elected chairpersons to three, FF and former FF member Stroke cut a deal to secure one chairpersons position.<br />
<br />
For continuity it is normal for a chairperson to remain in situ for 3 years, and normally forthe full 5 year term.<br />
But the deal was they would rotate the position between them, share the spoils so to speak.<br />
The handover over of power, but Stokes renaged on the deal.<br />
Of course, as it seems in every public position on this Island there is no legal mechanism in place to remove a chairperson from their position, and Fahy was reported to have said that "<em>there's nothing in writing</em>" <br />
"Im not in the Fianna Fail party...I did'nt go running after them , they came after me to vote.<br />
They said I should give after a year - but I'm not giving it up now"<br />
<br />
His reasoning was that it is Dept of Environment and Local Government guidelines that the chairperson should remain at least two and a half years.<br />
Who knows, maybe Michael is considering joining the Green party - if they can put up with GoGo maybe Stroke might be a change for the better.<br />
<br />
He is also miffed that in his 32 years in the Council FF have never nominated him to the positon of Mayor of County Galway.<br />
<br />
The FF Councillors are said to be furious , but had to admit they left themselves in a position where the Stroke could shaft, and not share.<br />
<br />
The fact that Stroke was FF for the majority of his political life, and is closley associated with the Hanafin dynasty makes one wonder how foolsh were the FF councillors to put themselves in such a position where they could get shafted.<br />
<br />
Not just FF, but I think nearly all councilors agreed to a request by Fahy, who was serving his sentence at Castlerea Prison, to accept that his absence from meetings of the local authority was ‘due to illness and his attendance in Dublin’ even though he was in Jail for the period. <br />
<br />
<br />
Under current legislation, a councillor is deemed to have resigned if they are absent from meetings of the local authority for a continuous period of six months. <br />
<br />
However, there is provision in the of Local Government Act 2001 for the local authority to take into account if a councillor has been ill, or has missed meeting ‘in good faith for another reason’. <br />
<br />
Councillors can pass a resolution allowing an absent colleague up to 18 months before the councillor is deemed to have resigned. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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</script><noscript></noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-7341410673118057472010-07-23T13:26:00.006+01:002010-07-25T14:35:21.491+01:00Shell and the Corrib fieldThe Shell Corrib field situation is unacceptable. The states natural resources are being siphoned off with little real benefit to the economy.<br />
The Irish government claims that the favourable terms are worth it to ensure Ireland’s energy security, but there is no necessity for Shell to sell the gas to Irish consumers.<br />
These are the economic realities.<br />
<br />
Shell are not obliged to hire any Irish staff, or base support vessels in Ireland, Irish job creation prospects will be based in places like Aberdeen.<br />
If Shell do sell back our own resources, we will be paying the full market price for them, the same price we currently pay for gas from the North Sea or further afield. <br />
<br />
Shell can choose to pump oil or gas directly onto tankers and ship it to the highest bidder. The Irish Republic will be competing with China and the UK for its own resources.<br />
The same will apply to any future discoveries, such as the Dooish project off the coast of Donegal on which Shell is willing to spend more than €100 million – on the basis that it can reap enormous profits by selling it back to us (the people who are its rightful owners in the first place). <br />
<br />
The vast majority of countries demand that multinational oil and gas companies pay the state proportionately twice the amount that the Irish government is extracting from the Shell-led consortium that is exploiting the Corrib gas field.<br />
<br />
Only Cameroon takes a lower share of the revenues from its own oil or gas resources than Ireland.<br />
<br />
Ghana, for example, insists that the state-owned Ghanaian National Petroleum Corporation has a 10 per cent ownership stake in any resource find and the multinationals are also liable to a 50 per cent profits tax. Our terms were described by economist and journalist Colm Rapple as “decidedly soft by international standards”.<br />
<br />
Ireland demands no state shareholding in any resource finds, nor does it demand royalty payments. <br />
<br />
A tax rate of only 25 per cent applies – this only applies after a company’s exploration and development costs (and the estimated costs of closing down the operation when the resources are depleted) have been recovered - This I believe is a recent ammendment introduced by Bertie Ahearn. The Corrib gas field will probably be half depleted before any tax is paid at all. <br />
