FG vs FF - Sabre Rattling

finisklin

Looks like Calleary dug a big hole on this one......

http://www.mayotoday.ie/index.php/browse-mayo-news-by-category/mayo-politics/item/3971-%E2%82%AC250000-never-allocated-to-ballina-despite-ff-assurances.html

Mulhearn not holding back in venting her spleen.....€1/4m of funding is a lot of development work that has escaped Ballina agin. Lucky she is working hard with Minister Hogan to secure what she can for the area, despite these false assurances from DC & FF.

Wonder what HarryPotter's take is on this?

soterpisc

The next election is Mulherins to loose. She really is out to make a name for herself. Certainly have heard more from her than every from Calleary.

neiphin

finisklin wrote: »

Wonder what HarryPotter's take is on this?

who cares, his a tool, and he will always get back into the dail

HarryPotter41

soterpisc wrote: »

The next election is Mulherins to loose. She really is out to make a name for herself. Certainly have heard more from her than every from Calleary.

When exactly did she make her veiws known in the last few months, she has been completely off the radar since her Libya comments. She then pops up to again complain about the FF government. Has she no views on her own party in government?

soterpisc

HarryPotter41 wrote: »

When exactly did she make her veiws known in the last few months, she has been completely off the radar since her Libya comments. She then pops up to again complain about the FF government. Has she no views on her own party in government?

Not much, but neither has calleary. He is only on TV because he is FF spokesman for something, haventy heard anything about him regarding Ballina or mayo for that fact. But what is a first time FG TD got a chance to do. She will find it very hard to be reelected in Mayo.

nuac

1. Mulherin is almost a generation younger than the other 3 FG TDs.

2. Ballina is a big town and has a wide hinterland. It usually elected two TDs and herself and Calleary will both be around for 3 to 4 elections..

Paddy De Plasterer

Calleary, Mr. Bean has nothing to offer. Has a good media image when he was promoted out of turn by Biffo, but then he tried to distance himself from Biffo. He then seconded Martin for leadership - he is just a jumped up character who likes to be on bandwagons.

Ilovelucy

Much prefer Dara to Michelle. He is very approachable. She likes to be seen but is seldom heard.

finisklin

Looks like Mayo has received its unfair share from the department of Transport, Tourism and Sport a la Mickey Ring. He hasn't been shy in getting his picture in the local papers either for these projects!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1215/1224309098948.html

Always nice to see some disportionate investment come west even if it is for bicycle lanes .

Fair play.

finisklin

HarryPotter41 wrote: »

When exactly did she make her veiws known in the last few months, she has been completely off the radar since her Libya comments. She then pops up to again complain about the FF government. Has she no views on her own party in government?

Hey Harry, what happened the Rapid funding and is Mulhearn's allegation true? Not like DC to get caught with his pants down

yop

finisklin wrote: »

Looks like Mayo has received its unfair share from the department of Transport, Tourism and Sport a la Mickey Ring. He hasn't been shy in getting his picture in the local papers either for these projects!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1215/1224309098948.html

Always nice to see some disportionate investment come west even if it is for bicycle lanes .

Fair play.

About time! Its typical local politics but if you drive through Donegal or Offaly and see the roads there

Ilovelucy

The cycle lanes are a shambles in Ballina. No proper planning as usual. They can throw all the money the like at them but surely they could have got them right.

HarryPotter41

finisklin wrote: »

Hey Harry, what happened the Rapid funding and is Mulhearn's allegation true? Not like DC to get caught with his pants down

The devil is in the detail Finisklin. What projects did not get funding? If this happened it is disgraceful but a clearer breakdown would be great so it could be looked at in more detail. Surely she should now be in a position to ensure the funding of those projects.

Would also love to hear her views on the N26 now, gone strangely quiet on it now that FG are in government

headmaster

She's part of the scum FG that has stopped the expansion of the mayo railway system, the roscommon hospital, the cutting of turf, the transfer of public service jobs, etc, etc. Oh yes, the west will know all about her in the next election, just you wait and see. Flynn got the boot, Carty ran away scared, kennt scraped in once. Wtch this space, there's butt to be kicked and hers is a cheeky butt + she's not a people person.:mad:

Paddy De Plasterer

Fianna Fail will never be forgiven or forgotten for what they did-bringing in the IMF,and sold out our independence. Scum traitors.

