Category: Government

Mad professors and Brian Lenihan corners

David Vines, Professor of economics at Oxford university, was on Today with Pat Kenny expanding on his article published in the Financial Times and Irish Times.

According to the good professor all is just fine and dandy in Ireland.

He accused the rating agencies of lazy thinking and being asleep at the wheel.

He accused listeners who criticised him as people who stand back and let things go wrong around them.

He describes as extraordinary the great expansion in Ireland in the late 90s and early 2000s.

He seems to be completely ignorant of the fact that that ‘great expansion’ was nothing more than a mafia pyramid scheme set up and operated by a cartel of politicians, bankers and developers none of whom have been brought to account.

He believes that Ireland will continue to expand and grow becoming ever more competitive despite the ongoing global crisis and, according to the professor, the Irish banking crisis is over.

I stand with admiration at the sorting out that was done in the recapitalisation of the banks in March/April.

I must have been out buying my cornflakes when that happened.

The professor’s article and interviews caused a wave of insane optimism throughout the ‘we’ve turned a corner’ morons in the political and banking sectors.

But the professor revealed his total ignorance of what’s really going on in our glorious banana republic when he was asked:

And are we over the worst of the banking debacle?

I’m not someone who has as close knowledge as others about Irish banks but it’s my belief from what I know that it’s now soldiering on now that that very important separating of the good and the bad happened in March/April.

Oh, right. He’s not aware that the Irish banking system is rotten to the core, that the Irish financial sector in general is infested with ruthless vermin who are facilitated and supported by a so called regulatory system set up by a deeply corrupt political system.

He’s unaware of the fact that not a single banking institution or official has ever been prosecuted for the countless thefts and frauds carried out over decades against defenceless Irish citizens.

So, just another Brian Lenihan corner then.

Nobody in charge, nobody accountable. Same old story

A report into the circumstances that led to the failed transportation of a Co Leitrim girl for a liver transplant to London in July has concluded no one person or agency was in charge of organising arrangements and the system was not reliable.

So, nothing new here.

Nobody was in charge therefore nobody is responsible therefore nobody is accountable.

Standby for the usual apologies and assurances that this will never happen again blah, blah blah…

The bell tolls (and tolls and tolls and tolls) for a puzzled Tom Fleming TD

Supporters of Independent TD Tom Fleming have made some bizarre excuses for his poor voting record in the Dáil.

An Irish Independent report revealed that the Kerry South TD did not vote on 14 of the 20 occasions he was fobbed into the Dáil to claim thousands of Euro and travel accommodation costs.

The excuses given by John O’Connor, a management consultant representing the TD tells us more about the low opinion Mr. Fleming has of his political colleagues than it does about his poor Dáil record.

According to Mr. O’Connor Deputy Fleming has an ethical compass, he has a brain and if others had the same intellect as his leader the country wouldn’t be in the mess it was in now.

The suggestion seems to be that there’s a serious lack of brains and ethical compasses in our national parliament.

I have to say there’s a lot of truth in that claim.

He’s not in there to prop up a government and he’s not there to oppose things for the sake of it either, he’s not a nihilist.

What? He’s not a nihilist? I quickly checked the dictionary to see if I had been in error regarding the meaning of this word.

No, no I wasn’t.

a. An extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence.

b. A doctrine holding that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.

Then, suddenly, I realised what Mr. O’Connor was trying to say:

All Irish politicians, with the exception of his leader, of course, were deniers of all existence, believed that all values were baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.

Feck, the guy is a genius. It’s the most accurate assessment of the Irish body politic I have ever heard.

But the most bizarre and most hilarious excuse comes from the great man himself.

Deputy Fleming said he missed a number of votes at the start of the Dáil term because, as a new TD, he did not know what the bell calling deputies to the chamber to vote was for.

I fell about laughing when I read this most pristine of gombeen excuses.

All new TDs are provided with written and oral advice regarding Dáil procedures, responsibilities and regulations.

