Irish Politics, Politicians in Ireland, TDs, Irish Government

Michael Lowry–everybody say ‘Ahh poor Mick’

Seen on 'political quote'

Pity poor Michael Lowry. The tribunal, which he and others of his ilk caused to established, is upseting Michael. He is upset with the impact it has had on his life. Michael thinks it is a “cancer” on his life. Perhaps it is. Perhaps it is like the cancer he, and Haughey and Lowery and Burke and many many others inflicted on politics and... Continue reading »

INSIDE POLITICS - POLITICIAN OF THE YEAR

Seen on Harry McGee

You know how to get a story out? Just tell a politician a secret. The worst kept secret of the last 24 hours was revealed tonight when Trevor Sargent was named as the Magill Politician of the Year. I was one of about a dozen political correspondents who used our skill, expertise, deeply-held prejudices and a thumb-tack to choose the winners.... Continue reading »

Magill Politican Of The Year 2007 (Pictured Right)

Seen on Blogorrah

[ 00040658.jpg] In a little while, cherubic Green Trevor Sargent will be crowned Magill magazine’s Politican of The Year (like the VIP Style Awards for non-stylish people). Trevor (pictured with 1997’s Lovely Girl of The Year, Amanda Byram) took the mag’s gong for developing “the Green Party into a serious potential player in the formation of... Continue reading »

INSIDE POLITICS - TRIBUNALITIS

Seen on Harry McGee

The Government’s abject climb-down over Tribunal fees is a textbook illustration of political ‘optics’ and hubris. In 2004, then Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy announced that he was going to tackle the spiralling costs of Tribunals. There are lawyers working in the two main Tribunals who are getting two and a half grand a day, a couple of... Continue reading »

How Much?

Seen on deFaoite.ie

In reality Bertie could have essentially shortened his ard fheis speech to just one question; “how much do you want for your vote”. In a week in which Fianna Fail T.D.s and Ministers continued to condemn auction politics. Bertie Ahern came on stage for his “Presidential Address to the 71st Ard Fheis” and one could have […]... Continue reading »

Simon Coveney (FG) exhorts young cineastes

Seen on VoteTube

Simon Coveney (FG) exhorts young cineastes Posted on March 29th, 2007 by Simon McGarr. Categories: Irish Video, Politician’s Videos. Running in the picture palaces of Cork, this ad has somehow made its way to us here in VoteTube land. And, I think, it’s rather good. The message is almost all delivered by ordinary looking young Cork people- not... Continue reading »

What does Fine Gael stand for

Seen on Viammaniunto

he party does not define itself around the national question electorally. They have nothing on it in the materials on the Website - I tried to find it! Besides, on the national question itself I also am baffled by FG history, post 1932 (i.e. entire FG as opposed to CnaG, which was rather clear). The original idea in 1933 was striving for a... Continue reading »

Channelling Your Inner Harney

Seen on Blogorrah

For maximum impact, please watch both of the following video clips in their entirety. Thank you very much. Mary Harney made her YouTube debut with this rousing PD Podcast: And then PoliticalThicko posted his response: Now that’s what we call a discourse. Man, we love the interweb.... Continue reading »

Cross Compliance and our Drinking Water

Seen on Garreth McDaid

As I write this, over 100 people in Co. Galway and Co. Roscommon are seriously ill due to pollution of their drinking water supply. It is still unclear what caused this pollution, but incidents like this should serve to remind us how easily drinking water supplies can become polluted. However, at last weekend’s Fianna Fail Ard Fheis, a motion... Continue reading »

Fianna Fawn

Seen on Arse End Of Ireland

The Swearing Gentleman was bringing MiniMe to school this morning, just before 9am, when Fianna Fail nearly caused him to crash his car. The bastards. He was listening to Morning Ireland, you see, where Councillor Colm Wiley was bemoaning the problem of the large deer population in rural Clare. The deer are so numerous that they’re ruining both... Continue reading »

Shock horror, down the country people know your bu…

Seen on where angels fear and other oddities

Shock horror, down the country people know your business Our correspondent in the valley of the squinting windows has discovered shocking evidence of confidential medical information being available to any nosey-parker that cares to have a root through the odd filing cabinet . According to a Drogheda Independent exclusive, a confidentiality... Continue reading »

Phone tapping allegations

Seen on Mark Garavan

Phone tapping allegations March 28, 2007 at 11:26 am | In Statements | No Comments I read with great disquiet yesterday’s report in The Connaught Telegraph of possible phone tapping of those involved in the campaign against the Corrib gas project. It appears from the report that I might be one of those whose phone has been tapped.   If this is... Continue reading »

