Brian Cowens final election message to constituents in 2007. He asks Voters to ‘let us proceed with the Next Steps’… ‘to ensure Bertie Ahern continues the good work…’
The candidates shown are Sean Fleming, John Moloney and John Foley.

 John Foley is the chap who disappeared and then reappeared in that David Davin Power report from the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis a few years back.

Citizens Association of the Bewildered
(CAB)

As stated before I remain convinced that we must put pressure on the powers that be

Again to-day Brian Cowen fob off the Idea of an investigation into the Banking meltdown that he and Brian Lenihian help to cause

He also poured water on the notion to revisit the previous financial regulators negligence

We can make all the comments we like and David McWilliams will eventually move on to the next topic

I believe that it has its uses, like b ringing likeminded individuals together to discuss the grave matters facing the Irish Nation.

But I am not satisfied anymore just talking about things I want to do something and I want to fight back I want to bring the fear I have every day, to the very people that have caused this incredible damage to our country

These people have blood on their hands, just look at the suicide’s statistics

There comes a time when you just have to stand up and take action !

Who will join me?

To all Irish patriots out there join

CAB    now

(Citizens Association of the Bewildered)

This new association is dedicated to taking the fight into the streets of Ireland to take back our country from the incompetent political leaches that have destroyed our independence, handed us over to unscrupulous bankers and their masters the foreign bond holders

This club is for people willing to fight using all available means to take back our country from the corrupt politicians in Lenster House who have sold out their own people to enrich themselves

You can get in touch with me  at  bewilderedcitizens@gmail.com

Only if you are willing to fight for what you believe in.

Any help is appreciated

NAMA   is just plain fraud,

The greatest financial fraud that has ever happened in this state was not brought about by some un-known bank robbers; even the outrage that happened when Garda McCabe was murdered in Limerick does not come close to the outrage that is NAMA

What hope is there for law and order when the biggest bank robbers in the state are in fact the Directors of the Banks themselves and the Government?

In my view any bank robber in this state, can now go to court and claim that he or she was following the example of the bank directors, the Finance Minster and the Government

The Green Party’s total mindboggling betrayal of their principles and of the majority of their voters has destroyed them forever

Gormely and his sidekick must know that it was the “votes” of non green party member’s that got them into the Dail and not just their 400 odd members

I believe it is time now for a new Green party, an alternative green party to oppose the power addicted, FF stooges currently nourishing this corrupt government.

We need to perhaps have a complete rethink of the political system that has the power to so utterly and convincibly  corrupt

I have in the past called for and still demand that the Banks be Nationalized

All directors to be charged with neglect and fraud

All their assets frozen

A full investigation into the conduct of the financial regulators office and charges brought forward on the grounds of dereliction of duties

All pension payments to be stopped to him and any others involved in his or other civil services offices

A full repayment of his Golden handshake

A full investigation on who authorized the fraudulent financial transactions that were designed to mask the true financial position of Anglo Irish Bank

All directors of the financial institutions involved to be brought up on criminal charges of attempting to defraud the ordinary shareholders and their own institutions

All such directors must be barred from holding any future directorships in any financial institutions

All their assets to be frozen, and upon convictions must face a minimum jail sentence of 20 years (Full Time Served)

Brian Lenihan and Brian Cowen to be investigated on their involvement in the destruction of Irish sovereignty, loss of financial independence, attempting to defraud the state by setting up the largest bank robbery in history (NAMA)

These men to stand trial on charges of treason.

The previous Directors of Anglo Irish Bank to be investigated on possible charges of fraud

All pensions and assets to be seized until outcome of investigation

A complete disclosure of the names of the Anglo Irish golden circle members

All transaction carried out with them to be investigated and results to be published

Only after this kind of accountability can the Irish public move forward into a future where the people in places of trust and power will be held accountable for their actions

And a new begining can take place and we can demonstrate to the world that

we are the masters of our own destiny!

In the latest edition of The Phoenix and also, if I’m not mistaken, last week’s Sunday Business Post, there was speculation that a heave against Brian Cowen may be about to take place. They say that many backbenchers and some Ministers feel that Cowen doesn’t have what is needed to turn around the party’s fortunes before the next General Election.

The consensus is that Brian Lenihan, Minister for Finance has what it takes to do it. They feel he has come through this current economic crisis as a strong, decisive and tough leader. I’ll agree with them. He has and I hope he continues to be strong, decisive and tough. But this doesn’t mean I want him to replace Brian Cowen now.

In a few years, I fully expect Brian Lenihan to lead our party and to become Taoiseach (yeah, I know that this means winning an election in the future. It can and will happen), but to be fair to Cowen he is doing his best. He is putting the Nation’s interests ahead of the party’s and I respect him for that. He knows that he wont have a 15 year leadership of Fianna Fáil or an extended term as Taoiseach. He is doing what a Leader has to do – Take tough and painful decisions.

The simple fact is that I don’t think changing Leader now will make a blind bit of difference to our fortunes at the next General Election. The vast majority of people have made up their mind that they have had enough of Fianna Fáil and want them to spend some time in opposition. The challenge for us in Fianna Fáil is to do what is right for our country now and leave it in as good a position as we can. Our time will come again. Fianna Fáil will be back. Lenihan will, I believe, become Taoiseach. But let’s do what we need to do now under Cowen. Do what is right under Cowen and allow him to lead and to made decisions for the Nation without having to look behind his back for a wandering dagger!

A major row has erupted today between cosmetics giant Nivea Visage and Ireland’s alleged oldest man Michael Longshanks. Nivea Visage is alleging Michael Longshanks has lied about his age in order to create avenues into the public eye as well as a way of making a fast buck. A Galway native now living in Dublin, Longshanks is believed to be an impressive 114 years old. He came to the attention of the Irish public earlier this year when he was chosen as a spokesperson for Nivea Visage off the back of becoming Ireland’s oldest person. Nivea Visage is threatening legal action as they allege he has lied about his age and lifestyle. Pierre Dubois, head of marketing at Nivea Visage’s European operations responded to Mr. Longshanks’ rather candid two word press release of ‘fuck off’ today in a rather silly and altogether comical French accent. Mr. Dubois claimed Mr. Longshanks had ‘deliberately misled the company for financial gain’ and ‘lied about his lifestyle in order to secure a more lucrative contract with Nivea Visage’.

