The John McNulty / Enda Kenny Saga.

My name is URL · 30-09-2014 3:40pm

So he's withdrawn from the by-election after all... and once the ballot papers had already gone out

Edna and Heather Humphries looking extremely sheepish and uncomfortable at the minute

Sierra Oscar · 30-09-2014 3:41pm

Looks like John McNulty has withdrawn from the race but that his name will still appear on the ballot paper. Not great for Enda. It's the little things that trip you up as Albert Reynolds once said.

It is starting to look like the government may have permanently lost its majority in the Seanad.

Irish Independent - John McNulty dramatically pulls out of Seanad by-election race

His decision is a massive blow to the Taoiseach’s authority and comes after Mr Kenny faced a string of criticism from within Fine Gael.

Nodin · 30-09-2014 3:42pm

He's decided to fade into the background

"Fine Gael’s John McNulty has withdrawn from the Seanad byelection race, saying that his participation the election would be a “distraction” from the work the Government is doing.
Mr McNulty, whose appointment to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art ahead of his selection to contest the Cultural and Education Panel of the Seanad saw the Government accused of stroke politics, said he was now asking members of the Oireachtas not to vote for him. "
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/john-mcnulty-withdraws-from-seanad-bylection-race-1.1946773

raymon · 30-09-2014 4:01pm

Great new that Mc Nulty has withdrawn

This was the right thing to do.

realweirdo · 30-09-2014 4:03pm

While the rest of us struggle to find limited jobs and have to compete against it seems every other European for those jobs, its nice to know the friends of politicians will always find a job in the public sector or on this board or another. Double and triple jobbing seems to be the norm, while everyone else struggles.

The close friends of government politicians will never be unemployed.

Just more of the corrupt political culture in Ireland and Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Labour are all as bad as each other.

flutered · 30-09-2014 4:09pm

MouseTail wrote: »

Yes, he gets €15k from Irish Water, and separately, 665 per week (35k odd per year) in a salaried position as a Ministerial driver.

ministers get an allowance for two drivers, one works every second week.

raymon · 30-09-2014 4:13pm

It is interesting to see the Fianna Fail spinmeisters on here with fake outrage.

Michael Martin's appointment of then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's former partner Celia Larkin to the board of the National Consumer Agency in 2005 prompted accusations of political cronyism from the opposition. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections/latest-news/martin-plan-backfires-as-he-clings-to-90000-deal-26673362.html#sthash.VF6HW0Tf.dpuf

Wasnt it Michael Martin who appointed Berties girlfriend Celia Larkin to the board of the National Consumer Agency !!

What a shower of shysters !

MANSFIELD · 30-09-2014 4:18pm

raymon wrote: »

It is interesting to see the Fianna Fail spinmeisters on here with fake outrage.

Wasnt it Michael Martin who appointed Berties girlfriend Celia Larkin to the board of the National Consumer Agency !!

What a shower of shysters !

They always were a crowd of 'shysters'.

My name is URL · 30-09-2014 4:18pm

Hilary Quinlan has resigned from the board of Irish Water this evening too

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/hilary-quinlan-resigns-from-board-of-irish-water-1.1946849

Looking pretty obvious now that Kenny may have had a quiet persuasive word with them.. damage limitation?

realweirdo · 30-09-2014 4:21pm

Was there open advertising for any of these jobs including for drivers and appointees to state boards?
Was there interviewing of candidates?
Did those who did the interviewing have complete independence from politicians?

If not, then it's corrupt.

nc6000 · 30-09-2014 4:22pm

My name is URL wrote: »

Hilary Quinlan has resigned from the board of Irish Water this evening too

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/hilary-quinlan-resigns-from-board-of-irish-water-1.1946849

Looking pretty obvious now that Kenny may have had a quiet persuasive word with them.. damage limitation?

Of course he has chosen to give up the €15K a year gig rather than the €55K a year one. :rolleyes:

Banjo String · 30-09-2014 4:37pm

nc6000 wrote: »

Of course he has chosen to give up the €15K a year gig rather than the €55K a year one. :rolleyes:

Nice gig if you could get it.

Working 6months of the year (1 week on, 1 week off) for 55k.

gandalf · 30-09-2014 4:42pm

Tis a bit late for these resignations/ withdrawals , the damage has already been done.