Ilovelucy

Gosh you are very bitter there Paddy - a lot won't forget what Fine Gael are now doing to us. And don't give me the auld sure it's not their fault it's the legacy they inherited, that's no reason only an excuse.

Paddy De Plasterer

Ilovelucy wrote: »

Gosh you are very bitter there Paddy - a lot won't forget what Fine Gael are now doing to us. And don't give me the auld sure it's not their fault it's the legacy they inherited, that's no reason only an excuse.

Not their fault ? Bringing in IMF, famous disastrous guarantee of Sept 29th.2008, they ruined for us for generations.

finisklin

The post title is related to the Rapid funding and that it was never allocated to Ballina in the first instance! Any views why not?

HarryPotter41

Paddy De Plasterer wrote: »

Not their fault ? Bringing in IMF, famous disastrous guarantee of Sept 29th.2008, they ruined for us for generations.

Yet Enda is quite happily trying to sign away oversight for our budgets to Europe permanently and it doesn't seem to excite you in the least.

headmaster

FG now letting Mayo down, have let Roscommon down, have let Tipperarry down, have let Mullingar/Westmeath down, making a mess in Dublin and got their by election answer, plenty of other counties being whipped. Don't for one second think that the electorate of this country are not watching, we are and we're waiting in the long grass for Fg and to a lesser extent Labour. The time for blaming FF is over and well gone. Stand up Kenny, be ready to take a huge beating, because that's exactly what you'll be handed. Guaranteed.

HarryPotter41

headmaster wrote: »

FG now letting Mayo down, have let Roscommon down, have let Tipperarry down, have let Mullingar/Westmeath down, making a mess in Dublin and got their by election answer, plenty of other counties being whipped. Don't for one second think that the electorate of this country are not watching, we are and we're waiting in the long grass for Fg and to a lesser extent Labour. The time for blaming FF is over and well gone. Stand up Kenny, be ready to take a huge beating, because that's exactly what you'll be handed. Guaranteed.

The worrying thing is the elcectorate at the moment loathe FF, FG and Lab. That leaves a scary alternative.

headmaster

Harry,
I don't disagree with that. Now is the time for like minded people to come together and offer the electorate an alternative. We're a relatively young state, no doubt there's room now for this. I'd like to think that moves may be afoot to bring this to the people. No, i'm not talking about the PD's again, but the people know that they're not being spoken for at the moment. Better brains than mine can surely give all of us an alternative. Truth, honesty, reality, implementation, only with the backing of the people. It's needed now, more than it ever has been and the country will come behind it. We need an alternative, NOW.

HarryPotter41

headmaster wrote: »

Harry,
I don't disagree with that. Now is the time for like minded people to come together and offer the electorate an alternative. We're a relatively young state, no doubt there's room now for this. I'd like to think that moves may be afoot to bring this to the people. No, i'm not talking about the PD's again, but the people know that they're not being spoken for at the moment. Better brains than mine can surely give all of us an alternative. Truth, honesty, reality, implementation, only with the backing of the people. It's needed now, more than it ever has been and the country will come behind it. We need an alternative, NOW.

As a card carrying member of FF dunno if I would agree with that, lol. I do know there has been a major disconnect with the electorate by all the major parties. FF members saw the train hurtling down the track and were helpless to stop it because they were not being listened to, its happening now but it probably is too late. Labour cannot claim to be truly socialist anymore. FG have always tended to be the party of the better off. The country definitely does not need the PD's because it was their low tax, low regulation policies and the pandering to them by Ahern that has caused part of the mess we're in. The FF I joined looked after the little man while ensuring business succeeded so that people could be employed. Its still the kind of party I would like to support, perhaps the country needs a new party with that kind of philosophy. Its a better alternative than SF or the hard left or the multitude of novelty Independents we have.

finisklin

HarryPotter41 wrote: »

As a card carrying member of FF dunno if I would agree with that, lol. I do know there has been a major disconnect with the electorate by all the major parties. FF members saw the train hurtling down the track and were helpless to stop it because they were not being listened to, its happening now but it probably is too late. Labour cannot claim to be truly socialist anymore. FG have always tended to be the party of the better off. The country definitely does not need the PD's because it was their low tax, low regulation policies and the pandering to them by Ahern that has caused part of the mess we're in. The FF I joined looked after the little man while ensuring business succeeded so that people could be employed. Its still the kind of party I would like to support, perhaps the country needs a new party with that kind of philosophy. Its a better alternative than SF or the hard left or the multitude of novelty Independents we have.

