Comments on: The John Crown Affair http://www.irishelection.com/2007/11/the-john-crown-affair/ Coverage of Irish Politics, News and Current Affairs Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:23:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Cowen Portraits, or “PictureGate” | Keith @ Granite Shavings http://www.irishelection.com/2007/11/the-john-crown-affair/comment-page-1/#comment-116632 Cowen Portraits, or “PictureGate” | Keith @ Granite Shavings Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:57:44 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/11/the-john-crown-affair/#comment-116632 [...] bit of grovelling to the Government - let’s not forget the Máire Hoctor interview and the withdrawl of Professor John Crown from the Late Late Show), it’s the Garda actions that really annoy [...] [...] bit of grovelling to the Government – let’s not forget the Máire Hoctor interview and the withdrawl of Professor John Crown from the Late Late Show), it’s the Garda actions that really annoy [...]

]]> By: Neil Ward : http://www.irishelection.com/2007/11/the-john-crown-affair/comment-page-1/#comment-102964 Neil Ward : Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:57:04 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/11/the-john-crown-affair/#comment-102964 [...] have been invited to attend the first hour of this meeting, which will be addressed by The Boss and Dr. John Crown.  So keep an eye out on the news this evening - you might catch a glimpse of me in my rather [...] [...] have been invited to attend the first hour of this meeting, which will be addressed by The Boss and Dr. John Crown.  So keep an eye out on the news this evening – you might catch a glimpse of me in my rather [...]

]]> By: Irish Election » Tempers fray in the Dail http://www.irishelection.com/2007/11/the-john-crown-affair/comment-page-1/#comment-60671 Irish Election » Tempers fray in the Dail Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:39:35 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/11/the-john-crown-affair/#comment-60671 [...] and then demands in outraged tones that the criticism be withdrawn.   In fact we know from the John Crown affair that the government was keeping close track of Crown all the way back to statements he made prior to [...] [...] and then demands in outraged tones that the criticism be withdrawn.   In fact we know from the John Crown affair that the government was keeping close track of Crown all the way back to statements he made prior to [...]

]]> By: Harney Wanted Crowne Pulled from A Different RTE Show at Irish Election http://www.irishelection.com/2007/11/the-john-crown-affair/comment-page-1/#comment-60376 Harney Wanted Crowne Pulled from A Different RTE Show at Irish Election Sun, 18 Nov 2007 12:11:15 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/11/the-john-crown-affair/#comment-60376 [...] After the revelation yesterday that it was most likely a complaint about balance, most likely to be interpreted as a de facto pulling of Crowne, by HSE. Today’s Sindo reports that Harney was also offered to the Saturday view in order to speak on the health service. Prof. Crowne was also due to be on the panel but Harney wanted him pulled as a condition for her appearance. Yesterday, however, a spokesman for Ms Harney, Mark Costigan, confirmed that he had personally contacted the producer of Saturday View last weekend offering Ms Harney as a Government spokeswoman on the radio show. [...] [...] After the revelation yesterday that it was most likely a complaint about balance, most likely to be interpreted as a de facto pulling of Crowne, by HSE. Today’s Sindo reports that Harney was also offered to the Saturday view in order to speak on the health service. Prof. Crowne was also due to be on the panel but Harney wanted him pulled as a condition for her appearance. Yesterday, however, a spokesman for Ms Harney, Mark Costigan, confirmed that he had personally contacted the producer of Saturday View last weekend offering Ms Harney as a Government spokeswoman on the radio show. [...]

]]> By: sarah http://www.irishelection.com/2007/11/the-john-crown-affair/comment-page-1/#comment-60362 sarah Sat, 17 Nov 2007 13:57:47 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/11/the-john-crown-affair/#comment-60362 well what do you know, for once I'm right! In his column today, Noel Whelan spends most of his 1200 words debunking the "Harney didn't phone Cathal Goan" story and then three quarters way down admits "It did emerge that during contact with the Late Late Show about the possibility of Harney participating in the programme, her press officer had also observed that the line-up looked unbalanced but that is a very far cry from the suggestion that she had put direct pressure on the director general of RTÉ." There ya go...don't provide a spokesperson, then claim there's no balance... well what do you know, for once I’m right! In his column today, Noel Whelan spends most of his 1200 words debunking the “Harney didn’t phone Cathal Goan” story and then three quarters way down admits “It did emerge that during contact with the Late Late Show about the possibility of Harney participating in the programme, her press officer had also observed that the line-up looked unbalanced but that is a very far cry from the suggestion that she had put direct pressure on the director general of RTÉ.”

There ya go…don’t provide a spokesperson, then claim there’s no balance…

]]> By: Blogs Bang the Drum While RTE Beats its Chest | Irish Election http://www.irishelection.com/2007/11/the-john-crown-affair/comment-page-1/#comment-60165 Blogs Bang the Drum While RTE Beats its Chest | Irish Election Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:21:15 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/11/the-john-crown-affair/#comment-60165 [...] (a title for a controversy that she seems to have taken directly from P.O’Neill’s excellent post on Irish Election because she says, rather sarcastically, ‘the blogosphere drums are beating with [...] [...] (a title for a controversy that she seems to have taken directly from P.O’Neill’s excellent post on Irish Election because she says, rather sarcastically, ‘the blogosphere drums are beating with [...]

