Update on Senator Landy's bribery allegations

I received a letter on 11 October last from the Committee on Members Interests Seanad Eireann advising me that the Committee had received my complaint against Senator Landy under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001.

Today, 28 October, Gardai at Pearse Street Garda Station Dublin contacted me regarding my complaint against Senator Landy.

Mary O'Rourke's memoir: Self-serving and delusional

The following review of Mary O’Rourke’s memoir, Just Mary, appears on Amazon.

I really enjoyed this book, the story of Mary’s life and her political career! An honest politician with great ethical principles. So nice to read about someone like this!

Practically all the reviews are in the same vein. The following is my contribution on Amazon.

This book is little more than a self-serving, delusional attempt by O’Rourke to distance herself and her beloved Fianna Fail party from any blame for the economic catastrophe visited upon Ireland and its people.

Ireland’s economic downfall and international disgrace in 2008 was the end result of decades of political corruption principally led by Fianna Fail under the corrupt politician Charles Haughey and his incompetent successors.

O’Rourke was and remains a strong supporter and admirer of Haughey. It was Haughey who first appointed her to ministerial office and she remained a loyal supporter throughout his career and beyond.

O’Rourke’s admiration for the corrupt Haughey is reflected in her decision to dedicate a separate chapter describing a Christmas visit to his home.

This visit took place after Haughey’s corruption had been exposed and suggests that she has more respect and admiration for the traitor than she does for her country and its people.

O’Rourke blames everybody for the economic catastrophe visited upon the Irish people allowing only token, mealy mouthed, admissions that Fianna Fail may have been to any degree responsible.

She blames the global financial crisis, Fianna Fail’s coalition partners, The Progressive Democrats and, most disgracefully of all, the ordinary people of Ireland.

In her own words:

The biggest factor in our decline as a party was the blight of the global recession which hit us in 2008.

There is no escaping the fact that some aspects of their (Progressive Democrats) central philosophy and the concrete measures which this engendered – such as policies on taxation and financial regulation – undermined our effectiveness during a crucial time in government.

But most of all, this arrogant politician blames the people of Ireland (my emphasis).

Banks can be blamed for speculation but they were responding to demands from the people – It is the people who pressed for such financial facilities. Everyone wanted the bigger house, the next holiday the private school for their offspring and so it went on and on.

Throughout the book O’Rourke expresses very little real compassion or anger in response to the events following the collapse of the economy with one glaring exception – when she addresses how the media and ordinary Irish citizens have responded to Fianna Fail’s part in the catastrophe.

When writing about those who dare to criticise her beloved Fianna Fail party her anger is as uncompromising as it is revealing.

The paragraph is worth reproducing in full as it provides us with a clear insight into the delusional world in which O’Rourke operates.

I find it utterly outrageous that it is considered nefarious to be a member, even a grassroots member, of our party and as I write this today, this seems to be the common thread emerging in the media and in public discourse.

I rail against the fact that there are many writers and commentators who in my opinion could be accused of breaching the code of incitement to hatred, in the way in which they write and talk about Fianna Fail.

`Toxic’, `disreputable’, `underhand’: all these adjectives about us are heaped one upon another. I feel it is strongly reprehensible and grossly unfair to the ordinary men and women throughout the country who are the foot soldiers, unpaid, of the party of Fianna Fail.

How dare people cast aspersions upon them? It is as if over all those years, the pent-up hatred of the success of Fianna Fail has cut loose and commentators are giving vent to it, and in a way that completely lacks proportion or even-handedness.

It is nothing short of delusional to suggest that words like `toxic, `disreputable’ and `underhand’ could be used as a basis for accusing writers and commentators of breaching the code of incitement to hatred.

This is particularly so when much stronger words like `corrupt’, `criminal’ and traitorous are entirely appropriate when commentating on Fianna Fail’s political record.

It is nothing short of delusional on a grand scale to suggest, as O’Rourke does, that the negative reaction to Fianna Fail following the economic catastrophe has little to do with the activities of its members and leaders but is entirely down to jealously of Fianna Fail’s success as a political party.

