Conflicts of interest for politicians/civil service

Slideshowbob

Iirc OPW staff cannot receive as much as a dinner paid for br contractors

How does that compare to cowens golf and supper in Druids Glen? Should politicians not require higher standards than those under them? Should taoiseagh not have higher standards again???

I don't get it. Why do we accept this. If biffo still in power tomorrow evening let's all protest at the dail??!!

ilovesleep

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Iirc OPW staff cannot receive as much as a dinner paid for br contractors

How does that compare to cowens golf and supper in Druids Glen? Should politicians not require higher standards than those under them? Should taoiseagh not have higher standards again???

I don't get it. Why do we accept this. If biffo still in power tomorrow evening let's all protest at the dail??!!

Would love to protest.

ArtSmart

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Iirc OPW staff cannot receive as much as a dinner paid for br contractors

How does that compare to cowens golf and supper in Druids Glen? Should politicians not require higher standards than those under them? Should taoiseagh not have higher standards again???

I don't get it. Why do we accept this. If biffo still in power tomorrow evening let's all protest at the dail??!!

listen dude, take a look at cowen. where's he gonna get exercise, if not on a golf course? and getting friends to pay for it saves the taxpayer. so it's win , win.

(except for the 43 billion, but one cant have everything)

Slideshowbob

ilovesleep wrote: »

Would love to protest.

8pm outside dail tonight?!

femur61

Another example of cronyism in our society.

sligopark

I think by the thread title you have missed the point.

In Irish politics there are no conflicts of interests for politicians or civil servants,

just areas of mutual self interest

Mervyn Crawford

I am surprised there has not been more questions asked about Sinn Fein and the Anglo Irish affair at Druids Glen.

If we take as a starting point SF’s noisy tub-thumping against the IMF and the bondholders at Anglo Irish (and the other banks??) contrasted to their stated policy of Good Bank/Bad Bank - TO PAY OFF THE DEBTS INCURRED BY THE BANKS, DEVELOPERS, then it is only possible to conclude that SF are playing the same very crude trick as any bourgeois party. They strike a pose; but actually do/or intend to do the opposite of the impression given. This sort of chicanery is only feasible where the journalist enquiry is non-existent.

It is legitimate to ask was Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin’s jaunt in Druid’s Glen simply coincidental with Cowen’s and Fitzpatrick’s? Why is he claiming he did not recognize Fitzpatrick? As a former bank official he plied his trade in the banking world; and he held SF’s finance brief until 2007.

Bearing in mind Druids Glen, and SF’s stated aim to pay the debts of the billionaires using the state’s resources, is it not also legitimate to question the motive behind SF’s bluster in tabling a no-confidence motion in Cowen after the Fitzpatrick revelation broke?

Slideshowbob

Wasn't it reported that he was at a wedding there? Please pay attention. Do keep up

ISAW

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Iirc OPW staff cannot receive as much as a dinner paid for br contractors

How does that compare to cowens golf and supper in Druids Glen? Should politicians not require higher standards than those under them? Should taoiseagh not have higher standards again???

Who said a contractor was at the dinner?
It was a finance person IIRC. And I assume the dinner was of a higher standard then in the OPW canteen. And I assume the dinner was paid for by the State and not by the guest. I don't know the protocol. Are you saying that if a golf club, GAA club or local swimming pool get the Taoiseach to attend they should do so with the proviso that he pay his own bill for any food he eats while there?

Although I would like to see a breakdown of all the non security staff and fuel food etc. bill involved in a Minister's on the road visits or whether they do them for free. Hopefully the incoming government will offer to do this. I don't think so however.

I don't get it. Why do we accept this. If biffo still in power tomorrow evening let's all protest at the dail??!!

I think that is childish. If you think attending a dinner is grounds for changing government we will be changing it every week. Should Kenny or Gilmore become Taoiseach will you be asking for a list of every event they attend and all the other attendees at it?

By the way we don't expect the same standards of politicians. civil servants are not meant to be involved in politics. They cant write articles for newspapers. Garda superineendents or Judges can't visit criminals and should not be seen having dealings with them in pubs or restuarants. Politicians are quite open to doing so but also open to criticism for doing it.

Mervyn Crawford

The business class use a common trick of buying drinks/meals for those they wish to exploit/abuse.

There is psychology there. Once they have done this favour then they own the recipient of the largesse. That's the dynamic. And it is petty.

Of course with the politicians the favour extends to donations, 'for the party', trips, seats on boards etc.

I would be very surprised if Fitzpatrick or one of the other 'entrepreneurs' did not stick his hand in his pocket for the five courses and fine wines.
The atmosphere would have been superficially relaxed and jocular. One doesn't lose face by slipping into crude panic or blunt instructions. Things are understood. In the warm glow of the salubrious surroundings.

With regard to SF. Given the vital importance of nationalist ideology in maintaining the control of the capitalists over the working class and youth, SF are pivotal. FF's demise was always on the cards. Bringing FF in waiting, SF, in from the cold has been a long term objective of the policy makers. It's clear now.

One may be putting the cart before the horse. Cowen's and Fitzpatrick's timing may have been designed to coincide with that of Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.

Despite what you say the ruling class conduct their business behind closed doors or out of sight of the rest of us mere mortals. Often through intermediaries. Don't forget the information behind this affair only came to light because Fitzpatrick chose to release it - the implication being there is PLENTY more of that if you are considering hanging me out to dry as the scapegoat!

There's cracks appearing in the united front of those who run things for the ruling class. Things are not rosy in the free market of the world economy. Are they?