Now what about all the other failed County Councillors who got quango positions after the recent local elections. Are they also going to be flushed out.

L'Enfer du Nord · 30-09-2014 4:42pm

raymon wrote: »

It is interesting to see the Fianna Fail spinmeisters on here with fake outrage.

The jealousy of small differences...

But why assume that any opponent of FG is an FF supporter? Aren't they around 50% support between them in opinion polls?

realweirdo · 30-09-2014 4:47pm

gandalf wrote: »

Tis a bit late for these resignations/ withdrawals , the damage has already been done.

Now what about all the other failed County Councillors who got quango positions after the recent local elections. Are they also going to be flushed out.

As I said earlier you will never see friends of politicians and ex councillors joining the dole queues. One way or another they all get fixed up.

Corruption hasn't gone away you know.

who_ru · 30-09-2014 4:50pm

raymon wrote: »

Great new that Mc Nulty has withdrawn

This was the right thing to do.

Kenny resigning would be the right thing to do as would labour showing some ****ing judgement and not supporting this disgraceful carry on.

My name is URL · 30-09-2014 4:52pm

who_ru wrote: »

Kenny resigning would be the right thing to do as would labour showing some ****ing judgement and not supporting this disgraceful carry on.

Kenny would sooner run the party into the ground than do the decent thing and resign. The depressing thing is that the rest of 'em seem okay with that.

gizmo555 · 30-09-2014 4:53pm

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

His decision is a massive blow to the Taoiseach’s authority and comes after Mr Kenny faced a string of criticism from within Fine Gael.

My immediate impression is that the decision was taken to avoid an even more massive blow to the Taoiseach's authority.

If McNulty stayed on the ballot and - as was seeming increasingly likely - failed to be elected even though government TDs and Senators are in the majority of the electorate after Enda had taken personal responsibility for the fiasco, it could only be seen as a vote of no confidence in him.

realweirdo · 30-09-2014 4:55pm

No problem with Kenny resigning or being pushed out but whoever replaces him will be just as bad.
Irish politicians are notoriously good at looking after their own and promoting and helping their friends and family.
It's endemic across all the political parties.

I bet if you looked hard enough at some of the politicians criticising Kenny you'd find an equal amount of nepotism or gombeenism.

The whole political system is corrupt.

Larbre34 · 30-09-2014 4:59pm

Albert Reynolds must be looking down with a bit of glee at all this, it has a real Albert feel about it, a thousand small cuts building up to something big.

Labour backbenchers must be in a lather, would be a good time for someone to throw someone under a bus.

realweirdo · 30-09-2014 5:00pm

Labour could write the book on fixing up friends, waste of time expecting moral outrage from them.

Banjo String · 30-09-2014 5:05pm

Larbre34 wrote: »

Albert Reynolds must be looking down with a bit of glee at all this, it has a real Albert feel about it, a thousand small cuts building up to something big.

Labour backbenchers must be in a lather, would be a good time for someone to throw someone under a bus.

realweirdo wrote: »

Labour could write the book on fixing up friends, waste of time expecting moral outrage from them.

Labour are no better.

Prob explains Joans reluctance to get involved....

An unsuccessful Labour Party Local Election candidate was appointed to the Board of Directors at the Irish Aviation Authority last month.

Former Clare County Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald was made a director at the beginning of August.

A spokesperson for Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe said Mr Fitzgerald has been active in promoting Shannon Airport and tourism in the Shannon and Mid West area over the last decade.

Directors on the board of the Irish Aviation Authority are paid up to €13,000 a year, according to the authority's 2013 annual report.

Mr Fitzgerald, who is a publican, served as a councillor for ten years before he lost his seat in the Shannon area last May. He could not be contacted for comment.

http://m.rte.ie/news/2014/0930/648957-pascal-fitzgerald/

gizmo555 · 30-09-2014 5:11pm

Banjo String wrote: »

Labour are no better.

I always remember Emmett Stagg's defence back in the day when he was a junior minister. He was challenged about giving one of his two ministerial driver posts to a cousin.

His response was to the effect that one cousin wasn't nepotism, it would only be nepotism if employed two . . .

Godge · 30-09-2014 5:13pm

gandalf wrote: »

Tis a bit late for these resignations/ withdrawals , the damage has already been done.

Now what about all the other failed County Councillors who got quango positions after the recent local elections. Are they also going to be flushed out.

