Hell is back

Paedophile priests face the prospect of “burning in Hell” forever, according to the Vatican’s top prosecutor dealing with sex abuse cases.

Feck, it’s only recently we were told that Hell was merely an absence of the Catholic god. The previous Pope said:

While Scripture uses the image of place in relation to eternal damnation, what is really involved is a state of self-exclusion from God

Now that it’s back I’ll have to buy a new fireproof suit.

Long live the (corrupt) republic

Sunday Independent business correspondent Brian Keenan is a conservative.

He’s one of those people who sincerely believe he lives in a functional democracy where accountability is, if not the norm, at least possible. It must, therefore, have been difficult for him to admit the following.

The truth is that Ireland is an ill-governed country, and has been for some time.

Yes, I know, it’s a mild almost sheepish description of the horrific reality that Ireland is facing but it’s a start for a journalist who, to date, has lived in a lovely, warm and comfortable cocoon of denial.

He goes on:

Time is now running out, not just to fix the public finances, but to fix the body politic.

You see here, it’s beginning to dawn on this conservative that there’s something wrong with our political system. Yes, he’s about 30 years too late with his tiny and timid insight but it’s a start for a journalist who has always been comfortable in his denial.

He goes on:

Fianna Fail, of course, will have to fix itself. For most of the past 30 years, it has been part of the problem rather than part of the solution. Like much of the country’s other difficulties, this is fundamentally due to an unwillingness to change.

Wow, this is incredible insight – Fianna Fail is part of the problem.

Let’s see, around 1982 I realised that Fianna Fail was rotten to the core with corruption. The party that still supports and admires the criminal Haughey is the single greatest factor in the destruction of our country.

The solution is not for Fianna Fail to fix itself; the solution is for Fianna Fail to be destroyed as a power in the land.

The question that Mr. Keenan grapples with in his article is whether Ireland should default on its debts and it is here that we see he has learned nothing; that he’s still living in his comfortable but deadly denial.

It cannot just be economic calculations, though. No rich country has defaulted since World War II. Twenty years ago, rugby captain Ciaran Fitzgerald had not yet uttered what remains my instinctive response to the idea: “Where’s your f**king pride?”

Here Keenan looks out from the cesspit of corruption that Ireland has become and shouts at the world.

We are Irish, we’re proud and we will defeat this terrible disaster not by facing uncomfortable realities, not be putting the corrupt in jail, not by radically reforming our corrupt political, regulatory and business sectors.

No, we will solve our problems by appealing to a false, naïve and totally misplaced nationalism.

Long live the (corrupt) republic.

A corrupt administration will never introduce an effective whistleblowers charter

In a hard hitting article in today’s Irish Times, John Devitt of Transparency International (Ireland); exposes the Government’s latest deceitful attempt at pretending that Ireland is serious about tackling white collar crime.

The Minister for Justice is pretending that the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act

will provide protection to any person, in any sector, reporting suspicions of corruption in good faith.

Mr. Devitt says that the Act will only provide limited protection to those reporting the very narrowly defined offence of bribery.

He goes on to ask:

So why does the Government still think it inappropriate to introduce a universal whistleblowers’ charter that works for everyone?

The Government seems to have been swayed by three equally dubious argument writes Mr. Devitt.

I’m not going to waste my time analysing what are obviously ridiculous arguments by the Company Law Review Group, Ibec and the Government itself except to say that they are pathetic excuses put forward by a corrupt administration that will never act against its own interests by introducing effective anti-corruption laws.

Mr. Devitt also asks why the republic cannot introduce a universal whistleblowers charter similar to the very successful charter introduced in the UK in 1998.

The answer is simple but brutal; the State cannot introduce any effective anti-corruption legislation because to do so would immediately expose the appalling vista that Ireland is an intrinsically corrupt state.

All states suffer to some degree from the disease of corruption but most states have effective authorities in place, free of political interference, that fight the disease on an ongoing basis.

When corruption is uncovered in these states the relevant authorities act against the corrupt; police investigations, trials and jail sentences are a normal and accepted part of the culture of these countries.

Some states, mostly in the Third World, are so corrupt, the disease is so ingrained in the culture that effective action is practically impossible because those who wield power are completely dependent on the corrupt system for their survival – Ireland is such a country.