<br />
The state, through Bord Gáis, will also pay for the pipeline to link the proposed refinery at Bellanaboy to the national grid in Galway.<br />
The Irish government has, in addition, given Shell and its associates 400 acres of state-owned forest for the laying of the pipeline to the refinery, and expropriated private property through compulsory purchase orders. <br />
<br />
The state also provides security, policing Glengad on behalf of Shell the Garda overtime bill alone is approx. €14m, not to mention the deployment and use of Naval Service assets<br />
<br />
Under the 1975 Irish government strategy for energy extraction, the state would have held a 50 per cent shareholding in any oil or gas discovery, and the extracting company would have had to pay royalties of at least 8 per cent as well as tax at a rate of 50 per cent. Those terms were progressively relaxed during the 1980s and 1990s most notably under the tenure of Ray Burke as Energy Minister.<br />
<br />
Lets not forget Mr Burke was convicted and imprisioned for corruption in public office. This is important for the case studies looked at later.<br />
<br />
An estimate in June 2007 put the value of Corrib gas at €14 billion - this is conservative. As gas prices have fallen somewhat since 2007, it may be that the total value is now less than that, but credible estimates suggest that the Corrib and other sites currently being explored could, taken together, yield some €50 billion in oil and gas revenues. <br />
<br />
If the Irish government were to take a 10 per cent stake in these discoveries as Ghana does then the Irish exchequer would stand to gain €5 billion. Taking a 10 per cent stake in the Corrib gas field alone should certainly gain the exchequer at least €1 billion.<br />
<br />
Investing funds that would arise from a 10 per cent stake in the Corrib field alone would generate a revenue stream as is done in Norway.<br />
<br />
Reclaiming even a portion of the revenues that are rightfully ours reduces the need for the severe expenditure cut-backs now occurring and would allow the stimulation of the economy to relieve the impact of the recession and boost employment.<br />
<br />
As for investment costs - NAMA will cost an estimated €88 bn, Doolish development will cost about €100m<br />
<br />
The process of reclaiming oil and gas revenues from multi-nationals for the state, is exactly what other governments are doing, and case studies are included. <br />
<br />
A recent wave of resource nationalism has seen governments around the world take back control of natural resources which were previously in the hands of foreign companies. The following case studies show how this has occurred in just three countries: Bolivia, Russia and Venezuela. <br />
<br />
In none of the cases did the affected companies (including Shell) walk away from their investments, despite their dissatisfaction with the new regimes, because the profits are too large.<br />
<br />
<br />
Its very simple, the people who negotiated the current contract were corrupt to the core, Ray Burke was convicted for corruption.<br />
<br />
The only thing that stops a renegotiation of the current situation is the lack of political courage, or perhaps it is something else?<br />
<br />
The current situation is untenable, but the media have successfully portrayed objecters as the lunatic fringe.<br />
<br />
<strong>MEDIA CONTROL</strong><br />
What was particularly distasteful was the TV3 'investigative' <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%22http://www.tv3.ie/videos.php?video=9707&locID=1.2.141&page=116" target="_new">documentary</a>, an absolute propaganda drive by Shell. It was a joke, with snide remarks and innuendo.<br />
We need to look at the journalist, Paul Williams.<br />
The reporting had bias, three years before the documentary Williams had made up his mind.<br />
<br />
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/oct2006/cimg1284b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/oct2006/cimg1284b.jpg" /></a></div>Paul Williams is the son of a Garda. The Gardai have much brutality and violence to answer for in Corrib. <br />
Williams is a crime correspondent, dependent on the Gardai for information and without whose cooperation he would be unable to function as a reporter. <br />
He has to keep them sweet and boy, does he keep them sweet. The violent 'confronting' has all been done by the Garda - not by the residents of the area. <br />
He has shown himself to be virulently biased in favour of Shell on several occasions. RTE's reporting of the issue has been a national disgrace and an outrageous affront to journalism since 2006 - as their recent coverage of the violent assault on Willie Corduff makes evident. <br />
<br />
It is worth noting Mr Williams has, since his reporting started, been a corporate guest of Shell at the 2007 England Rugby match at Croke Park, part of what Shell told the Phoenix was their “stakeholder engagement list.” <br />
<br />
Shell spends huge amount of money on PR, in 1998 “Shell spent US$30 million on contracts with PR company Fishburn & Hedges alone.”<br />