Nivea Visage have confirmed they obtained a birth certificate which would put Mr. Longshanks at a sprightly 99 not at the 114 years he is claiming. Mr. Longshanks’ title as Ireland’s oldest man has come under further scrutiny after a private conversation was published today in the Irish Daily Mail. Among a number of shocking claims made by Mr. Longshanks was that he ‘spent most of the 60s on LSD thinking I was a giraffe’. His clean cut image to a further knock when he admitted to frequent cocaine use. “Everyone’s doing it”, claimed Mr. Longshanks “I shared a line with Gay Byrne last week in Lillies”. He was also quoted as saying that the secret to long life is casual sex and habitual drug use.

Previous to the explosive interview published today the O.A.P had come under criticism for “living too long” and “costing the taxpayer a lot of money” by the Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

“  ’round, like a circle in a spiral…” The Windmills of Your Mind opens with these lyrics, which came to my own little mind in recent days when pondering where this fine little country of ours might be in six months, even just three months’ time.

After the ballsy measure of the Government to cut 5% off the first 30,000 earned by all public servants the moment Auld Lang Syne has finished (or at the sound of the first note, to be precise), it is hard to see how the new year will bring much good tiding or industrial peace for Team Éire.   [By ballsy, No I'm not sure whether I meant correct and corageous, or a balls-up].

Clearly, Bertie Ahern brought his socialist principles right out of Government Buildings  when he told his last Cabinet meeting in May 2008 he was stepping down. The welfare cuts and the chop to low-paid public servants’ pay will mean more of the country’s less well-off struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.

But then again, at least the Government remembered to keep the pensioners happy by leaving theirs as the only social welfare payment untouched.  I doubt they’d have made the woefully misjudged mistake of withdrawing medical-cards from some over-70s if Ahern was still at the helm.   [see Pat Leahy's excellent Showtime - The Inside Story of Fianna Fáil in Power for a description of how the Drumcondra duke concerned himself with little at budget-time during Charlie McCreevy's stint at Finance, except to ensure he hiked welfare payments and gave special attention to the pensioners].

So B&B (Cowen & Lenihan) are now calling the trade unions’ bluff and insisting they come back to the table with reforms that were on offer during the failed pay talks up to 10 days ago if they want to avoid further pay cuts in 2011. Batt O’Keeffe was already on the record on that one during the week and even Fine Gael had pushed a similar button within hours of Wednesday’s budget.   Balls come to mind again here, only this time it’s fair to say the Government has a snowball’s chance in hell in the current climate of bringing Begg, O’Connor and McLoone back to Merrion Square for a bit of an oul’ chat soon after the mince pies and the turkeys have all been tucked away.

The suspicion that An Taoiseach was playing a cute strategy by bringing the unions to the brink and then walking away – knowing he could wave the various reforms they had offered from a flag atop high moral ground – has got to be a bit more real now that the dust has settled on Budget 2010.  The initial reaction of bewilderment by all who were involved in and closely watching the Government-union talks the week before last gave rise to a belief that Brian Cowen bowed to the pressure of his backbenchers uneasy about the union proposals that their members forego 12 days pay and take the related time off over the next few years.

But maybe it was political cute-hoorism at its best [or worst, depending on your standpoint] by a Government unsure of its head from its tail:  “Sure we’ll see what they’re willing to offer, then pull the plug and cut their pay anyway. As much as they rant about it afterwards, we can still threaten to dock them more next year if they don’t reform anyways.”  Sounds a bit like the kind of diplomacy that ruled the Middle East in the 1950s and right through to the modern day, now that I think about it.

The bottom line now is this: the unions say we’ll strike if you insist on cutting our pay, while Brian Lenihan (ie, an Rialtas) belts out his own ultimatum – “You guys walk off the job and cost us money, we’ll just have to dock more than the day’s wages off ye”

And so,” Round, like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel /Never ending or beginning, on an ever spinning wheel..”  Skip to verse 5: “Why did summer go so quickly / Was it something that I said”

Chances are, summer will be upon us very quickly and no resolution found, and before we know it again, it’ll be Budget 2011 time [if there hasn't been another supplementary budget, never mind Lenihan's "read my lips"]. So, the unions may have to bite their lips (or get their members to do so) and at least listen to what the Government has to say.

They may well be right in Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) circles that public service workers – certainly, those in the lower-paid ranks – are being asked to bear a heavier share of the pain than is fair.  But given the balls shown by B&B on the issue last week, there is no reason to believe the same pain will not be inflicted again….[avoid temptation to sign  off with fading:  'and again, and again.........]

The latest budget has been issued by the Government. Prior to the release of the budget the public were made to believe it would be “the worst budget in the history of the state”, according to opposition parties, economists and the media. I myself believed it, and now am one of few people who will admit to being pleased by the fact that it simply is not.

I’ve spoken to many people about this and the majority have replied with the same mindless answer of “the budget is a disgrace”. I promptly asked if they’d read the budget. None had.

The Government has tried to right some of its wrongs. They’ve been listening to the people and I think they’ve limited the amount of “vulnerable” people (a term a loath) they affect. They’ve taken their criticism without any pinch of salt, so it seems – the bad taste was probably an awakening and their motivations perhaps.

While the Irish media would never dream of praising the Government, the international market has welcomed the plans. Reuters said our government has “made good on cuts that it must make to halt the growth of its deficit”. The Wall Street Journal says the budget will “tame debt”. The Economist wrote, “Ireland shows the rest of Europe what austerity really means”. It seems the international community thinks the government has made the right decisions. These are the people in the know: they know how to make money.

