Micheál Martin has apologised, where do I cash that cheque?

MOC1972

As above where can we cash these cheques, do we go to Anglo or do we try to find FF's buddies who have left the country with millions?

super_furry

He said sorry, he didn't issue a cheque.

cancercowboy

super_furry wrote: »

He said sorry, he didn't issue a cheque.

and that's why it ain't worth ****

Rosahane

Hold on, he said sorry.

He sees no point in dwelling on past mistakes.

He now wants to move on and develop policies for the future.

Yeah right:P

Well he would say that wouldn't he.

FF will fight the election on the basis of:

- More promises and populist policies

- Telling us that what they did in the last two years was necessary, fair and impartial

- Blame the bankers. regulators, civil servants, Leymans et al for creating the mess - anybody but FF

- Focus on the their arguement that we need them there to be a strong opposition

- Argue that the differences in FG and Labour policies makes them dangerous as a coalition Government

- Try to convince us that Kenny and Gilmore's minor media failings make them unsuitable to govern - basically argue ween they need leaders to be as charismatic as Haughey and Aherne

- More of the same as the situation arises at the time

hallelujajordan

Rosahane wrote: »

Hold on, he said sorry.

He sees no point in dwelling on past mistakes.

He now wants to move on and develop policies for the future.

Yeah right:P

Well he would say that wouldn't he.

FF will fight the election on the basis of:

- More promises and populist policies

Perhaps you can point us to some of those populist policies ? Very little of the Government / FF policies are popular at the moment

- Telling us that what they did in the last two years was necessary, fair and impartial

- Blame the bankers. regulators, civil servants, Leymans et al for creating the mess - anybody but FF

"I am sorry for mistakes that we made as a government and I made as a minister" . . sounds like taking responsibility to me . .

]
- Argue that the differences in FG and Labour policies makes them dangerous as a coalition Government

A reasonable argument . . when one of the potential coalition partners want to break down the public service and the other is tied to the unions and the croke park agreement . . we are entitled to wonder how they will square that circle.

SARAH ANNE

Mr. Martin said sorry for what exactly?
just a broad sorry, how can he be part of a ff party, that has sold out this country for greed and gombeenism, and just say sorry cause there is an election around the corner.
i have a two year old asleep now that says sorree when he pees in his pants, because he knows if he says sorry we will look kinder upon him, but he still does it and it is wrong, he knows it and we know it.
childish behaviour mr. martin.

johngalway

SARAH ANNE wrote: »

Mr. Martin said sorry for what exactly?

Hopefully he apologised for starting the monolithic disgrace that is the HSE, among other things.

BostonB

We're beyond sorry.

Snakeblood

johngalway wrote: »

Hopefully he apologised for starting the monolithic disgrace that is the HSE, among other things.

No, he didn't. I was listening to the interview.

opinion guy

BostonB wrote: »

We're beyond sorry.

Love it

Laminations

hallelujajordan wrote: »

"I am sorry for mistakes that we made as a government and I made as a minister" . . sounds like taking responsibility to me ..

Really? Sounds like admitting to incompetence to me and recognising you should be fired.

Would you be so charitable as to have allowed Roddy Molloy or Patrick Neary to hold up their hands say sorry and then reapply for their jobs that the botched so badly?

He is saying 'we made mistakes but we want your vote', that's far from taking responsibility, he is really underestimating the mistakes made.

When Cowen became toxic to FF (not the country), FFers dropped him. But they fail to recognise they can't blame all this on Cowen, it's FF that are toxic. FF need to be dropped.

Oh HJ, can you explain how you consider yourself a FF supporter but you say you'll not be voting for them? I'd imagine the important part of 'support' is the guaranteed vote. So can we more accurately describe you as an ex-FF supporter? Reformed but liable to relapse?

hallelujajordan

Laminations wrote: »

Really? Sounds like admitting to incompetence to me and recognising you should be fired.

Would you be so charitable as to have allowed Roddy Molloy or Patrick Neary to hold up their hands say sorry and then reapply for their jobs that the botched so badly?

Yes, of course . . I would allow them to reapply for their positions and outline to me why they might be the most appropriate person to take their job forward. Then I would make a decision not to reemploy them. The electorate will get the same option

He is saying 'we made mistakes but we want your vote', that's far from taking responsibility, he is really underestimating the mistakes made.

He has every right to make that request . . and you have every right to refuse him.

When Cowen became toxic to FF (not the country), FFers dropped him. But they fail to recognise they can't blame all this on Cowen, it's FF that are toxic. FF need to be dropped.

I haven't seen anyone try to blame Cowen specifically

Oh HJ, can you explain how you consider yourself a FF supporter but you say you'll not be voting for them? I'd imagine the important part of 'support' is the guaranteed vote. So can we more accurately describe you as an ex-FF supporter? Reformed but liable to relapse?