<br />
The article “Irish Times Shell PR” in the May 22 issue of the Phoenix looks at how in Ireland Shell have successfully changed the line of the Irish Times over the last two years to the point where now the Irish Times now frequently send their crime correspondent to cover protests in Erris. <br />
The Irish Times is not unique in this respect, media outlet after media outlet considers it suitable to send crime correspondents to cover the protests who, like Williams, depend on developing and maintaining positive relations with the Gardaí to continue to get news stories. <br />
If they want to continue to get the scoops their jobs depend on they are not in a position to bite the hand that feeds them such stories.<br />
<br />
<br />
Such is the success of Shell’s PR machine that when Colm Rapple, a guest on RTE’s ‘Marian Finucane’ show managed to slip in a mention of the Bolivian story that Cathal McCarthyattacked him in The Independent, threatening that “it might be unwise of RTE to allow anyone to suggest outlandish and ruinous speculative motives to what was, at the very least, the violent killing of an Irish citizen in the most dubious circumstances of which it is possible to conceive.”<br />
The Independent is controlled by Tony O’Reilly’s, pre-crash billionaire who coincidentally holds a “40% stake in Providence Resources Plc, the Irish based oil and gas exploration and development company.”<br />
He controls the The Independent group, the Evening Herald, Irish Independent, Sunday Independent, Sunday World and the Irish Daily Star, as well as 14 regional titles and two free newspapers as well as a 98% stake in the Sunday Tribune. <br />
None of these titles have named names on the Shell – IRMS – Bolivia story although most if not all of these titles have been happy enough to throw all manner of weird and wonderful accusations at the locals who oppose the Shell pipeline and their supporters.<br />
<br />
Even if your not a journalist currently working for an Independent title you’d want to be careful of pissing off the family who own a 40% state in an Irish oil and gas exploration company as you may well be looking for a job at one of those titles in the future. <br />
And its not like what it left of the Irish media has been a whole lot better with the honorable exception of The Phoenix and the Irish Examiner, both of which are sadly rather small circulation niche titles.<br />
Another consequence of Shell’s highly successful PR offensive is the routine appearance of articles in the media that seek to portray the locals and their supporters as subversives. <br />
Sometimes this can be quite farcical, for example the Phoenix points to the Irish Time’s Peter Murtagh getting away with publishing an article in March where he links the struggle to “ ‘notorious INLA murderer’ Dominic McGlinchy” on the grounds that “his son supports the protests.” <br />
While there have been acres of coverage in the media on that sort of basis the facts revealed in the aftermath of the killing of Dwyer have received scant coverage. <br />
<strong>NATIONALISATION AND LEGALITY</strong><br />
Other than SF, no other party in the Dail has the balls to address this issue full on, corporate threats keep them in line. <br />
<br />
We are fully within legal rights to renegotiate the Shell deal, and should do so<br />
<br />
A recent wave of resource nationalism has seen governments around the world take back control of natural resources which were previously in the hands of foreign companies. <br />
The following case studies show how this has occurred in just three countries: Bolivia, Russia and Venezuela. <br />
<br />
In none of the cases did the affected companies (including Shell) walk away from their investments, despite their dissatisfaction with the new regimes, because the profits are too large.<br />
<br />
<strong>Bolivia</strong><br />
In Bolivia the nationalisation was initiated during the 2003 ‘gas war’ in which thousands of citizens took to the streets to demand the state take back control of the nation’s gas reserves. <br />
<br />
The country came to a standstill and the army was dispatched to clear the streets, leaving 60 unarmed protestors dead.<br />
<br />
General outrage at the massacre of civilians forced President Gonzalo Sanchez de Losada out of office. <br />
<br />
His successor, President Carlos Mesa, held a referendum which would allow citizens to express an opinion on the ownership and exploitation of the country’s natural resources.<br />
Citizens voted in a referendum to take back control of the states national resources. <br />
The Mesa administration dragged its feet on the issue of enacting enabling legislation, sparking further protests in 2005 which forced Mesa out of office.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/103/307543164_245f73558e.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" hw="true" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/103/307543164_245f73558e.jpg?v=0" width="320" /></a>It is worth noting that when Eamon O Cuiv was asked about the possibility of a referendum he answered, "We dont need to - the Government owns the resources" - I thought they belonged to the Nation??</div><br />
