Comments on: It couldn’t happen in Ireland

By: P O'Neill

P O'Neill — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:13:02 +0000

I agree with Mick. The civil service angle is important too. And also one that has been tested in Ireland. You’ll talk (and I have) to FGers who still feel that the 1994-97 Rainbow was undermined by a senior civil service with thinly veiled FF sympathies. In some ways the American model looks a lot cleaner, with its division between political appointees and career track civil servants. Anyway as for Green, to me the telling thing is the outrage even from the Labour benches. They know that the precedent here is dreadful.

By: Mick

Mick — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:28:04 +0000

Disagree Simon. There are at least two issues of principle at play here. The sanctity of the legislature. And the principle of a neutral civil service. Both look busted from where I’m sitting.

By: simon

simon — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:45:30 +0000

The guy broke the law. Simple as. There has been lots of sanctimonious twaddle in all the papers over here. For months they have been giving out about home office leaks, and other department leaks. And for once the police actually do something and plug the hole and what do we get. Rupert Murdock bleeting on. nonsense story

By: Mick

Mick — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:58:51 +0000

Excellent stuff P!! Hope to cite that in my opening argument on Brassneck today. Keep your eyes peeled for teh Speaker’s statement on Wednesday. If his excuse is as weak as it looks, then he should walk the plank.

But there is the separate question of what you do about Civil Servants working apparently under the direction of the Opposition to take whatever he can from a Minister’s private office that will embarrassing to the Government.

The Whistleblower’s defence should suffice in law, but ethically, I argue it changes many assumptions upon which government rests (very unreliably and uncomfortably in this case).