Could it be that that somebody has, finally, begun to make connections between current scandals and the dodgy activities of previous politicians?

On Prime Time last week, in a report on the Callely case, a reporter made the following comment against archive footage of the criminal Haughey.

It’s not hard to imagine where Senator Callely might have learned his political skills.

Against archive footage of the chancer Bertie Ahern the following comment was made.

Senator Callely’s habit of answering questions with a combination of anger and bewilderment as to how the matter could be seen as a serious matter at all may well have been learned at the feet of another master.

Morning Ireland just about managed to cover the story slotting it in as a low priority piece after a story about a dead bird.

Some of those involved were interviewed on Today with Pat Kenny. Revealingly, Kenny opened with the following advice to listeners.

If you want you can check out the events on utube, there’s TV3 footage available there.

There are unconfirmed reports that the bulk of RTE News staff are still up in Northern Ireland desperately searching for stories like, for example, the breathtaking report of a few days ago that a policeman was slightly injured in a row outside a pub.

Rachael English and RTE’s Northern Ireland Editor Tommie Gorman were barely able to contain themselves as they excitedly analysed the various Northern Ireland candidates running in the upcoming UK election (Saturday View).

What’s your sense of the fascinating battle shaping up between candidates in South Antrim Rachel breathlessly asked some guy on the panel?

And what about the absolutely fascinating news from the pivotal constituency of South Belfast and Fermanagh/South Tyrone? There’s a strong possibility that the Unionist vote may be split in this area.

My god, a split in the Fermanagh/South Tyrone Unionist vote? Such a catastrophe would surely be greater than the Haiti earthquake and Iceland volcano combined, the end days must surely be close to hand.

Tommie Gorman then treated listeners to a breathtaking, minute by minute, account of some guy called Campbell running for election in North Antrim.

I was out with him during the week, he was jumping across garden walls, going into farmyard sheds looking to see the man of the house, crossing the road if he saw people engaged in discussion. He was really keen to get involved in the chat because he’s very, very hungry.

(Tommie didn’t say whether he directed the man to the nearest McDonalds outlet).

Tommie also reported on somebody called Lady Sylvia Hermon. According to Tommie she’s had a very lonely time of it at Westminster but so sure is he of her success that he offered the following advice to listeners:

If you want to put your NAMA savings on a candidate in the elections I’d say you could put a few bob on Sylvia Hermon.

No, really, that’s what he said – put your NAMA savings on it – listen to the tape.

And as if all that wasn’t excitement enough listeners were sensationally informed that for the first time in the history of the Cosmos the counting of votes in Northern Ireland would take place overnight.

There are unconfirmed reports that RTE is to ask the RAF to airlift the entire broadcasting complex from Montrose to Belfast in order to provide in-depth analysis and everlasting coverage of this mega, historic, never to happen again event.

For years I’ve been trying to figure out why RTE is obsessed with all things Northern Ireland. Perhaps it’s because the station has invested so much time and resources covering the province, especially during the war years; that to now admit the war actually ended about twenty years ago would mean a loss of funding or even jobs.

I continue to listen to RTEs coverage of Northern Ireland, not because I’m interested in what goes on in that depressing place, but rather to witness the fascinating echo created by RTE journalists as they talk excitedly among each other about a story that all rational people have long forgotten.

Churchill, that great man of history, a man who knew the difference between great events and the absolutely boring got it right when he said the following about Northern Ireland during the House of Commons debate in 1922 on the Irish Free State Bill.

Then came the Great War: every institution, almost, in the world was strained. Great Empires have been overturned. The whole map of Europe has been changed. The position of countries has been violently altered. The modes of thought of men, the whole outlook on affairs, the grouping of parties, all have encountered violent and tremendous changes in the deluge of the world.

But as the deluge subsides and the waters fall short, we see the dreary steeples of Fermanagh and Tyrone emerging once again. The integrity of their quarrel is one of the few institutions that has been unaltered in the cataclysm which has swept the world.

Copy to:
Saturday View

I was very impressed with Sean’s patience as he listened attentively and quietly to Brian as he rambled on wistfully about consumer confidence, turning corners and learning lessons.

From time to time I did hear a number of squeaks in the background as Sean gently tried, without success, to interrupt Brian’s ramblings.

It was clear that Sean and Brian are best friends forever and that RTE is their favourite place in the whole wide world to meet and chat about all kinds of nice things.

The mood was spoiled however when Sean had to change into riot gear (government issued) including baton, shield and helmet to interview a nasty union man – Liam Doran general secretary of the Irish nurses and midwives organisation.

Initially O’Rourke allowed Doran have his say but as we learned later in the attack he, O’Rourke, was carefully timing this nasty union man.

You’ve gone on at some length actually and I allowed you to talk for about three minutes before I asked you a second question so if I could just come back in with another one.