Eventually President Morales issued the decree of nationalization.<br />
<br />
International commentators expressed displeasure, complained the EU Commission but there was no international backlash and the Bolivian government proceeded cautiously, paying out compensation and rewarding compliant companies with fresh investment opportunities. <br />
<br />
Foreign companies, including Shell, agreed to the new terms. <br />
<br />
<strong>Russia</strong><br />
Vladimir Putin tackled the issue from a different angle, picking out breaches of regulations - including corruption legislation - to halt and review operations and ultimately retake majority ownership of key fields. <br />
<br />
In December 2006 Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources published a 600-page dossier – prepared by environmental watchdog Rosprirodnadzor (RPN) – which listed alleged environmental violations by Shell and its project partners at the giant Sakhalin oil and gas field. <br />
<br />
More significantly, the Russian government announced that in the light of Shell’s improper activities, the terms of the deal, signed ten years previously, would have to be renegotiated. <br />
<br />
The report gave legal and political cover to what was effectively a heave against Shell in the name of energy security.<br />
<br />
Shell took the blow well, realizing that even a lesser stake in a large field is better than no stake at all. <br />
<br />
Gazprom agreed to pay $7.5 billion for a 50 per cent-plus-one-share stake, leaving Shell with a 27.5 per cent stake, down from 55 per cent. Shell’s chief executive, Jeroen van der Veer, described talks with Gazprom executives as “constructive” but the Russians were more direct, saying that Shell had become cooperative after the company was threatened with having its operating licence withdrawn. <br />
<br />
The Russian government also moved on BP to surrender control over a Siberian field, again citing environmental violations, similar to what we have seen in Mayo.<br />
<br />
With the multiple violations of planning and environmental laws by Shell - in addition to the involvement of Ray Burke, Bertie Ahearn and Frank Fahy in the current deal it is a possible model. <br />
<br />
<strong>Venezuela</strong><br />
Standard Oil and Shell had seized control of 85 per cent of the industry. <br />
Opposition to foreign control over oil resources prompted nationalization in 1976 but little changed as foreign companies enjoyed decisive influence over policy at state energy giant PDVSA.<br />
<br />
In 1998 Hugo Chavez was elected President. The price of oil soon tripled in value and in 2001 Chavez approved the Hydrocarbons Law which reclaimed state control over PDVSA. <br />
<br />
In March 2008 Chavez had announced a windfall tax on ‘extraordinary oil profits’ to help expand the provision of healthcare services (a similar law has been enacted in the UK I believe) <br />
Increased health provision raised the number of doctors, rising from 20 to 60 per 1,000 people.<br />
<br />
In May 2007 the Chavez administration nationalized the Orinoco River Belt oil reserves, insisting that the state hold a 60 per cent stake in the region’s oil projects. <br />
<br />
Italian energy company ENI accepted compensation in return for a lesser stake in the area but Exxon rejected an offer based on the value of the company’s stake at the time of nationalization. <br />
<br />
Exxon demanded it be given projected profits from the ‘Cerro Negro’ project, which company lawyers estimated at $5 billion. <br />
<br />
A London Court ruled in favour of Venezuela and Exxon was ordered to pay PDVSA’s legal fees.<br />
<br />
======<br />
<br />
<strong>Lessons for Ireland</strong> <br />
Could it happen here? Yes, it could, and a variety of legal reasons can be advanced as to why the terms of the Corrib gas deal should be renegotiated so as to ensure that a fairer share of the resources accrue to their rightful owners – the Irish people. <br />
<br />
These reasons include breaches of environmental and planning law and a possible investigation into corruption by officials <br />
<br />
<strong>HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE</strong><br />
Namely the right to protest and the right to a private family life (art 8 sec 1 & art 11 ECHR)- European convention of Human Rights) perpetrated by Shell and its partners. <br />
<br />
The well founded suspicion that Shell’s private security force is engaged in such illegal practices should be sufficient reason to halt work at the site pending an independent investigation.<br />
<br />
Shell’s private security agents – Integrated Risk Management Systems (IRMS) – have engaged in surveillance operations against local people, aledgedly filming children as they undress on the beach at Glengad and aiming cameras into the kitchen of a nearby home as well as assault. <br />
