Michael Martin to be sacked er "resign"

mike65

No not that Michael Martin.

The Speaker of the House of Commons is standing down, with a statement due at 2.30 this afternoon. And why? Cos he was seen as a bulwark for the grubby and unsustainable status quo.

I'm trying to imagine a comparible moment ever occurring here....I can't.

Saabdub

Following Seán Doherty's revelations on Nighthawks about Charles J. Haughey's role in the wiretapping of Irish Journalists in the 1980s the Taoiseach announced his "retirement" in January 1992.

is_that_so

There was the "thundering disgrace, unfairly levelled against Cearbhall O Dalaigh by the Minister for Defence Paddy Donegan in 1976, when he referred the anti-terrorism law to the Supreme Court. Donegan also tried to resign but Cosgrave refused. And then there was Malcom McArthur and the AG otherwise known as GUBU.

Nodin

Ray Burke resigned too, as did Michael Lowry.....

mike65

I think I should have been clearer - its not about resignations under pressure per se, its about the use of power to maintain the unacceptable status quo and then being forced out.

Saabdub

Phil Hogan resigned as Minister with responsibility for the OPW in 1995 when his office mistakenly faxed information regarding the budget to the media before the embargo had lapsed. He's probably the only Minister ever to have taken responsibility for a mistake in his office.

Nodin

mike65 wrote: »

I think I should have been clearer - its not about resignations under pressure per se, its about the use of power to maintain the unacceptable status quo and then being forced out.

Well there were a number of MP's that tried to block the original FOI request along with Martin, and they're still members of their parties, and haven't resigned their seats.......He might be 'guilty', but he's really just the most convenient one to chuck to the lions at the moment.

nesf

mike65 wrote: »

I'm trying to imagine a comparible moment ever occurring here....I can't.

Ivor Calily(sp?) no?

Nodin

nesf wrote: »

Ivor Calily(sp?) no?

Thats another one, aye. ('Callely' is the sp I think). He's now doing the country proud in the Seanad.

brianthebard

mike65 wrote: »

I think I should have been clearer - its not about resignations under pressure per se, its about the use of power to maintain the unacceptable status quo and then being forced out.

He stayed for at least a year though after first being accused of abuse of expenses.

The Raven.

mike65 wrote: »

No not that Michael Martin.

That's a pity !!

Fratton Fred

The last person i recall being executed for the sins of other people was the old son of god himself.

Bob Z

Michael Martin Has had to step in the furore over MPs expenses
Personally i think he was made a scapegoat. It was the MPs who should have been punished. Getting him to resign is to me a bit liking a burglar asking a policeman to resign for not catching him committing a burglary!

I am not defending him or saying hes right but it seems to me that the political partys should have have looked at themselves first

destroyer

If only our Micheal Martin did the same.......

brianthebard

Bob Z wrote: »

Michael Martin Has had to step in the furore over MPs expenses
Personally i think he was made a scapegoat. It was the MPs who should have been punished. Getting him to resign is to me a bit liking a burglar asking a policeman to resign for not catching him committing a burglary!

I am not defending him or saying hes right but it seems to me that the political partys should have have looked at themselves first

Pretty sure he's also an MP?

BroomBurner

Bob Z wrote: »

Michael Martin Has had to step in the furore over MPs expenses
Personally i think he was made a scapegoat. It was the MPs who should have been punished. Getting him to resign is to me a bit liking a burglar asking a policeman to resign for not catching him committing a burglary!

I am not defending him or saying hes right but it seems to me that the political partys should have have looked at themselves first

In no way was he made a scapegoat. He was the central figure in trying to block the FOI request for the information and even sent in the police to find the so-called whistleblower, AFTER the High Court had ruled that his blocking of the info was illegal.

He should more than resign, he should be punished for trying to block the workings of the legal system.

The MP's who offered their regret and those that replied with "hear, hear"'s are a disgrace in supporting such behaviour.

OP, I'm still waiting for something like that to happen here. Sure even with the Anglo scheme, it was weeks before the Guards got a look-in to see if their was anything illegal going on.

A Dub in Glasgo

He was incompetent at his job and some will say he actively connived to keep the free for all expenses policy from becoming public

Good riddance