]]> By: Sarah http://www.irishelection.com/2007/11/the-john-crown-affair/comment-page-1/#comment-60155 Sarah Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:00:36 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/11/the-john-crown-affair/#comment-60155 The reporters and opposition politicians did the "affair" a disservice by doorstepping the Taoiseach and Harney demanding to know if they rang Noel Curran (RTE TV MD) to have Crown dropped. Of course that didn't happen. Instead, as Mark pointed out, the HSE and Department of Health simply refuse to provide a spokesperson. Then there is no "balance" and underlings, can demand of RTE that there is "balance" and this is best achieved by dropping the one qualified person on the panel instead of journalists and commentators. Harney should've been asked, not if she demanded that Crown be dropped, but why she didn't provide a spokesperson for the other side. And when on earth did Eamon Dunphy become an expert on the health system? As for Mary Raftery, I though the Catholic Church was her forte. Shouldn't one of them been dropped? The other point is that when you have one party in government for nearly 20 years and its the same week that the licence fee increase is being decided, you realise why effective one party rule is on occasion sinister. The phone call doesn't even have to be made. The RTE executives meet socially and officially the ministers all the time, the flow of employees between RTE and government buildings and PR firms is steady, and when Fianna Fail is a prospective employer, maybe no one needs to phone to make you think very hard about how best to achieve "balance" when the Dept. won't provide a spokesperson...It's a culture, not a conspiracy. I've found myself, as I increasingly meet the members of the establishment, it can take the sting out of your attacks on them - they become human instead of agents for the Dark Side ;-) Both governments and broadcasters need regular fresh injections of personnel to keep everyone on their toes... The reporters and opposition politicians did the “affair” a disservice by doorstepping the Taoiseach and Harney demanding to know if they rang Noel Curran (RTE TV MD) to have Crown dropped. Of course that didn’t happen. Instead, as Mark pointed out, the HSE and Department of Health simply refuse to provide a spokesperson. Then there is no “balance” and underlings, can demand of RTE that there is “balance” and this is best achieved by dropping the one qualified person on the panel instead of journalists and commentators. Harney should’ve been asked, not if she demanded that Crown be dropped, but why she didn’t provide a spokesperson for the other side. And when on earth did Eamon Dunphy become an expert on the health system? As for Mary Raftery, I though the Catholic Church was her forte. Shouldn’t one of them been dropped?

The other point is that when you have one party in government for nearly 20 years and its the same week that the licence fee increase is being decided, you realise why effective one party rule is on occasion sinister. The phone call doesn’t even have to be made. The RTE executives meet socially and officially the ministers all the time, the flow of employees between RTE and government buildings and PR firms is steady, and when Fianna Fail is a prospective employer, maybe no one needs to phone to make you think very hard about how best to achieve “balance” when the Dept. won’t provide a spokesperson…It’s a culture, not a conspiracy.

I’ve found myself, as I increasingly meet the members of the establishment, it can take the sting out of your attacks on them – they become human instead of agents for the Dark Side ;-) Both governments and broadcasters need regular fresh injections of personnel to keep everyone on their toes…

]]> By: Dublin Opinion » Blog Archive » Blogs Bang the Drum While RTE Beats its Chest http://www.irishelection.com/2007/11/the-john-crown-affair/comment-page-1/#comment-60145 Dublin Opinion » Blog Archive » Blogs Bang the Drum While RTE Beats its Chest Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:02:34 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/11/the-john-crown-affair/#comment-60145 [...] (a title for a controversy that she seems to have taken directly from PO’Neill’s rather fine post on Irish Election because she says, rather sarcastically, ‘the blogosphere drums are beating with [...] [...] (a title for a controversy that she seems to have taken directly from PO’Neill’s rather fine post on Irish Election because she says, rather sarcastically, ‘the blogosphere drums are beating with [...]

]]> By: Cian http://www.irishelection.com/2007/11/the-john-crown-affair/comment-page-1/#comment-60133 Cian Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:49:00 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/11/the-john-crown-affair/#comment-60133 <a href="http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/opinion/2007/1113/1194550203605.html" rel="nofollow">Banging drums</a> P? <i>The blogosphere drums are beating with the so-called John Crown Affair and the idea that RTÉ, our national broadcaster, capitulated to its political masters and "banned" a troublesome voice of dissent. To some it appears to make sense that the head of TV, or even the director general, would quietly pull guests because it might disturb the TV licence fee review. And because a Minister told them to do it.</i> @Mark that is another great point and it suggests this whole bunker mentality going on inside gov/HSE is gonna stay for a while. Crown may well have been dropped with no government interference but it isn't blogs spreading red herrings, he was in two sunday newspapers that I talking about Bertie's briefings. As well as this it is plausible that someone pulled the plug due to either expected pressure or in anticipation of a decision up the line (it was well covered on Eamon Keane yesterday) Banging drums P?
The blogosphere drums are beating with the so-called John Crown Affair and the idea that RTÉ, our national broadcaster, capitulated to its political masters and “banned” a troublesome voice of dissent. To some it appears to make sense that the head of TV, or even the director general, would quietly pull guests because it might disturb the TV licence fee review. And because a Minister told them to do it.