Some of the biggest criticism aimed at the government was due to their extortionate wages. The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, has taken a pay cut of around 20%. In the eyes of the public it doesn’t make him a better person for taking the cut, but he did it anyway. He still earns a huge sum of money, but if you were a world leader wouldn’t you like to too?

Further reductions in pay can be seen for cabinet ministers, TDs and senators. Percentage cuts will be made to their pensions also, depending on their income.

Pensions will not suffer from the latest scheme, however €16 will be taken from all parents and guardians per month, with the reduction in child benefit. I am of course against this, but there are some ways of justifying this action. In France, for example, there is no child benefit scheme.

Let’s say there wasn’t a reduction of €16 per month where would we get the money from? Pensioners? See, if it’s not one, it has to be another. Pensions may only have one source of income, working parents are obviously much better off.

The biggest surprise to many was the cuts that have been made in the public sector. Because public sector workers are some of the most protected workers in the country I am in favour of the cuts. Public sector workers will continue to receive their benefits and guaranteed pension schemes, therefore I’m in favour a 5% cut from earners of €30,000, 7.5% cut up to €40,000, and 10% cut up to €55,000.

There have been changes to the tax system also. 48% of workers are still exempt from tax. 40% of workers are on the lower rate of tax, and 12% will pay the higher rate. The tax bars have been raised now so higher earners will pay more tax than they did previously.

I’m pleased to see the government has taken action against carbon emissions with the introduction of a carbon tax. It’s a step in the right direction to meeting our EU goal, and it’ll provide more money for the state.

However it may seem, there are aspects of the budget I disagree with. I’m not a diehard Fianna Fáil supporter. They’ve made colossal mistakes – many of which can be justified – and I know people will be very reluctant to give them another chance.

The budget has affected me. I’m a student. My income is based mostly on a state grant, which doesn’t go far. I’ve learned that there will be a 5% cut to my grant of September next year. It will hurt – I’ll miss it – but it’s just one of those thing that I have to live with. If I was living in any other country I wouldn’t have the luxury. I’d be thousands of euro in debt because of student loans.

Whatever you may think about the Government, whatever you may think about the economy, whatever you may think about politics, realise that something has to be done. No matter what is done or who does it, somebody is going to be affected by change. In the end it’ll be worth it – the only way the recession can end is because of change.

When the next general election comes round vote whatever which way you please but bear in mind that economics will drive the governments of the next decade, and all parties with a clear structure will make the same decisions. Their popularity will be the same in the end, the only difference is one will have nicer advertising – and you’ll vote them in because of it. I will too.

Mr Gogarty, a green TD who along with his party have sold out the young and old and the unemployed of this country, for the perks and merks of office.

Mr.GOGARTY, has Shown the true colours of this party of gurriers, to a shocked nation!

If anyone was in doubted the calibre of the Green TD’s we have running the country this clip demonstrated the type of thugs we are now saddled with who are calling the shots within the Irish Government

Drunk with power only after two and a half years in the Dail, these Greens have shown the world that they have total control over the Government and they can say and do what they like because Brian Cowen and Brine Lenihian desperately need them and have lost all credibility with the bewildered people of Ireland!

We don’t need any more evidence; this is the undeniable proof that we are being ruled by people directly from the gutters.

Budget 2010 - Brian Linehan

All as expected really, with the pre-press, various leaks etc all preparing everyone for what pretty much happened.

Happy? – I guess being selfish about it we all examine how it affects us personally and on this occasion there were no direct hits to the ship! If we drink more than we use diesel then we are making money! That was a strange one that seemed to catch everyone by surprise.

Whichever way you look at it a lot of money will be taken from circulation, which will effect everyone both as private individuals and those in business. This has affected pretty much all of us this year already – I wonder in real terms how much less money was in circulation this year than before? It must be a huge figure.

The real budget headline for me was one of ‘Rewind’, the Government trying to take back what it probably gave away too easily in better times. It always amazes me how easy it is to get used to extra money, you seem to automatically adjust your lifestyle and mostly to the extent that you have a ‘new level’ of necessities.

Try taking it back after! Different story altogether.

So whether we think the public service or those on welfare are overpaid or not, this is real people we are talking about who are all waking up this morning contemplating significant financial adjustments. The unions will no doubt huff and puff and end up blowing nothing down, just raise a level of anger and frustration with a lot of people. At the end of the day it will be real people who will be really affected, some worse than others.

Today spare a thought for those who do not have a cushion of excess income and can comfortably take an income hit and as a result will be under serious pressure. Try to forget about all the public v private sector stuff, it does none of us any good, these are all our neighbours.

Rewinding is much tougher than fast forwarding.

Greg Canty is a partner of Fuzion Communications

Brian Lenihan delivered his third budget in two years yesterday and what a budget it was! Unlike the vast, vast majority of budgets since Fianna Fáil came to power in 1997, it didnt include any social welfare increases or tax cuts. There were no increases in departmental spending or new schemes putting money back into peoples pockets.You know what? It wasnt as bad as it could have been.

Ok lets recap for those who ignored virtually non stop coverage of proceedings and analysis.

• No changes to the tax code with exception of non residents. No tax raises or band changes
• Cuts in Social Welfare (excluding Pensions) of 4.1%
• Cuts in Public Sector Pay averaging 5-8%
• Changes to Public Sector Pensions into the future
• New money for a retrofitting scheme

We have seen a readjustment of €4 billion to the public finances today. We will need further cuts next year and the year after. Minister Lenihan has said that we have turned the corner and the readjustments wont be as steep into the future.

One of the most important changes that happened today is the standing of the Minister for Finance in the eyes of Fianna Fáil members and hopefully, the public. This isn’t to say that An Taoiseach’s stranding has diminished; it just means I beleive that we now have a two person leadership and to be fair to the Taoiseach, he seems happy with it. Brian Lenihan has come into his own over the past 18 months. He has proven that he  to take tough decisions and follow them through. Is the leader post Cowen?