I’m not sure, however, if it’s thought necessary to inform new TDs about the bell which is broadcast throughout the entire building.

Its function, after all, is to call deputies to vote in the chamber which is the most basic part of their job.

It would be a bit like an official thinking it necessary to say to a new TD – Do you see that building in front of you, well that’s Dáil Éireann.

The door in the centre of the building is the entrance, there’s no other door so you can’t miss it.

I can just imagine Deputy Fleming working away in his office when this loud and very strange sounding bell starts ringing.

Feck it, he thinks, what is that noise? I’m finding it very hard to concentrate on my expenses application.

After several days of really hard thinking and with his head near bursting he gives up and decides to ring a fellow (non nihilist) TD.

Tom: Howya Paddy, could you ever tell me what that fecking bell is for?

Paddy: I’ve been racking my very intelligent brain for days now Tom and I just can’t figure it out.

I suppose if it’s a fire alarm we’d have had our arses burnt off by now.

Tom: Maybe it’s calling us to lunch although it seems to go off at all sorts of times.

Paddy: And it couldn’t be calling us to the bar for free drinks, their free all the time.

Tom: could it be calling us to prayers, ya know, like them Muslim fellows?

Paddy: I doubt it Tom, us Catholics don’t go in for all that public prayer stuff.

Tom: Oh Jazus Paddy, please tell me it’s not for calling us to collect our expenses.

Paddy: Oh bollicks, I’ll bet that’s exactly what it’s for. Come on; let’s get our arses down to the paymaster before we lose our entitlements.

New TDs expenses system does not prevent fraud

A recent report in the Irish Independent highlighted the low vote participation by TDs when compared to high claims for expenses.

TDs are required to electronically ‘fob in’ at a terminal, or else sign in at an attendance book, to claim travel and overnight costs.

These annual benefits range from €12,000 to €37,850, depending on where the politician calls home.

It comes on top of expenses of up to €25,700 for running a constituency office and a basic salary of around €92,000.

For the running of their constituency office TDs can choose a vouched or unvouched system.

With the unvouched system they receive €15, 00; no questions asked. With the vouched system they receive €25,700 but may be asked to produce receipts.

This ‘new’ system was introduced in March 2010 and is hailed by all those who benefit as a great step forward in transparency and accountability.

The ‘new’ system is, of course, neither transparent nor accountable as I found out when I spoke to a civil servant in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

On the fob in system.

Me: Who is responsible for monitoring the fob system?

Civil Servant: The Houses of the Oireachtas.

Me: What particular individual is responsible?

Civil Servant: I don’t know if it’s a specific individual, I mean, the records are checked, monitored and marked.

Me: Is it that TDs scan their fobs and are electronically recorded?

Civil Servant: Yes.

Me: Is it a civil servant who checks that record?

Civil Servant: I don’t know, the records are published on a monthly basis on our website.

Me: The reason I’m asking this question is because there’s obviously huge scope for fraud within the system.

Civil Servant: How do you work that out?

Me: If I was a TD in Kerry, for example, I could give my fob to a colleague TD and ask him to fob in for me.

Civil Servant: You could do that I suppose.

Me: So is there somebody there to make sure this is not happening?

Civil Servant: No.

Me: So there is scope for fraud in the system?

Civil Servant: Well, on that rationale there’s a possibility for fraud on everything, in every walk of life.

Me: Of course, but what I mean is there’s a possibility of easy fraud in this system.

Civil Servant: Well if you want to suggest that Oireachtas members are engaged in that, that’s up to you. We have no evidence of that at all.

Me: Well, you couldn’t have evidence because you don’t actually monitor the system which leaves lots of scope for fraud.

Civil Servant: That’s what you’re saying, I don’t agree with that.

Me: Could you confirm that there is actually no way to prevent fraud, somebody could, if they wished, fob in somebody else.

Civil Servant: There’s no evidence of that happening; never saw anybody do it.

Me: Is the system monitored, is there any way of preventing a TD from fobbing in for another TD?