Really, what has become of us when RTE, a government controlled broadcaster, allows a union man to argue his case for three whole minutes without interruption?

I was so worried that Brian was still in the studio and heard all that nasty stuff about fairness and accountability but Sean assured listeners that he had left the premises and so wouldn’t be talking to the nasty union man.

Eamon Gilmore was asking him about the decision to extend the bank guarantee to Anglo Irish Bank:

I believe that that decision was made to save the skins of a number of individuals, some of who are connected to Fianna Fail. If my belief is correct, and I have not been convinced to the contrary, then that decision was an act of economic treason.

Cowen replied:

I will not be accused of seeking to cause treason to my country; I find that beyond the pale and I would never come into this house and accuse another Irishman of what you accused me.

Cowen is actually telling the truth here. In recent history the criminal Haughey and numerous other Fianna Fail politicians such as Ray Burke, Liam Lawlor and Bertie Ahern have all betrayed Ireland and Cowen never opened his mouth.

RTEs David Davin Power, while admitting that Cowen’s time as finance minister made him vulnerable, was nonetheless very supportive of the Taoiseach:

Eamon Gilmore’s barbs evoked a spirited response today and a glimpse of the Brian Cowen his backbenchers would love to see more of.

Before quoting this moronic fool let’s briefly outline the truth of the matter.

Brian Cowen, leader of the most corrupt political party in Ireland, is a traitor to his country. Instead of showing loyalty to the people of Ireland this stupid backwoodsman conspired with bankers and developers to create a property bubble that served only the interests of his party and its rich friends.

He and his predecessors, some of them outright criminals, have destroyed our country by their greed, stupidity and arrogance; they have done more damage to the people of Ireland than their favourite hate figure Oliver Cromwell.

Here’s what the moron had to say when asked about his responsibility:

Well the regulatory system we had worldwide throughout the whole Western world, built up over thirty years, was a system where people believed as Greenspan did that there was no problem to be resolved shows that it simply wasn’t sufficient and that’s acknowledged.

But this is a global crisis, this is a crisis that happened in global capitalism, it’s not something that originated here, or was caused by any individual here.

Now if such a stupid lying statement was made by a politician in any self respecting democracy the immediate response would be contemptuous laughter followed by a deserved public humiliation by the interviewer.

If, for example, Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow was subjected to such drivel the politician in question would be immediately torn to shreds not just out of respect for the intelligence of the viewers but to ensure that the interviewer himself was not seen as an idiot who was incapable of recognizing horseshit when it was thrown in his face.

But RTEs David Davin Power didn’t bat an eyelid when the horseshit hit him square in the face. He simply moved on to the next question just like Brian Dobson did when that other lying bastard, Bertie Ahern, admitted that he appointed people to state bodies not because of any particular talent but because they were his friends.

This submissive, deferential attitude by RTE towards politicians, especially politicians in power, is deeply disturbing and is in stark contrast to last week’s well orchestrated campaign against low paid civil servants in the passport office and their union when RTE personnel not only adopted a strong anti union attitude but blatantly promoted the Government’s side of the issue.

Copy to:
Fianna Fail
RTE News

Kenny defended RTE on Today with Pat Kenny (Friday 1.12).saying that at all times each side in any given dispute is treated fairly. He dismissed the negative reaction from the delegates:

When you hear what you like you cheer, when you hear what you don’t like you boo.

Let’s do a quick analysis of that particular Frontline programme.

It began with a clip of a very angry woman outside the passport office giving staff a hard time.

(Government 1 – Workers nil).

Cut to the studio and Kenny is interviewing a woman who had obviously been carefully chosen because of the emotional impact of her story.

Her children had received tickets to Paris Disneyland as a Christmas gift from their grandmother and now they couldn’t go because of the workers/union action.

I would like somebody to tell my children why they can’t go,

the distraught mother demanded, glaring at Eoin Ronayne, deputy general secretary of the CPSU.

Kenny was enthusiastic in leading her on with emotionally charged questions such as: Do you think it was bloody-mindedness on their part (passport office staff) and, have you told the children yet?

(Government 2 – Workers nil).

With the audience (and viewers) suitably emotionalised Kenny proceeded to interview (attack) Eoin Ronayne who was on his own.

No (highly paid) government minister was present to be questioned about the part they played in destroying the country’s economy which sparked the industrial action. No representative from the extremely well paid higher civil servants who enforce government policy within the civil and public service.

(Government 3 – workers nil).

Kenny’s interview stance was angry, confrontational and accusatory. Ronayne was at all times courteous and calm. At one point when Kenny was running out of steam he called in the distraught mother for another dollop of emotionalism.

Maybe you could ring my children tonight, Peter 10, Christine 13 and explain to them why they’re devastated that you will not let them fly on Friday. What are you going to do for me and the other 40,000 people that are in my situation?

