Irish Politics, Politicians in Ireland, TDs, Irish Government

A corrupt state

Seen on Public Inquiry

Everything that is written on this website is based on the thesis that Ireland is a corrupt state. That is to say, Ireland, unlike most other countries, does not just suffer from a particular degree of corruption, but is, as a state, a corrupt entity in itself. Events in Ireland become much clearer, much less puzzling when the corrupt state... Continue reading »

Ferris questions Shell’s motive for dropping legal action

Seen on Sinn Fein Newsroom

The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Natural Resources, Martin Ferris TD has questioned the motivation behind Shell’s attempt to abandon its legal action against Mayo landowners who are objecting to the Corrib gas pipeline. Shell will make the application this morning in the High Court and if successful will not have to comply with the order of discovery made by Justice Mary Laffoy in July which would require the company to hand over documents concerning the lease and development plan to representatives of the objectors.... Continue reading »

John Gormley Trash-talking or Talking Rubbish?

Seen on Irish Election

John Gormley Trash-talking or Talking Rubbish? Writes Simon of The Dossing Times on September 27th, 2006 Read More: Green Party, Progressive Democrats Ah John, John, John. Isn’t it great when people misuse words and phrase to make a political point, like trying to make someone seem wrong by associating them with some group like the Nazis by... Continue reading »

McDowell Response to Bertie in Dail

Seen on Irish Election

McDowell Response to Bertie in Dail Writes Cian of Where’s Me Country? on September 27th, 2006 Read More: Progressive Democrats, Bertiegate From their website: ���.. ���Since the publication of information volunteered in confidence by the Taoiseach to the Mahon Tribunal, I and my colleagues have refrained from any substantive public... Continue reading »

Bertie’s Bank Accounts

Seen on Irish Election

Bertie’s Bank Accounts Writes Wagger of Wagging The Dog on September 27th, 2006 Read More: Tribunals, Bertiegate During today’s Leaders’ Questions in Dáil Éireann, Pat Rabbitte touched upon the claim that An Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, claimed that he had no bank accounts between 1987 and 1994.  During this time he was Minister for Finance, among... Continue reading »

Small government

Seen on Best of Both Worlds

As the Republic of Ireland inches closer to a general election, it’s as good a time as any for a (useless) reminder that other small countries don’t see the need for as big a political class as Ireland has. Consider the opening of this Financial Times article which is mostly about financial markets in New Zealand: In a country as small as New... Continue reading »

Bung in Cheek – Why No-One Can Land a Glove on…

Seen on An Spailpín Fánach

[ Our Leader]Trevor Sargent, leader of the Green Party, was on Morning Ireland this morning, discussing the question that has the nation transfixed – when is a bung not a bung? It was a chance for the leader of the Green Party to do a Dick Spring, and portray himself as the real leader of the opposition – instead, not-so-clever Trevor chose to... Continue reading »

Successful Freshers for DKIT Ógra Shinn Féin

Seen on Ógra Shinn Féin

Promoting real politics – not gimmicks On Wed the 20th September Ógra Shinn Féin Co Lú ran a recruitment drive in Dundalk Institute of Technology. The Cumann has been in the college for three years and until this year was the only active political society in the Institute. The drive went very well receiving a great deal of attention... Continue reading »

Irish PM Investigated Over Loans

Seen on Sky News: World News, Global News and International breaking News.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern is being investigated by an anti-corruption probe following the admission that he received undisclosed payments from friends.Mr Ahern received two payments – totalling £33,000 – 13 years ago when he was finance minister.... Continue reading »

There were some many

Seen on The Monkey's Typewriter

There were some many dubious defenses thrown up during Bertie Ahern’s teary performance during yesterday’s television interview , that one could devote a dozen blogs to demolishing them. But here’s one angle that I have yet to hear amid all the cant about our leader being basically a salt-of-the-earth bloke: can you recall the last time you... Continue reading »

Taoiseach Enrichment

Seen on Skangerland

In the reaction to the Taoiseach enrichment report, Oireachtas powers are to consider their next step, which may include seeking sanctions against Bertie Ahem-hem. The RTÉ report said that Bertie undertook a round of Taoiseach enrichment in 1993 and 1994. It also said that Bertie had not “provided the necessary transparency to remove... Continue reading »

The Taoiseach – The Debt Of Honour

Seen on Ireland - The Voice Of The Nation

Problems surrounding Irelands largest political party, Fianna Fail, are beginning to hit hard and hit home, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will face a Dáil assault today from opposition parties, after he accepted that he has not paid back any of a €50,000 loan given to him by businessmen in 1993 and 1994 – to pay costs for his marital separation bills.... Continue reading »

Progressive Democrats

Seen on The Limits of Human Imagination

I must admit that I probably have a bias against the PDs. Mary Harney, the leader until earlier this month, was an unappealing media personality, and she and her party, as junior partners in the coalition with Fianna Fail, were fairly easy targets for scorn and mockery. Moreover, Michael McDowell, her replacement, comes across as a bit of a... Continue reading »

Taoiseach Live Questions In Dail 3:45

Seen on Irish Election

Taoiseach Live Questions In Dail 3:45 Writes Cian of Where’s Me Country? on September 27th, 2006 Read More: Fianna Fail, Government, Dublin North Central, Bertiegate The Dail returns today (an issue which itself was sidelined was the 13 week holiday that has just passed for our legislators) at 2:30. The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, fresh from... Continue reading »

When is a loan not a loan?