That's a bemusing spin.......

HarryPotter41

finisklin wrote: »

That's a bemusing spin.......

In what way?

finisklin

Blaming FF policies on the PDs and Bertie.

This is a rehash of a previous discussion/argument on here previous.

BTW, what happened the Rapid cash? Did Calleary over sell this? Mulhearn is milking this for all its worth. Doesn't fit Dara's nice guy image. Was he that brazen?

HarryPotter41

finisklin wrote: »

Blaming FF policies on the PDs and Bertie.

This is a rehash of a previous discussion/argument on here previous.

BTW, what happened the Rapid cash? Did Calleary over sell this? Mulhearn is milking this for all its worth. Doesn't fit Dara's nice guy image. Was he that brazen?

I don't blame the PD's, thye had the chance to implement their policies. I blame the pandering of Ahern to whatever kept him in power. Its only become clear now what a total dictatorship the man ran, it was becoming clear from 2005 on he brooked no opposition to anything within the party and certainly seems he was the same in government. Unfortunately too many were willing to go with the flow in the Parliamentary Party. So its not spin.As for the RAPID money I would still like details of what projects. Did they not get the money because they did not fulfill certain criteria or was the money just unavailable. All I have seen is a sweeping statement. And a great one to distract from the current governments woes. I can't comment when I don't have facts.

finisklin

HarryPotter41 wrote: »

I don't blame the PD's, thye had the chance to implement their policies. I blame the pandering of Ahern to whatever kept him in power. Its only become clear now what a total dictatorship the man ran, it was becoming clear from 2005 on he brooked no opposition to anything within the party and certainly seems he was the same in government. Unfortunately too many were willing to go with the flow in the Parliamentary Party. So its not spin.As for the RAPID money I would still like details of what projects. Did they not get the money because they did not fulfill certain criteria or was the money just unavailable. All I have seen is a sweeping statement. And a great one to distract from the current governments woes. I can't comment when I don't have facts.

Its pretty clear - Mulhearn has claimed that DC confirmed Rapid funding for Ballina to the total of €250k. He either did or did not confirm this funding. Granted it may be comprised of a number of projects but the silence from his camp is pretty damning, IMHO.

If he can't or doesn'r refute it makes his position a hell of a lot less credible.

HarryPotter41

finisklin wrote: »

Its pretty clear - Mulhearn has claimed that DC confirmed Rapid funding for Ballina to the total of €250k. He either did or did not confirm this funding. Granted it may be comprised of a number of projects but the silence from his camp is pretty damning, IMHO.

If he can't or doesn'r refute it makes his position a hell of a lot less credible.

Its not quite that crystal clear. He confirmed funding was available, totally different to it being drawn down. To claim funding projects have to be presented for to draw down funding within certain criteria. What I want to know is what projects did not receive it and if they did not receive it was it due to not meeting criteria or just no funding being available. MM seems to have made a sweeping statement with very little gristle, I would be as anxious to challenge DC on it as anyone but would like to have some idea what I would be talking about first.

Ilovelucy

I'd love to find a link to where Dara actually promised this as ringfenced. I have googled away to my hearts delight but can find nothing.

finisklin

Ballina mayor appointed to RAPID implementation team as programme gets funding boost

Mayo Advertiser, December 23, 2009.


Ballina will get a €250,000 boost for RAPID prorgrammes following an annoucement this week by Minister for Community, Rural and Gaelacht affairs Éamon Ó Cuív. The funding is Ballina’s share in one-off funding announced for the five new towns which were given RAPID status this year. The towns will share in €1.25 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund.



The funding will be drawn down over two years and will be used for stand alone projects such as playgrounds, improving disabled and community facilities, and enducation and environmental improvments.
Ballina Town Council Mayor Mary Kelly was appointed as the town council representative to the area implementation team for the RAPID programme which will be starting in Ballina. Earlier this year Ballina was included with four other towns around the country to be included in the RAPID programme. The programme is a Government initiative to target the 51 most disadvantaged communities in the country.