What price do you put on the disappointment of children demanded Kenny of Ronayne and later suggested that staff at the passport office had deliberately sabotaged passport machines to make things worse for ordinary people.

(Government 4 – workers nil)

With the exception of one person all comments from the audience were anti worker. The piece finished with the distraught mother being given yet another opportunity to make an emotional attack on Ronayne.

You took away my children’s chance of their Christmas to go and travel. They have no choice; you’ve made us suffer for your cause. I hope you’re happy.

(Government 5 – workers nil) (RTE/Pat Kenny – disgraced)

This disgraceful anti union, anti worker ambush by the national broadcaster was not an isolated incident.

All through the week on Liveline, Today with Pat Kenny and RTE News the trend (policy?) was the same – The general public were the victims of the evil Union/workers, the Government was an innocent party doing its best to help out.

It really is time somebody challenged the politicalisation of RTE.

Copy to:

The Frontline
Today with Pat Kenny

After watching Prime Time I failed to turn off the television or at least change channel with the result that I was subjected to RTEs latest ‘comedy’ show – That’s All We Have Time For.

Ok, ok I didn’t have to watch but as the show progressed I was overcome by a grotesque fascination similar to that experienced by people who are witness to a serious road accident.

The show is an exact copy of the very successful BBC comedy quiz show – Have I Got News For You – but without the comedy.

Ok, RTE has never been good at comedy but surely it’s better to fail with something original rather than fail dismally trying to copy one of the most consistently funny shows in television history?

Kevin Myers, Mario Rosenstock (who?) and guests resembled motorized mannequins mouthing prerecorded scripts based on the mutterings of a bunch of Fianna Fail backbenchers.

The embarrassment level was very high and the credibility of those involved is bound to take a severe hammering.

It’s at times like this that I really miss the genius of Dermot Morgan.

In fact, immediately after the traumatic experience I put on an episode of Fr. Ted to revive my seriously battered sense of humour.

The poem is Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson. This is the quote:

Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

The full poem is here.

The interview was revealing in that it told us as much about the ignorance of journalists/broadcasters like Marian Finucane as it did about the incompetence of politicians.

The following is analysis and comment as the interview progressed.

On Haughey

Finucane: Do you admire Haughey?

O’Malley: I admire certain aspects of him but fundamentally the man was flawed.

Finucane: But aren’t we all?

O’Malley: It’s an awful pity, he could have been so successful but he chose to carry on in a really silly way.

It’s difficult to believe that these people are talking about the most corrupt politician in the history of the state. They are talking about a man who, for decades, plundered the state of its wealth for the benefit of himself, his family and his friends.

A man who took Irish politics down into the sewer where it remains to this day, a man whose legacy is a country where corruption, incompetence and arrogance are the defining features of the ruling elite.

They are talking about a man who was so bereft of honesty and ethical boundaries that he had no scruples whatsoever in robbing a fund set up to save the life of his best friend.

The But aren’t we all flawed comment by Marian Finucane demonstrates a deep ignorance of the reality and consequences of corruption in Ireland.

Apparently, Finucane sees the corrupt Haughey as just another ordinary citizen who made a couple of mistakes during his lifetime. She appears to be completely ignorant of the massive damage done to Ireland and its people by this criminal.

She also seems to be completely ignorant of how the Haughey corruption virus has spread to every level of Irish society and in particular to the white collar sector.

A caller to the show expressed astonishment at Finucane’s comment saying:

I doubt Marian has failings similar to Haughey. If she did I hope she can expect her P45 waiting for her as she leaves the studio.

Finucane was not pleased with this upbraiding by a mere listener.

Well, I think it’s always very dangerous for anyone to be going around adjusting their halo and saying that they’re holier than thou.

Again, Finucane is demonstrating a dangerous ignorance of the reality of corruption. I say dangerous because, as Haughey was no ordinary citizen, neither is Marian Finucane.

She is one of the most influential broadcasters in the country, every week hundreds of thousands of citizens listen to her words and opinions with close attention.

Most of these listeners take her views/comments as gospel and act/think accordingly. For that reason alone she has an obligation to properly inform herself of the realities of what’s going on in Ireland today.

And Finucane is not the only journalist/broadcaster who seems to live in a parallel world of ignorance. Joe Duffy, Pat Kenny, Charlie Bird and many other RTE current affairs staff are far too close to members of the body politic.

In recent times it has become increasingly evident, to even the most casual observer, that the interaction between most elements of the Irish media and the political/business sectors has become disturbingly unhealthy.

Many of these so called unbiased journalists appear to be personal friends of politicians; they travel together, stay in the same hotels, eat in the same restaurants (often at taxpayer’s expense) and drink in the same bars.