Civil Servant: Other than they’re no allowed to do it and they’re told they’re no allowed to do it, that’s what we say to them.

On the signing in system.

Me: Is the signing in monitored?

Civil Servant; Most of them don’t sign in; I don’t know how many exactly sign in.

Me: The TDs that do sign in, are they monitored?

Civil Servant: I don’t know if any of them do, it’s an option.

Me: You don’t know?

Civil Servant: Not off hand, no.

Me: Even if one TD signs in, there’s a record. If no TD signs in, there’s still a record. Is that record checked?

Civil Servant: What do you mean checked?

Me: To make sure TDs are genuinely signing in and not signing in for each other.

Civil Servant: Yes, I suppose they could if they wanted to be very dishonest.

Me: Perish the thought that a TD would be dishonest.

Civil Servant: That’s what you’re saying. In life, if somebody wants to do something dishonest, they could, it’s quite hard to stop people. We have no evidence of that happening.

On the Voucher system.

Me: I understand there’s a percentage of unvouched vouchers checked annually.

Civil Servant: Yes, there’s an audit on 10% of unvouched vouchers.

Me: Is that audit available to the public?

Civil Servant: It’s still being carried out at present, I understand so it’s not available yet.

Me: I rang about this audit last year and was told the same thing.

Civil Servant: Ok, well, the audit is being carried out at present.

Me: When will it be available?

Civil Servant: I don’t know, when it’s finished, we’re very transparent here in the Oireachtas

Me: Yes, of course, you’re very transparent. What period does the audit cover?

Civil Servant: I don’t know. I think it covers the period since the new scheme came in March 2010.

Me: Is there a requirement that the audit be published within a particular time period?

Civil Servant: I imagine when it is concluded we’ll be publishing it. I don’t know if we will be publishing it, I can’t give you a definitive answer on that. We’ve had several requests for it, so I imagine it will be.

Me: So if I come back next year there’s a good chance it will be available.

Civil Servant: I don’t know, I don’t know precisely what date it’s going to be finished.

I first enquired about the so called voucher audit four years ago and was told there was no such audit.

I enquired again in 2008 and was told it wasn’t available because they were working on the new ‘transparent and accountable’ system of expenses.

Last year I was told it wasn’t available because the ‘new’ system wasn’t in long enough.

This year I’m told I may, but then again, I may not be granted access to the audit.

The bottom line is obvious. The so called new system of transparency and accountability does nothing to prevent fraud. Politicians can, if they wish, rob public monies with complete impunity.

If we are to judge from past events that is exactly what’s going to happen.

New white-collar crime legislation

Legislation aimed at strengthening Garda powers when investigating white-collar crime and legally protecting those who turn whistleblower comes into operation today.

Key provisions in the new laws seek to bolster the hand of gardaí when a witness is unwilling to attend Garda interviews or supply information like financial records. Such uncooperative behaviour can seriously hamper or derail the progress of an investigation (Irish Times).

This new legislation is obviously in response to the current investigation into Anglo Irish Bank and other financial institutions.

My first reaction?

Stand by for an announcement from an apparently disappointed minister telling us that, unfortunately, the new law cannot be applied retrospectively.

Mary Hanafin and her mother at the Áras

A caller to RTE said that Mary Hanafin’s ambition for the Presidency was nothing more than ego mania – such cruelty.

I have it on good authority that poor Mary has been suffering terribly since her arse was forcibly removed from the comfortable leather of her ministerial car.

She particularly misses the sight of riff raff being hauled away to court by burly policemen for daring to impede her imperial route.

Since being booted out of office by the ungrateful peasants poor Mary is lost in a sea of normality, a jungle of ordinariness where she even has to drive her own car and mix with the dirty peasants on the streets and in the shops.

Living in the arse, oops, I mean the Áras, would suit our regal Mary down to the ground. All that pomp and ceremony, all those cars and jets, all those expenses

It’s just the sort of lifestyle our Mary has become used to as a government minister.

And concerned citizens need not worry that Mary doesn’t have a partner to accompany her on all those boringly expensive engagements around the world.