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said today that Thursdays planned national public sector strike did not go ahead due to ‘poor visibility on the ground and lack of preparation’.

It is expected however that the strike will go ahead shortly as the Government drafts in troops to the capital from all over the country. Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea said the strike will be ‘strategic’ in nature and although his department would not give details of the operation it is expected that the homes of civil servants will be targeted with ruthless efficiency in a bid to drastically cut down on the number of civil servants, and the national wage bill. It is unconfirmed whether the Taoiseach was overheard in the Dáil bar quoting Stalin ‘no man – no problem’.

]]> http://donnachamaguire.wordpress.com/2009/12/06/fianna-fails-future/ Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:53:58 +0000 Donnacha Maguire http://donnachamaguire.wordpress.com/2009/12/06/fianna-fails-future/

Something massive happened last week. Something I never thought I would see for a long time. Fianna Fáil stopped allowing the Trade Unions to set government policy. When Brian Cowen and Brian Lenihan told the Unions that what they were proposing re: Unpaid Leave wasnt good enough; it gave my heart a flutter!

Don’t get me wrong; I support the Social Partnership method of dealing with pay, perks and pensions. It has served us well over the past 20 odd years. We have had relative industrial harmony (well only when we had loads of money to pay the unions) and this has, I’m sure, helped our economy no end. However, there are times when a government must make a decision if an agreement cannot be reached. Put simply, unpaid leave was never going to work. It was too difficult to implement, would have damaged services and didnt have the support of the people.

Eoghan Harris, in today’s Sunday Independent, takes the view that Fianna Fáil looked at the 317,000 public sector workers, then looked at the 1.6 million private sector workers and came up with the conclusion that even if we did this deal, the public sector workers still wouldnt vote for us. He is right. We arent going to win any votes from the vast majority of public sector employees but we can win votes off the private sector ones. Labour have hitched themselves to the unions. Fine Gael don’t want to do this but the fact that everyone knows Labour and Fine Gael will do a deal, means that Fine Gael will be forced into adopting Labour’s policy. Spare a thought for the arch Thatcherite in Fine Gael, Leo Varadkar who will have to support this!!

So where does Fianna Fáil go from here. I think it needs to position itself firmly on the Liberal side of things. Trade Unions are fine as long as they dont create an impediment to progress. Government cannot be on the bended knee to the Trade Union leaders. The country must come first, not the demands of the bearded socialists. Monopolies must be opposed at all times in order to protect the consumer.

In terms of taxation, we need a lower tax burden spread amongst more people. Having nearly 45% 0f the workforce not paying tax is not possible any more. When we had large stamp duty receipts from construction, it was workable. We dont have that source of revenue any more and I never want our country to be dependent on it again. A new tax band is required. A 10% rate for all persons earning less than €20,ooo is a possible solution.

Fianna Fáil has a unique position to reposition itself and prepare for the election after next. We must move away from our natural instincts of siding with the unions because ultimately the Unions do not have the country’s best interests in mind, they just case about the 317,000 in the public sector. Here is a quote from Winston Churchill in 1908 which summaries the differences between Socialism and Liberalism. It makes you think!

“Liberalism is not Socialism, and never will be. There is a great gulf fixed. It is not a gulf of method, it is a gulf of principle. Socialism seeks to pull down wealth. Liberalism seeks to raise up poverty. Socialism would kill enterprise; Liberalism would rescue enterprise from the trammels of privilege and preference, Socialism exalts the rule; Liberalism exalts the man. Socialism attacks capital, Liberalism attacks monopoly.”

An Taoiseach,
Mr Brian Cowen, T.D.,
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion Street,
Dublin 2.

Thursday, 3rd December 2009

Dear Taoiseach,

MarriagEquality is a campaign working for equal civil marriage rights for same-sex couples in Ireland.

We ask you to consider upgrading the proposed civil partnership Bill to allow for access to civil marriage for same-sex couples. The introduction of civil partnership as the only option for same-sex couples to have their relationships legally recognised, sends a clear message that lesbians and gay men in Ireland are not considered as equals to heterosexual citizens.

MarriagEquality is conducting a marriage audit, comparing rights gained through civil partnership and those which accompany civil marriage. Initial results based on an analysis of the proposals in the Bill are startling. A same-sex couple who register under the proposed civil partnership scheme will have far fewer rights than a heterosexual married couple in Ireland.

Significantly, the majority of Irish people support the introduction of equal marriage rights in Ireland. Independent polls conducted show that over 80% of Irish people favour full equality regardless of a person’s sexuality (Lansdowne Market Research, October 2008).

We call on you Taoiseach to intervene to protect the equal rights of lesbians and gay men in Ireland through upgrading the current bill to allow for access to civil marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. This would provide protections for lesbian and gay adults, and also give rights to the children of same-sex couple families growing up in Ireland today.

Yours sincerely,
Moninne Griffith
Director
MarriagEquality

While watching the excellent Frontline last night I was reminded of a conversation I had once with a security guard in the A&E department of the Mater Hospital. He reckoned if there was a natural disaster in Dublin, a terrorist attack, a plane crash or a disaster like Hillsborough well then they may as well bolt the doors of A&E closed as they haven’t the capacity, or the plans in place, to deal with anything like that. They barely get through a normal week and every Saturday night is a warzone anyway.

The reason I was reminded of that conversation is this. On The Frontline last night it became very clear that there was no semblance of a masterplan to deal with the flooding we’ve seen hit the land in the past week. And no one will take any responsibility for the lack of foresight and the even greater lack of a plan to cope with it once it had happened. The ESB blame someone else. Likewise the Dept of the Environment. As do the IFA. No one has the balls to say we fucked up, let’s deal with it and make sure it doesn’t happen again. And it’s hugely disconcerting because it’s the same for everything that has gone wrong in recent times in Irish society. From the banks to the church but most of all our political leaders. Nobody has a plan. Nobody’s in charge. The country is crumbling and nobody has the strength of character or vision to step up and say I know where we’ve been and I know where we’re going.