But as delusional as she may be it cannot be denied that O’Rourke is immensely popular with the media and general public.

Her book is a best seller and has received an almost universally positive reaction.

On principle I could not bring myself to add to O’Rourke’s wealth by actually buying the book and so had to wait about two months to obtain it from my local library.

When I finally got my hands on it the librarian asked me to return it as soon as possible as there was a long waiting list.

It is disturbingly ironic that Irish citizens who probably cannot afford to buy the book principally because of the financial devastation caused by O’Rourke’s beloved Fianna Fail are queuing up to read all about her absolute loyalty to that very party.

Indeed, O’Rourke’s popularity within the media and throughout the general public can be seen as a measure of just how far Irish citizens have to go before they grasp the true meaning of democratic accountability.

DPP not to act against Mick Wallace

On October 8 2012 I submitted a formal complaint against Mick Wallace TD to Cobh Gardai.

The complaint was in response to Wallace’s admission on live radio that he hired a hitman to recover an outstanding debt from a building contracts manager.

I heard nothing more on the matter from Cobh Gardai until I contacted them nearly a year later on 10 September last.

I was informed that my complaint had been passed on to Wexford Gardai two days after submission, presumably because Wallace is based in Wexford.

I received no communications from Wexford Gardai until I phoned the station on October 8 last, exactly one year after I had submitted my complaint.

The investigating officer informed me that my complaint had been submitted to the DPP who directed, in January 2013, that no prosecution should be taken.

I was not informed of this decision.

I requested more details from the investigating officer.

Did you carry out an investigation or did you just submit my complaint to the DPP?

I submitted an investigation.

Did you contact Mick Wallace?

I’m not going to say what I did or didn’t do but I investigated the complaint.

Is there any information at all you can give me regarding your investigation?

No, I’m not going to give you any information.

I find that a bit strange. Is the investigation you carried out totally confidential?

I’m not going to tell you the ins and outs of it. All I will say to you, and you can take whatever you want out of this, is that I carried out the relevant inquiries and submitted a file to the DPP.

The following is my assessment of this case.

It is obvious that neither the Gardai nor the DPP thought it necessary to inform me of what was happening. If I had not made enquiries I would never have known what action had been taken as a result of my complaint.

In common with the many complaints I have submitted over the years against politicians, civil servants and others I did not for a moment expect that charges would actually be brought against Mick Wallace.

My principal motive for submitting such complaints is to highlight the fact that Ireland is a deeply dysfunctional state where certain categories of citizens seem to be virtually untouchable when it comes to law enforcement.

At some point in the distant future when Ireland is a fully accountable democracy the following will be the norm.

Police investigators will be legally required to keep complainants informed of the progress of any investigation.

The DPP will be legally required, without revealing substantial facts, to regularly publish lists of complaints/cases that have been submitted stating whether they are to be prosecuted or rejected.

PJ Mara enjoys love-in with RTEs Miriam O'Callaghan

PJ Mara, the former advisor to the corrupt/criminal politician Haughey was interviewed on the John Murray Show this morning.

Predictably, he was treated with the utmost respect and also very predictably; the words ‘corruption’ or ‘criminality’ was never mentioned.

There was no reference whatsoever to Haughey’s long career of corruption, no mention of the enormous damage he inflicted on Ireland and its people, no mention of how he corrupted the political system and how that disease of corruption infected almost every level of Irish society and, ultimately, led to the loss of our economic sovereignty and national disgrace on the world stage.

Clearly, RTE is of the opinion that it is best not to mention such unpalatable matters. After all, denial is easy and lazy and facilitates those who may wish to avoid answering the tough questions.

Instead listeners were treated to Miriam O’Callaghan giggling out inane questions like a besotted schoolgirl who had just met her hero.

If Ireland was a functional democracy and possessed an objectively professional national broadcaster like the BBC with a hard hitting presenter like Jerry Paxman the likes of Mara would be immediately stripped of their pretentious idiocy without mercy.