Mayor Kelly was proposed for the town council position on the implementation team by Independent Councillor Peter Clarke. Cllr Clarke told the meeting: “I know that Meara Kelly will be a very good representative for the council on this committee, she has shown down through the years to be very good at the sort of projects RAPID will be involved in, through her work in her own community over the years.”



The RAPID programme aims to give communities an opportunity to develop projects and initiatives in their areas such as playgrounds, community centres, and sporting facilities, traffic calming measures, and enhancing housing estates.



There was cross party support for Mayor Kelly’s appointment on the implementation team.

finisklin

Ballina looks to push ahead with CCTV

Mayo Advertiser, September 24, 2010.


Colm Gannon



The reality of Ballina getting a monitored CCTV system moved a step closer this week. Chairperson of the Ballina Joint Policing Committee, Ballina town councillor Johnny O’Malley, told members that following a number of meetings, the project was ready to go forward to an application stage for funding under the RAPID programme. Ballina is one of a number of towns across the country which was given RAPID status, which makes funding available for a number of programmes to revitalise areas in the town.

The CCTV plan for Ballina would see 11 cameras installed initially at various locations around the town. The proposed locations include Teeling Street car park and the junction of Pearse Street, Tolan Street, and Tone Street. A camera is planned for Tolan Street which would look down Abbey Street, Bridge Street; and Cathedral Road, and another camera would be placed at the Emmet Street car park. Two cameras are planned for Humbert Street, one on the street and one in the car park. There are also plans to put two cameras at the junction of Tone Street and Market Street, a camera at the corner of Pound Street and Teeling Street, and one at the junction of Teeling Street and Lord Edward Street looking on Lord Edward Street, New Barry Street, and Bury Street.

Two mobile camera units are also planned. These will be located in Ardnaree and Parkside. The cost of the project will be €17,000 per camera, with an additional standing charge of €1,000 per year for each camera, along with maintenance costs if needed. Cllr O’Malley told the meeting that the gardaí in Ballina had agreed to monitor the CCTV cameras, with the “brains” of the scheme housed in the town council offices. Cllr O’Malley went on to say that three firms had been contacted about the scheme and the costs, and the network would be run over a fibreoptic system or by microwave technology, depending on the costs. Cllr O’Malley told the meeting that it was hoped to have the funding in place by February 2011 and the installation to follow soon after.


Looks like some creative accounting was going on......

headmaster

Ilovelucy wrote: »

I'd love to find a link to where Dara actually promised this as ringfenced. I have googled away to my hearts delight but can find nothing.

Like a lot of things FF did, there's no trace of it. On mature reflection, i'm sure of that

oscarBravo

headmaster wrote: »

FG now letting Mayo down, have let Roscommon down, have let Tipperarry down, have let Mullingar/Westmeath down, making a mess in Dublin and got their by election answer, plenty of other counties being whipped. Don't for one second think that the electorate of this country are not watching, we are and we're waiting in the long grass for Fg and to a lesser extent Labour. The time for blaming FF is over and well gone. Stand up Kenny, be ready to take a huge beating, because that's exactly what you'll be handed. Guaranteed.

I see a lot of this sort of commentary recently. The popular view seems to be that the government should spend money we don't have and can't borrow in order to give everyone everything they want.

I want a pony. Can I have a pony?



Seriously, can we have a law against bitching about government cuts unless it's accompanied by detailed and costed proposals for how the services that are being cut should be paid for?

HarryPotter41

oscarBravo wrote: »

I see a lot of this sort of commentary recently. The popular view seems to be that the government should spend money we don't have and can't borrow in order to give everyone everything they want.

I want a pony. Can I have a pony?



Seriously, can we have a law against bitching about government cuts unless it's accompanied by detailed and costed proposals for how the services that are being cut should be paid for?

I think the reaction is to the promises made in the full knowledge after having seen the books that they could not be kept.

finisklin

oscarBravo wrote: »

I see a lot of this sort of commentary recently. The popular view seems to be that the government should spend money we don't have and can't borrow in order to give everyone everything they want.

I want a pony. Can I have a pony?



Seriously, can we have a law against bitching about government cuts unless it's accompanied by detailed and costed proposals for how the services that are being cut should be paid for?