Today the new-fangled Lisbon Treaty came into force, redefining the future of the European Union. And it can’t come a day too soon because here in Ireland we’re clearly not capable of governing ourselves. We need a plan. And I can only hope Europe can provide it because under the stewardship of Brian Cowen, Mary Coughlan et al (oh and not forgetting our merry band of unions) we’re sinking fast.

There is a lot of chatter on Facebook and the like regarding UTV Live tonight. It seems they held up the front page of tomorrows Irish News and it said “Gerry McHugh Fianna Fáil’s first MLA”. I didnt see the report so I can’t confirm nor deny this. Does any one know?

My gut instinct is that Gerry McHugh has joined as an individual member of Fianna Fáil or that they are just making the leap from his attendance at the launch of the Fianna Fáil Forum in Fermanagh on Sunday.

If Gerry has joined Fianna Fáil, it poses some serious questions for An Taoiseach Brian Cowen. 1) Is Gerry McHugh an official Fianna Fáil MLA and 2) Does this mean we are running candidates in 2o11?

Either way, it’s a big week ahead in Irish Politics!

UPDATE @ 00:30 – It seems Gerry is to make a statement tomorrow

Getting Better

It will get worse before it gets better!

What was he thinking when he said this?

I am talking about Brian Cowen of course, the leader of our government, the leader of our country.   I consider myself to be one of the very lucky ones in the last week with the floods. Except for a leaky roof in our office and a lack of running water, no floods and pretty much business as usual.

It is difficult to empathise with people who have had their houses flooded and their livelihoods effectively ended or at least seriously threatened due to the floods. What is it like to be exhausted after days of battling with flood water, struggling with no water to drink or wash, trying to clean up and rescue what you can from the debris? I can only imagine.

In that position I imagine I want to hear things like: “Don’t worry, you will be looked after”, “We will have it all sorted really soon”, not “It will get worse before it gets better” – that must make your hole seem ever deeper. Hope or despair?

Come on Brian, have some cop on will you? Bring people hope not despair. Besides managing how about leading for a change?

You made the same comments after the last budget – why do you think most of the country is half petrified about the economy and their livelihoods. Confidence and positivity will bring optimism, will loosen the purse strings and assist recovery not “It will get worse before it gets better”

It will only get better when we stop talking about it getting worse..

Greg Canty is a partner of Fuzion Communications, Dublin & Cork

Getting Better or worse?

It will get worse before it gets better!

What was he thinking when he said this?

I am talking about Brian Cowen of course, the leader of our government, the leader of our country. I consider myself to be one of the very lucky ones in the last week with the floods. Except for a leaky roof in our office and a lack of running water, no floods and pretty much business as usual.

It is difficult to empathise with people who have had their houses flooded and their livelihoods effectively ended or at least seriously threatened due to the floods. What is it like to be exhausted after days of battling with flood water, struggling with no water to drink or wash, trying to clean up and rescue what you can from the debris? I can only imagine.

In that position I imagine I want to hear things like: “Don’t worry, you will be looked after”, “We will have it all sorted really soon”, not “It will get worse before it gets better” – that must make your hole seem ever deeper. Hope or despair?

Come on Brian, have some cop on will you? Bring people hope not despair. Besides managing how about leading for a change?
You made the same comments after the last budget – why do you think most of the country is half petrified about the economy and their livelihoods. Confidence and positivity will bring optimism, will loosen the purse strings and assist recovery not “It will get worse before it gets better”

It will only get better when we stop talking about it getting worse..

Greg Canty is a partner of Fuzion Communications, Dublin & Cork

Gregory Campbell ha espresso la sua opinione in merito ad una devolution che non potrà avvenire prima di anni

Gregory Campbell, leader del DUP, ha affermato che ancora per anni il trasferimento dei poteri di polizia e giustizia, non vedrà la luce. Non vi è infatti alcuna prospettiva su una data  a breve termine (prima delle festività natalizie), entro la quale essa possa avvenire.
Sarebbe nel torto anche Martin McGuinness sostenendo che la devolution possa avvenire nei primi mesi del 2010.
Questo sarà un argomento di discussione tra il Primo Ministro inglese Gordon Brown e la sua controparte irlandese Brian Cowen.
Campbell ha dichiarato: “Ci vorranno anni, non solo per i miei colleghi ed il sottoscritto, ma per molti della comunità unionista , per vedere il Sinn Fein continuare a lavorare all’interno della Northern Ireland Assembly e non nell’utlizzarla come sorta di ariete, come sta facendo ora”.
E’ strategia del maggior partito repubblicano minacciare il deragliamento dell’intero processo politico attualmente in corso, in mancanza dell’attuazione della devolution.
Declan Dearney criticando il DUP sostiene che “Assolutamente nulla suggerisce che questa posizione possa cambiare. La continua intransigenza è un grave errore politico. Si tratta di un strategia politica deragliante e le conseguenze politiche saranno inevitabili”.
Medesima l’opinione espressa dal vice Primo Ministro nordirlandese Martin McGuinness al Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