Don't think so.

The resignations will ensure the story disappears. Nobody will remember this come election time.

Banjo String · 30-09-2014 5:29pm

Godge wrote: »

Don't think so.

The resignations will ensure the story disappears. Nobody will remember this come election time.

Oh Godge... with the rise in social media, I dont think that's true.

You're deluding yourself. Everything will be dredged up. Some people never forget.

Fr. Ned · 30-09-2014 5:42pm

Banjo String wrote: »

Labour are no better.

Prob explains Joans reluctance to get involved....

http://m.rte.ie/news/2014/0930/648957-pascal-fitzgerald/

Seriously, this lot, elected in protest, are worse than what went before.
It's a joke at this stage, they don't even try anymore to be subtle about it.
A real two fingers to the electorate.

rodento · 30-09-2014 8:13pm

How can Enda take full responsibility one minute than blame everyone else the next, starting to look like he has completely lost control

Banjo String · 30-09-2014 8:38pm

rodento wrote: »

How can Enda take full responsibility one minute than blame everyone else the next, starting to look like he has completely lost control

And respect.

I wonder is Leo in the long grass?

gladrags · 30-09-2014 8:56pm

gizmo555 wrote: »

I always remember Emmett Stagg's defence back in the day when he was a junior minister. He was challenged about giving one of his two ministerial driver posts to a cousin.

His response was to the effect that one cousin wasn't nepotism, it would only be nepotism if employed two . . .

The fact of the matter is that Labour do not have a history of cronyism or corruption, or bank robberies,executions.

We all know Ff are corrupt and probably always will be.

Its a culture thing.

Bruton,Kenny and Noonan are self serving air heads,so are the sheep that follow them.

They run the country as if it is theirs to run,and fock the homeless,elderly etc.

Of the people,by the people...no siree says FG

gizmo555 · 30-09-2014 9:31pm

gladrags wrote: »

The fact of the matter is that Labour do not have a history of cronyism or corruption, or bank robberies,executions

You seem to have forgotten about Official IRA/Official Sinn Féin/Sinn Fein the Workers Party/The Workers Party/Democratic Left before it completed its rebranding with its reverse takeover of Labour. It was responsible for plenty of criminal activity and gangsterism, including a good many murders.

Labour has no moral high ground to stand on there . . .

bcmf · 30-09-2014 9:52pm

Its beginning to look like the last days of the last government except that the Greens finally grew a set of balls and pulled the plug.
Doubtful Labour will find their balls!
And anyway if there was an election I would have a serious problem in finding someone to give my No.1

gladrags · 30-09-2014 10:13pm

gizmo555 wrote: »

You seem to have forgotten about Official IRA/Official Sinn Féin/Sinn Fein the Workers Party/The Workers Party/Democratic Left before it completed its rebranding with its reverse takeover of Labour. It was responsible for plenty of criminal activity and gangsterism, including a good many murders.

Labour has no moral high ground to stand on there . . .

Your response is typical of the gombeen republic we have become.

You try to bring everyone down to the same level,the gutter.

The labour party are not corrupt,you cannot prove otherwise,other than to try to smear them with the same brush.

Labour merged with DL for political and non violent reasons, their history is non violent and democratic.

Prove otherwise

John_C · 30-09-2014 10:42pm

gladrags wrote: »

Your response is typical of the gombeen republic we have become.

You try to bring everyone down to the same level,the gutter.

The labour party are not corrupt,you cannot prove otherwise,other than to try to smear them with the same brush.

Labour merged with DL for political and non violent reasons, their history is non violent and democratic.

Prove otherwise

Rabbitte appoints Coalition cronies to jobs on state board
Minister fills posts just days before Cabinet reshuffle

My name is URL · 30-09-2014 10:48pm

gladrags wrote: »

Labour merged with DL for political and non violent reasons, their history is non violent and democratic.

Prove otherwise

A man once convicted for politically motivated murder was out canvassing for his wifes party (a Labour TD) in the run up to the local elections. Pretty sure he partook in some canvassing for her too before the generals. He was also employed as her personal assistant and paid for with public money the last time I checked.

I'm sure you don't need me to name names

gizmo555 · 30-09-2014 11:10pm

gladrags wrote: »

Labour merged with DL for political and non violent reasons, their history is non violent and democratic.

