Irish Election are pleased to announce our collection of Irish 
It’s an ill wind that blows somebody something good.
Read more about: Fianna Fail, Green Party
The one issue that annoys people most and has resulted the great amounts of young Irish people getting sick of politics. Is Corruption. The idea that all politicians are on the take is prevalent. However of late it seemed to be getting better then we have Fahey.
Basically what happened is.
The Irish Times reported that in 1994, when Frank Fahey was a Senator, on a modest salary of £19,486 (€24,747), he became involved in establishing a hair and beauty salon business in Moscow involving an investment of over £200,000 (€254,000)
It has been claimed that three quarters of the €2.8m compensation scheme for fishermen went to only two people, both of whom were known to Mr Fahey.
This is setting back the peoples trust in politicians for all. With an Labour adviser being fined €4,900 for tax-avoidance. It just seems like all politicians and people connected with them are dodgy. However under the wire somewhat Trevor Sergeant of the Green Party has played an absolute blinder.
Most parties have been tainted by this smell of corruption. Even the PD’s which have had no big scandals have got this air of being among the in crowd. However the greens have the reputation of being clean. While this might have to with the old saying of “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” and the greens never have had power. But if the Green party can keep on this issue. Keep pushing for Fahey’s resignation. Attack all the other parties on the corruption even their likely partners Fine Gael and Labour they can win back many votes from the people who have been frighten away by the shear weight of scandals of the late 90’s.
The image of the Green “the incorruptible” Party not Green “the used car salesperson” Party might well be the key message that can make the Greens the party to emerge as the victors of Election 07.
Was not that convinced of Trevor’s dogged pursuit of Fahey myself, but it does seem that this latest story stands it up. “Green Politics is Clean Politics” has always been a good slogan, and a good watchword, but I’m not that happy with the idea that for this image to play we have to make sure plenty of mud sticks to the other parties.
I’m quite happy for people in the other parties to blacken their own names, I’m just not sure we should be seen as the people doing the blackening.
Green Politics is Clean Politics
I don’t know sounds too enviromental to me. I know that is what ye do but you want to show there is more to the greens then just wind mills
I can’t imagine that Green TD Ciarán Cuffe will be any too happy to have his leader drawing critical attention to investment assets, declared or otherwise, and profits from property development.
He may well feel like tearing his hair out.
On June 8, 2003, almost a year after Ciarán entered the Dáil, the Sunday Independent revealed his investments in Merck, Abbot Laboratories, Schering Plough, Procter & Gamble, Texaco Chevron, and Johnson & Johnson, all of which he inherited three years previiously. He also told the paper of his investing in various property ventures.
The problem with throwing around the vague slur of corruption, which implies bribe-taking, and associating it with the fundamental business activity of investing in profit-producing ventures, is that it’s impossible to know here it will all end.
But it will have served its purpose if it succeeds in gathering in those Sinn Féin transfers to seal the re-election of Trevor and a few of the other sitting Green TDs.
“On June 8, 2003, almost a year after Ciarán entered the Dáil, the Sunday Independent revealed his investments in Merck, Abbot Laboratories, Schering Plough, Procter & Gamble, Texaco Chevron, and Johnson & Johnson, all of which he inherited three years previiously. He also told the paper of his investing in various property ventures.”
Ciarán revealed these investments himself, in the first declaration of interests he made after entering the Dáil. I don’t detect another implication in your choice of phrasing, do I?
“The problem with throwing around the vague slur of corruption, which implies bribe-taking, and associating it with the fundamental business activity of investing in profit-producing ventures, is that it’s impossible to know here it will all end.”
If you’re looking for examples of “throwing around the vague slur of corruption”, just witness how every time the Green Party mention the word “corruption”, some Fianna Fáil hack mentions Ciarán Cuffe. I’ve already expressed my reservations about Sargent’s pursuit of Fahey, but can you quote any examples of where he has “associated corruption with the fundamental business activity of investing in profit-producing ventures”?
“But it will have served its purpose if it succeeds in gathering in those Sinn Féin transfers to seal the re-election of Trevor and a few of the other sitting Green TDs.”
Yes, that’s what it’s all about. The Greens really only take an interest in corruption in Irish politics to attract transfers from the great moral high grounders in Sinn Féin.
Frank Fahey can and has spoken for himself.
I believe that the Sunday Independent’s story was a revelation to Ciarán’s Dáil colleagues, which is why he was relieved of his environment spokesperson portfolio.
