Gallagher : Good businessman or snout seeking trough

raymon

I believe Gallagher has very little business skills . I wouldn't trust him to bring one job to the country. Except one for him

His P60 is shocking and the details of his grant shennagins are very suspect imo

I think he rode the Celtic tiger like others and now is looking for the next trough now that the trough is dry

Any opinions ?

JohnnyTodd

I'm from Louth and know people who know him personally. They say his brains were scraped from the inside of a turnip.

Not sure what to think. Definitely not my first choice.

cardwizzard

Sweet Jesus, lets just bash anybody who gets to the top of the polls. Sad really. And I am not a Gallagher voter.

alex73

1. He was not a terrorist
2. He did not claim sick pay while being paid for a 2nd job.
3. He was not on the boards of several state agencies.
4. Keeps his family out of the debate.
5. Age stands to him.
6. Not in a political party.

He is a self made man.. He made his own money. Is that bad?

Augmerson

Flavour of the week.

User Friendly

JohnnyTodd wrote: »

I'm from Louth and know people who know him personally. They say his brains were scraped from the inside of a turnip.

Not sure what to think. Definitely not my first choice.

thats very Harsh John and a tad unfair!

jonniebgood1

raymon wrote: »

I believe Gallagher has very little business skills . I wouldn't trust him to bring one job to the country. Except one for him

His P60 is shocking and the details of his grant shennagins are very suspect imo

I think he rode the Celtic tiger like others and now is looking for the next trough now that the trough is dry

Any opinions ?

There is nothing in this question that couldnt have been asked in your other SG bashing thread. My opinion is that you are on a mission to focus on anything negative in the campaign rather than allow positives. Can I ask why your post couldnt have went on your 'lies' thread rather than here? What makes you think that he has very poor business skills? Is it his successful company that makes you resent him!

drunkmonkey

jonniebgood1 wrote: »

What makes you think that he has very poor business skills? Is it his successful company that makes you resent him!

Which successful company would that be? The one that fitted new technology to homes is a building boom and then imploded? Or does he actually have a successful company right now?

How does he make a living these days, i'm genuinely curious, it's the one thing i'm unsure of, would I be correct in thinking he was receiving money from FF up until January?

alex73

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Which successful company would that be? The one that fitted new technology to homes is a building boom and then imploded? Or does he actually have a successful company right now?

How does he make a living these days, i'm genuinely curious, it's the one thing i'm unsure of, would I be correct in thinking he was receiving money from FF up until January?

served as a director of the Drogheda Port Company for the last two years but was not paid. He was appointed by then transport minister Noel Dempsey.

sh1tstirrer

alex73 wrote: »

1. He was not a terrorist
2. He did not claim sick pay while being paid for a 2nd job.
3. He was not on the boards of several state agencies.
4. Keeps his family out of the debate.
5. Age stands to him.
6. Not in a political party.

He is a self made man.. He made his own money. Is that bad?

I will ignore number 5. Age is a silly argument think of it this way Michael D is the only one that talks sense and there is a 7 year term in him.

drunkmonkey

alex73 wrote: »

served as a director of the Drogheda Port Company for the last two years but was not paid. He was appointed by then transport minister Noel Dempsey.

So how is he making money or would I be right in thinking he's not besides from TV&Radio, I'm not seeing how people claim he's a successful businessman, is there something i'm missing? Does he have a successful business?

I'm torn between him and the freedom fighter but I think Mc Guinness would have more potential to create jobs and inward investment he's got experience in it and knows the right people abroad and is no stranger to dealing with real people in power. Gallagher has no experience in that.
Gallagher needs to convince me he is a successful businessman, I've not seen any evidence of it so far.

washman3

<P>

raymon wrote: »

I believe Gallagher has very little business skills . I wouldn't trust him to bring one job to the country. Except one for him</P>
<P> </P>
<P>His P60 is shocking and the details of his grant shennagins are very suspect imo</P>
<P> </P>
<P>I think he rode the Celtic tiger like others and now is looking for the next trough now that the trough is dry</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Any opinions ?[/QUOTE

We have always got what we deserved in this country.
If this conman gets elected its just another kick in the teeth that we well and truely deserve.
Another FF crony of the highest order who fails to condemn the wrongdoings of the Bertie gang.

raymon

jonniebgood1 wrote: »

What makes you think that he has very poor business skills? Is it his successful company that makes you resent him!