Copy to:
Miriam O’Callaghan

The Senate: What needs to be done

Excellent letter in today’s Irish Times.

Reforming the Seanad

A chara,

Diarmaid Ferriter’s article, “Referendum defeat does not have to spell trouble” (Opinion, October 12th) needs to be challenged. Having given us a history lesson on past referendums, he concludes his article by implying that the onus for reform of the Seanad should fall on Enda Kenny.

In fairness to Mr Kenny, he believed that the Seanad was unreformable, as I did and still do. Why then should the onus for reform be placed on him?

Surely it should fall on those who passionately campaigned for Seanad reform, namely Democracy Matters and Fianna Fáil?

It is now up to them to come up with an acceptable reform package and, if needs be, to persuade the Government to put this package before the citizens of this State in a referendum.

Mr Ferriter also stated, erroneously in my opinion, that not reforming the Seanad “will be seen as a result that prompted a determination to maintain the status quo”. Not correct.

When I voted Yes to abolish the Seanad on October 4th, I voted to change the status quo and for a new beginning in Irish political life.

Those who voted No voted for the maintenance of the status quo and for the continued existence of that elitist, anachronistic political institution.

Nowhere on the ballot paper was the word “reform” mentioned.

In relation to reform, the idea of giving a Seanad vote to all third-level graduates is being suggested.

This again is an elitist, segregationist, non-democratic suggestion, in my opinion. So those who never get the privilege of attending a third-level institution don’t get to cast their vote.

Regarding “real” reform, may I suggest the following:

1. Reduce the number of senators from 60 to 30.

2. Pay each a salary of 50 per cent of a TD’s salary.

3. Give them no expenses, allowances, free parking or perks. Let them commute to their place of work like everybody else.

4. First preference given to young, able, bright, unemployed people who have a vested interest in creating a new Ireland for themselves and others.

5. Introduce a culture of accountability and responsibility where non-performing and low-attending senators are brought to book and moved on.

6. Allow no cronyism, no gombeenism and absolutely no nepotism.

Lets’s make a fresh start and begin to remove the barriers between the “haves” and the “have nots” in our society for once and for all.

Future generations will thank us for it.

Is mise,

MÍCHEÁL Ó RUAIRC,

Dublin 15.

Promoting O'Rourke's rag in the Senate

Mary O’Rourke’s memoir Just Mary was published on Friday 19 October 2012.

Seanad Eireann closes on a Friday and doesn’t reopen until the following Tuesday.

So it wasn’t until Tuesday 23 October that O’Rourke’s good friend Senator Leyden got the opportunity to cynically abuse this arm of government to promote her book.

The farce began with a comment from Senator D’Arcy. It is likely that Leyden arranged for D’Arcy to raise the matter so that he could then reply.

Leyden claims he had no intention of raising the matter. This, in my opinion, is probably a lie.

The cynical promotion of O’Rourke’s rag was raised around discussion on such matters as patronage of schools, food labeling and the war in Syria.

I’ve extracted the usual waffle on these matters leaving just the political bullshit surrounding O’Rourke’s book.

Senator D’Arcy: I read a review by Geraldine Kennedy of Mary O’Rourke’s new book and I see a full chapter of the book is devoted to Senator Terry Leyden. I am looking forward to that bedtime reading.

Senator Norris: In the interest of balance, could Senator D’Arcy advertise my book while he is at it? It is far better written. The Senator is not mentioned in it.

Senator Leyden: The Leas-Chathaoirleach should not be too severe with me. I have had bad experiences over the years. They are mentioned in the book.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach: The clock is ticking.

Senator Leyden: I thank Senator Jim D’Arcy for his kind words. Mrs. Mary O’Rourke’s autobiography is entitled Just Mary. In the book she mentioned the Seanad and the esteemed Clerk and Clerk Assistant, noting their professionalism, which is much recognised.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach: It is not appropriate for us to discuss Mary O’Rourke’s book.

