Alan Shatater

raymon

People have accused me of being anti FF ,however I think FG have embarked on a trip down the road of cronyism .

Just because it is FG doesn't mean it is right

Is this cronyism ...... I say it is .







http://www.independent.ie/national-news/independence-of-new-shatter-appointee-called-into-question-2676464.html

Mena

raymon wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/independence-of-new-shatter-appointee-called-into-question-2676464.html

It's a pretty link, what of it?

later12

I have mixed feelings on this appointment.

On the one hand, there is nothing to say that Oliver Connolly is not cut out for this job, nor is there any reasonable suggestion of a tangible link between his donation to Shatter and his recent appointment. There is a four years gap between the two events, although admittedly there appears to be a closer association between the two men than a mere once-off political donation.

There may well be something unpleasant about an appointment of this nature that appeals to the veteris vestigia flammae of political corruption, causing some people to see red. However, the charge of corruption appears inconclusive.

What is fairly questionable however, is why the Minister for Justice is still making appointments of this nature.

First of all, and particularly in leadership roles, there is a well established correlation between good selection methods and the performance of staff that come through those selection processes

Second of all, there is something to be said for a transparent, merit based appointments system in boosting public confidence in the public offices. I would have thought that would be particularly the case for an organisation assisting whistleblowers.

So in summary, while I do not think it can be said that this appointment itself is a case of political corruption, or of cronyism, I do think that there is a very strong argument in changing the basis upon which appointments of this sort are carried out in the public service and in public bodies.

Sand

Its a very dissapointing appointment. FG were elected with a mandate to transform the way things are done, but are essentially doing things the same old way, and justifying it in the same old manner - stating that "This is the way things have always been done", missing that they were elected to change the way things were done.

That said, Id mostly echo Later10s comments - this shouldnt be about a particular individual or a particular Minister abusing his powers to reward a friend and political ally. This simply demonstrates that our governance is only as good as the system demands, and the system demands very little: so we have to ensure the system is reformed.

That said, given Fianna Fail failed to reform these sort of corrupt practises, and Fine Gael and Labour are failing to reform these practises despite being elected to do so the only option left to Irish people seeking reform is armed revolution. Apparently.

Chucky the tree

I don't have a problem with it. I can understand people wanting a completely independent commission to set up this appointments, and think it should happen but until then I think any TD should be allowed hire who he likes. For example if Shatter hired someone he didn't know and who turned out to be useless/corrupt then it would look terrible on him and could have serious reprecussions for his political career.

Due to the nature of the position I am assuming the appointment is based Shatter knowing Connolly well and having 100% trust and confidence in him doing the job.

raymon

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Due to the nature of the position I am assuming the appointment is based Shatter knowing Connolly well and having 100% trust and confidence in him doing the job.

Knowing someone or trusting someone doesn't mean they are these best for the job


The great Bertie said something like "I didn't appoint them because they gave me money , I appointed them because they were my friends"

Either one is wrong .

FG said that they would stamp out this soft of thing.

They lied

FG are morphing into FF

CommuterIE

Anyone else think he looks like Collumbo?

Nijmegen

As a member of the legal profession and minister for justice, perhaps this argument might resonate with Mr. Shatter:

A judge would (rather, should) recuse themselves from making a judgement in a case where they have some involvement, interest, etc.

For example, if a person involved in a case was from a former employer, or was a financial contributor in some way to the judge, the judge (in a good system) would not try that case.

In the event a minister wishes to make an appointment, and feels that the job should go to someone they are connected to, they should recuse themselves from the selection process and let some other, impartial, person handle it.

Naturally, that person should handle the process in a fair and impartial manner, similarly to how we expect judges to try cases.

Why is this idea such a fantasy in our democracy?

Chucky the tree

raymon wrote: »

Knowing someone or trusting someone doesn't mean they are these best for the job


The great Bertie said something like "I didn't appoint them because they gave me money , I appointed them because they were my friends"

Either one is wrong .

FG said that they would stamp out this soft of thing.

They lied

FG are morphing into FF

What if they are best for the job though. Can you point out about his qualifcations(or lack off) mean he shouldn't have been hired?

pog it

It's all very gay to me...

Sand

Chucky the tree wrote: »

What if they are best for the job though. Can you point out about his qualifcations(or lack off) mean he shouldn't have been hired?