Please describe this successful company you speak of?

Is there one or are you just adding to the illusion ?

Einhard

jonniebgood1 wrote: »

There is nothing in this question that couldnt have been asked in your other SG bashing thread. My opinion is that you are on a mission to focus on anything negative in the campaign rather than allow positives. Can I ask why your post couldnt have went on your 'lies' thread rather than here? What makes you think that he has very poor business skills? Is it his successful company that makes you resent him!

What's wrong with focusing on the negatives? This isn't show and tell class in primary school. The negatives have to be taken into account for any balanced, complete view of a candidate.

MrJoeSoap

alex73 wrote: »

1. He was not a terrorist
2. He did not claim sick pay while being paid for a 2nd job.
3. He was not on the boards of several state agencies.
4. Keeps his family out of the debate.
5. Age stands to him.
6. Not in a political party.

He is a self made man.. He made his own money. Is that bad?

Are those the criteria for the position of President of Ireland now?

1. Were you a terrorist [Y/N]? If so, please specify.
2. Are you corrupt / corruptible?
3. Have you been on the board of any/several state agencies [Y/N]? If so, please specify.
4. Will you mention your family in the debate [Y/N]?
5. Will you reach the average life expectancy during the term of the Presidency [Y/N]?
6. Are you presently in a political party?

thebman

alex73 wrote: »

1. He was not a terrorist
2. He did not claim sick pay while being paid for a 2nd job.
3. He was not on the boards of several state agencies.
4. Keeps his family out of the debate.
5. Age stands to him.
6. Not in a political party.

He is a self made man.. He made his own money. Is that bad?

Ha, your basically saying Michael D is the best candidate with this post

I love when people throw out the redundant age argument. He is young enough to get through the election campaign and young enough to out think everyone else in the race.

That it is the worst thing that can be said about the man, is a glowing recommendation of a reason why people should vote for him IMO.

SG's problem is he tries to portray himself as someone you'd go down the pub with. The problem with that is very simply that such a person is in all likelihood not presidential behavior. I don't want a George W Bush style president which is how I view SG. I don't really wish any harm on the man but I just think he doesn't have the right stuff.

jonniebgood1

Einhard wrote: »

What's wrong with focusing on the negatives? This isn't show and tell class in primary school. The negatives have to be taken into account for any balanced, complete view of a candidate.

The negatives do need to be taken into account. For the balance you mention we would also need to consider positives.

LostinKildare

Lots of questions answered by an article in today's Sunday Business Post, "Gallagher's Cabling Company Got €700,000 in State Supports."

I won't type the whole thing -- it should be on the SBP web site tomorrow morning, and no doubt (I would hope!) the Irish Times and the Independent will print something about it.

To summarise some of the main points:

1. Enterprise Ireland has given Gallagher's company Smarthomes €693,000 since 2004.

2. During the boom the company worked with some of Ireland's biggest developers, installing cabling systems in houses under construction. In 2006 it had pre-tax profit of €506,000 and finished the year with €1.3 million in shareholder funds.

3. In 2009 (the last year for which accounts are available), Smarthomes had losses of €490,000, and accumulated losses of over €543,000.

4. In 2009 Gallagher and his partner were paid over €196,000 by Smarthomes for rent on the company headquarters in Dundalk. Gallagher also was due €58,320 for patents used by the co. in 2009.

5. Its 2010 expected losses will be somewhat offset from €150,000 from Enterprise Ireland in May 2010. (Hmm, Enterprise Ireland pumping €150,000 of taxpayer money into a failing entreprise?)