On Mary Harney and the Department of Health

O’Malley praised Harney for having the courage to take on such a difficult job.

This is rubbish; the real story here is not the so called courage of one politician but rather the cowardice of so many others. What would happen, I wonder, if they were asked to lay down their lives for their country – the mind boggles.

O’Malley goes on to wonder what sort of catastrophe would befall the country if Harney decided to give up her job.

I think all sorts of vested interests would ride roughshod over us again.

What is this man talking about? Ok, I accept that O’Malley is getting on a bit but he must still retain enough brain cells to know that the Department of Health/HSE is a vested interest in itself; that its bureaucracy acts at all times in its own interests and certainly not in the interests of patients.

People’s lives are regularly put at risk to cover up gross incompetence and some even die. You can’t get more roughshod than death through incompetence.

On being back in a recession

According to O’Malley we’re back in recession because there wasn’t sufficient supervision and regulation of what went on.

Hang on, wasn’t it his party, the party that promised to clean up Irish politics and make other parties and government officials accountable, in power for most of that time led by none other than his heroine Mary Harney?

On the high moral ground

Finucane: One of the things that got up the nose of Fianna Fail but also of ordinary people was the high moral ground, the holier than thou attitude….It seems to me that the high moral ground can be a lonely enough place to be.

O’Malley: The high moral ground is not just a lonely place it’s also a dangerous place because you can only come down.

Finucane: A silly place, a silly place.

O’Malley: Yes, and that’s why we tried to avoid that, we got painted with that.

My God, we were worn out from trying to stop things happening (corruption). But the more you went at it the more you were accused as being on the high moral ground.

There’s a limit, you have to coexist with people, get on with the job and not let every big or little problem deflect you completely from it.

For years this Irish attitude to the high moral ground has bothered me. It seems that the Irish are the only nation in the world who regard the striving for high moral principles in public life as a bad thing, a silly thing as Finucane says.

This, I believe, is a symptom of our denial of what we really are as a nation. If we all agree that the high moral ground is a bad place, a place where the holier than thou go to adjust their halos then it’s legitimate for everybody to avoid this ground.

This warped attitude to morality in public life also makes it possible to ‘forgive’ any crime. It makes it possible for an apparently intelligent woman like Marian Finucane, and many others in the media, to equate Haughey’s crimes with the minor infringements of morality common in the everyday, it brings us all down to the sewer.

If we’re all living like rats in the sewer of corruption and incompetence then we can all live safely in denial, we can all pretend that Ireland is a normal functioning democracy and any attempt to improve ethical standards, any notion of occupying the high moral ground will receive instant condemnation from the likes of Finucane and O’Malley not because it’s a bad thing but because it threatens their delusional world of ethical ignorance.

For one brief shining moment the PDs were truly revolutionary in their challenge to the swampland of Irish political and business corruption but that corruption is too deep, too all pervading within the Irish system of government to be rooted out easily.

When Mary Harney became leader of the PDs she realised that ethics/accountability was a mugs game and quickly reverted to her Fianna Fail roots and has been living there happily ever since.

On O’Malley’s greatest achievement

The stopping of the Irish aviation bill in 1984 which would have imposed a fine not exceeding £50,000 and/or imprisonment for two years on anybody who sold airline tickets at less than the price which Aer Lingus had fixed in coordination with its cartel partners.

Finucane expressed shock at such extreme law.

Quite extraordinary, it sounds like another country given where we are now.

Given where we are now?

Clearly, Finucane believes that Ireland has moved on, has become a modern accountable democracy and believes that the Ireland of draconian/Tammany Hall type law is dead and gone.

Here’s just a sample of recent laws or proposed laws that Finucane obviously feels are in no way draconian or ‘extraordinary’.

The Employment Equality Act 1998. This act was introduced to bring Ireland into line with EU equal employment rights directives but the main churches were granted an exemption which allows them to hire and fire on the religious beliefs and moral behaviour of employees and potential employees.

There is no difference between this law and the religious laws enforced by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

In February this year the Irish government enacted a law which makes it a criminal offence to sell a Mass card not authorised by a Catholic bishop.

Contained within the Act is a presumption of guilt until proved innocent. This runs contrary to Article 48 (1) of the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The Government is in the process of inserting a blasphemy clause into the Defamation Bill which will see citizens liable upon conviction of a fine of up to €25,000.

The proposed Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009 will, among other measures, do away with the right to trial by jury and provide for secret detention hearings and detention on the unsupported word of a single Garda.

Allow hearsay as admissible evidence and permit information to be given in the absence of a suspect and his or her legal representative.

Ireland is a much more corrupt, much more unequal country today than it has been at any other time in its history.

A major contributing factor to that corruption and inequality is the intellectual laziness and ignorance of broadcasters like Marian Finucane.

Copy to:
Marian Finucane