Exactly. Labour merged for purely party political advantage with DL, a party which a couple of names changes previously was Official Sinn Féin/Official IRA. It was shameful. I was a lifelong Labour voter until they crossed that Rubicon.

It backfired on the Labour old-guard when ex-Official Sinn Féin veterans like Gilmore, Rabbitte and McManus took over the running of the organisation.

PS - Have you never heard of James Connolly or the Irish Citizen Army?

PPS - The Labour/DL experience goes to show that when the time comes, the "mainstream", "non-violent" parties will hold their noses and go into government with the current incarnation of Sinn Féin, if that's what it takes to get into power.

gladrags · 30-09-2014 11:19pm

John_C wrote: »

Rabbitte appoints Coalition cronies to jobs on state board
Minister fills posts just days before Cabinet reshuffle

Your source is the Sindo!!!!

The home of half truth agenda ridden whore masters.

Go on prove it

gladrags · 30-09-2014 11:24pm

My name is URL wrote: »

A man once convicted for politically motivated murder was out canvassing for his wifes party (a Labour TD) in the run up to the local elections. Pretty sure he partook in some canvassing for her too before the generals. He was also employed as her personal assistant and paid for with public money the last time I checked.

I'm sure you don't need me to name names

The word pathetic comes to mind
, "pretty sure" means absolutely zilch.

Where are your sources?

gladrags · 30-09-2014 11:45pm

"

gizmo555 wrote: »

Exactly. Labour merged for purely party political advantage with DL, a party which a couple of names changes previously was Official Sinn Féin/Official IRA. It was shameful. I was a lifelong Labour voter until they crossed that Rubicon."

So what, I do not recall in my lifetime,labour advocating violence,do you?

"It backfired on the Labour old-guard when ex-Official Sinn Féin veterans like Gilmore, Rabbitte and McManus took over the running of the organisation."

That does not make them corrupt or violent.

"PS - Have you never heard of James Connolly or the Irish Citizen Army?

PPS - The Labour/DL experience goes to show that when the time comes, the "mainstream", "non-violent" parties will hold their noses and go into government with the current incarnation of Sinn Féin, if that's what it takes to get into power.

"

Connolly was from a different era.

Did you or your family live in the tennements of 1913,or witness the starvation,poverty and injustice.?

Connolly did,and he fought politically for the rights of the oppressed,and made the ultimate sacrifice.

I think your reference to Sinn Fein should begin with "If Only"

Banjo String · 30-09-2014 11:45pm

gladrags wrote: »

The word pathetic comes to mind
, "pretty sure" means absolutely zilch.

Where are your sources?

Ah here now, I'm not gonna insult your intelligence by naming him or posting a link.

You seem competent enough. So here... www.google.ie

conorh91 · 01-10-2014 12:33am

gladrags wrote: »

Labour merged with DL for political and non violent reasons, their history is non violent and democratic.

Prove otherwise

The man who earlier this year was the leader of Labour, could not categorically deny having been a member of the IRA.

My name is URL · 01-10-2014 12:46am

gladrags wrote: »

The word pathetic comes to mind
, "pretty sure" means absolutely zilch.

Where are your sources?

Are you Joan Burton?

You write like she speaks.

John_C · 01-10-2014 12:47am

gladrags wrote: »

Your source is the Sindo!!!!
The home of half truth agenda ridden whore masters.

Here's the same story on RTÉ:
White defends appointment of ex-politicians to Bord na Móna board

realweirdo · 01-10-2014 12:54am

gladrags wrote: »

The fact of the matter is that Labour do not have a history of cronyism or corruption, or bank robberies,executions.

Is that a fact?

A couple of years ago, Eamon Gilmore challenged FF to end "crony capitalism".

http://www.labour.ie/blog/2009/03/24/gilmore-challenges-cowen-to-end-crony-capitalism/

I hope the labour website is a good enough source for you!

So you would think given what he had to say on the matter, when a school in Galway needed land to expand, Eamon and his wife would be only too willing to donate the land at a reasonable price to the school and the state.

Think again!

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/gilmore-wife-got-525000-for-school-site-now-worth-just-100000-26695748.html

The man is/was a walking hypocrite.

As for being a relation of a Labour Party member, it surely doesn't hurt.

