Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Crises in Cowens Government

  • 15-11-2011 2:29pm
    #1
    Galwayguy35
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,909 ✭✭✭✭


    Was watching this programme last night. It laid bare a lot of what was going on in the last Government.


Comments

  • #2
    Dob74
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,049 ✭✭✭Dob74


    Galwayguy35 wrote: »
    Was watching this programme last night. It laid bare a lot of what was going on in the last Government.


    Taught it was a little light on Bertie and McCreevy two of the main charactors who walked us into this mess.
    The Fianna Fail self pity would make you sick.
    Mary H saying one of the worst decisions was the re-shuffle. What about the bank gauruntee or NAMA?
    Hardly mentioned


  • #3
    Sand
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,895 ✭✭✭✭Sand


    Mary H is reflecting the Irish political thinking. Policy isnt what politics is about to them. Politics is about gossiping, strokes, fixes, getting one over, rumours, smears, smirking putdowns and so on. Others might see these as means to achieve a desired policy goal - at best. For the political establishment and their various hangers on in the media the soap opera is what everything is about. Its about personalities, with heros and villains. It should have been very obvious that the vast majority of the media are horribly unqualified to actually examine government policy as both NAMA and the bank guarantee were widely welcomed and championed by the media. They are however very qualified with keeping up with the tussles and putdowns of the circus.

    So from Mary H's point of view, NAMA and the bank guarantee were not as important as the cabinet reshuffle because there was no drama or backstabbing involved.

    Of course from an objective point of view, seeing the curbstomping delivered to Fianna Fail in the election the cabinet reshuffle was a complete irrelevance. Even if it had been successfully carried out, it would have meant Cowen leading FF into the election - at least with Martin they could bleat about being "New" Fianna Fail.


  • #4
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 41,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    Dob74 wrote: »
    The Fianna Fail self pity would make you sick.
    Mary H saying one of the worst decisions was the re-shuffle. What about the bank gauruntee or NAMA?
    Hardly mentioned
    Between this and TV3s documentary on FF, MH and many of those who were there standing by Bertie and Cowen now appear to be trying to distance themselves from the rot, corruption and cronyism.
    Too late!


  • #5
    SeaFields
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,551 ✭✭✭SeaFields


    Just finished watching it on rte player.


    The political events of the time, when summarised, just showed how surreal the political situation was at the time. Biffo certainly won't be sending Mary O' Rourke a Christmas card after it. She didn't hold back. But the whole commentary by the current and former FF ministers was pathetic. Collective cabinet responsibility and all that. Its not possible now obviously but I'd like to hear Lenihan's version of events from when David McWilliams said he turned up at his door and McWilliams told him to guarantee the banks. Not a fan of McWilliams and assumed this was an exercise in self promotion again.


    Matt Coopers statement at the end probably summed it all up - they assumed what was best for Fianna Fail was best for the country.


    Just as an aside one thing that was also striking was the deterioration of Brian Lenihan over the time period, it shows what a bastard cancer is.


Advertisement