The point being, of course, that there was nothing corrupt about owning shares or investing in property regeneration, anymore than there being anything improper about investing in hairdressing, retail or residential property.
“The point being, of course, that there was nothing corrupt about owning shares or investing in property regeneration, anymore than there being anything improper about investing in hairdressing, retail or residential property.”
Neither has Trevor Sargent suggested any such thing. The issue in respect of Fahey’s investment in hairdressing is that, unlike Cuffe, he did not declare it.
This is indeed the Alice in Wonderland logic of protest groups.
Also, having an interest in a hairdressing salon, declared or not, is not in itself corrupt.
Correction to the comment above, and apologies for the faulty tags:
“The Greens really only take an interest in corruption in Irish politics to attract transfers from the great moral high grounders in Sinn Féin.”
This is in indeed the Alice in Wonderland logic of protest groups.
Also, having an interest in a hairdressing salon, declared or not, is not in itself corrupt.
“This is in indeed the Alice in Wonderland logic of protest groups.”
It was indeed sarcasm. Do you really believe that the Greens only pursue issues of political integrity because it appeals to Sinn Féin voters? Or was that just the best thing you could come up with on the spur of the moment to deride the Greens’ interest in these issues?
“Also, having an interest in a hairdressing salon, declared or not, is not in itself corrupt.”
I never said it was, nor did Sargent as far as I’m aware. It is however illegal not to declare it, which means your throwaway “declared or not” is actually the difference between two very different categories of behaviour.
Yes Joe,
I thnk we’ve all come to recognise that sneering, sarcasm, and denial are trade marks of our moral guardians in the Green Party. If they weren’t so split about going into government with Fianna Fáil, they might be able to engage in more positive politics.
The transfer pattern in the seats the Greens won in 2002 tells its own story.
A couple of points:
Ciaran Cuffe was chastised because the shares he inherited were in so-called “non-politically correct companies” - there was no suggestion of “corruption”.
If he had inherited units in a Managed Fund, he would probably have been an indirect shareholder in the exact same companies.
Such is the absurdity of “Political Correctness”.
I was amused to read that Sinn Fein (IRA) are regarded as “high moral grounders”. Perhpas the writer was being sarcastic. Angus O’Snottig & Martin Ferrets waffle about morality on the odd occasion but their bluff is usually called.
What puzzles me is - who votes for IRA/Sinn Fein? and, more particularly, why?
Can any of you out there in the ether tell me?
If corruption is to be eliminated - both the “brown-envelope variety” and the preferment of local vested interests in various constituencies - Government will need to abolish “Political Donations”.
The dogs in the street know that builders & developers EXPECT FAVOURS in return for money. They are business people & there is no such thing as a free lunch, especially in hospitality tents at race meetings.
The Government own RTE & control the granting of broadcasting licences. It should be a simple matter to demand air-time in advance of General Elections - free-of-charge. An allowance of, say, €5 per head of population might be levied on all households to provide an Election Fund, to be shared proportionately by all parties.
Secondly, all Ministers of State should be obliged to relinquish ALL Constituency activities during their period of office.
It might not completely overcome the “Fahey Fish Quota” situation, but Fahey could, if he wanted, resist any prssure that might be brought to bear if he was active in the Constituency.
Finally, some time ago (May) I mentioned that I thought that there was going to be a “correction” in the housing bubble. I was all too right, regrettably so, as I am trying to sell my flat!
“I was amused to read that Sinn Fein (IRA) are regarded as “high moral grounders”. Perhpas the writer was being sarcastic.”
I was certainly being sarcastic when I used that phrase. I can only speculate as to why Frank initially introduced the bizarre notion that the Greens are actually targeting the moral scruples of Sinn Féin voters in raising issues of political ethics.
“I thnk we’ve all come to recognise that sneering, sarcasm, and denial are trade marks of our moral guardians in the Green Party”
No, they’re just my own trademarks. Apart from denial. I deny that one.
“If they weren’t so split about going into government with Fianna Fáil, they might be able to engage in more positive politics.”
Yes, we’re so paralysed by that particular conundrum sometimes I can barely get out of bed.
“The transfer pattern in the seats the Greens won in 2002 tells its own story.”
But does it tell the same story you’re trying to tell, i.e. that the Green Party’s professed interest in matters of political propriety is a cynical ploy to attract transfers from Sinn Féin?
S O’
I hope you’re trading up to a house. I think flats are only suitable for young singles.