6. Smarthomes now employs about 20 people, down from about 100. Part of its headquarters is now sublet. Gallagher stepped down from its directorship before entering the race, and the co. is run by a managing director.

7. Separately, Gallagher's personal development/corporate speaking company Beach House Training and Consulting had profits of €114,000 in 2009, its first year. Gallagher had an interest-free loan of almost €83,000 outstanding from the company. He and his wife had been the directors of the company, but Gallagher has been replaced by Derek Roddy, his partner from Smarthomes.

JohnnyTodd

LostinKildare wrote: »

Lots of questions answered by an article in today's Sunday Business Post, "Gallagher's Cabling Company Got €700,000 in State Supports."

I won't type the whole thing -- it should be on the SBP web site tomorrow morning, and no doubt (I would hope!) the Irish Times and the Independent will print something about it.

To summarise some of the main points:

1. Enterprise Ireland has given Gallagher's company Smarthomes €693,000 since its inception in 2004.

2. During the boom the company worked with some of Ireland's biggest developers, installing cabling systems in houses under construction. In 2006 it had pre-tax profit of €506,000 and finished the year with €1.3 million in shareholder funds.

3. In 2009 (the last year for which accounts are available), Smarthomes had losses of €490,000, and accumulated losses of over €543,000.

4. In 2009 Gallagher and his partner were paid over €196,000 by Smarthomes for rent on the company headquarters in Dundalk. Gallagher also was due €58,320 for patents used by the co. in 2009.

5. Its 2010 expected losses will be somewhat offset from €150,000 from Enterprise Ireland in May 2010. (Hmm, Enterprise Ireland pumping €150,000 of taxpayer money into a failing entreprise?)

6. Smarthomes now employs about 20 people, down from about 100. Part of its headquarters is now sublet. Gallagher stepped down from its directorship before entering the race, and the co. is run by a managing director.

7. Separately, Gallagher's personal development/corporate speaking company Beach House Training and Consulting had profits of €114,000 in 2009, its first year. Gallagher had an interest-free loan of almost €83,000 outstanding from the company. He and his wife had been the directors of the company, but Gallagher has been replaced by Derek Roddy, his partner from Smarthomes.

No wonder he never invests on Dragons Den.The poor divil hasnt a shilling left after his business failure.

LostinKildare

alex73 wrote: »

He is a self made man.. He made his own money.

He made his money from a business wholly reliant on the most frenzied property bubble in history. Anyone, especially anyone with his FF connections, should have made money hand over fist during that period, and perhaps he did, but not only on his own steam --- Smarthomes was generously funded by corporate welfare from the FF govt.

The Irish taxpayers funded Gallagher's Smarthomes folly with the guts of €1 million over six years. The tally (so far): €141,970 from InterTrade Ireland (on whose board he now sits) + €693,000 from Enterprise Ireland

(I'm leaving aside the +€25,000 from Louth County Enterprise Board for the Smarthomes forerunner company -- a loan they had to chase Gallagher to pay back, even partiallly) http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056418632

Although Smarthomes failed as the building frenzy ended, Gallagher somehow convinced the gullible that he is a genius entrepreneur. Now he makes money advising others how to succeed in business. Is anyone else reminded of how Bertie Ahern is raking in money as a public speaker advising groups in other countries on how to manage their economies?

trishasaffron

LostinKildare wrote: »

He made his money from a business wholly reliant on the most frenzied property bubble in history. Anyone, especially anyone with his FF connections, should have made money hand over fist during that period, and perhaps he did, but not only on his own steam --- Smarthomes was generously funded by corporate welfare from the FF govt.

The Irish taxpayers funded Gallagher's Smarthomes folly with the guts of €1 million over six years. The tally (so far): €141,970 from InterTrade Ireland (on whose board he now sits) + €693,000 from Enterprise Ireland

(I'm leaving aside the +€25,000 from Louth County Enterprise Board for the Smarthomes forerunner company -- a loan they had to chase Gallagher to pay back, even partiallly) http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056418632

Although Smarthomes failed as the building frenzy ended, Gallagher somehow convinced the gullible that he is a genius entrepreneur. Now he makes money advising others how to succeed in business. Is anyone else reminded of how Bertie Ahern is raking in money as a public speaker advising groups in other countries on how to manage their economies?

