Michael McDowell Retires from public life

jhegarty

Just on RTE now..

zuutroy

Ha...Good riddance

swingking

that's not a good thing

He was the only guy who stood up to the face of organized crime

ballroom blitz

About frickin time too!!!

stakey

good riddance, no place in politics for a man like that (and that's saying something!)

sioda

Goodbye and may he never darken our lives again

AidoCQS

swingking wrote:

that's not a good thing

He was the only guy who stood up to the face of organized crime

What world are ypu living in, its been a boom time for organized crime

McDowell only started giving out abour the IRA after they had handed up their guns

Sir Oxman

Bye bye.

Irish Wolf

Congrats to John Gormley!

gandalf

swingking wrote:

that's not a good thing

He was the only guy who stood up to the face of organized crime

What with record levels of gun crime and gang murders ?

He failed to do his job properly and his employers (the people) fired him. He didn't retire he was fired.

solas

party will do better without him

Wishbone Ash

gandalf wrote:

He failed to do his job properly and his employers (the people) fired him.

They failed to renew his contract.

(He's still Minister for Justice until June 14th is he not?)

mike65

No he retired, he could have stayed in politics but has, undersandably decided to bow out now. I expect to see crime rates tumble and all drug gangs to quit. NOT

Mike.

swingking

AidoCQS wrote:

What world are ypu living in

The one where we learn how to spell

But seriously, I believe that Michael McDowell was a confident figure who was very much against organized crime; gangland figures.

He brought in mandatory sentences for armed crime, he introduced a criminal justice bill that should make a difference to do with gangland crime.

I've no real issue with the man to be honest. His views are right-wing, but you need that attitude when dealing with crime.

gandalf

swingking I haven't banned anyone today don't ever use spelling as a means to score personal points against someone on this forum again. You knew exactly what AidoCQS meant.

slumped

Did McDowell concede defeat before the results of the distribution was announced?

RTE certainly showed it that way.

Is there a difference in conceding and losing??

S

Time Magazine

There was no way he could have won; 1000 votes behind with 10 to go kind of a thing.

The Muppet

Small loss. I assume Harney will lead the PDs or what's left of them.

Wishbone Ash

slumped wrote:

Is there a difference in conceding and losing??

Yes, Fiona O'Malley hasn't a hope but she's not conceding defeat!

Wishbone Ash

The Muppet wrote:

Small loss. I assume Harney will lead the PDs or what's left of them.

They will be able to travel to Leinster house on a scooter.

philologos

swingking wrote:

that's not a good thing

He was the only guy who stood up to the face of organized crime

and let a convicted rapist free

Thank goodness he's gone.

dloob

Sorry to see him go.
He was never afraid to speak his mind and of course hassle the shinners.
I do think the PDs will be better with a different leader.

SoBe

swingking wrote:

that's not a good thing

He was the only guy who stood up to the face of organized crime

:eek:

are you on crack man?

chump

People have lost the plot if that can't see that it is important to have people like McDowell in politics.

The majority of people dislike McDowell because of his abrasive personality - not what he has achieved (or not) and I look forward to Fianna Fail taking hold of health and crime without off-loading them. Yea I can see the crime statistics tumble alright

I must say though I think Harney should be kept on in health, as I don't think any right-minded Fianna Fail'er can deny she has performed well.

keystone

Hi retired after the count so he most definitely lost!

In relation to what he did as Justice Minister, didn't he start the whole Stamp Duty crap and knocked the confidence out of the market. Didn't he want to kick Sinn Fein and the IRA when they finally put their guns down.....he's a brave and intrelligent minister.....NOT!!!!!!

His legacy will go down as one of the worst Ministers of all time.

An I agree that his party will be better without him......it couldn't be much worse. The PD's will be out of business in the next election when Harney steps down.

Trotter

So.. who can do a better job than him in Justice??

Is there an obvious FF'er who can take on the crime lords?

Give it to Mary O'Rourke if she gets in!

solas

The Muppet wrote:

Small loss. I assume Harney will lead the PDs or what's left of them.

she doesnt appear to want to.

BigTommyBomb

McDowell had his own ideas for Ireland and was following them rather than just trying to appease peope and chase votes and thats what cost him. Its a pity.

keystone

It's a poision chalice ministry. Bertie will give it to someone who won't be so outspoken and naive this time.

It's probably too early for Brian Lenihan Jnr.

And I was wrong, he actually conceded just before the announcement!!

The Saint

Trotter wrote:

So.. who can do a better job than him in Justice??