Senator Leyden: It has been mentioned. The Leas-Chathaoirleach allowed Senator D’Arcy….The section in question is devoted to Charles J. Haughey. It refers to a Christmas visit to Abbeville.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach: If Senators wish to do so, they can read the book. It is not appropriate to discuss it now.

Senator Leyden: Is the Leas-Chathaoirleach recommending it?

An Leas-Chathaoirleach: The Senator has 20 seconds left. Has he any matter to raise besides these frivolities?

Senator Leyden: I had no intention of raising that matter at all.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach: The Senator has wasted one minute and 15 seconds.

Senator Leyden: The day is long.

The (political) day is indeed long.

And all those good Irish citizens who voted for the retention of this dysfunctional institution should hang their heads in shame for inflicting these political dinosaurs on the rest of us for many years to come.

For so long as we keep talking we do not have to face the reality of what we are as a nation

When scandal, corruption, arrogance and incompetence raise their ugly heads in Ireland, as they frequently do, they are dealt with by talk.

The entire nation engages in endless discussion until the matter is, quite literally, talked out of existence or until another scandal comes along, as frequently happens, and changes the topic under discussion.

The one thing that must never be done, and is never done, is to actually deal with the matter in hand.

To do so would require facing the reality of what we are as a nation.

In a corrupt state that is not possible.

Michael Lowry and Mick Wallace, for example, have been immersed in scandal after scandal in recent times but remain members of our parliament.

They are still, for the most part, seen as fine upstanding public representative and are still treated with the utmost respect by most of the media.

The only response to the activities of these men has been talk, talk, talk and more talk.

Or take the recent scandal surrounding the penalty points system.

Anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows that something very rotten has occurred here yet all we do is talk, talk, talk until the matter is forgotten or superseded by another scandal.

The reason for this situation is simple. The corrupt political/administrative system, for so long as it holds power, will never allow anything more than talk – actual action in response to scandal and corruption will never become an option.

But then, amidst all the endless talk, a never to be repeated historical fluke occurred when Enda Kenny handed power to ordinary people to take direct action against the corrupt system.

They could have, literally with a stroke of a pencil, removed one of the supporting planks of the corrupt system and quite possibly triggered the collapse of the entire rotten structure.

Tragically, the opportunity was lost and we now find ourselves back in the land of endless talk.

Reams have already been written outlining a million suggestions for political reform. Television and radio stations have been invaded by hordes of politicians, commentators and journalists eager to broadcast their ideas for a brand new political system, a brand new Ireland – but it’s all just talk, talk, talk.

Some may accuse me of being too dramatic about all of this but to those I would point to an article in yesterday’s Irish Independent by former Fianna Fail politician Mary O’Rourke.

In the article O’Rourke, who was leader of the Senate from 2002 to 2007, advises the current leader, Maurice Cummins (FG) on how best to reform the institution.

Read my report on reform from nine years ago in 2004 for some ideas and implement the wishes of the people as expressed 34 years ago in the 1979 Senate referendum, she advises.

At moments like this I place my head in my hands and despair for Ireland and its people.

Choose: The wolf or the mouse

The choice was straightforward.

Give the mouse Enda a fright with a mild boo or slash a leg off the wolf of arrogance, incompetence and corruption.

The people chose to boo at the mouse, he’ll be over the fright in a few days.

Meanwhile the wolf, safe again in his lair, sips champagne and contemplates his next meal.

Tom Lenihan: True to the great warped culture of Fianna Fail

Tom Lenihan, son of the late Brian Lenihan, is refusing to resign his position as Student’s Union President in Trinity College after admitting he cheated in exams (Sunday Independent).

Lenihan is, apparently, suffering from depression and seems to be using that as a reason for not resigning.

In other words he is claiming – Yes, I was caught cheating but I’ve provided a good excuse and therefore should not have to face any consequences.

For anyone brought up in the warped culture of Fianna Fail, as Tom Lenihan obviously was, this is a perfectly rational reaction.

He will go far in politics.