Anyone with even the slightest knowledge of what’s gone on in this country in the last few decades cannot deny this reality.

For example, it is a fact that the Financial Regulator and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) are nothing more than fake enforcement authorities. They have only one effective purpose – to create the illusion that Ireland is a normal, functional democracy.

These authorities do not and have never taken any effective action against the corrupt. I can say with absolute confidence that the cases which are presently being dealt by these authorities will not result in any substantial accountability.

It is obvious that Ireland needs a universal whistleblowers charter, it is obvious, from the example of other countries; that such measures are effective in combating corruption but it is also depressingly obvious that no effective action will be taken until the corrupt political system itself is taken down.

Simple law enforcement; not special juries, are the solution to white collar crime

The Director of Public Prosecutions, James Hamilton, gave a very interesting interview on The Week in politics last Sunday.

He believes that expert juries are needed to tackle the rise in white-collar crime. He also spoke about the difficulties posed by the absence of a whistleblower’s charter.

The following are some of the answers he gave during the interview followed by my comments.

Why have you chosen this time to outline your views on white collar crime?

I think the whole question of financial regulation has become a very topical one and we’re obviously in an era where we’ve moved from the former idea of light regulation into a different mode. I anticipate that in the future we’re going to be seeing more files in the area of white collar crime and therefore it’s an appropriate time to look at whether or not we have the appropriate tools to do that.

The whole area of financial regulation has been topical since, at least 1979, when the criminal politician Haughey gained power and banks and other financial institutions were given a free hand to engage in criminal activity without fear of accountability.

Many countries, especially America, now regret the policy of light touch regulation and, unlike Ireland, are taking strong measures to rectify the situation.

Irish governments have always followed a policy of no regulation whatsoever, light touch regulation was and is irrelevant in the Irish ‘Wild West’ financial sector.

Practically nothing has been done to bring the financial criminals to justice and the little that has been done is nothing more than an attempt to fool the international community that Ireland is a normal, functional state.

There is no requirement for special juries, simple law enforcement will resolve the problem of white collar crime.

Why do you think a whistleblowers charter is now necessary in this country?

Essentially, a decision was made not to have whistleblower legislation back in 2007. The main reasoning behind that decision seems to have been that whistleblower legislation might cut across our system of light regulation and wasn’t appropriate given that that was the type of legislation we had at the time. I think there’s a case for looking again at that.

What? Whistleblower legislation might cut across our system of light regulation? Only a fool would put forward never mind actually believe such drivel.

The reason whistleblower legislation was rejected in 2007 and the reason it is still not even being considered is simple. If such legislation existed, the watertight protective systems set up by politicians and operated by so called regulators would fail thus exposing the criminals operating within the Irish financial sector.

Some may wonder whether our existing laws are up to the job?

Some aspects of it are quite robust. For example, in 2001, we amended our Prevention of Corruption Act and strengthened them in quite a significant way by introducing a presumption that where a payment is made to an official and that includes Ministers, TDs and Senators who makes a decision affecting a citizen that’s there’s a presumption that the money is paid corruptly.

There have been significant prosecutions under that legislation.

Significant prosecutions – who, when? I rang the DPPs office for a list and was met with the standard reply.

Oh no, Mr. Sheridan, that’s privileged information, we couldn’t possibly give that out.

When I pointed out that any such prosecutions were likely to have taken place in a public court accompanied by widespread media and public comment I was told to put my request in writing.

The letter is in the post.

Bankers have nothing to fear

Letter in today’s Irish Independent.

Bankers allowed make their own rules

IT is with a sense of despair, but not surprise, that I read the top brass of our bailed-out banks continue to reward themselves for failure, and our toothless Government just stands aside as they top up their pensions by multiples of the average industrial wage each year (Irish Independent, May 18). This, apparently, cannot be touched as it’s in their contracts.

As a rank-and-file employee in a leading financial institution for pushing 12 years I can tell you from experience that contracts can, and are, changed by banks.

Although I joined a couple of years too late to avail of the defined benefit scheme that was operating for new employees in the mid-1990s, a number of my colleagues were on it, thereby getting a set percentage of their final salary on retirement.

Two years ago, due to the ‘dire funding position’ of the defined benefit pension pot, all their contracts were changed and they had to start contributing a significant percentage of their salary.