Is there an obvious FF'er who can take on the crime lords?

Give it to Mary O'Rourke if she gets in!

What about Willie? He seems to have experience with dealing with firearms.:D

Darkbloom

keystone wrote:

Didn't he want to kick Sinn Fein and the IRA when they finally put their guns down.....he's a brave and intrelligent minister.....NOT!!!!!!

No, my dear moron. He's never been afraid to speak out against the Shinners, even in that period a while ago when Bertie was cosying up to them.

Health and crime are the poisoned chalices of Irish politics. I found his speech quite moving.

Apparently we don't mind crooks in politics as long as they're slick and 'one of de people'...

Your Man

id say willy o dea could get a promotion up to justice, especially after his performance in limerick..him or dermot ahern.
As for the pds id say its the end....(hopefully). mary harney will join FF

copacetic

chump wrote:

People have lost the plot if that can't see that it is important to have people like McDowell in politics.

agreed, I dislike him as much as the next man, but the likes of him with strong opinions, not afraid to say what he thinks without worrying too much about whether it is popular or not is what we need.

It looks like this attitude has cost him dear, he likely would have been ok if he had played a quieter role as minister.

I don't agree with any of his opinions really but would rather have him in the dail than all the various no name/no opinion backbenchers.

Limerick Dude

The Saint wrote:

What about Willie? He seems to have experience with dealing with firearms.:D

I know that was a joke, but the guy takes risks, he sat down between two feuding limerick gangs before to try and come to a solution, brave man!

Wishbone Ash

Limerick Dude wrote:

he sat down between two feuding limerick gangs before to try and come to a solution, brave man!

Publicity stunt - and they were hardly going to harm a sitting politician!

gandalf

Darkbloom wrote:

No, my dear moron.

And that earns you a ban.

fobster

Yeah I'd say the Little Corporal will probably get Justice, have to give him a promotion after getting nearly 40% of Limerick East votes.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

copacetic

daveirl wrote:

This post has been deleted.

agreed, Higgins is another one I am sorry to see go. Himself and McDowell are miles apart on everything except their commitment to their beliefs..

AidoCQS

Here, here, Higgins will be missed.... but sure we dont need him, Aint Bertie a socialist

fobster

daveirl wrote:

This post has been deleted.

Agreed.

Some people want their politicians to be sycophantic morons who are afraid to speak their minds and be all things to all people.

alanceltic

There certainly wasnt ang GREY area on McDowell, either u loved the man or detested the man. I for one taught he was an excellent minister with some good ideas & well educated too. If it wasnt for his actions on immigration I dare say that parts of dublin would now be like west africa. he was very outspoken and said what he taught without worrying about wether something was "PC" or "POPULAR OPINION" and he paid for this, if only some of our future ministers were prepared to hang their hat on an opinion instead of fence sitting. I agree with previous poster, Harney to defect to Fianna Fail with her other 1 or two TDs and PDs are history. A sad day to see the rotweiler go!!! he wasnt perfect but had a spine!

boardswalker

When the PDs elected McDowell leader they signed their own death warrant.
He had an opinion on everything and competence in nothing.
Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís - buíochas le Dia.
Tá athas mór orm.

keystone

I would agree that we need opinionated and intelligent ministers however in the fullness of time and when his small portion of our history is written, he will be perceived as a publicity lover. No doubt that any talents he may have had will be over shadowed by his ego.

BTW, Thanks Gandalf. Glad to see that this not a place for insulting and ignorant remarks.

eoghan.geraghty

All I can say is

Dind Dong the witch is dead
the wicked witch is dead!

I do echo the sentiments about Harney though, she has been tackling probably the hardest cabinet position well.

Jonathan

Have the people of Dublin SE gone mad? Its a sad day for Ireland.

vallo

BigTommyBomb wrote:

McDowell had his own ideas for Ireland and was following them rather than just trying to appease peope and chase votes and thats what cost him. Its a pity.

What??

"Stamp duty will be done away with for 1st time buyers .. in July"

MisterAnarchy

jmccrohan wrote:

Have the people of Dublin SE gone mad? Its a sad day for Ireland.

Its a very sad day when a party becomes almost extinct.
The whole idea of democracy is to have a choice.
The PD's may soon be extinct,that can in no way be a good thing.

Wishbone Ash

Parlon looks awful on the TV now. :eek:

Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Ash wrote:

Parlon looks awful on the TV now. :eek:

...but Liz still looking good.

keystone

Agreed on both counts!!

Parlon went to the pub for a sandwich......emmmm yeah!