The people now know what you are Mr. Ross

 

image

By Anthony Sheridan

For decades Shane Ross has campaigned against political corruption. Here he is angrily attacking the system over the (corrupt) political appointment of judges.

Now what does that tell you about the system here? It tells me one thing, that you’re as bad as the ones that came before you…

What I see here today is you and your senior cabinet colleagues putting up some sort of a smokescreen but basically what you’re trying to do is defend the (corrupt) system as it always has been.

Ross was elected to challenge the corrupt political system. His decision to support the Government’s Apple appeal has betrayed that trust.

His once in a lifetime opportunity to do real damage to the corrupt system that he has fought against for so long – has evaporated.

He is now just another gombeen politician who will support the corrupt system until the people throw him out.

His betrayal is copper-fastened by his abandonment of the passionate, angry and articulate attacks on the system (as quoted above) to be replaced by the standard gombeen language of insulting, patronising platitudes.

I’m very, very keen from now on that multinationals should be seen to be paying their fair share of tax.

The people now know Mr. Ross that you too are as bad as the ones who came before you.

Copy to:

Shane Ross

Independents must decide: The people or the corrupt political system

 

power-of-the-people-quote-wael-ghonim-revolution-2

By Anthony Sheridan

Despair and extreme anger over the level of political corruption is the only reason Katherine Zappone and members of the Independence Alliance were elected to public office.

They now hold power within that corrupt political system and are facing the exact same dilemma that other political entities faced in the past – to support the corrupt system or to challenge its power and fight to bring it down.

The Progressive Democrats under Des O’Malley and Mary Harney promised the Irish people that they would rid our country of political corruption – They lied and were removed from power by the people.

Labour under Dick Spring promised the Irish people that he would rid our country of political corruption – He lied and was removed from power by the people.

The Green Party under John Gormley promised the Irish people that he would rid our country of political corruption – He lied and was removed from power by the people.

Labour under Eamon Gilmore and Joan Burton promised the Irish people that they would rid our country of political corruption – They lied and were removed from power by the people.

Now Katherine Zappone and members of the Independence Alliance have to make the same decision – the people or the corrupt political system.

If they fail to support the people they too will be removed from power and the fight will go on to rid our country of the disease of political corruption.

Ultimately, the people will win.

Copy to:

Katherine Zappone

Independent Alliance

 

Broadcaster George Hook accuses politicians of tax evasion

 

george-hook

By Anthony Sheridan

On 11 May last Newstalk broadcaster George Hook made some very strong comments about a number of politicians in relation to the non-payment of water charges.

I believe Mr. Hook’s comments are in breach of the Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs and, as a consequence, I have submitted a formal complaint to Newstalk (See full complaint below).

It is interesting to note that while Mr. Hook has no scruples whatsoever in accusing fellow citizens of being tax evaders he is very sensitive to those who make alleged nasty comments concerning his character.

Earlier this year Hook threatened to sue rugby player Johnny Sexton and the Irish Times for defamation over comments made about him (Hook) in an interview.

Ridiculously, Hook had alleged that comments made by Sexton in the interview meant that he (Hook) did not believe what he writes and broadcasts, and had generated controversy over player welfare, including Sexton’s, to further his career.

Copy to:

George Hook

Finian McGrath

John Halligan

Paul Murphy

Social Democrats

 

 

Formal Complaint

19 May 2016

To Whom It May Concern:

I wish to lodge a formal complaint against the presenter of The Right Hook, George Hook, for a breach of sections 21 and 22 of the Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs, which came into effect on 1 July 2013 under Section 42 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.

On 11 May last Mr. Hook, while making comment on the issue of the non-payment of water charges by certain politicians, said:

We seem to be perfectly happy that a Cabinet minister can sit there and not pay his taxes. He is a tax evader; he is evading lawful taxation in the shape of the water charges. 

Meantime, across the aisle in the Opposition benches you have the leader of the Social Democrats, also says I haven’t paid any water charges…It is rumored that John Halligan will become a Junior Minister, another tax evader.  And one can only presume…that Paul Murphy hasn’t paid his water charges either. 