And the only thing he talks about is success in business (which he does not have) - its not as though he has any other strings to his Presidential bow..............Christ it'll be a national humiliation if he's elected.

NIMAN

I'm sure something about him will come out soon.

Just on a side point, anyone ever read about his supposed worth?

ambid

alex73 wrote: »

1. He was not a terrorist
2. He did not claim sick pay while being paid for a 2nd job.
3. He was not on the boards of several state agencies.
4. Keeps his family out of the debate.
5. Age stands to him.
6. Not in a political party.

He is a self made man.. He made his own money. Is that bad?

7. He is a Fianna Failer. They destroyed this country - so lets elect them again

Shame on all of us if we elect a Fianna Failer after what the destruction have brought to this country.

raymon

LostinKildare wrote: »

Lots of questions answered by an article in today's Sunday Business Post, "Gallagher's Cabling Company Got €700,000 in State Supports."

I won't type the whole thing -- it should be on the SBP web site tomorrow morning, and no doubt (I would hope!) the Irish Times and the Independent will print something about it.

To summarise some of the main points:

1. Enterprise Ireland has given Gallagher's company Smarthomes €693,000 since 2004.

2. During the boom the company worked with some of Ireland's biggest developers, installing cabling systems in houses under construction. In 2006 it had pre-tax profit of €506,000 and finished the year with €1.3 million in shareholder funds.

3. In 2009 (the last year for which accounts are available), Smarthomes had losses of €490,000, and accumulated losses of over €543,000.

4. In 2009 Gallagher and his partner were paid over €196,000 by Smarthomes for rent on the company headquarters in Dundalk. Gallagher also was due €58,320 for patents used by the co. in 2009.

5. Its 2010 expected losses will be somewhat offset from €150,000 from Enterprise Ireland in May 2010. (Hmm, Enterprise Ireland pumping €150,000 of taxpayer money into a failing entreprise?)

6. Smarthomes now employs about 20 people, down from about 100. Part of its headquarters is now sublet. Gallagher stepped down from its directorship before entering the race, and the co. is run by a managing director.

7. Separately, Gallagher's personal development/corporate speaking company Beach House Training and Consulting had profits of €114,000 in 2009, its first year. Gallagher had an interest-free loan of almost €83,000 outstanding from the company. He and his wife had been the directors of the company, but Gallagher has been replaced by Derek Roddy, his partner from Smarthomes.

Looks more like a state sponger that a successful businessman.

Monty Burnz

alex73 wrote: »

1. He was not a terrorist True
2. He did not claim sick pay while being paid for a 2nd job. True
3. He was not on the boards of several state agencies. True
4. Keeps his family out of the debate. He doesn't have any kids.
5. Age stands to him. Sort of.
6. Not in a political party. Pull the other one.

He is a self made man.. He made his own money. Is that bad?

It seems he's not the successful business man he claimed to be. He didn't even earn the average industrial wage last year - if he did a MMG and just took the average wage, it would be a raise for him.

These revelations about his 'great' business record make him look like a total Walter Mitty type.

LostinKildare

Actually, he does sit on the boards of several state agencies:

Drogheda Port Company;

InterTrade Ireland, which paid him €30,000 for his spotty attendance at meetings, and which had awarded his company a total of €141,970 before he joined the board; http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gallagher-sat-on-board-of-quango-that-gave-his-firm-cash-2907089.html

and FAS, the daddy of all quangos.

Re his "age stands to him" --- depends on how you look at it: if he wins we'll be forking out for his president's pension for a long, long time!

LostinKildare

raymon wrote: »

Looks more like a state sponger that a successful businessman.