These security guards previously included Michael Dwyer, the Irishman shot dead by police in Bolivia in April. Dwyer worked for Shell at Glengad with a Hungarian colleague who invited him to visit Bolivia and connected him with Eduardo Rozsa Flores, a mercenary in Croatia with links to fascist groups. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSJyb48Xpb80D4gppNqbd0j6Wf77V0wih3wn2-wUlcyGAumf7ZMhzULlmWuAJFpaER1Qa5WJrI-E2iQA7wJMOatHIUSF1PALSz58nkQsNnoKQRKM-ZDTssoyFg2AVmskzM0JiRSEeAcAP/s1600/S2S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSJyb48Xpb80D4gppNqbd0j6Wf77V0wih3wn2-wUlcyGAumf7ZMhzULlmWuAJFpaER1Qa5WJrI-E2iQA7wJMOatHIUSF1PALSz58nkQsNnoKQRKM-ZDTssoyFg2AVmskzM0JiRSEeAcAP/s400/S2S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Pseudo Paramilitary Crests issued by Shell Security staff</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Flores hired Dwyer as a bodyguard and they spent several months in Bolivia. Government troops closed in on the group, alleging an imminent plot to kill the President Morales. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/jun2009/dwyerroszanyeveguns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/jun2009/dwyerroszanyeveguns.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It is still not known exactly what happened when armed troops moved to arrest the men, but the operation left three of the five men dead, including Dwyer and Flores. <br />
<br />
On any of these grounds, an Irish government could call a halt to the project and launch an independent review to reconsider both the wider issue of ownership of natural resources and the operation of this particular project.<br />
<br />
<strong>ENVIRONMENTAL ABUSE</strong><br />
The damage is ongoing. For example, in 2007 Shell engaged in unauthorised drilling on a protected habitat in north Mayo, breaching the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997 which obliges any such work in a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) to be authorised in writing by the Environment Ministry. <br />
<br />
Also, in 2007 concerned locals occupied the proposed refinery site at Bellanaboy due to the apparent contamination of local water supplies when a brown-coloured liquid seeped out of the site. <br />
<br />
Local streams feed into Carrowmore Lake, the source of drinking water for thousands of homes in the Erris area. <br />
<br />
Shell E&P Ireland, the subsidiary established to operate the Erris project, admitted a leak had occurred. <br />
<br />
More recently, Shell has undertaken work at the landfall site at Glengad without the required notices of consent.<br />
<br />
AN wants a full review of environmental, legal and economic dimensions. <br />
<br />
The project should only be allowed resume on the following bases:<br />
1. Local people should not be forced to live with a high-pressure pipeline carrying unrefined gas through their community – the gas should be refined offshore or at a location acceptable to the local community.<br />
<br />
2. The Irish state must receive a substantially larger share of the revenues accruing from this project; the evidence from other countries proves that such renegotiated terms would not cause Shell or any other firm to discontinue the project or deter investment in the future. <br />
<br />
3. Revenues gathered from a renegotiated contract should be used to develop a national investment portfolio to generate a manageable revenue stream - much in the same fashion as pension funds. AN should be very wary of allowing any future Government direct access to the funds, as FF proved, they can be squandered very quickly with no long term benefit.<br />
<br />
<strong>LEGAL CHALENGES</strong><br />
Legally it is already possible to negate any existing contract rapidly within current legislation, there is no need to apply a new law retrospectivly.<br />
<br />
Evidence from other countries proves that such renegotiated terms would not cause Shell or any other firm to discontinue the project or deter investment in the future. <br />
<br />
The licensing terms for offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production, available on the website of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources website, state that <br />
<br />
“<em>The Minister may, for such period as the Minister deems necessary, require that specified exploration, exploitation, production or processing activities should cease… subject to conditions which the Minister may specify, in any case where the Minister is satisfied that it is desirable to do so in order to reduce the risk of injury to the person, waste of petroleum or damage to property or the environment. No claim for compensation may be made against the Minister on foot of any such requirement</em>”. <br />
<br />
This clause can be invoked to serve the needs of the Irish state and people.<br />
<br />