People are perfectly entitled to bitch about public cuts as people are feeling the bite, seeing love one's leave the country and the elderly putting a very brave face on it. This time of year more so.....

What galls me is the waste of public money and perhaps on a very micro scale the recent cycle lanes for Ballina are that - a complete waste of money in the current climate. That perhaps is a good place to start with the cuts.....frivolous spending.

This is off topic....and given some of the reaction on here politics and politicians are far removed from the reality of my life and how other posters are coping with the recession.

Perhaps though this is the new politics - far removed from the everyday person so the elite can bleed us dry?

finisklin

HarryPotter41 wrote: »

I think the reaction is to the promises made in the full knowledge after having seen the books that they could not be kept.

Agghhh only one thing ted, they saw the books before they made the promises :cool:

oscarBravo

HarryPotter41 wrote: »

I think the reaction is to the promises made in the full knowledge after having seen the books that they could not be kept.

I seem to recall being told before the election that the next several budgets were going to have to be painful. In fact, it was only the left-wing loony fringe parties that knew they hadn't a prayer of being in government that told us we could all have ponies, or whatever.

finisklin wrote: »

People are perfectly entitled to bitch about public cuts as people are feeling the bite, seeing love one's leave the country and the elderly putting a very brave face on it. This time of year more so.....

Leaving aside the word "entitled", which is a word that gets my hackles up anyway, it's one thing bitching and moaning (it is, after all, a national pastime) but it's another to bang on about how Fine Gael will be crucified at the next election for being so unspeakably evil as to try to rein in public spending to somewhere marginally closer to what we can actually afford to spend.

There's a widespread belief out there that we don't need austerity. In practical terms, that's the belief that we can continue indefinitely to spend money we don't have and can't borrow. If people want to bitch about the government refusing to indulge their fantasies, fair enough - but I reserve the right to point out the fallacy in such bitching.

What galls me is the waste of public money and perhaps on a very micro scale the recent cycle lanes for Ballina are that - a complete waste of money in the current climate. That perhaps is a good place to start with the cuts.....frivolous spending.

I guess the guy filling in the enormous potholes on my road, and digging in a drainage culvert to help prevent them happening again, is frivolous spending by those lights, but - in the scheme of things - it's not making a dent in the public finances, and I'd rather not make my contribution to the national welfare by having to replace suspension components and tyres more often than necessary.

HarryPotter41

finisklin wrote: »

Agghhh only one thing ted, they saw the books before they made the promises :cool:

Which is exactly what I was saying

HarryPotter41

oscarBravo wrote: »

I seem to recall being told before the election that the next several budgets were going to have to be painful. In fact, it was only the left-wing loony fringe parties that knew they hadn't a prayer of being in government that told us we could all have ponies, or whatever.

It was Fine Gael who said they would burn the bindholders - no ya won't. It was Labour who said "Frankfurts way or Labours Way" - we know how that one panned out. It was Enda Kenny that promised the people of Roscommon Town their A and E wouldn't close - enough said. It was Enda Kenny who told a disabled girl that there would not be cuts to disability supports - enough said.

Thats whats galling people, they knew deep down they could not guarantte one of these things, they even tried the old 80's play of "we didn't know how bad things were" despite having been given total access to the figures and projections.

I agree that we need to get out of this and I think its ridiculous having elected TD's promising to break the law on the household charge, while I don't like it, I will pay it because I have to. The issue people have is with all the dogs FG and Lab put up in windows to get elected.

finisklin

People are entitled to moan and complain about our plight.......our national debt is €118bn which works out at €26k per person.

I haven't seen your road but if it means more money in your pocket as a result happy daze. At this stage it is all about survival and providing for our children. Ain't no light at the end of the tunnel.

One thing for sure....there's no difference between FF & FG as it's Frankfurt calling the shots. I'm just disappointed that Calleary let himself down on this rapid funding. I bought into his honest broker image and he's no different to the rest of the FF brigade. Then to be caught out by Mulhearn, makes it twice as bad.

headmaster

oscarBravo wrote: »

I see a lot of this sort of commentary recently. The popular view seems to be that the government should spend money we don't have and can't borrow in order to give everyone everything they want.

I want a pony. Can I have a pony?



Seriously, can we have a law against bitching about government cuts unless it's accompanied by detailed and costed proposals for how the services that are being cut should be paid for?