Its *highly* unlikely, that of the 6 billion people on the planet, the best person for the job could be found simply by a ring around of the relevant Ministers best mates.

Given no real process or examination regarding the appointment has taken place, its not for us to prove hes not capable - its for Shatter to prove that his good friend is better qualified than anyone else willing to do the job.

Chucky the tree

Sand wrote: »

Its *highly* unlikely, that of the 6 billion people on the planet, the best person for the job could be found simply by a ring around of the relevant Ministers best mates.

Given no real process or examination regarding the appointment has taken place, its not for us to prove hes not capable - its for Shatter to prove that his good friend is better qualified than anyone else willing to do the job.

Just how many of those 6 billion people do you think, who are more qualified then Connolly, would be willing to move to Ireland for a €12,500 a year part-time job?

Well I this his CV isn't to shabby.

Areas of Practice:
General Practice
General Common Law
Tort & Personal Injury Law

Memberships:
Bar US Supreme Court (2003)
Bar of the State of New York (1992)
Bar of England & Wales (1997)
Bar of Northern Ireland (2005)
American Arbitration Association
American Bar Association
International Bar Association
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Fellow)
London Court of International Arbitration
Swiss Arbitration Association

swordofislam

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Just how many of those 6 billion people do you think, who are more qualified then Connolly, would be willing to move to Ireland for a €12,500 a year part-time job?

Well I this his CV isn't to shabby.

You total sap.

Areas of specialty on a barrister's CV are bollocks. If Connolly has a specialty based on what it says there his specialty is trip and slip.

The Bar of New York exam is a multiple choice test.
The Supreme Court Bar is a formality you have to be a yank lawyer for 3 years.

The Bar of England and Wales and the Bar of Northern Ireland have cross representation.

Chartered arbitration is a racket

raymon

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Just how many of those 6 billion people do you think, who are more qualified then Connolly, would be willing to move to Ireland for a €12,500 a year part-time job?

Well I this his CV isn't to shabby.

Where are the CVs of the other candidates ???? Let's compare!!!



You are using FF cronyism logic to justify a FG cronyistic appointment ( I know cronyistic is not a word).

Look, FF argued that Celia Larkin was the best candidate for the Nat consumer agency.
They said that her relationship with Bertie was irrelevant

Chucky the tree

swordofislam wrote: »

You total sap.

Areas of specialty on a barrister's CV are bollocks. If Connolly has a specialty based on what it says there his specialty is trip and slip.

The Bar of New York exam is a multiple choice test.
The Supreme Court Bar is a formality you have to be a yank lawyer for 3 years.

The Bar of England and Wales and the Bar of Northern Ireland have cross representation.

Chartered arbitration is a racket

Yes, I'm sure you have completed them all yourself.

raymon wrote: »

Where are the CVs of the other candidates ???? Let's compare!!!


You are using FF cronyism logic to justify a FG cronyistic appointment ( I know cronyistic is not a word).

Look, FF argued that Celia Larkin was the best candidate for the Nat consumer agency.
They said that her relationship with Bertie was irrelevant

How would I know?

raymon

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Yes, I'm sure you have completed them all yourself.

How would I know?

Exactly my point. How would you know ???

You don't know who else was considered.

Here is what we do know.

1. This man gave Shatter a personal donation

2. This man was personally known to Shatter

3. Shatter gave this man an important position

4. FG told us that they would end cronyism

anymore

raymon wrote: »

Exactly my point. How would you know ???

You don't know who else was considered.

Here is what we do know.

1. This man gave Shatter a personal donation

2. This man was personally known to Shatter

3. Shatter gave this man an important position

4. FG told us that they would end cronyism

My inclination would be to forgive Shatter for this poor decision. But then I look and see that FG have just welcomed to the party their former opponent, Pat cox for the purposes of running for Presidency, and i see that FG voted voted to put FF in charge of the dail's Public accounts Committee. Kenny himself of course parachuted his wifes cousin into the munster constuency with the result that Colm Burke, the sitting FG MEP lost his seat to Kenny's wifes cousin. The last leader of the PDs has of course been appointed as a Junior Minister and he promptly hired his wife as secretary and brother in law as one of his drivers !
And despite having voted for FG, at least for one of their candidates, I have to ask myself, what on earth is going on with this party ? Is it becoming a kind of 'Political Party for Rent' organisation ?

bleg

I won't be voting for fg ff or labour ever again. The rot is endemic.