@Mark that is another great point and it suggests this whole bunker mentality going on inside gov/HSE is gonna stay for a while.

Crown may well have been dropped with no government interference but it isn’t blogs spreading red herrings, he was in two sunday newspapers that I talking about Bertie’s briefings. As well as this it is plausible that someone pulled the plug due to either expected pressure or in anticipation of a decision up the line (it was well covered on Eamon Keane yesterday)

]]> By: P O'Neill http://www.irishelection.com/2007/11/the-john-crown-affair/comment-page-1/#comment-60093 P O'Neill Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:45:00 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/11/the-john-crown-affair/#comment-60093 In the interest of clarity I went back to look at Crown's article from 17th October this year, which is actually just before the latest row blew up and so deals with the more general issue of healthcare provision and not just cancer -- here are the key bits (can't tell whether it needs a subscription or not) -- <em>Truly informed students of health economics (poorly represented among our ad-hoc health commentariat and even less well in government) will have found the results of the recent Euro Consumer Health Index striking, if predictable. Ireland ranked 16th out of 29 nations surveyed across a set of consumer parameters, but in the area of waiting lists, the index that matters most to patients, we ranked dead last ... Strikingly, every one of the top five countries - Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands - finance their hospitals through a single-tier, social insurance-based "money follows the patient", or Bismarckian model ... If the current Harney reforms are implemented, the system will be replaced by a rigidly apartheid two-tier system. The poor, whom the right regard as uninsured parasites, will rely on fixed-budget and highly rationed care. Those who can afford it (including virtually all politicians, health bureaucrats and commentators) will use an insurance-based parallel private system ... A true reform, and not the patch job currently in offer, based on universal insurance and single-tier care (similar to Germany, Austria or Canada) deserves support from right and left. The left should love the total equity of access, with the poorest person in the land seeing the same doctors in the same offices and hospitals as does the Taoiseach. They should worship a system where care is delivered on need and not on ability to pay. The right should love a system which at the stroke of a pen cuts taxes (replacing them with something much more efficient - a non-progressive health insurance contribution), fires thousands of bureaucrats and links hospital funding to activity and efficiency, a system where the patient on the waiting list represents lost revenue, not an inactivity bonus.</em> As I understand it, this is the "money follows the patient" model i.e. healthcare is not free at the point of delivery, as in the NHS or Irish public, but everyone pays and then gets reimbursement either from insurance or the state. Thus there is private insurance but they are heavily regulated (e.g. community rating, pre-existing conditions) and the state is backstopping the whole thing, but there is single tier provision -- from the perspective of the hospital, everyone is a paying customer. In the interest of clarity I went back to look at Crown’s article from 17th October this year, which is actually just before the latest row blew up and so deals with the more general issue of healthcare provision and not just cancer — here are the key bits (can’t tell whether it needs a subscription or not) –

Truly informed students of health economics (poorly represented among our ad-hoc health commentariat and even less well in government) will have found the results of the recent Euro Consumer Health Index striking, if predictable.

Ireland ranked 16th out of 29 nations surveyed across a set of consumer parameters, but in the area of waiting lists, the index that matters most to patients, we ranked dead last …

Strikingly, every one of the top five countries – Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands – finance their hospitals through a single-tier, social insurance-based “money follows the patient”, or Bismarckian model …
If the current Harney reforms are implemented, the system will be replaced by a rigidly apartheid two-tier system. The poor, whom the right regard as uninsured parasites, will rely on fixed-budget and highly rationed care. Those who can afford it (including virtually all politicians, health bureaucrats and commentators) will use an insurance-based parallel private system … A true reform, and not the patch job currently in offer, based on universal insurance and single-tier care (similar to Germany, Austria or Canada) deserves support from right and left.

The left should love the total equity of access, with the poorest person in the land seeing the same doctors in the same offices and hospitals as does the Taoiseach. They should worship a system where care is delivered on need and not on ability to pay.

The right should love a system which at the stroke of a pen cuts taxes (replacing them with something much more efficient – a non-progressive health insurance contribution), fires thousands of bureaucrats and links hospital funding to activity and efficiency, a system where the patient on the waiting list represents lost revenue, not an inactivity bonus.

As I understand it, this is the “money follows the patient” model i.e. healthcare is not free at the point of delivery, as in the NHS or Irish public, but everyone pays and then gets reimbursement either from insurance or the state. Thus there is private insurance but they are heavily regulated (e.g. community rating, pre-existing conditions) and the state is backstopping the whole thing, but there is single tier provision — from the perspective of the hospital, everyone is a paying customer.

]]>