Comments on: Fianna Fail in Roscommon Ultimatum

By: Al Payne

Al Payne — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:39:46 +0000

Democracy has had its day in Ireland. It is time things began to move in this country and when the TDs could not do it then the only common sense thing to do was appoint someone outside to make the decisions and blame them. In Roscommon’s case the TD was playing a game – one that Bertie played along with. Create a situation and get Bertie to say that it would not happen and now the TD will be a hero and get plenty of votes. Once th election is out of the way the HSE can continue with its job of demolishing the health service in rural Ireland.

By: Darren Mac an Phríora

Darren Mac an Phríora — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 00:24:08 +0000

I was surprised to hear so many people clap when the TD announced at the meeting that he would not stand for FF again if they did not sort the local hospital out. Maybe Michael Finneran is seen as a nice guy in his consituency though, I don’t know. However, I find it rather spurious that he is only putting his neck out now coming up to the election. There are a whole host of issues that FF politican’s should have resigned from the party by now over. There are a lot of good people in FF but I will never understand how they can stay in a party that has seen the gap between the rich and the poor grow so much.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 07:32:24 +0000

Another potential defection to the ranks of the Independents, before or after the election is called, shows how party politics is in serious decline. Roscommon of course saw Tom Foxe elected as the Hospital Candidate in 1989, thereby unseating Sean Doherty, and he held his seat in 1992. Why wouldn’t Finneran be tempted? It could guarantee him political survival as a TD. What purpose this might be put to is another question entirely.

By: Seamus Ryan

Seamus Ryan — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 15:46:34 +0000

Cian makes an important point about the government hiding behind the HSE. Whatever happened with the old maxim “the buck stops here”. Government ministers no longer accept responsibility for any failings in the delivery of services in this country. But yet when the news is positive they are the first to jump to the podium to announce the latest grant etc. What we need is a government that is willing to take responsibility for its actions and its failings. If there is a problem with the delivery of our health service the blame lies with the HSE, if the problem is in roads then its the NRA that takes the blame and on it goes.

By: Cian

Cian — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 15:36:10 +0000

Simon, that might have something to do with the government often being seen to hide behind the HSE (effectively now the conglomeration of the health boards) and thus both parties being dragged into the focus as supposed actors/decision makers (a cynic might suggest both do neither).

By: simon

simon — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 15:24:01 +0000

Very interesting point P that I never thought of before. Is it the media driven focus of the HSE. I mean can you name the head of the National roads authority ? Can you name the HSE.? I will have to think about that point

By: P O'Neill

P O'Neill — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 14:55:07 +0000

One interesting thing is that the quango approach has been much less successful with health than with roads. Whatever one’s view of the National Roads Authority, it did take some of the parish pump aspect out of road building, and yet seems not to have generated any significant protest candidates or party defections even with some very controversial motorway decisions. But locals just have not bought the line that the HSE is separate from the political side of the government.