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2012/11/20/a-newly-created-position/

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/tds-break-cronyism-pledge-by-giving-jobs-to-family-members-26740285.html

Banjo String · 01-10-2014 7:16am

Godge wrote: »

Don't think so.

The resignations will ensure the story disappears. Nobody will remember this come election time.

Poor choice of words it would seem.

Apparently mcnulty was out canvassing mere hours before he was shafted.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny shafted his controversial Seanad candidate John McNulty as he shifted the blame to Fine Gael officials for the cronyism debacle.

Mr Kenny sent officials to tell Mr McNulty to pull out of the Seanad election at lunchtime yesterday, just hours after telling Tanaiste Joan Burton the Coalition’s candidate would be standing aside.

Mr McNulty was still canvassing party TDs and senators at the time, indicating that he had no warning he would be forced off the pitch.

Numerous Fine Gael TDs and senators are saying they have voted for – or will vote for – Mr McNulty as he had done no wrong.

Mr Kenny is also blaming Fine Gael officials for having Mr McNulty appointed to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA).

Arts Minister Heather Humphreys said she was asked by Fine Gael officials to appoint Mr McNulty – but she didn’t know he was the party’s candidate for the Seanad.

Mr Kenny says he approved Mr McNulty as the party candidate for the Seanad, but didn’t know he was then appointed to the State board.

After Mr McNulty asked TDs and Senators not to vote for him, the Taoiseach told the Dail it was not worth winning a seat in the circumstances.

“My own standards were let slip and my own sense of integrity and trust did not measure up,” he said.

Fine Gael TDs loyal to Mr Kenny admit he has been damaged by the affair.

“It hasn’t been a good week for him and he knows it,” a senior Government source said.

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/news/taoiseach-shafts-crony-and-pins-the-blame-on-fg-party-officials-30628547.html

Also interesting some people don't condemn the cronyism, just hope the electorate forget about it come election time.

Enda has shown this last few weeks he's a snake of a man and a bully.

raymon · 01-10-2014 7:59am

More fake outrage from Fianna Fail's Michael Martin on Morning Ireland.

Has he forgotten that he elevated his pal Bertie's girlfriend Celia Larkin to the board of the National Consumer Agency not so long ago.

Amnesia and fake outrage.

blowin3 · 01-10-2014 8:14am

raymon wrote: »

More fake outrage from Fianna Fail's Michael Martin on Morning Ireland.

Has he forgotten that he elevated his pal Bertie's girlfriend Celia Larkin to the board of the National Consumer Agency not so long ago.

Amnesia and fake outrage.

Typical of Irish gombeen politics. You vote for them I vote for them so who's at fault ?

gandalf · 01-10-2014 10:06am

raymon wrote: »

More fake outrage from Fianna Fail's Michael Martin on Morning Ireland.

Has he forgotten that he elevated his pal Bertie's girlfriend Celia Larkin to the board of the National Consumer Agency not so long ago.

Amnesia and fake outrage.

The problem is enough people will believe his "sincerity" and vote for him forgetting he was in the cabinet for the 14 years of FF led Governments that pushed us into the arms of the IMF and EU austerity policies for the last six years.

Sierra Oscar · 01-10-2014 10:40am

RTÉ News - McNulty affair a crisis for Enda Kenny

It’s no exaggeration to say the John McNulty affair has presented Enda Kenny with his biggest political crisis since the coup against his leadership four years ago.

And it’s a crisis that’s all the worse for him because it is entirely of his own making.

...

TDs and Senators are now musing openly about whether the Taoiseach is now a liability rather than an asset, whether in political terms he has slipped into the red.

There could be fireworks at the next FG parliamentary party meeting.

raymon · 01-10-2014 10:47am

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

RTÉ News - McNulty affair a crisis for Enda Kenny

There could be fireworks at the next FG parliamentary party meeting.

Sierra , were you and your party outraged when your own leader Michael Martin shoved Celia Larkin onto the board of the National Consumer Agency. Was it a stroke?

Sierra Oscar · 01-10-2014 10:50am

raymon wrote: »

Sierra , were you and your party outraged when your own leader Michael Martin shoved Celia Larkin onto the board of the National Consumer Agency. Was it a stroke?

I don't necessarily support Fianna Fáil anymore. I am a free spirit.

I am still astounded by the croynism being displayed by Fine Gael though along with their willing accomplices in the Labour party.

The John McNulty / Enda Kenny Saga.

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