What are these people on?

Finance Minister, Michael Noonan, has said that Ireland’s main strategy was to grow its way out of trouble – Good luck with that Mr. Noonan.

He also labours under the same delusion as Lucinda Creighton, that Ireland is different from Greece.

Greece, says Mr. Noonan, will be in trouble for many years while Ireland will be ‘back to normal’ in a year or two.

Meanwhile, IMF chief economist, Oliver Blanchard, has been tragically infected with Brian Lenihan’s ‘we’ve turned a corner disease’.

Speaking to students at Trinity College today he said Ireland was doing great and would soon be out of trouble.

I have just one question – What are these people on?

Ahern's cronies speak out

Royston Brady and Joe Tierney, two former cronies of Bertie Ahern, were on the radio today gleefully (and deservedly) stabbing the traitor in the back.

Brady: To be quite honest I couldn’t have been happier that I was out of it from 2004 because the further away the better from all that kind of toxicity.

Tierney: I’m a Fianna Fail activist all my life and from the very beginning Bertie Ahern’s attitude to politics in Dublin Central was not what Fianna Fail stood for.

Bertie Ahern stood for himself…everything he did he did with a motive, for himself; he never did anything for Fianna Fail.

Fianna Fail owes nothing to Bertie Ahern but Bertie Ahern owes everything to Fianna Fail.

Notice that there’s no mention of Ireland and its people here, just bitterness for what Fianna Fail lost.

The traitor Ahern is being interviewed by Mike Murphy tonight, should be interesting.

Daly's pragmatism still screwing the taxpayer?

Disgust is the overwhelming emotion I feel whenever I hear the chairman of NAMA, Frank Daly, speak.

His arrogant, condescending voice raises my hackles not just because he’s the ultimate example of insincerity but also because, for me, he represents all that is rotten about the powers that have destroyed this country.

Here’s Daly justifying, before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) NAMA’s decision to pay some developers €200,000 per annum plus a 10% commission if they reach financial milestones (Six One News; 5:25).

If you take the average in the industry and you’re asking an assets manager to come in and manage a portfolio of 2 billion they will charge you about one percent, that is, twenty million.

What we have to do is compare that with the possibility of paying somebody, reluctantly, €200,000.

This argument is, of course, complete bullshit.

It’s the old, dishonest argument of pulling a gigantic figure out of the air and then expecting taxpayers’ to be grateful that such a great deal was negotiated on their behalf.

NAMA is holding every single card with regard to the bankrupt developers, it has the power to force developers to accept any deal demanded.

NAMA could, for example, say, we’ll pay you €100,000 per annum but if you don’t reach set targets we’ll cut your salary by 50%.

Let’s remind ourselves of what Daly had to say at a previous PAC hearing when, as Revenue Commissioner, he was making excuses for the massive fraud engaged in by the banks by way of bogus non-resident accounts.

The banks would have brought the shutters down if Revenue had pursued officials aggressively. We had to go about this in a pragmatic way.

Pragmatic meant the banks got off and the taxpayer was screwed.

Daly’s pragmatism is, I suspect, still at work in NAMA.

Lucinda Creighton's delusion

The Minister for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton, was explaining the difference between Ireland and Greece (Six One News; 19:55).

The difference between Ireland and Greece is that Greece has to be saved by the Eurozone, Ireland does not.

We’re in a programme, it is working…the Irish economy is, believe it or not, beginning to go from strength to strength.

Ireland is not being saved by the Eurozone? – Feck, I must have blinked at the wrong moment.

As for believing that the Irish economy is going from strength to strength – I don’t.

Favours and the law

There was a good example of the Irish attitude to law during the presidential campaign. A Dana supporter had parked on a space for the disabled and was challenged by a journalist.

I didn’t actually park there because the engine has to be turned off before you’re parked, I was only stopped.

But you got out and left it there?

No, my friend was taking it to the parking place but I wasn’t parked because the engine was running, it was only stopped.

I’ve raised over a hundred thousand for the IWA and I don’t think they’d mind me parking or stopping on their space for ten seconds.

The logic is – I’ve done favours for this organisation therefore I’m entitled to break the law without suffering consequences.

Gallagher: Clinically incapable of telling the truth

Journalist, barrister and Fianna Fail supporter Noel Whelan talking about his good friend Sean Gallagher on the Marian Finucane Show last Sunday.

He cannot be caught unless something catastrophic happens to his campaign in the remaining four or five days.

Gallagher’s problem is simple.

He, in common with all Irish politicians, is clinically incapable of telling the truth.

Progress on complaint concerning allegations of expenses abuse by Cllr. Kennedy

I received a letter in the post today from Limerick City Council in response to my formal complaint concerning the alleged abuse of expenses by Cllr. Kennedy.

My complaint has been forwarded to Cllr. Kennedy and a report has been requested from him by 1st November next.

When that report is received Limerick City Council officials will consider the reply (explanation) and forward same to me.

I submitted my complaint on 4th Oct. This is only the 24th and Limerick City Council has set a deadline for Cllr. Kennedy of 1st November.

In comparison to the Standards in Public Office (SIPO) who, on average, take about a year to make progress on complaints, this is indeed impressive.

Rabbitte defends the bankers

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte has been doing a great job recently defending the interests of the banking sector.

The interdepartmental group that produced the Keane Report on the mortgage crisis was made up of two bankers, 16 civil servants and Keane himself was seconded from KPMG

Marian Finucane commented that it was remarkable that organisations like MABS or Legal Aid weren’t involved in the report.

Rabbitte replied in his number one condescending voice:

No it isn’t Marian, no it isn’t and I’m one of the most stringent critics of the reckless behaviour of bankers.

You cannot address this issue without having bankers present in terms of the ramifications for the banking system.

In other words – I’m not answering the question.

Someone else challenged him on the fact that bankers were still paying themselves vast amounts of money.

Again, in his Sunday best condescending voice, Rabbitte patiently tried to explain things to the great unwashed.

Let’s not get carried away now, let’s not get carried away, I mean that’s not true. The bankers pay has been cut dramatically…

Look it, we’ve been landed in this mess, we have to have to try and deal with the unfortunate people in acute distress about losing their homes.

In other words, stop talking about greedy bankers; after all I’m supposed to be a left wing, for the ordinary people politician.

Gallagher's illegal loan – so what's new?

What’s the big deal about Sean Gallagher’s illegal loan to himself?

Such breaches of company law are rampant in Ireland; they are part and parcel of everyday business activity.

It is only because Gallagher is currently in the spotlight that the matter raises an eyebrow at all, if he wasn’t a presidential candidate his law breaking would never have been noticed.

His Fr. Ted excuse (the money was just resting in my account) that the money was ‘accidentally’ lodged in the wrong account is also par for the course.

In Ireland, when people of power and influence break the law they simply plead that it was a mistake and all is forgiven.

So called regulatory authorities never, ever pursue these people preferring to conserve their powers and resources for any ordinary citizen who might have the audacity to step out of line.