Oh right Oscar,
we'll give you the forum for yourself and take care would anyone else have an opinion.As can be seen from todays news, this goverment is goin down boy. You might not agree with that viewpoint, but hey, suck it up ya morán. They're goin to get whipped, same as the last ones got whipped, until we the people, get someone who will listen, then do more or less the right thing. Comprende?

**MOD NOTE - banned for personal abuse. **MOD NOTE -

finisklin

No difference between FF, FG, Labour etc. It's all me fein, elitist class.

BTW, express your opinion but no need to make it personal.

oscarBravo

I will agree that no party should promise what they can't deliver, but we as the electorate have ourselves to blame for the quality of our representatives. We demand that candidates lie to us, because we won't elect anyone who tells us the truth. It's a sad, frigged up situation, but the joy of a democracy is that you get the government you deserve.

I mean, seriously: did anyone believe everything they were told by the candidates in the last election campaign? Because if you did, I have a bridge you may be interested in.

finisklin

oscarBravo wrote: »

......., but we as the electorate have ourselves to blame for the quality of our representatives....... but the joy of a democracy is that you get the government you deserve.

I'm not sure about blaming the electorate for the quality of the representatives that are elected. Why? Over the last 20 years the incentives to be in politics has changed - it has gone from having politicians who have a genuine, sincere sense of bettering their community and empowered to do so, to politicians whose only ambition is to increase their own self worth.

There are countless examples of this on the national stage (and with a strong FF pedigree) but the local politicians on town councils, county councils leave a lot to be desired. The return (contribution) on their pay/expenses is ridiculous and given some of the assine comments (or even lack of) on local matters makes their positions even more outrageous.

The only qualification you need to be a politician is to get more votes than the next candidate - it is not based on experience, qualifications background etc. Plus if you are a member of a political party and even have political heritage all the better, as this paves the way despite the experience you have or lack of........

Any examples to get the ball rolling, from any party?

HarryPotter41

With regard to the original question asked my queries re the RAPID funding led me to be told that previous replies from Phil Hogan to DC are quite clear that projects were being considered under this allegedly non existent funding. Why would Phil Hofan say this if the funding wasn't actually ring fenced.

All qoutes are fron the Oireachtas website and are replies to questions from DC:

May 18th

http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/2011/05/18/00028.asp

Phil Hogan : In December 2009, the previous Government gave approval for disbursements from the Dormant Accounts Fund for a once-off measure up to the value of €1.25 million over 2010-11 for the five new provincial towns incorporated under RAPID. In late December 2010, Pobal, which advertises, appraises and recommends beneficiaries under various dormant accounts measures, submitted recommendations to the Department for the RAPID additionality measure............. I can confirm that eight projects have been prioritised by Pobal under the RAPID additionality measure for Ballina. These are currently being considered by my Department in the context of the reduced level of funding available in the current year, and also in the context of the review of expenditure that is being undertaken. Any decisions arising will be notified to all applicants as soon as possible. I have discussed with my Department, as recently as this morning, the five towns and the issues associated with funding for these new proposals with a view to making progress thereon. I do not expect to be in a position to make progress on the ambitious programme launched in 2010 but I will be considering the submissions of the towns to see what progress can be made on any aspects thereof. I have asked my Department to expedite the proposals in view of the fact that they relate to disadvantaged areas.

Novemeber 22nd

Phil Hogan: I assume the questions refer to the decision to approve disbursements from the Dormant Accounts Fund for a once-off measure up to the value of €1.25m for the five new provincial towns incorporated under RAPID. These are Ballina, Dungarvan, Enniscorthy, Mullingar and Rathkeale. Under Government Accounting procedures, disbursements on Dormant Accounts measures are paid in the first instance “up front” from a Department’s Vote in the same way as with any other spending programme. The Dormant Accounts capital budget for my Department for 2011 is fully committed to existing projects and our priority in the light of that allocation must be to ensure that there is sufficient funding available to meet existing legal contractual commitments. Accordingly, the matter of progressing projects in the new RAPID towns to contract stage will be kept under active review in the light of availability of funding/ levels of expenditure across my Department’s Vote during 2011 and into 2012.

finisklin

Spin, spin, spin...Harry I'm getting you a yo yo for Xmas!