Otherwise we are simply giving away our gas with little benefit to the State.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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</script><noscript></noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-7052701796255915692010-07-21T18:43:00.005+01:002010-07-21T20:32:56.552+01:00FG - FF, same old, same as!!Well, I glanced at today's <a href="http://www.independent.ie/national-news/kenny-furious-as-creighton-attacks-party-over-donation-2265988.html" target="_new">Indo </a>to see that Dep. Lucinda Creighton TD has upset the dear leader Enda Kenny as FG took <strike>bribes</strike> - sorry - "donations" from NAMA backed developers<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/archive/00385/cartoon_indo_385450t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/archive/00385/cartoon_indo_385450t.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>These are the same unscrupulous people who bent the rules, paid off unaccountable officials and due to their greed - and that of the banks - have led this country to the verge of collapse with NAMA, empty hotels and ghost estates.<br />
<br />
As we saw in the Watson/Reingling report, <a href="http://citizensimon.blogspot.com/2010/06/banking-scandal-and-its-not-even.html">the crisis was home grown</a> - due to overly light regulation and political mismanagement rather than the credit crunch.<br />
<br />
The only phrase that springs to mind is <em><strong>Avé! Duci novo, similis duci seneci!</strong> -</em> or in modern terminology, same crap, different day<br />
<br />
One feels rather than <em>Allons</em> it is actually <em>Allors!</em><em> enfants de la Patrie</em>, and we see the constant infighting and divisions within FG still, despite the brave face and the unified front after the last headless chicken act. <br />
<br />
Lets face facts.<br />
<br />
1) Despite what they say about clearing house and unity FG is in disarray, fragmented and disjointed, with a built in self destruct function due to infighting<br />
<br />
2) Despite what they say about honesty and integrity, they are accepting funds from the same crooked shower as FF. FG director of elections Phil Hogan has already said the party would oppose plans by the Government to introduce legislation banning corporate donations.<br />
<br />
3) Despite what they say about New Era FG (most ideas lifted from Amhran Nua) is as dynastic, gombeen and post civil war as FF - and there will be little or no change.<br />
We saw after the heav"heave" against Dep. Kenny in FG, most of the rebels were dropped from the front bench - other than those with dynastic ties.<br />
<br />
We saw the stalwarts from FGs Old Guard like Dep. Noonan called up to the front, the Praetorians replaced the progressives, and those who have remained on the front bench are there for cynical political reasons.<br />
<br />
In a future, probable FG government, those token few will end up on the back benches making up the votes.<br />
In a way it is our own fault, both FF and FG depend on us, the voters, to return them to office because we look at local politics first, and party politics second. Our local TD will agree with us on our problems with the party, but have no doubt that other than an extreme case of political survival, they will tow the party line.<br />
<br />
The so called 'rebels' who lose or drop the party whip, will in 99% of cases still vote with the Government.<br />
They are less maverick than John McCain FFS!!!<br />
<br />
If there is any people in FG it is Dep. Creighton - who did not cow-tow to Kenny after the failure of the so called heave, and has maintained her integrity at least.<br />
"It is not a good image for any political party to be in receipt of donations from developers who are associated with NAMA, full stop," She insisted that there could be no room in Fine Gael for "cute-hoor" politics, which she said had "defined and tainted Irish public life like an incurable cancer".<br />
<br />
Where I would disagree with Dep. Creighton is that it is not the cute hoor that is the worst part of Irish politics, it is what causes cute hoorism - that is the dynastic constituency driven system that we ave, perhaps suitable for the 19th century - but not the 21st<br />
<br />
Dep. Creighton, like Dep Varadkar are a new wave for FG, they are young, non-dynastic and have been elected on their own merits.<br />
However, by joining a party so deeply steeped in the dynastic post civil war traditions of the first 60 years of independence, she should perhaps consider - as should Dep Varadkar - looking at another way.<br />
<br />
They need to consider their political futures, and as I have said before, they have little to loose.<br />
<br />
This is because given the probability of an FG led government after the next election, there is no way I can see them anywhere other than the back benches.<br />
After the heave, we have seen FG leadership go back to the Christian Democrat stalwarts.<br />
<br />
It is for that reason, rather than accept the status quo people of their calibre should drop the party whip, leave FG and help real change by joining <a href="http://amhrannua.com/" target="_new">Amhran Nua.</a><br />