Raymon, how can you say that! Dontcha know:

Social welfare recipient = sponger
Corporate welfare recipient = entrepreneur

(He's giving real entrepreneurs a bad name)

toxicity234

Gallagher look like a good businessman

raymon statement feel alot like the negative campaigning that the F.G. press office have descended into in the last 3 years.

Michael D is in my opinion the best man for the job. He is getting my Vote. He ran a good campaign on the issue, did need to attack anyone.

raymon

jonniebgood1 wrote: »

What makes you think that he has very poor business skills? Is it his successful company that makes you resent him!

Jonniebgood1 can you give us details of this successful company or were you making it up ?

Sorry to ask again but you seem to be the only one on this thread with knowledge of this successful company . Please tell

Monty Burnz

toxicity234 wrote: »

Gallagher look like a good businessman

He look like a good businessman as long as you don't check what he has done. When you do, he look like a bad businessman who realises he can make a lot more money as el presidente.

Galwayguy35

I thought he was a good canidate until i heard him on the debate the other night where he fuzzed over his links with FF. I know he wont win but im voting for Mcguinness.

raymon

toxicity234 wrote: »

Gallagher look like a good businessman

Hi toxicity

I'm just trying to separate truth from fiction.

I'm not actually a fan of FG or lab or SF either.

Seems like Gallaghers campaign is based on his business skills.
I'm proposing that there is no evidence to support this .

jonniebgood1

raymon wrote: »

Seems like Gallaghers campaign is based on his business skills.

What makes you think this?

raymon

jonniebgood1 wrote: »

What makes you think this?

Please tell us what successful business he has first..... you brought it up ..

Were you making it up??

tsoparno

Sounds like SG will be goin around checking for open doors on ghost estates and claiming disability shortly. poor fecker hasn't tupence to rub together.

jonniebgood1

You replied to a post as follows

raymon wrote: »

Hi toxicity

I'm just trying to separate truth from fiction.

I'm not actually a fan of FG or lab or SF either.

Seems like Gallaghers campaign is based on his business skills.
I'm proposing that there is no evidence to support this .

Yet you cannot explain what you meant by: "Seems like Gallaghers campaign is based on his business skills."

If you are unable to explain your post can I take it that you were spoofing? What I asked was what makes you think his campaign is based on 'business skills'.

COYW

alex73 wrote: »

He is a self made man.. He made his own money. Is that bad?

Cardinal sin in modern day Ireland. I would never have considered voting for him at the start but I have become more and more impressed by him. His positivity is refreshing.

Monty Burnz

COYW wrote: »

Cardinal sin in modern day Ireland. I would never have considered voting for him at the start but I have become more and more impressed by him. His positivity is refreshing.

It seems he 'made his own money' by getting grants from state agencies like Enterprise Ireland. The fact that he was on the national executive of the party in power for most of the last 20 years was - I am sure - purely coincidental.

It's surely also a coincidence that his business has gone down the toilet along with FFailure's influence in this country.

I'm all for enterprise (unlike many of our socialist friends around here) but I hate croneyism.

brendankelly

I would like to know will SG call on the Dail to have Aarhus debated. And which candidate will give a commitment that if elected Aarhus will be debated in the Dail???.

Monty Burnz

brendankelly wrote: »

I would like to know will SG call on the Dail to have Aarhus debated. And which candidate will give a commitment that if elected Aarhus will be debated in the Dail???.

I'm guessing none will. The president has no power over what the Dail debates AFAIK.

brendankelly

It is the presidents job to make sure everyone abides by the constitution and 29.5.1 states that every agreement should be debated in the Dial. The Aarhus Convention Agreement was never debated.

Monty Burnz

brendankelly wrote: »

It is the presidents job to make sure everyone abides by the constitution

I think you may be confusing the president with the judiciary?

sarkozy

The Indo reports that he at least once spent time in the Fianna Fail tent at the Galway Races. Doesn't make him a criminal or Frankenstein candidate, but it's a clear indication that he shares DNA with the FF gene pool. You don't get to the FF NEC doing just nothing. The guy couldn't even condemn FF's record in government in the presidential debate.

