Civil Service secrecy speak

PJ Howell, Director, Environment Section, Fingal County Council (Whew! There’s a title) was interviewed on Morning Ireland (4th item) about the requirement to remove election posters.

After confirming that fines had been imposed in the past he was asked to name the political parties involved. He immediately reverted to what I call ‘Civil Service secrecy speak’.

“We wouldn’t want to say that now.”

This reaction is instinctive; it’s bred into all Irish public/civil servants. If a question is asked that even hints of actually informing the public, the shutters come down.

Like his colleagues ‘across the border’, (See below) Mr. Howell seems to be more interested in protecting the law breakers than naming and shaming them as an example of good law enforcement.

Still waiting for answers from Dublin City Council

On April 22nd last I wrote about my attempts to get information from Dublin City Council regarding the illegal erection of posters by Minister of State Pat the Cope Gallagher.

My question was, and still is, very simple. “Was the minister fined and if so, by how much?”

My last contact with DCC on that occasion was with Mr. Pat Cronin, head of waste management. He refused to answer my question, insisting that I put my case in writing and he would deal with it further.

On 24th April I wrote to Mr. Cronin by registered post. Despite several phone calls since I have not even being able to confirm if Mr. Cronin received my letter.

However, on the 22nd of May I did have another conversation with the public servant who first refused to divulge information on the matter. The conversation is worth posting as it gives a good idea of how things are done in our banana republic.

Me: I want to know, was the minister fined?

Public Servant: Why him in particular?

Me: Because he’s a government minister who deliberately set out to break the law

PS: How do you know he deliberately set out to break the law?

Me: Because you confirmed it to me when I last spoke to you and through the media

PS: I didn’t, I never used that word, let’s get something clear here; I never said to you that he deliberately set out to break the law

Me: OK, he has said himself that he did it, it’s in the papers

PS: No, he didn’t say he deliberately set out to break the law, he did put up the posters

Me: And the posters were illegal, so, did he put them up accidentally?

PS: Yes,

Me: Did he? (In astonishment)

PS: Yes, he didn’t know that they don’t have the strict regulations in Donegal that we have here

Me: (Still astonished) Hold on, are you telling me, are you confirming to me that the minister didn’t know he was breaking the law?

PS: That’s right, I am

Me: Did he tell you that?

PS: Yes, I was talking to him. He apologised profusely (“I honestly, genuinely did not know that I was breaking the law”). You see, you cannot put up posters in Dublin city but if you go across the road to Fingal, you know, when you cross the border, you can put up the posters

Me: No, you’re probably not familiar with the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, but I am

PS: Excuse me, I am, I work on it

Me: Ok, you should know so that’s it’s illegal to put up posters without permission, full stop, the LPA 1997 covers the whole country

PS: I understand, yes

Me: But what you’re saying is that it applies in some places

PS: I said, other local authorities are not as strict as we are

Me: I’m not concerned about strict or not strict. I’m concerned about breaking the law, especially when a government minister breaks the law

PS: I’m not defending Pat the Cope Gallagher, it’s not my job; he’s well able to do it himself.

Me: A couple of days after the minister ‘accidentally’ broke the law, he was given back the posters intact and he put them up again in Donegal. He broke the law again in Donegal. Now, we have to assume that he knew he was breaking the law in Donegal

PS: I’m not commentating on that

Me: There’s another thing I need to find out. You and Pat Cronin have refused to tell me if you have taken action against the minister.

PS: We don’t discuss anybody’s business

Me: But what I want to know is; are you basing your refusal on legislation/regulation?

PS: I’m basing it on office policy

Me: I don’t accept that. I’m a member of the public; this is a government minister who has broken the law. I have a right to know, you’re telling me I don’t have a right to know.

PS: I’m not telling you that, I’m telling you I’m not telling you.

Me: Are you entitled to refuse me the information

PS: Yes,

Me: By what law/regulation?

PS: On the grounds that I’m the manager of this office and I do not discuss anybody’s business with anybody else

Me: Are you absolutely sure, on a personal basis, that you’re not breaking any public service regulations by refusing me the information?