This percentage is subject to (a probably upward only) review. Of course the Government then went and added their own slap in the face with the extra three years to retirement, but that’s another story.

If contracts can be changed for ordinary financial institution employees, there’s no reason why they cannot be changed for the top brass. This all reeks of a ploy to get around the new bank salary cap. At the same time, the top bankers are conveniently avoiding having to take what looks remarkably like a bonus in the form of their now worthless bank shares — instead, they take it as a pension top-up.

I’m not surprised at the bankers, who are feathering their own nests, or at our complicit politicians, who are happy to shift the focus from their own substantial nest eggs, but I despair.

Name and address with editor
Irish Independent

It has to be said again and again. The only reason bankers can feel completely safe in behaving in such an obnoxious manner is because Ireland is an intrinsically corrupt state. Nothing will change until the rotten; beyond reform political system is destroyed.

Senator Ross: Still shocked after all those scandals

Once again Senator Shane Ross is shocked by the activities of greedy bankers.

His shock on this occasion was caused by the news that greedy bankers had hatched yet another sly scheme to get around government restrictions on pay and pensions (Newstalk).

The details of this latest greedy manoeuvre are not very important. It is, after all, just the latest scam hatched by greedy bankers who know they have absolutely nothing to fear from anybody.

What’s really fascinating about these events is how so called financial experts like Shane Ross can remain completely blind to the reality of the situation.

People like Senator Ross continue to believe that there is some kind of division between politicians and bankers; that politicians and regulators are acting in the interests of ordinary citizens and the good of the country.

The Senator seems to believe all this despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Since the foundation of the state no bank or bank official has ever been convicted of a crime. This is despite the fact that they have been robbing their customers and the state with impunity for decades.

It is only in very recent times and only after the total collapse of the economy that some minimum actions have been taken against these people.

Senator Ross apparently believes that the establishment of a Financial Regulator in 2003 was a genuine attempt to bring law and order to the Wild West Irish financial sector when the facts point to the complete opposite.

The Financial Regulator operates under strict secrecy laws that would be seen as extreme in the former Soviet Union.

The Senator probably thinks that such secrecy laws just accidentally appeared on the statute books, he probable thinks that politicians had absolutely nothing to do with the drawing up of these secrecy laws.

These secrecy laws have just one affect – they provide total protection for the widespread criminality within the Irish financial sector, criminality that continues unchallenged to this day.

The Senator told listeners:

People don’t seem to realise that the banks are running rings around the Government.

Wrong Senator, it is patently obvious that politicians and the regulator are willing participants in a system that defends the interests of bankers at the expense of ordinary citizens and the good of the country.

Copy to:
Financial Regulator
Senator Ross

Fianna Fail fools emerge from the bog

Our bumbling, dishonest and undemocratic Taoiseach was all over the airwaves in the last few days. Last Friday he was interviewed on RTE (1st report) and was asked should he have met more regularly with the Financial Regulator.

Absolutely not, there was a bill brought in 2003 which changed the arrangement between the Central Bank and established the Financial Regulator.

That arose after the National Irish Bank problem. The PAC and others met, Jim Mitchell did a very good job chairing a committee that looked at that.

Jim Mitchell died in 2002, our fool Taoiseach is getting the NIB scandal mixed up with the DIRT scandal.

The following exchange occurred when Cowen was asked about his refusal to hold the by-elections.

What’s your answer to those who say you’re running from the people by refusing to hold the by-elections?
The by-elections will be held in due course whenever the Dail decides to vote for it.
C’mon Taoiseach, that’s a non answer.
It’s not a non answer; I am not making the decision here in RTE studios.
I’m not asking you to do that.
You are asking me.
Will they be held this year?
I’m not giving you that answer.
When will you give it to the Dail?
Whenever we decide there will be…don’t worry about it. We will make sure that there’s by-elections held in due course but there’s no decision by government in that respect.

I’m not giving you that answer. That’s how this arrogant idiot dismisses the right of the Irish people to elect representatives. In my opinion this man and his government have no legitimate right to govern.

Martin Mansergh, another Fianna Fail fool, was asked about the by-elections on the Marian Finucane Show (Sunday) and said that the Government had allowed a by-election in Dublin South and within months the winner, George Lee, had resigned.