INSIDE ELECTIONS - RISING TEMPERATURE AND RISING TEMPERS

Seen on Harry McGee

Dáil exchanges following Fianna Fáil’s Ard Fheis. This is my colour piece from the morning’s Irish Examiner and, no, it’s not me trying to justify me getting it so wrong last week. Concern was growing last night about the whereabouts and well-being of a senior Fianna Fail minister said to be in a State of total bewilderment following his party’s... Continue reading »

Congratulations to Noel and Johnny

Seen on The Byrne Blog

I hear Magill magazine has named Noel Dempsey as its Minister of the Year and Johnny Brady as heckler of the year! Congrats to the lads, whom I hope to join in Dail Eireann in about two months time. And thanks to all my Meath colleagues for their help in the campaign.... Continue reading »

Pat Rabbitte gets stuck into Bertie

Seen on 'political quote'

According to reports in the Irish Times today Mr Rabbitte told the Taoiseach that “nobody would believe what you say. You’re only short of playing cricket on some spare patch of ground. You jump on the bandwagon for anything that becomes popular. The only thing you recycle is other people’s ideas.” Pat mad the remarks in repsonce to FF’s... Continue reading »

Michael D. (Lab) on Nursing Homes

Seen on VoteTube

Michael D. (Lab) on Nursing Homes Posted on March 28th, 2007 by Simon McGarr. Categories: Irish Video, VoteTube Entry. Michael D. Higgins continues his tour of places and policies in Galway West. Today, he tells us about the provisions for older people and what he think ought to be done for them. 0 comments.... Continue reading »

Limerick greens asked to sign climate change petition

Seen on The Limerick Blogger

It seems appropriate given that the top three polluters in Ireland are here in the Mid-west that Limerick people are being asked by Green Party candidate Patricia Forde-Brennan to sign the AVAAZ petition on climate change. The aim is to collect 150,000 signitures which are to be presented to environment ministers of the most influential... Continue reading »

Celia In Phoney Crony Baloney

Seen on Blogorrah

[ 00058109.jpg] From Harry McGee in Today’s Examiner: Bertie Ahern’s nomination of his former partner Celia Larkin to the board of the National Consumer Agency suggested ‘cronyism’, Green party leader Trevor Sargent said yesterday. “I think (the appointment of Ms Larkin) is open to obvious questions because of a lack in transparency and... Continue reading »

Power threatened to resign if McCabe killers were released early

Seen on The Limerick Blogger

Power threatened to resign if McCabe killers were released early March 28th, 2007 Fianna Fail TD Peter Power threatened to resign his position as a Dail deputy if the killers of Gerry McCabe were released early, it is claimed. Deputy Power made the revelation on today’s Limerick Today program. He told the presenter Ed Myres that he informed... Continue reading »

In Hell with ‘friends’

Seen on Public Inquiry

Bertie Ahern is going to burn in everlasting Hell. No, not for breaking political promises but because any Catholic who knowingly remains in a state of mortal sin is destined for Hell - no exceptions. Of course, I don’t know Bertie’s actual state of sin at the moment but up until recent times he was living in sin and assuming he is a true hot... Continue reading »

February 25th to March 9th 2007

Seen on éistígí - alex's blog

As promised in the last post, a few more shots from the Green Party conference, if anyone’s interested. By the way, the set was designed by Peter Jordan and built by Gavin Morgan. The whole conference has faded from memory now, suffice to say that all went well. Which brings me to the days issue of the day. My memory of the details of gigs... Continue reading »

Getting Wicklow Moving

Seen on Liz McManus

Nicky Kelly, Brendan Howlin TD and I launched a Transport Plan for Co. Wicklow. Twin track electrified rail system to Wexford, rural buses, improved roads are key elements in it. 37% of journeys to Dublin are by public transport. In Wicklow the figure is approx 6%-so a dramatic shift from private car to public transport is needed. On the way back... Continue reading »

Poll: FG to lose third seat in Mayo

Seen on BreakingNews.ie

Fine Gael would struggle to take three of the five Dáil seats in County Mayo if an election were to be held in the morning, according to an opinion poll commissioned by the Western People.... Continue reading »

Last orders for sports sponsorship

Seen on offsiderule

The Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs today published a report condemning the influence of the alcohol industry in sports sponsorship. In the her Foreward, the Chairman, Cecilia Keaveney, T.D., highlights the close links between the alcohol industry and sport in Ireland and in Europe and states that... Continue reading »

Welcome For Red C Poll Findings - Joint Statement

Seen on Mark Garavan

Welcome For Red C Poll Findings - Joint Statement March 27, 2007 at 1:00 pm | In Statements | No Comments We warmly welcome today’s Red C opinion poll findings published in The Western People. These show that 55% of respondents support an off-shore processing of the Corrib gas and that by a ratio of 2:1 respondents hold either the government or... Continue reading »