DC announded this in 2009 and took the credit for it. He paraded O'Cuiv through out the town and in no small way was it indicated that this wouldn't happen. The fact that the money was in a dormant account fund, meant that it was already there, in existence!

For what's it's worth this is creative accounting initiated by FF, that fund was then plundered (or sequestered somewhere else a la Bran lenihan in Finance) and Big Phil is now carrying on the charade that there is money there but not for Rapid in Ballina, despite it being two years down the line!

DC must be ripping to get caught out by Mulhearn so blatantly.....the shame of it. :mad:

HarryPotter41

finisklin wrote: »

Spin, spin, spin...Harry I'm getting you a yo yo for Xmas!

DC announded this in 2009 and took the credit for it. He paraded O'Cuiv through out the town and in no small way was it indicated that this wouldn't happen. The fact that the money was in a dormant account fund, meant that it was already there, in existence!

For what's it's worth this is creative accounting initiated by FF, that fund was then plundered (or sequestered somewhere else a la Bran lenihan in Finance) and Big Phil is now carrying on the charade that there is money there but not for Rapid in Ballina, despite it being two years down the line!

DC must be ripping to get caught out by Mulhearn so blatantly.....the shame of it. :mad:

How is it spin, in replies in the Dail the Minister states clearly that funding was made available through dormant accounts. He also states that this money is paid through his department first and then claimed from dormant accounts. At no point in any parliamentary reply does he state that this money was never made available. This is what MM is now claiming. If this was the case why does Phil Hogan constantly refer to this funding if non existent.

The only spin here is being carried out somewhere within FG.

Explain to me Phil Hogans answers, one of which was a joint answer to Patrick O'Donnell TD, take a look at the Dail record. I can't spin something that is clear in black and white and in the Dail record.

finisklin

The reality of this is that the funding is never going to materialise and this was known when it was announced. It was spun as a massive windfall for the towns and linked to dormant accounts fund made it even more plausible.

The fact is that this funding hasn't been delivered for the area despite DC cashing in on the political capital it generated at the announcment. And as Big Phill points out he has to meet contract/existing payments first. With his budget significantly reduced, it makes sense to dip into the dormants accounts fund to ensure existing projects are financed. That's good budget management.

Creative accounting.....and this funding won't be coming to Ballina in 2012, 13, 14 or beyond.

I can understand DC's silence......his street cred has diminished with Mulhearn outing him so publicly.

HarryPotter41

finisklin wrote: »

The reality of this is that the funding is never going to materialise and this was known when it was announced. It was spun as a massive windfall for the towns and linked to dormant accounts fund made it even more plausible.

The fact is that this funding hasn't been delivered for the area despite DC cashing in on the political capital it generated at the announcment. And as Big Phill points out he has to meet contract/existing payments first. With his budget significantly reduced, it makes sense to dip into the dormants accounts fund to ensure existing projects are financed. That's good budget management.

Creative accounting.....and this funding won't be coming to Ballina in 2012, 13, 14 or beyond.

I can understand DC's silence......his street cred has diminished with Mulhearn outing him so publicly.

How is that the reality when Phil Hogans answers are clear where he states that the funding was allocated by the previous government. "In December 2009, the previous Government gave approval for disbursements from the Dormant Accounts Fund for a once-off measure up to the value of €1.25 million over 2010-11 for the five new provincial towns incorporated under RAPID. In late December 2010, Pobal, which advertises, appraises and recommends beneficiaries under various dormant accounts measures, submitted recommendations to the Department for the RAPID additionality measure............. I can confirm that eight projects have been prioritised by Pobal under the RAPID additionality measure for Ballina. These are currently being considered by my Department in the context of the reduced level of funding available in the current year, and also in the context of the review of expenditure that is being undertaken."

I am failing to see even in the reply from Phil Hogan where the commitment from the previous government was never going to happen.

finisklin

This funding was never going to materialise and never will, as pointed out by Big Phil "in the context of the review of expenditure being undertaken".

DC claimed that this cash was forthcoming and scooped the kudos. Now that FF is out of power he can blame FG for not delivering it. Either way this is not going to materialise and to be put on the back foot like this by Mulhearn marks a first (bar their other spat).

Is there more to come out of DC's political closet? :cool:

Looks like Sherlock Mulhearn is on the case. :eek: