RTÉ does a good job of collating the speeches at the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis today [Check against delivery – Ed] with Taoiseach Brian Cowen promising a new financial watchdog, warning that in this fight for Ireland’s economic life taxes would rise and services would suffer in the short term, and that recovery will be tough but as a small nation Ireland can adapt radically – “we have submitted our targets and proposals for this to the European Commission. And …
For the first time Fianna Fáil are to join a pan-European party – the European Liberal, Democratic and Reform Party – and may affiliate to the ALDE Group within the European Parliament. The announcement proposal was made by Taoiseach Brian Cowen at the Official Opening of 72nd Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis. Full text here. “This is a time when parties who support Europe from all parts of the Union must work more closely together. They must make sure that the …
With the issue of future efficiencies and past mis-accountancies still unresolved, Fionnuala O’Connor provides a useful reminder that Northern Ireland’s government administration “of all the talents” has had it easy, so far. [What about those experts? – Ed] Indeed. Pete Baker
Mick flagged this up in advance. It is somewhat of an ambush, and Irish Junior Finance Minister Martin Mansergh does have a valid point about being questioned about a specific case without knowing all the relevant facts. But his reaction.. Anyway, listen out for his comments about funding of projects in Northern Ireland. There’s also a priceless moment when he reaches for an example of North/South co-operation and plucks his borrowing of an expert from the NI Department of Finance …
Hearts and Minds should be worth watching tonight… Self styled ‘Socialist’ Fianna Fail TD Martin Mansergh gets pretty vexed during a debate with journalist Margaret Ward. In Margaret’s own words: …he stormed out claiming I was a populist and he couldn’t believe someone with views like mine worked for the Irish Times! Basically, I asked him some hard questions, challenged his views and he did not like it. I guess he is not used to people standing up to him. …
In the Irish Times today David Adams warns the Labour party from contemplating acceptance of Gerry Adams supplication for a grand alliance of the left… He argues that doing it duty and moving in alongside Sinn Fein and into power will cost it its political soul… …it remains debatable whether the SDLP was sacrificed to the peace process or to John Hume’s ego, what is not in question is the nature of the sacrifice itself. The SDLP got too close …
If you were wondering what all the fuss was about on that weirdly expanding Twitter driven thread last night; Green Inkpen explains it all in one easy (ahem, uneasey if you’re Fianna Fail) lesson… They tried to do a Man City and transfer in the big boys from the States with ready cash rather than work it from bottom up and got flashmobbed by a bunch of irate Irish bloggers for their troubles… There’s lessons here for other parties contemplating …
In addition to the searches of the Anglo Irish Bank’s Dublin headquarters, as part of the investigation by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, RTÉ reports that a spokesman [for the Irish Financial Regulator] has “said the regulator had concluded that ‘certain matters’ were of such a serious nature that it was appropriate to refer them to gardaí.” Which ‘certain matters’, in particular, isn’t entirely clear.. But the iol report says, “It is understood that gardaí have been …
There is a lot of anger and speculation about early elections about the way the Fianna Fail led government has conducted itself in the face of the recent crisis. I was particularly struck by commenter Oilifear’s observation that: Cowen, Coughlan and Lenihan have made a subtle move from calling on someone to take decisive action to realising that they are the Government and that it is up to them to take decisive action. From there, they made the quiet transition …
There’s still some way to go in the trial of Ted Cunningham on charges of laundering money from the Northern Bank robbery but, in the meantime, here’s a revealing quote from a report of yesterday’s evidence. [Det Sgt Gerry McCarthy] said he had asked Mr Cunningham to describe the man from whom he received money four times in January and February 2005, but that he did not pursue him about identifying the man as it was clear that Mr Cunningham …
The Irish Transport Minister, Noel Dempsey is talking about “economic treason” in the shenanigans at the Anglo Irish Bank – whether that’s a ‘charge’ which anyone will actual face is another matter. But search warrants were issued by Dublin District Court and this morning Gardaí attached to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement began searches of the bank’s Dublin headquarters. The warrant allows officers seize books and enter premises. Eight gardaí, a detective inspector, two detective sergeants and …
Not sure who ‘jack’ is in this thread, but accroding to him “bloggers are impostor journalists, a form of low-life nestled at the bottom of the media pyramid and living off the droppings from above”… Hmmm… He can’t be reading Gavin who takes Senator Shane Ross (aka the business editor of the Sunday Independent) seriously enough to dig up some of his work from the past, and finds that as a journalist he has legitimate knowledge of at least one …
If you were wondering where former Taoiseach, and blank-cheque-signing former Finance Minister, Bertie Ahern was as financial matters hit the fan, in Saturday’s Irish Times Miriam Lord provided the answer – Honduras. This public-speaking lark is turning into a nice little earner for the small to medium enterprise that is now Senor Bertie, TD SME, who must view his substantial Dáil salary and pension as little more than a sideline. Mind you, if he’s so good, why isn’t he helping …
With the focus on the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis, the BBC NI’s Politics Show’s Kevin Sharkey reports on the party’s difficulties in connecting with voters there – it’s worth listening out for SF Councillor Killian Forde’s comments about that “hostile” media. Below the fold a “philosophical” Gerry Adams, the “longest serving Irish political leader on the island”, dismisses questions about his position and praises the DUP for “doing their best” in government the Northern Ireland administration. He also points to …
In the Sunday Times, Liam Clarke has a critical assessment of Sinn Féin’s fortunes following their weekend Ard Fheis. The party is struggling despite conditions that favour it. Parties of the far left and far right traditionally do well in recessions when establishment thinking is seen to falter. Nationalism can also prosper at moments of economic crisis. But to do so, a political movement needs a clear vision, must seize the popular imagination and develop policies that offer hope to …
At Irish Election both Cian and P O’Neill are looking at the auditor’s redacted report on the shenanigans at the Anglo Irish Zombie Bank. According to the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan, “The publication of these accounts concludes a regrettable chapter in the history of Anglo Irish Bank.” [Concludes? – Ed] Not quite yet.. The detailed RTE report picks out a few choice details The report said Anglo had about 15 customers who owed more than €500m each and that …
In case you have problems getting a hold of the Anglo Irish report (overwhelming traffic has made downloads impossibly long) Gavin has the real deal here. Property Pin are pulling it to bits with the help of feeds from Bloomberg… If you want to know what it’s all about: here’s Eamonn’s poetic rendering of the grim consequences in Roscommon… Denis Hopper stars as Brian ‘Brains’ Ahern… Here’s the pay off for running a bank into the ground at the expense …
Sinn Fein have a brand spanking news and very bloggy looking site for the Ard Fheis (nice work lads)… You can pick up the schedule here… I’ll be loading up the Cover it live software this evening to make sure it works properly this time. We’ll establish an open thread at the beginning of play tomorrow, and then live blogging Gerry Adams’ speech at about 5 (we’ll go live at 4.45)… Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has …
According to Colm Keena’s report that the Anglo Irish bank substantially deceived the financial regulator last year over the transfer of Sean Quinn’s 10% to the Golden Circle. That may explain why Sean “Seanie” Fitzpatrick, former Chairman of Anglo-Irish Bank had a lot on his mind when he was asked to leave the premises by staff at Shanahan‘s – the dining room of the Celtic Tiger – because of complaints from fellow diners last weekend! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor …
Hearts and Minds‘ Julia Paul’s report on the state of Sinn Féin ahead of their weekend Ard Fheis includes, among contributions from Richard English and Eoin Ó Broin, the declaration from founding editor of Lá, Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, that he won’t vote for Sinn Féin again. In the studio interview that followed Gerry Adams responded, “Gearóid Ó Cairealláin’s a friend of mine..”, “I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t vote for Sinn Féin.” Update Adams interview in full below the …