Traduci l’articolo…

Justice devolution ‘years away’ (BBC News Northern Ireland)
Policing and justice powers in Northern Ireland may not be devolved for years, the DUP’s Gregory Campbell has said.
The East Londonderry MP said there was no prospect of a date for devolution being given before Christmas.
At the weekend, Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness said a date must be set by then and the powers transferred early in 2010.
The issue is set to be discussed when Prime Minister Gordon Brown meets his Irish counterpart Brian Cowen later.
The DUP and Sinn Fein have been arguing for months about policing and justice, often referred to as the “last piece of the devolution jigsaw”.
Speaking on Monday morning, Mr Campbell said: “It will take years, for not only my colleagues and myself, but for many in the unionist community to see Sinn Fein continuing to work the Northern Ireland Assembly and not using it as some sort of battering ram, because that’s where we are now.
“It appears we’re moving into the position where their speeches – and Martin McGuinness again and Brian Cowen before him were indicating if policing and justice doesn’t happen and there’s no date by Christmas then we’re in for this train wreck.
“Well if that’s the case let them spell it out.”
Train-wreck strategy
Speaking at a republican event at the weekend Sinn Fein national chairperson Declan Kearney said the DUP had to “make its mind up now”.
“In recent weeks all the evidence indicates the DUP have no intention to support the transfer of policing and justice powers,” he said.
“Absolutely nothing suggests this position will change. Their continued intransigence is a serious political mistake. It is a train-wreck political strategy and political consequences will be inevitable.”
Mr McGuinness, who is NI’s deputy first minister, met Taoiseach Cowen over the weekend and said that “ongoing attacks” by DUP First Minister Peter Robinson on the decision-making processes were of concern.
“I see these attacks as a very clear example of the failure on the part of the DUP to embrace the equality, partnership and power-sharing arrangements which lie at the heart of these agreements,” he said.
‘Long-term survival’
Mr Robinson has said that he wants community designation at the assembly replaced by a 65% weighted majority system to “ensure widespread support” but which would stop any single party having “a veto on progress”.
“It would encourage co-operation and compromise and end the potential of blackmail by stalemate,” he told a DUP meeting in Foyle last week.
He said that much had been achieved by the Executive, but the “areas of disagreement” undermined the administration’s credibility.
“The continual inability to agree on a range of issues drains credibility from the operation of devolution and if it continues over a long period of time will undoubtedly threaten its long-term survival,” he said.
“I do not believe that this is in anyone’s best interests.”

The France-Ireland playoff in Paris on Wednesday was memorable for both the right and the wrong reasons. You will know all about these already and there is a good chance that you  feel somewhat overexposed and perhaps even a little nauseous as a result of it all. I know that by Saturday morning I was completely over it; not the match outcome, but the moral indignation. As a nation, perhaps the only prize similar to a trip to the World Cup finals is a spot of moral outrage, of wallowing in the mire, of feeling (rightly) aggrieved. The only thing that could’ve made it better is if we had been wronged by England.

The way in which the chain of events unfolded was startling. On Wednesday night, I went to bed rather the worse for wear feeling that Ireland had – of course – been robbed of a place at the World Cup, but that as a minor football nation, nobody would really care much for the injustice which took place in Paris. The next morning (or rather afternoon – the previous night’s events inhibited the usual early start) the papers were full of it. Not only Irish newspapers, but British ones, French ones, and others across Europe. The story was becoming a real scandal. By the day’s end, it was the talk of American newspapers too, and the whole world seemed to feel that not only was Ireland wronged, but they perhaps even deserved a replay.

The online community mobilized. A Facebook group had, by the end of Thursday, taken in almost a hundred thousand members, and by the end of Friday, there were almost a quarter of a million onboard. These were not only Irish fans, but football fans from across Europe and the world. While the group began as a petition to FIFA calling on them to replay the game, the organizer had decided by Friday afternoon to hold a protest march. Hilariously, his initial proposal to march the traditional protest route in Dublin from Parnell Square to FAI Headquarters was scuppered when someone pointed out that the FAI was no longer located in Merrion Square, in the city centre, but in Abbottstown, a far flung suburb. Eventually it was decided to instead march from Lansdowne Road to the French Embassy.

By Friday afternoon, talk of a replay was everywhere. The FAI submitted a formal appeal to both FIFA and the French Football Federation, asking the latter to replay the game in the interests of sportsmanship and fair play. The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, and minister Dermot Ahern both pronounced on the subject in Ireland’s favour. Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon responded for France.

Talk of a replay never sat well with me. On Thursday I was hungover and outraged. By Friday I was annoyed and still feeling a little tender. At no point did I want a replay. I wanted vindication in the vaguest sense possible. In the back of my mind was a nagging feeling that even if Ireland did secure a replay, they’d  go back to Paris and get stuffed three nil (see the below post on Irish optimism).

What made the entire media storm even more bizarre was that people from across the sporting world and beyond chimed in, taking one side or another. This meant that by Friday, Ireland could count on the support of two members of Arsenal’s famous back four, Nigel Winterburn and Lee Dixon, as well as that of the leader of the school teacher’s union in France, as well as their Minister of Economic Affairs, Christine Lagarde. And, oddly enough, Thierry Henry. The most notable name to oppose Irish designs for a replay was Henry’s Gillette buddy Roger Federer, and Roy Keane.*

* Roy Keane’s involvement in any debate tends to kill it stone dead. When Keane pronounces on an issue, it’s the equivalent of hearing a song by a semi-obscure band who you hitherto thought were yours and yours alone being used on a TV ad for chewing gum or breakfast cereal, or, even worse, being covered by Mundy.

The whole thing quickly took on the air of farce, and by Saturday morning, I felt myself a tad embarrassed by it all. It had run its course, we’d had a good old whinge, we’d gotten our Prime Time special, and now we should move on. Which it seems we are, helped along by the fact that a number of Irish towns are currently under water and people have real problems to deal with.

So, now that the saga appears to be over, how will we look back on this? I really have no idea and no answers. I’m all done with righteous indignation.

Famiglie irlandesi e inglesi senza riparo in molte zone dopo le intemperie di questi giorni. I danni sono elevati e le previsioni lasciano temere altre piogge torrenziali. L'Europa deve essere rapida in caso di necessità ad assicurare al Regno Unito ed all'Irlanda lo stesso supporto che loro hanno reso immediatamente disponibile nei disastri recenti (si ricordino le proposte di uomini e mezzi in occasione del terremoto in Abruzzo)

L’ondata di maltempo che ha causato tanti danni nel Regno Unito sta colpendo anche Dublino, Galway, Cork e costringendo il governo guidato da Brian Cowen a misure di emergenza

Negli ultimi due anni l’Irlanda sta fronteggiando eventi meteorologici straordinari rispetto al passato, già nella prima metà dell’agosto 2008 le piogge torrenziali avevano costretto molte aree agricole a chiedere aiuti per ripagare le perdite finanziarie subite, ma la situazione tra ieri e oggi è ancora peggiore. L’esercito è stato chiamato dallo stato in supporto degli abitanti delle zone più colpite. Il Ministro dell’Ambiente John Gormley (Green Party) ha affermato che ieri si è verificato qualcosa che non accadeva da ottocento anni, quanto a quantità ed intensità con la quale l’acqua si è abbattuta sulle cose, ed ha aggiunto che è quasi un miracolo l’assenza di vittime (nel Regno Unito putroppo ve ne sono state).