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</script><noscript></noscript>irishkitchengardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06104304816335270006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873230211103204623.post-42351204183134047372010-07-02T12:34:00.003+01:002010-07-02T14:30:26.628+01:00FG Deal PolitikFine Gael’s newly appointed deputy leader James Reilly insisted in the Irish Times the party had emerged “much stronger” from the recent challenge to Enda Kenny’s leadership.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/graphics/election/FGpost.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" rw="true" src="http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/graphics/election/FGpost.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>He's Back</em></div>You have got to be joking, the parliamentary party heave, and its fallout show how ill-prepared for Government the FG party is.<br />
Dr Reilly - no doubt now deputy leader as a reward for his loyalty to Enda said the new bench is a “proven performers and new energy”.<br />
It would be truer to say it is a mass marriage of convenience based on gender and geography.<br />
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Kenny could not fire East Coast deputies, as they are at risk from Labour, and had to keep a few token women in the front rows of the FG team, even if it meant keeping those who have publicly stated they have no confidence in his ability or leadership.<br />
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Michael Noonan is the new finance spokesman while Richard Bruton, who led the recent heave against Mr Kenny, is appointed as spokesman on enterprise, jobs and economic planning.<br />
How can he plan our economy when he plots for his brothers former job?<br />
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Two others involved in the heave, Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar, were retained on the front bench.<br />
Coveney is a dynastic politician who is importat in the FG power struggle.<br />
Varadkar - who on Primetime stated he had no belief that Kenny could take them over the line next time out is kept on because he is a modern, friendly face for FG - but I doubt very much either would be in a FG cabinet post election.<br />
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FG's attempt at damage limitation has been ineffective “There was always going to be a change or a freshening of the front bench,” Dr Reilly told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme, suggesting the leadership struggle had merely brought the changes forward.<br />
“We now have a new, exciting, energetic mix on our front bench that has the required qualities to bring this country back from the brink"<br />
Well, I for one very much doubt any of those who heaved against Kenny would be in a cabinet portfolio, it will be the stalwarts in the mold of Noonan, the old reliables<br />
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Dr Reilly also said Kenny had the “decisiveness and incisiveness” to lead the country of the morass it finds itself in. <br />
This when he could not even foresee or control his own front bench, most of whom declared no confidence in him and ran around like headless chickens after one bad poll - so much for quality leadership!<br />
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Asked if former finance spokesman Richard Bruton has lost his credibility in the recent heave against Mr Kenny’s stewardship, Reilly said: “I believe that Richard believed he was the best man for the job at the time. He went to the party, to let the party decide, and he lost"<br />
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We have seen in the past that an individuals political survival is far more important than the state of the nation. We are in crisis and should have a government that picks the best person for the job - and at a time of crisis we should perhaps look at a government of national unity.<br />
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However, as usual, loyalty to a leader is more important than competence. Horse trading is the most important part of the Irish Economy<br />
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With this in mind Phil Hogan, Alan Shatter, Jimmy Deenihan and Michael Ring along with Reilly are certainties for ministries.<br />
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Others who may well make future Ministers are Noonan, Catherine Byrne, Deirdre Clune, Andrew Doyle, Frank Feighan, John Perry, David Stanton and Paul Kehoe.<br />
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Speaking of Richard Bruton Reilly said “He understands perfectly well he has a huge important role to play in the future of this country and he will be in the next government and he will be a minister in the next government,” he said.<br />
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I really think that's a non-starter, If FG manage to become the leading party in the next election, Bruton will be on the back benches, in the good company of Charlie Flanagan, Coveney, Varadker, Bruton, Olivia Mitchell and Fergus O’Dowd.<br />
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Revenge, as they say - is a dish best served cold.<br />
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