This idiot is making the suggesting that he and his government were not pleased with Lee’s behaviour or with the citizens who voted him into office and therefore everybody had to be taught a lesson.

But the biggest Fianna Fail fool to crawl out of the bog last week was Senator Terry Leyden who, under Oireachtas privilege, accused Irish Times columnist, Fintan O’Toole, of inciting a riot outside the Dail last Tuesday.

I strongly recommend that people listen to the exchange between Leyden and O’Toole on last Friday’s Liveline. It’s an excellent example of how a passionately angry but articulate citizen like O’Toole can force an ignorant Fianna Fail creep like Leyden into a humiliating climb down.

Lessons from Iceland? – Not until the Irish people learn anger

Irish Times columnist, Elaine Byrne, asks the question: Are there any lessons Ireland can learn from what happened in Iceland at the end of 2008? (Prime Time).

Very briefly, here’s what happened.

As a result of corruption and political irresponsibility the Icelandic economy collapsed resulting in severe hardship for the majority of the population.

There was an immediate angry reaction from the people which resulted in the outing of the government and an election.

One citizen said:

It’s not about the banks anymore, people need to stand up and fight for themselves, their families and for the future of their country.

An investigation into the banks, headed by an outside expert, was also initiated and is now complete. The investigation named people and they in turn accepted responsibility.

The former Icelandic Prime Minister said:

Those of us who were in power and had responsibility did too little too late, that is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life.

Ms. Byrne completed the report with the following comment:

I wonder then should we even bother having an inquiry at all. Having a proper inquiry means naming the people responsible and bringing them to account.

Nothing will happen in Ireland unless we learn from the mistakes of the past. Only then can we get to the next stage of the recovery.

Rebuilding trust is crucial for that next stage.

Allow me to answer that question.

The Irish banking inquiry is a farce; it is specifically designed to protect the guilty, there will be no accountability. I can say this with confidence because I am aware that I live in a state in which the political and administrative systems are intrinsically corrupt.

These systems are corrupt because the majority of Irish people are politically ignorant and are therefore incapable of taking unified anger against the government like the people of Iceland did against their government.

It is only with the emergence of a courageous and visionary leader(ship) that is capable of stepping outside the narrow, parochial mindset of politicians that the Irish people will see real justice and accountability.

Tragically, there is no sign whatsoever that such a leader(ship) is even on the horizon and therefore the disintegration of our corrupt republic will continue on its leaderless and therefore dangerous road to total collapse.

Greencore scandal and the Irish Stock Exchange

I came across the following report (undated, but I think it’s sometime in the early 1990s) published in the then Cork Examiner concerning the Greencore scandal.

The Greencore saga lives on.

Last night in an extraordinary statement the Stock Exchange said it wanted to make it ‘clear’ that it ‘neither confirms nor denies that it is or is not investigating or monitoring dealings in any stock at any time for the purpose of identifying any possible insider dealing’.

The Cork Examiner has been given assurances that a high powered team of experts has been set up to unravel the real meaning behind the statement.

Insider dealing may have taken place in the shares of Food Industries now the subject of a £54 million bid by Greencore.

The Stock Exchange statement is indeed extraordinary, even bizarre but not unusual within the context of so called Irish financial regulation.

Even today, decades later, the Irish Stock Exchange is a completely secretive organisation accountable to nobody but itself.

See Gavin’s blog and Sunday Independent for full details on this particular scandal.

Titanic captain: Don't worry, all is well

The captain of Titanic (Ireland) made a statement yesterday claiming that while the company had made some mistakes the collision with the iceberg had nothing to do with him.

The captain and his officers continue to assure passengers that the damage, while serious, is under control and therefore steerage passengers shouldn’t worry that the limited number of lifeboats have already been filled with bankers, property developers and politicians.

The ship, they insist, is not sinking and therefore ordinary passengers shouldn’t be concerned about the possibility of ending up swimming for their lives in the frozen waters of the dead Irish economy.

The captain’s reassuring statement is backed up by his advisory group, Goodbody Stockbrokers, who (coincidently) report that the pumps have successfully stemmed the flooding waters and that the ship will safely reach port sometime in 2011.

A Goodbody spokesman said that no significance whatsoever should be attached to the fact that his company’s statement was issued from the captain’s lifeboat.