Gli eventi atmosferici hanno determinato anche disagi generalizzati, a Cork 18.000 case sono rimaste senza acqua corrente e simili interruzioni dei servizi basilari si registrano in tutta l’isola, anche riguardo l’erogazione di energia elettrica. Inoltre, un dato negativo che per completezza dell’informazione non può essere taciuto è il problema generale dell’equilibrio tra ambiente ed antropizzazione del territorio nella Repubblica, perchè gli anni del boom finanziario in Irlanda da una parte hanno portato benefici abbastanza equamente distribuiti rispetto ad altre nazioni e sono stati accompagnati da una redistribuzione accogliente anche verso i nuovi cittadini dell’Eire, ma dall’altra hanno spinto l’isola ad uno sviluppo edilizio ed infrastrutturale rapidissimo e non sempre attento alle esigenze ecologiche. Lo si sta vedendo con la facilità con la quale si verificano gravissimi danni.

Intanto, mentre le città costiere temono danni maggiori perchè le previsioni del tempo non sono incoraggianti, anzi avvertono che l’intensità delle precipitazioni e l’aggravarsi del maltempo potrebbero essere maggiori, l’esercito si muove per offrire assistenza alle zone del sud della repubblica, dove città come Cork (la seconda per importanza e dimensioni dopo Dublino) sono state colpite in maniera particolarmente grave.  A Cork, il fiume Lee è straripato e la centrale che eroga l’acqua alla maggior parte delle abitazioni è stata danneggiata e si pensa che non potrà essere riparata prima di una settimana.

A Galway, nell’ovest, le autorità hanno consigliato agli automobilisti di non mettersi in viaggio, la situazione delle coste è preoccupante. L’Associazione degli Agricoltori (Irish Farmers Association) ha reso noto che migliaia di ettari sono letteralmente sommersi.  Non soltanto a Galway, ma anche in molte città minori dell’ovest, molte case sono state evacuate e si sono anche registrati problemi con abitanti che anche in assenza di energia elettrica hanno insistito per rientrare nelle proprie dimore, mentre molti sono stati alloggiati provvisoriamente in alberghi.

Si temono soprattutto i rischi di inquinamento. Mentre il Regno Unito e l’Irlanda vengono messi a dura prova, specialmente le persone comuni, non si può non ricordare la disponibilità di uomini e di mezzi che questi paesi hanno proposto immediatamente quando l’Italia ha sofferto per il terremoto dell’Aquila, ragione in più per cui è auspicabile che lo Stato italiano e l’Europa in generale si muovano con la solidarietà qualora i nostri vicini europei inglesi ed irlandesi abbiano bisogno di supporto in seguito agli eventi incontrollabili che si stanno verificando.

Riguardo alle condizioni del territorio ed al dibattito sulla messa in sicurezza dell’ambiente e delle strutture urbane, chiaramente andrà affrontato il discorso sia a livello europeo che nei singoli paesi, soprattutto in quelli come l’Irlanda che hanno avuto una crescita economica e demografica spesso non abbastanza accompagnata da adeguata attenzione agli aspetti ecologici. Il Fine Gael, principale partito d’opposizione, ha già chiesto per bocca di Phil Hogan un inchiesta indipendente sui sistemi di allarme e sulle competenze delle autorità locali in casi del genere in questione. Intanto, oggi pomeriggio il primo ministro Brian Cowen (Fianna Fail) presiederà una riunione d’urgenza del governo per le misure urgenti.

Aldo Ciummo

PM COWEN PONTIFICATES ON HANDGATE

DUBLIN – Following an overnight emergency summit between high profile members of the Irish government, Prime Minister Brian Cowen announced a declaration of war upon France.  The conflict, which has received little to no international coverage, is the result of deteriorating relations between the two countries following Thierry Henry’s controversial handling of the ball in the eighth minute of injury time during Wednesday’s World Cup Qualifier. Speaking at a press conference, Mr.Cowen spoke plainly about the need for action.  ”Our Irish hearts shall never be free again should we fail to defend what was both a cowardly and a craven act by Thierry Henry,” Mr. Cowen was quoted saying outside Merrion Street.  ”"We are going to fuck you up France” – that’s what I will say to Sarkozy when I see him,” he continued.  Ireland’s justice minister, Dermot Ahern, was quick to reinforce the PM, adding “the decision to leapfrog the simply nauseating bureaucracy of the FAI [Football Association of Ireland] came to us quickly,” before saying “those French frogs are going to get what’s coming to then, I will tell you that.”  The call for war has been supported by many in the FAI however, and is believed to be a popular decision among the voters.

The French Government are yet to respond.  It is unknown whether they intend to take the Irish declaration seriously.  One junior French minister was quoted as expressing doubt at the Irish ability to wage war with France, “The Irish probably don’t even have a standing army,” he said.  French President Nicholas Sarkozy is thought to have called his Emergency Council in to session.  One assumes this council will assemble in a briefing room similar to the one seen in Stanley Kubrick’s seminal film, Dr.Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, with Nicholas Sarkozy bearing a somewhat uncanny resemblance to actor Peter Sellers.

Handgate, as it has been dubbed by mindless tabloids, is the latest in a string of sports related stories alleging corruption.  Thierry Henry, who has asked to remain nameless, offered this in his defense: “I did not want to touch the ball with my hand, but the voices in my head told me to do it.”  The Barcelona and former Arsenal striker has been placed in an unknown, secure location for his safety, following an assassination attempt in Paris believed to have been carried out by Irish sympathisers.