Seen on GUBU

I���m just curious. ���The difference of talking about somebody taking millions and somebody taking hundreds of thousands in exchange for contracts and other matters, and taking what is a relatively small contribution from friends who had a clear understanding they would be paid back. I do not equate those. If I was to take several hundreds of... Continue reading »

Bertie Ahern

Seen on GUBU

What a load of complete codswallop. He does a carefully managed one-on-one interview with the ever polite Dobson who to be fair did ask the right questions but just very nicely. He did pull out a great quote from Bertie that politicians should not be under obligation to anyone! Wasn’t going to stand up in the Dail! Why didn’t he say what he had... Continue reading »

The Gospel according to Charlie…Chawke that…

Seen on The Limerick Blogger

One of the twelve men, dubbed the Twelve Apostles, involved in “helping Bertie Ahern out” with the court costs surrounding his separation from his wife in 1993 is a Limerickman. Owner of numerous Dublin pubs and a shareholder in Sunderland Football Club, Charlie Chawke, from Adare, County Limerick, was named as one of 12 people who donated... Continue reading »

Desperate times for Bertie

Seen on Public Inquiry

The very fact that Bertie Ahern has chosen to appeal to public sympathy in an attempt to get himself off the hook is an indication of his desperation. In his interview with RTE’s Brian Dobson, Ahern resorted to the usual excuses. No favours were sought or given – It was a debt of honour that I will repay (sometime) – In hindsight, if I knew my... Continue reading »

Fine Gael Justice

Seen on Soloings' World Cup Blog

First we had Ronald Reagan on the silver screen and in the White House. Then we had Arnie terminating predators and running California. Now we have Enda Kenny defending criminal cases in the Fox tv show ‘Justice’ while supposedly leading the opposition at home. Except only one of the people pictured is Enda Kenny. The other is actor Victor Garber... Continue reading »

This could be a case for Mulder and Scully

Seen on Irish Election

This could be a case for Mulder and Scully Writes Simon of The Dossing Times on September 27th, 2006 Read More: Fianna Fail, Tribunals, Bertiegate There is one question that the media seem not to be asking around Bertiegate. One question that questions the ethics of someone in some ways more then Bertie receiving loans. And that question is... Continue reading »

Resign Ahern, you cunt

Seen on Twenty Major - still smoking in Dublin bars.

So the Taoiseach received ��40,000 from friends but he says he had ‘broken no codes – ethical, tax, legal or otherwise’. Apparently he always regarded them as a ‘debt of honour’ that he would repay with interest. To date he hasn’t repaid any of the money or any of the interest. He said he accepted the money to provide for his children’s... Continue reading »

Operation Anvil has failed absolutely – Ó Snodaigh raises Dublin shootings in the Dáil

Seen on Sinn Fein Newsroom

Speaking in the Dáil today following two shootings in 12 hours in the Dublin 12 area Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South Central and Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh condemned the government for failing to ensure that the Garda fight against gun crime is adequately resourced.... Continue reading »

The future Boss?

Seen on Dec's Rambling

Simon has a post on Irish Election detailing the list of Bertie Ahern mates who gave him a hand out with a few thousand quid on a “sure pay it back when ever you like” basis. I don’t know if it’ll see an end to Bertie but the bloggers are on the case so lets see who gets to any dirt first, them or the professional media. I’m not sure if I think... Continue reading »

Woman shot last night was former SF election…

Seen on Limerick Blogs

Tonight’s Limerick leader is reporting that the 42 year old woman who was injured in a shooting incident last night in Delmege Park is former Sinn Fein election Candidate Jenny Shapland. She was walking with a teenage boy near their home when they were approached by two men who fired a shotgun in their direction. Neither victim was seriously... Continue reading »

Bertiegate – Could Ahern Call A Snap Election?

Seen on tomcosgrave / a weblog

Bertie Ahern has now admitted to receiving “gifts” of ��50,000 in the early 1990’s. It remains now to be seen if the group of people named by Ahern and described by him as his personal friends, benefitted in any way as a result of giving Ahern money. What we do know is that Ahern did say that if any of them did benefit, it was out of friendship... Continue reading »