When Mary was minister her mother patriotically volunteered to spend all the taxpayer’s money she could to ensure her daughter wasn’t lonely as she jetted around the world.

Mary’s mother would, however, have to be very careful if she was living in the Park with her daughter President in case of nasty accidents.

In 2009, Mary’s mother won a claim for damages following a fall at Leinster House.

We don’t know how much the poor dear was paid. That’s a state secret, you understand.

The taxpayer must pay but the amount is none of his/her business.

But a fall on her arse, oops, I mean at the Áras, could cost the hard pressed taxpayer considerably more so I’m sure she would be extra careful.

School costs – Who benefits?

The annual discussion regarding the ever increasing cost of preparing children for the school year was aired on RTE today.

Although there’s a great mass of hot air vented every year on this topic the situation is really very basic.

A school jumper bought in Dunnes Stores costs about €15/20 and will easily last the year.

A school jumper bought from a ‘favoured’ outlet with a fancy crest costs in the region of €60.

So, just like the school prefab rental scandal, all we have to find out is – who benefits?

Israelis take to the streets: Irish remain docile and obedient

At least a quarter of a million Israelis, fed up with the mounting cost of living, have taken to the streets to demand action from the government.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seen by many middle class Israelis as too friendly to big business, is under increasing pressure to break up business monopolies and cartels.

The protests started three weeks ago when a few young people pitched a tent encampment on a posh Tel Aviv street shouting ‘social justice for the people’ and ‘Revolution’.

Popular mass demonstrations against government as opposed to protests from self-interested groups?

Young people on the streets calling for revolution?

Middle class demanding that the government act against mafia type big business?

Meanwhile in Ireland, Joe Higgins, leader of the most ‘revolutionary’ party in the country, has warned that protests against the €100 household tax are being planned – sometime next year.

The Government must be quaking in its boots?

Judge Kelly caves in to state pressure

On 19th July last I asked the question – Will Judge Kelly fold under state pressure?

Sadly, and all too predictably, the judge folded.

Judge Kelly had strongly challenged the state regarding the never ending investigation into Anglo Irish Bank.

Throwing down the gauntlet he said the requested six months extension to the investigation would not be granted unless the following demands were met.

Much more progress achieved.

Much more detailed information provided.

Progress in respect of the material sent to the DPP in December 2010.

More accurate estimates of time as to the completion of the various investigations than have been furnished to date.

This is what he got:

There are five parts to the investigation with one part substantially complete.

A formal decision on charges will not be made until all aspects of the investigation are complete because many issues in the five parts overlap.

Some aspects of the investigation will not be complete until end of this year.

Some transactions are more extensive and more complex than originally thought.

Judge Kelly responded:

Due to the additional information he had received and the fleshing out of the picture in relation to the DPP, he would grant a further extension of six months to the Director of Corporate Enforcement to continue his investigation.

Additional information, fleshing out of the picture? – rubbish.

All the judge got was a load of meaningless waffle accompanied by a very clear message.

Get back in your box and keep your mouth shut. We’ll call you when we next need your rubber stamp.

It is reasonable to conclude that the public dressing down of Judge Kelly by the DPP has had the desired effect.

'Democracy now' protester brought to justice

I see the demonstrator who blocked former Government minister Mary Hanafin’s state car and shouted ‘Democracy now’ has been fined €150.

So, about eight months from ‘crime’ to justice. State law enforcement agencies like the police and courts working smoothly to ensure this ‘threat to the state’ was dealt with quickly and efficiently.

Meanwhile, those who actually destroyed the state are still walking around, enjoying the high life on bloated pensions and golden pay offs.

Apparently these vermin can’t be touched because of something to do with complexity and mounds of documents.

And what about former minister Hanafin, a member of the most corrupt political party in the country, the party principally responsible for allowing the vermin to destroy our country.

Well, she’s enjoying a lifetime guarantee of financial security partly paid for by the demonstrator who was hauled before the courts for demanding democracy.