I think it is an absolute outrage to the ordinary people of Ireland more than half of whom have actually paid their water charges that people who think they can be Cabinet ministers, junior ministers, leaders of political parties, leaders of campaigns for the underprivileged can actually turn around and say; I’m not going to pay lawfully taxes that have been levied by the government.  It is an absolute outrage. 

Now Alan Kelly, of course, has demanded that Finian McGrath should consider his position.  I think he should, I think Alan Kelly is absolutely right. 

And then Finian McGrath, this is his defence.  Listen carefully to his defence.  I haven’t paid my water charges but accept the reality that if there are constitutional or legal challenges I will look at that. 

It’s incredible; this minister needs a constitutional or legal imperative to ask him to pay his taxes.  The rest of us just paid up…he doesn’t have a constitutional imperative or a legal imperative.  He has the imperative of integrity, honesty and an understanding of what it means to be a minister of government in a democracy. 

He should, quite simply, resign or pay up.  It’s very simple…and the rest of them should do likewise, those sitting on benches in the Opposition should do likewise.

It is clear that Mr. Hook is expressing the following opinions.

Minister McGrath TD is a tax evader.

The leader of the Social Democrats is a tax evader.

John Halligan TD is a tax evader.

Paul Murphy TD is, presumably, a tax evader.

That Minister McGrath does not have a constitutional or legal imperative to ask the Attorney General for advice on the issue.

That Alan Kelly TD is right in his demand that Minister McGrath should consider his position.

That it is an absolute outrage that a number of politicians should refuse to pay lawfully levied taxes.

That Minister McGrath should pay up or resign.

That those politicians in the Opposition who are refusing to pay the water charge should also resign.

Clearly, Mr. Hook is expressing opinions on a matter that is publicly controversial and of current public debate and is therefore in breach of the code.

I include the relevant sections of the Act below for your convenience.

Yours sincerely

Anthony Sheridan

 

  1. A news presenter and/or a reporter in a news programme may not express his or her own view on matters that are either of public controversy or the subject of current public debate.
  1. It is an important part of the role of a presenter of a current affairs programme to ensure that the audience has access to a wide variety of views on the subject of the programme or item; to facilitate the expression of contributors‘ opinions – sometimes by forceful questioning; and to reflect the views of those who cannot, or choose not to, participate in content. This being so, a presenter and/or a reporter on a current affairs programme shall not express his or her own views on matters that are either of public controversy or the subject of current public debate such that a partisan position is advocated.

 

 

 

Finian McGrath cashes in his principles

 

untitled (1)

By Anthony Sheridan

Independent TD and super junior Minister Finian McGrath is the first member of the current government to cash in his principles in exchange for political office.

McGrath told Brendan O’Conor that he didn’t pay water charges because he was opposed to them personally and was very annoyed with the incompetence and money wasted in setting up of the organisation.

Brendan O’Connor:  So everybody on the panel has paid except you and you’re a member of the Government.  What kind of mugs is that supposed to make us.  Are you not ashamed of yourself?

Finian McGrath:  I have major issues with the way the debate was handled.  I’m opposed to water charges personally.

O’Connor:  So, what happens if the Commission decides to keep Irish Water and the charges?

McGrath:  I will go wth the democratic wishes of Dail Eireann, absolutely, if the Dail votes in a particular way, yes, I’ll respect that mandate.

O’Connor:  So you’ll sell out your principles?

McGrath:  No, no, if the Dail votes in one particular way I’ll respect that mandate, yes.

O’Connor:  But it was the law to pay water charges and you chose to flout that.

McGrath:  I would say I was part of the civil disobedience campaign on a particular issue that I felt very strongly about but now we’re in a new space.

Yes, McGrath is indeed in a new space, it’s called political office/power.  And in common with every politician who is elected to Dail Eireann he must make a choice.

Will I, for my short-term interests, fall in with the rotten political system that has destroyed the country or will I risk my political career by seriously challenging that system in the long-term interests of the entire country?

All too predictably McGrath has opted for the traditional gombeen way of doing politics thus joining a long line of integrity free TDs who have betrayed their country.

Copy to:

Finian McGrath