PS: I am quite happy in not giving out information, I never give out information. If Pat Cronin wants to answer you he’s quite entitled to. I’m happy in the decision I’ve made, that’s my answer to you.

I am in the process of taking further action regarding the refusal of DCC staff to answer my questions and I will post on the matter as things develop.

In the meantime I have taken the following actions regarding Gallagher’s illegal activities:

Submitted a formal complaint to DCC regarding Gallagher’s breach of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997.

Submitted a formal complaint to Donegal County Council regarding Gallagher’s breach of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, in that part of the country. I will be writing on this particular saga soon.

Submitted an official complaint to the Standards in Public Office Commission regarding Gallagher’s breach of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997.

My complaint to SIPO is made on the basis that the minister is in serious breach of the Code of Conduct for Office Holders as outlined by the Standards in Office Commission (Office Holders) Sections:

1.3 Requirement to observe the Code of Conduct.
1.4 Principles of Ethical Conduct.
1.5 Highest ethical standards to be applied at all times.

Haughey, corruption and denial

Vincent Browne does not know what corruption is and he has no idea whatsoever of the very serious consequences that follow from the disease. This was very clear from a discussion on last Monday’s Tonight with Vincent Browne.

In an acrimonious exchange with Colm Mac hEochaidh, barrister and member of Fine Gael, Browne defined political corruption as the taking of money in return for favours.

Here’s the relevant exchanges:

Mac hEochaidh:

Charles Haughey, Liam Lawlor and Ray Burke were people who occupied very high positions in Fianna Fail and who self evidently not only exercised low standards but were profoundly corrupt men.

Browne:

There’s no proof that Charles Haughey ever did anything in return for monies he got which seems to me the definition of corruption.

Mac hEochaidh:

No, that is not the definition of corruption. First of all there is no definition of corruption but if you have any political standards at all…

Browne:

The word corruption, what’s the understanding of that in terms of politics. That a politician receives money in return for giving a favour and therefore in order to prove corruption or to use the word intelligently with regard to a particular politician you’ve got to show that a politician received money and in return he did a favour and I’m just simply pointing out there’s no evidence that Charles Haughey did any favours for anybody he got money from.

Cleary, Vincent Browne, who for decades questioned the dodgy activities of Haughey but eventually came to see him as a heroic figure has now entered the final phase of Haughey worship – Total denial.

By Browne’s narrow definition the following events do not constitute corruption. The theft of millions through tax evasion by a citizen/politician/Prime Minister; the acceptance of millions from rich businessmen while holding public office; the theft of large amounts of money from the Party Leaders Fund and most tellingly the plundering of a fund set up to save the life of Brian Lenihan.

The world is safe

All those who despair about the serious problems facing mankind in the 21st century can take heart that the Polish government is doing its bit to improve the lot of humanity.

It is reported that an investigation is underway in Poland to establish whether the Teletubbie, Tinky Winky, is gay.

Please, stop accusing us of being ethical

After ten years in power with Fianna Fail it is clear that the Progressive Democrats have abandoned their core value of defending high ethical standards in politics. Here are two examples of how things have changed.

PD senator, Tom Morrissey speaking on RTE 24th January 2005

“We’re not in the business of asking for heads on plates anymore. When we did, what thanks did the electorate ever give us? We’re not there as a watchdog anymore.”

Former PD TD Fiona O’Malley speaking on RTE 4th October 2006

“It’s something that’s always annoyed me, that the PDs are watchdogs. We have our own standards. Every other political party is responsible for their own standards within their own party. We are not watchdogs for any other political party.”

Given that the PDs are now very comfortable doing business at a Fianna Fail level of integrity and accountability and given that they have been virtually wiped out as a political party, Mary Harney should give serious consideration to moving, lock, stock and barrel (minus political integrity), back to her origins.

Back in bed with Bertie she could concentrate on her Americanisation of the health system and not be worried about all this nasty ethical business.

GAA Gladiators

There was an interesting piece on RTE Six One News last evening. (Sports, 1st item)

As the Clare and Cork hurling teams ran out onto the pitch in the Munster Hurling Championship they immediately got stuck into each other in violent conflict. An investigation is expected and the reporter suggested that the wisdom of allowing the teams out together will be questioned.