Gaul

-noun

an ancient region in W Europe, including the modern areas of N Italy, France, Belgium, and the S Netherlands: consisted of two main divisions, one part S of the Alps (Cisalpine Gaul) and another part N of the Alps (Transalpine Gaul).

a native or inhabitant of France.

Gall

-noun

1. Impudence, effrontery
2. Something bitter to endure

Synonyms: nerve, audacity, brass, cheek

It’s the 103rd minute of the match. You’re in Extra-Time. The ball comes over the head of an offside Escude (who apparently was not interfering with play) and looks to be trickling over the line for a goal kick. You decide to handle the ball, stopping it from going out of play. You handle the ball again as you set yourself for the 2-pointer into the basketball net. You think, “Wait, this isn’t basketball – this is football and outfield players are not allowed to handle the ball”, so you let go of the football and roll it across the box for your fellow Frenchman to tap the ball in for the winning goal, in spite of the fact that the Irish defence have stopped playing and are claiming hand-ball. You are a Gillette poster-boy. You have endorsed Nike, Reebok and Pepsi.  You are a world-renowned footballer and celebrity.  You are an advocate for Fair Play on the field. You used your hands to control a football.
You cheated.

Unsurprisingly this has been the talk of football and sporting fans the world over. Everybody has an opinion on what happened on Wednesday 18th November 2009 – needless to say, as an Irishman I feel what happened is a disgrace. Thierry Henry should be ashamed of himself and has even come out to the media and apologised for his actions, although to me it sounds like he’s trying to cover his read end, (for the story click here) but that’s football and rules cannot be changed – the referee’s decision on the field is final. Unfortunately the outcome of that decision is rather unsettling.

Politics

“Neither the French government nor the Irish government should interfere in the functioning of the international federation,” Francois Fillon, the French Prime Minister said. Didn’t expect that! Fillon is obviously thinking that this is a sporting matter and therefore is the concern of the proper governing body, FIFA, but alas it has turned into a political matter. The grumblings of the past have affected a lot of Irish people who are unwilling to forgive and forget and the fallout of the latest development could be severe: there are rumours of boycotting all French products including food and clothing, and of boycotting any product endorsed by Mr. Henry. This could lead to problems in trade, import and export between France and Ireland and even the Continent and Ireland. Naturally the refusal of the French Government to do anything about the incident will not help relations between the two countries either.

Racism

Henry has been the subject of racial abuse in the past having some slurs directed at him by the then Spanish coach Luis Aragonés. This prompted the Nike Stand Up Speak Up campaign against racism with Henry at the forefront. Unfortunately there is a group of people who are directing racial abuse at the Frenchman, as a result tarnishing everyone who is annoyed at Henry with the same brush. I do not condone racial abuse whatsoever and it has no place in a sports environment.

FIFA

I have been perusing the FIFA.com website since Wednesday and I have yet to see any mention of Henry’s hand-ball to date (Nov 20th). It’s as if it never happened! I’m not surprised given Sepp Blatter’s recent announcements; mainly the new play-off format (to ensure the big teams go to the World Cup) introduced near the end of the qualifying campaign. I was even less surprised to hear that they refuse to take any action on the matter: “In the reply, FIFA states that the result of the match cannot be changed and the match cannot be replayed. As is clearly mentioned in the Laws of the Game, during matches, decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final.” So why didn’t you pick a more experienced referee for such a high-stakes game?

Naturally, if they got off their asses and did something it would contradict the rules of the game and the general FIFA Fair Play ethos. Wait…Fair Play? FIFA endorse playing fairly? This is a quote from FIFA’s website: “The generic concept of fair play is a fundamental part of the game of football. It represents the positive benefits of playing by the rules, using common sense and respecting fellow players, referees, opponents and fans.”

Oh right…so Henry’s actions are acceptable? [insert bemused tone here]

The Referee’s Decision is Final

This is the rule in the book and it doesn’t get any clearer than that. This is also the reason that there cannot be a rematch. As much as I want one and as much as I believe it must happen for the integrity of the game, it cannot due to this rule. Bear in mind the precedent that would be set if there was a rematch – any decision that someone doesn’t like could be questioned and a rematch called for – it would be chaotic. What could and should happen is what the boys over in the Rugby clubs have – video replay and judging. FIFA have brought in extra referees lately and even given the old lino a new name – Assistant Referee. Why not have an Assistant Referee watching the game on a monitor and viewing the replays for dodgy decisions?

The Internet

It’s the fastest and easiest tool for freedom of speech and the internet is absolutely flying with the Henry Hand-ball issue. Numerous Facebook pages were set up minutes after the event with the most popular ones being the “We Irish Hate Thierry Henry (the cheat)” and “Petition to have Ireland v France Replayed”. There are over 85,000 members on the former and over 240,000 on the latter – quite staggering considering there are also thousands of comments on both groups. Wikipedia have had to close their Thierry Henry page to editing due to vandalism! Since writing this the “We Irish Hate Thierry Henry” page has been closed by Facebook. Henry has become the most hated man in Ireland, ironically his predecessor, Brian Cowen, is in the limelight for the right reason – trying to get the match re-staged!

Henry himself mentioned on his Twitter page that he was sorry if he hurt someone and suggested that blame is solely on the referee – but Thierry, could you not have held you hand up and said to the ref “hey, I cheated there – cancel the goal”, instead of keeping your hand low and cheating the game?

Dave Jones, a friend of mine, expressed his fear of the internet describing the future as “daunting”, talking about the various groups and pages that were set up and edited. But he also said something quite profound: “It really is a moment that could define Henry for all the wrong reasons, and what a player for it to happen to – a future ambassador of the game!”

Anyway, if the hand was on the other foot, would we be complaining as much? Probably not, but it’s still shocking to see such an injustice in that game I love so much.

D

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