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Post-Bertiegate Comes the Silent Lie
Read more about: Bertiegate, Corruption, Government, Irish Politics
Has any one noticed that the Irish Government has returned to the Silent Lie? That Stardust does not need to be investigated because no new evidence was found by the non-existent follow up investigations that never happened. That the nursing home reports are never publish so long as the bathroom tiles are fixed?
The fact that the Irish Freedom of Information act will postpone any evidence from coming to light about this corrupt and incompetent government does not make the problems go away. Except for the ministers, who can continue to be unresponsive to their responsibilities to the public.
Time for a change, will an honest politician restore the Freedom of Information? Or will we continue to be governed in the dark?
Or will the press begin to ask the hard questions, and not bow to the governments requirements not to questions their decisions?
FG and Labour were in office at the time of Stardust remember so I think they have more questions to answer on it. I think though that there probably should be another inquiry into it provided it is clear that the previous one was flawed - which isn’t clear to me. However what I would call for is for the recommendations of the last one - which I think included a national fire-service, to be implemented fortwith and I would castigate all 4 main parties on this. In 1982-7 FG-Labour refused to do this and in 1994-7. So let’s be very clear that blame rests on all sides.
Re FOI, all parties except FF & PDs have promised to reinstate the FOI legislation and extend it. Labour have had a Private Members’ Bill down on it for a while now.
Some years ago, I wrote to the Minister of Justice, suggesting that all licensed premises enter a Bond of, in today’s terms, say, €5 million, and produce an annual certificate, from their Insurers - the Bond Holders - stating that the premises fulfilled all safety standards and that they were fully in compliance with all requirements of the Fire Safety Officers Regulations.
If the License Holder was in compliance with the terms of the Bond, the License would be automatically renewed.
This would have the effect of transferring the responsibility for Safety on to the Owners of the Licensed premises.
I also seem to remember that there was a rumour that relatives of Charlie Haughey had an interest in Stardust.
Whether or not this is true, it remains a Black Day in the history of Ireland and a scandal, far more serious than the Beef & other Tribunals, and no credit to the government of the day.
As for the matter of the Freedom of Information Act, it would appear that there still remain a significant number of unrevealed skeletons in the cupboards & whoever said that Burke & Lawlor were small beer might be right.
Actually, Brian Boru, FF were in power when the Stardust happened. It was 25 years ago this year that is Feb 14th 1981, and the general election was in June of that year. You know, normally I would take all this a curse on all their houses attitude from people who are trying to spare the governement with a lorryload of salt. Not in this instance I think you should apologise for that bare faced lie. Even if you base the degree of blame on time in office since the fire, FF are head and tails above everyone, with Labour and the PDs ahead of FG.
However, I don’t think that responsiblity should be shared in such a silly manner. The fact is that new inquiry would cost a darn sight less than the tribunals and is more likely to produce a result.
This government (and most governments) have a clear model for dealing with inquirys they don’t want.
1) resist calls for inquiries until the last resort
2) confine inquiries to the narrowest possible remit
3) draw the inquiry out for as long as possible
4) ensure that the findings of any inquiry are restricted to purely technical facts.
And how would you run an inquiry Gaz?
openly with genuine consultation and input from the families of the victims.
how openly? Are you suggestion that we look at the nature of the manufacture of cleaning products in the 1970s and 80s? Or perhaps people can talk whatever they feel like on the day? You have to have some guidelines.
ffs cleaning products, theres no pint in being facetious. Obvious questions should be fully investigated such as why the stardust owners got away with repeated breaches of fire regulations and building bye-laws, when there was a fire inspection only 3 weeks earlier. How could that allow chained fire exits and steel plates over the toilet windows. Was arson the cause of the fire or was it actually faulty wiring or a heater?
Stardust owner Eamon Butterly was a Fianna Fail supporter and made donations to the local TD, Charlie Haughey. Former Minister, Kevin Boland went for coffee and ‘a chat’ nearly every morning with Butterly according to his book while Jack Lynch asked Butterly to join Taca, the FF fundraising initiative for business men. Bertie even has the nerve to tell the families that there was no need for them to protest outside the Dáil.
There needs to be a full public inquiry set up as soon as possible. We’re still at the first stage in the model for dealing with an inquiry governments don’t want ie delaying it for as long as possible. If there is one I’ve no doubt we’ll get the tribunal treatment were it goes on for ages and has narrow terms. The government report into GAMA has never been published and no one from GAMA has been prosecuted for taking millions of euroes out of the pockets of workers. The terms of any inquiry would have to have approval and support from the families otherwise there is no real point in having one.