Perhaps the GAA should consider how the ancient Romans handled such events. Wild animals were released into the arena from separate tunnels, thus preventing violence until the games had properly begun.

Another solution to GAA violence could be to actually take effective action against players found guilty of serious violent assault.

PD self destruction

Without doubt the most positive outcome of the election was the virtual destruction of the Progressive Democrats as a party and in particular McDowell’s banishment from the political scene.

As the most arrogant and dangerous politician since Haughey I was delighted when he was elected leader of the PD’s because it was a virtual certainty that he would seriously damage the party.

In September 2006, when Mary Harney resigned as party leader I sent the following email to General Secretary, John Higgins

The people of Ireland can only hope that Michael McDowell is elected
as the new leader of the Progressive Democrats. His arrogance,
incompetence, giant ego and extreme right wing views are sure to cause
the PDs even more damage.

The passing into history of the PDs can only be a good thing for the people of Ireland and especially for the quality of Irish democracy. For a party that started out with such high ideals and integrity it has been sad to witness its descent to Fianna Fail levels of tolerance of sleaze and dishonesty.

Yours etc.

Quiet Mary

It’s not surprising that Fianna Fail is once again back in government. What is surprising is the strength of the surge towards the party as the campaign drew to a close. It seems that voters were simply not willing to take the risk of putting the economy in the hands of a new administration.

It is likely that the new government will consist of Mary Harney and Fianna Fail leaning independents which, in effect, will be a Fianna Fail majority administration.

Mary Harney, who long ago learned to turn a blind eye to the FF way of ‘doing business’, will be keeping very quiet. She will be only too happy to concentrate on her campaign of setting up an American style health system where personal wealth will be the deciding factor in the quality of treatment received.

Hilarious claims of honesty and integrity in Irish banking sector

Watching the Irish performance at Eurovision was very funny. Finding out that the religious fanatic Jerry Falwell disapproved of Tinky Winky, one of the Teletubbies, on the suspicion that he was gay was very, very funny. But the funniest thing I’ve heard in years has to be the report today that the basic currency of (Irish) banking was honesty and integrity. (Also reported in the Irish Independent)

Here’s the background. For over a decade National Irish Bank, in a premeditated and well executed criminal plan, robbed millions from its customers and the state. After six years of investigation by two High Court inspectors (Irish police don’t ‘do’ white collar crime) a report was published outlining the full extent of the serious crimes committed.

In keeping with the great Irish tradition of never prosecuting white collar criminals it was decided to let the entire criminal gang off without charge.

Enter poor old Paul Appley, Director of the hilariously named Office of Corporate Enforcement. Paul’s organisation is just one of dozens of so called ‘enforcement agencies that, for various reasons, are really just toothless tigers with fancy names.

Anyway, to his credit Mr. Appley decided at least to try and get some of the NIB mafia banned from involvement in the management of any company on grounds of unfitness.

But his modest efforts were thwarted by Mr. Justice Roderick Murphy who decided it would be ‘inappropriate’ to make a disqualification order against Kevin Curran who was a regional manager and later head of retail banking at NIB. The judge gave the following reasons.

There were no findings against Mr. Curran in relation to the commission of any improper practices within the bank (‘Improper practices’ is white collar speak for massive theft and tax evasion.).

It appeared that Mr. Curran did not have the authority to bring about a cessation of certain improper practices at the bank (If a senior manager doesn’t have the authority to stop major criminal activity, who has?).

He did not appear to have a line of communication to the audit committee or the Board of Directors (Telephone had yet to be invented?).

He had to work “within organisational difficulties” (Ah, so vague. Perhaps it means – spill the beans and you’re fired?).

Mr. Curran’s defence was that “given that the basic currency in banking was honesty and integrity” his career would come to an end if a disqualification order was made against him.

So, Mr. Curran, who failed to take effective action against serious criminal activity when he was a senior manager at NIB, is claiming that he should not be disqualified because his honesty and integrity might be damaged.

What makes his defence so funny and bizarre is the idea that honesty and integrity are even remotely connected with Irish banking practices.