I won't be voting for him.

raymon

jonniebgood1 wrote: »

You replied to a post as follows


Yet you cannot explain what you meant by: "Seems like Gallaghers campaign is based on his business skills."

If you are unable to explain your post can I take it that you were spoofing? What I asked was what makes you think his campaign is based on 'business skills'.

He says that he was the co founder of smarthomes Irelands fastest growing technology company . This is untrue , it is not Irelands fastest growing technology company. This is clearly framing Gallagher as a successful entrepreneur , with a growing business.

raymon

Jonniebgood -

Can I ask you again what successful business you are referring to ?? Are you making things up?

brendankelly

Monty Burnz wrote: »

I think you may be confusing the president with the judiciary?

Laws are passed by the Dail and the president (if he/she believes they are constitutional) signs them into law. The President should refer the matter of the Dail failing to abide by the Constitution to the Supreme Court once it has been brought to His/Her attention

Monty Burnz

brendankelly wrote: »

Laws are passed by the Dail and the president (if he/she believes they are constitutional) signs them into law. The President should refer the matter of the Dail failing to abide by the Constitution to the Supreme Court once it has been brought to His/Her attention

The president can refer bills to the high court. I don't know if the president has a role in chasing after people to ensure procedure is followed. Does a bill become unconstitutional if it hasn't been debated? Can the president refer a bill that was passed a decade ago?

geetar

People seem to be confusing his grants for his company and his companies profits. Two completely different things. The grants didnt go to his backpocket. companies get grants for improving the nations infrastructure, in this case cabling. It obviously relied on the housing boom, but SG wasn't responsible for the crisis just because he managed to make a buck out of it.

You also can't deny him presidential worthiness purely because of his associations with FF. that's ridiculous. Where does it end? Most people in the country had allegiances towards FF, how do you think they got elected?

Monty Burnz

geetar wrote: »

People seem to be confusing his grants for his company and his companies profits. Two completely different things. The grants didnt go to his backpocket. companies get grants for improving the nations infrastructure, in this case cabling. It obviously relied on the housing boom, but SG wasn't responsible for the crisis just because he managed to make a buck out of it.

But that's the point - his company doesn't make profits, it's making huge losses now. Did you not see that according to his P60, he'd have made more last year if he was on the dole? (although I'm subject to correction there)

It turns out that the big, successful businessman is anything but - he seems to be a chancer whose businesses are going down the tubes now that FFailure influence and the property bubble have gone the way of the dodo.

brendankelly

Monty Burnz wrote: »

The president can refer bills to the high court. I don't know if the president has a role in chasing after people to ensure procedure is followed. Does a bill become unconstitutional if it hasn't been debated? Can the president refer a bill that was passed a decade ago?

You do not know what you are saying.

A bill becomes a bill AFTER it is debated. Aarhus was never debated, Therefore it NEVER went to the Dail.

geetar

Monty Burnz wrote: »

geetar wrote: »

People seem to be confusing his grants for his company and his companies profits. Two completely different things. The grants didnt go to his backpocket. companies get grants for improving the nations infrastructure, in this case cabling. It obviously relied on the housing boom, but SG wasn't responsible for the crisis just because he managed to make a buck out of it.

But that's the point - his company doesn't make profits, it's making huge losses now. Did you not see that according to his P60, he'd have made more last year if he was on the dole? (although I'm subject to correction there)

It turns out that the big, successful businessman is anything but - he seems to be a chancer whose businesses are going down the tubes now that FFailure influence and the property bubble have gone the way of the dodo.

I accept your point. His business success was reliant on the ole Celtic tiger.

But he's clearly an intelligent man, who can present himself and he's a good orator. He is an entrepreneur (regardless of his companies loss in profits the last few years). his mindset might be a refreshment for the country.

I don't see the point of belittling him because of his connections with FF. I love bashing FF as much as the next guy, but it's a bit much to give him any blame for our countries collapse. And to deny him a chance or presidency through association of an already ridiculed and punished political party isnt really fair.