No . . 'Support' does not mean a guaranteed vote. . 'Support' means that I will work with Fianna Fail to try to influence the party and to create a political party that will help drive my vision for the future of Ireland. .

Right now, I don't believe they are that party. . . I believe we need to go away and reinvent. . .

In the meantime, I will use my vote strategically to try to influence the outcome of the next election; For me that means voting for FG because a) they are ideologically closer to what I believe in than any party other than FF and b) Strong FG = Weak Labour and less Left wing influence in the next government.

johngalway

Snakeblood wrote: »

No, he didn't. I was listening to the interview.

Ah well, maybe he'll do that in one of the debates then.

P. Breathnach

Would people rather that he did not apologise?

johngalway

P. Breathnach wrote: »

Would people rather that he did not apologise?

I'd prefer if he was genuine about it. He's been a minister for a long time, and he's defended the indefensible - also for a long time. Now he's out looking for something, thinking an apology will help him get it. That's not repentance to me. Like BostonB said, we're beyond sorry.

eddison

Micheal- I said sorry - now give me your votes, cuz i'm not like the last fella, or the fella before him, or the fella before him.
Anyway it was FG fault.

Micheal- i am master of the universe an FG/ Labour are not responding to my command - leaders debate.
Thats cause they afraid. Afraid of MOTU (Master of the universe), an im a non smoker.

Rosahane

hallelujajordan wrote: »

Perhaps you can point us to some of those populist policies ? Very little of the Government / FF policies are popular at the moment

Was that not what he proposed as the rationale for a public debate? I have no doubt that the FF spin merchants are beavering away developing lots of vapourware proposals that they think people are going to believe!
Wait and see.

"I am sorry for mistakes that we made as a government and I made as a minister" . . sounds like taking responsibility to me . .

Saying sorry is only words, FF are good at words. Actions speak louder than words. Given what FF have done to all of us a real apology would be for all FF's to hand back perks and pensions and leave politics.

A reasonable argument . . when one of the potential coalition partners want to break down the public service and the other is tied to the unions and the croke park agreement . . we are entitled to wonder how they will square that circle.

That is not a reasonable argument given that coalition is all about agreement and comprimise. The electorate have their say in who they want in Government. It's not as if FF and the Greens had similar policies before they joined up. Labour and FG coalitions have provided some of the best coalition Governments in the past and I have no doubt that an effective and balanced programme for government will be thrashed out again this time.


Apologies for the format of the reply, I am not a prolofic contributer to Boards and haven't a clue how to multi quote

BostonB

P. Breathnach wrote: »

Would people rather that he did not apologise?

I'd prefer if he quit tbh. He has no credibility based on his history. For me anyway. If FF were serious they'd clean house. Most of them are tainted. Unfortunately most of the opposition have no credibility based on their poor performance in opposition also. I'm not seeing a huge emphasis on policies. Which is very scary.

Snakeblood

P. Breathnach wrote: »

Would people rather that he did not apologise?

I'd prefer if he realised that he could have said or found out things after being in government for the last 14 years and as a result, he can now go **** himself, because it's too late to apologise, and he should take himself and his party and go to Jonestown.

MOC1972

P. Breathnach wrote: »

Would people rather that he did not apologise?

THERE would be no apology if he was not trying to get some votes lets face it half the party are leaving like rats from a sinking ship GOD help the next party to get in power it will take years to clean up there mess and all the ff guys will have gone to ground on nice pensions

hallelujajordan

Rosahane wrote: »

That is not a reasonable argument given that coalition is all about agreement and comprimise. The electorate have their say in who they want in Government. It's not as if FF and the Greens had similar policies before they joined up. Labour and FG coalitions have provided some of the best coalition Governments in the past and I have no doubt that an effective and balanced programme for government will be thrashed out again this time.


Apologies for the format of the reply, I am not a prolofic contributer to Boards and haven't a clue how to multi quote

You may not have any doubt . . I have significant doubts . . I believe one of the big challenges of the next government will be to tackle, reform and reduce the public sector . . I believe FG will do that, but not with a Labour coalition partner.

Rosahane

hallelujajordan wrote: »

You may not have any doubt . . I have significant doubts . . I believe one of the big challenges of the next government will be to tackle, reform and reduce the public sector . . I believe FG will do that, but not with a Labour coalition partner.

I agree with you, the incoming Gov will have significant challenges not least of which is to cut the public sector down to realistic levels.

I'm not even sure that FG on their own would be able to do that! The levels of inefficiency, duplication and maladministration are so entrenched that it will take a lot more than five years to address. Any administration will have to deal with the "Sir Humphrey" factor - no easy task.

I saw an example of this where a Principal Officer in a particular Department pursuing what appears to have been his own agenda in the interpretation of a particular area, stated, in public, “tourism is not my responsibility”. The consequences of his policies have cost the county millions in tourism revenue :mad: