Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe shows how (not) to do accountability.

Hillel

There is an accountability vacuum throughout the political sector, in this country. Minister O'Keefe gives a classic example of this when describing women committed to Magdalen laundries as “employees”. The context was claims for compensation by former inmates of those discredited institutions. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0919/1224254861930.html

It appears that there are no ends to which Government Ministers will not go to avoid responsibility, or having to address difficult issues. In my view this one episode, alone, makes Batt unfit for public office, let alone an Education Minister. He should resign forthwith.

eoinbn

He should resign because he misused a word?

From what I understand this has nothing to do with education. It was grown women sent to these places, often by their own family to 'rehabilitate' for what were seen as sexual crimes/sins.

lostexpectation

the state and the church was one in the same back then. its is now the minister of education responsibility

Hillel

eoinbn wrote: »

He should resign because he misused a word?

Of course not! He should resign because he deliberately tried to imply that the inmates, who were de facto prisoners, were "employees" and, hence, the state had no obligation in relation to them. Batt is very familiar with the background to these institutions are referring to the inmates as employees is outrageous.

eoinbn wrote: »

From what I understand this has nothing to do with education. It was grown women sent to these places, often by their own family to 'rehabilitate' for what were seen as sexual crimes/sins.

You are very mistaken. A good place to start reading would be the Child Abuse Commision Website. I recommend you start here: http://www.childabusecommission.ie/rpt/03-18.php

Another point to remember is that, in those times, a person was legally a child until 21. Therefore, without outside intervention, they were trapped. (Those who were not already institutionalised, that is.) Unfortunately, Irish Society did not want to know and the inmates were effectively slaves. Batt would be well aware of this and he absolutely should resign.

eoinbn

lostexpectation wrote: »

the state and the church was one in the same back then. its is now the minister of education responsibility

But what has that to do with education?

The state didn't run these institutions so I don't see why the state should be the one to pay. The reason that the state is paying for the abuse that took place in church ran schools is because the church ran large parts of the education system on behalf of the state.

"Dr Smith has since pointed out that “the Irish courts routinely referred women to various Magdalen laundries upon receiving suspended sentences for a variety of crimes”. He can support this with documentary evidence, he said."

If that part is true then those people would have a case.

Hillel

eoinbn wrote: »

But what has that to do with education?

Because many were children, some transferred from Industrial Schools, at least one being as young as ten. The state washed its hands of them and threw them to the wolves. At least 133 died there and were buried in unmarked graves - they were not given dignity, even in death. That is what makes Batt O'Keefe's reference to "employees" so objectionable.

lostexpectation

eoinbn wrote: »

But what has that to do with education?

because it was our minister for education who said the stupid thing, its under his brief and justice

randylonghorn

eoinbn wrote: »

He should resign because he misused a word?

He should resign because the categorisation of those women as "employees" indicates a level of either profound ignorance or arrant stupidity which in either case is incompatible with the holding of any ministerial office, especially Education.

Regardless of any issues re compensation, his remarks are deeply insulting to the women who were incarcerated in the Magdelene laundries.

The best things O'Keeffe and O'Donoghue could do for their party at this point is to resign their offices ... neither are showing evidence of being fit for them.

DubTony

The government of the time contributed financially. So there has to be some responsibility. As to O'Keefe resigning? :D:D This is Ireland for f*cks sake. Politicians don't resign for being idiots, they stay there and wait to be promoted. The proof is all around us.

Amhran Nua

DubTony wrote: »

Politicians don't resign for being idiots, they stay there and wait to be promoted. The proof is all around us.

Indeed, has Bertie formally decided whether or not he's running for president/mayor?

Biggins

Amhran Nua wrote: »

Indeed, has Bertie formally decided whether or not he's running for president/mayor?

Aaa here! :rolleyes:
He can't even get his taxes sorted out yet - mind you that probably won't stop him!

Welcome to Ireland!

deadhead13

When the Magdalen Lauderies inmates seek redress for being effectively used as slave labour, much like the victims of the hepatitis C sandal and the victims of Clerical abuse, the Government makes no bones about telling them that it will defend its position through the courts to the nth degree. Yet Rody Molloy threathens legal action - they give him a million quid.

Red Alert

Batt O'Keefe should resign, along with his colleagues, but not for this issue per-se. The exact word for these women is a bit ambiguous - they weren't prisoners in the strict sense of the word, neither were they employees.