Gaybo does it again. Is there no stopping dinosaur windbag?

Spread

Gaybo again at crossed swords with road statistics/gardai.
Is there any antidote for this old bore's press releases?
Given his penchant for bad decision making - putting all his eggs in one basket, should this old dinosaur be allowed to head the road safety organization?

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gaybos-warning-on-road-safety-crude-says-senior-garda-2975375.html

Nodin

Nothing but time, presumably. Then there'll be reruns.

TwoShedsJackson

Labour TD Emmet Stagg said: "He was a very decent fella, a very good fella. This is such a tragedy."

From the linked piece.

Puts me in mind of a joke though: the funeral of a man who died suddenly is being held and the usual priest isn't there, so another priest is drafted in. He gets to the eulogy and says 'now I did not know the deceased so perhaps someone among the congregation can say a few words about his character?'.

Dead silence throughout the church, goes on for about two minutes before a voice pipes up from the back: 'his brother was worse!!'

Samich

Hopefully when the alalog goes, gayboy does too!

mikom

Spread wrote: »

Is there any antidote for this old bore's press releases?

A 12 bore?

Stiffler2

Sigh, he's a total ****et
I really hope he doesn't become head of the RSA as all speed limits will be reduced to 10MPH, that's right, miles people. Bloody kilometres.

Spread

mikom wrote: »

A 12 bore?

Ah Jasus mikom ........ go easy. The turkey shootin' season is o'er.:D

Nodin

Spread wrote: »

Ah Jasus mikom ........ go easy. The turkey shootin' season is o'er.:D

...I don't think theres a season for pests though.....

44leto

Spread wrote: »

Gaybo again at crossed swords with road statistics/gardai.
Is there any antidote for this old bore's press releases?
Given his penchant for bad decision making - putting all his eggs in one basket, should this old dinosaur be allowed to head the road safety organization?

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gaybos-warning-on-road-safety-crude-says-senior-garda-2975375.html

He is doing a good job, road accidents are down.

mikom

44leto wrote: »

He is doing a good job, road accidents are down.

With a helping hand from Mr recession.

Mike 1972

Spread wrote: »

Gaybo does it again. Is there no stopping dinosaur windbag?

But But But.....He invented sex dontcha know

ottostreet

44leto wrote: »

He is doing a good job, road accidents are down.

More to do with less people driving I think. And increased safety in cars.

Also, I thought Gay retired about ten years ago. Very active on television for a retired fella.

Biggins

Jeasus - take it easy on Gaybo!
...We haven't finished slagging Jedward yet!

Tonto86

44leto wrote: »

He is doing a good job, road accidents are down.

The compare accidents from 2006 to now. The amount of cars on the roads has dropped drastically in that amount of time.

If you took figures taking into account the drop in road usage and I'd guess accidents have actually rose.

homerjay2005

44leto wrote: »

He is doing a good job, road accidents are down.

exactly. though i would suspect the cost of petrol and insurance has played its part too, with less people driving.

UrbanSea

Deaths are down 50% since 2005, it can't just be down to less people driving. Good awareness campaigns are critical I'd say

Chuck Stone

44leto wrote: »

He is doing a good job, road accidents are down.

Motorways.

ottostreet

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Motorways.

That too. I know of a stretch of road where three people were killed in 2010, which was a main road. Road was bypassed by motorway shortly after, noone killed on it in 2011.

Ellis Dee

Gaybo is way, way past his sell-by date. They should lock him and Marion Finucane in a room together with a big bag of viagra for a weekend and hope they'd shag or bore each other to death. Or both.:D:D

That Garda fellow is right; they can get better results with fewer resources by introducing more efficient practices. If only their political masters would let them get on with the job, and if the NRA had a new head with less antedeluvian attitudes and baggage than Gaybo and more open-mindedness and fresh ideas.:rolleyes:

later12

I, for one, welcome Gay Byrne's comments.

I'm rather sick of all of these authorities and public bodies which never seem to suffer from internal conflict, or never criticise anybody else in the public service, or never criticise government decisions.

Two rare examples in the past have been Childrens' Ombudsman Emily Logan and the Director of Prisons Mr Justice Dermot Kinlen.

We need the chairman of public authorities to be brave enough to speak out when the aims of that authority or public body are undermined by Government policy.

Personally, I am not convinced by the Garda authority's explanations that they will enforce 'smarter surveillance' without them actually explaining how they can do that.

And that newspaper article doesn't really tend to overwhelm me with confidence in the Garda Siochana's ability to maintain its admirable standards.

CatFromHue

Ellis Dee wrote: »

That Garda fellow is right; they can get better results with fewer resources by introducing more efficient practices.

There was no Operation Freeflow this year. Did this affect anyone?

Zebra3

How much of a penison are we paying him on top of his current job? :rolleyes:

ejmaztec

Zebra3 wrote: »

How much of a penison are we paying him on top of his current job? :rolleyes:

Special payment only received by old dicks.

Spread

Zebra3 wrote: »

How much of a penison are we paying him on top of his current job? :rolleyes:

According to the great man, he is skint. Firstly he invested money with a wide boy many many years ago and then he decided to invest in blue chips. Seanie Fitz did for the rest. I guess the powers that be are shoving things his way to save him from the poorhouse. His decision making skills are certainly not as honed as his waffling skills.

Dionysus

Spread wrote: »

Gaybo does it again. Is there no stopping dinosaur windbag?

I can't stand that shítehawk, and not just because of that infamously classless stunt with Adams in October 1994. He's so sarcastic, so patronising so wannabe avuncular. He's on Lyric on a Sunday destroying it with his incessant talking. For those of us who used to love Lyric on a Sunday afternoon as a break from all the sports on radio, his inane, vacuous waffle is consistently infuriating. :mad:

I wish when people retired in this country, they'd stay retired and let a younger generation take over. Byrne, Finucane et al overstayed their welcome in Irish public life years ago.

/end rant.

Agricola

Dionysus wrote: »

I can't stand that shítehawk, and not just because of that infamously classless stunt with Adams in October 1994. He's so sarcastic, so patronising so wannabe avuncular. He's on Lyric on a Sunday destroying it with his incessant talking. For those of us who used to love Lyric on a Sunday afternoon as a break from all the sports on radio, his inane, vacuous waffle is consistently infuriating. :mad:

I wish when people retired in this country, they'd stay retired and let a younger generation take over. Byrne, Finucane et al overstayed their welcome in Irish public life years ago.

/end rant.

He would be retired and very anonymous but for the fact that hes lost squidgillions through dogdy accountants and in the property crash. Why the hell else would be be doing a show in a Dublin theatre where he recounts his late late heyday?

44leto

In answering all the ones who quoted my earlier post.

He is still a very popular public figure, if his organisation want to highlight a campaign all he has to do is click his fingers and appear somewhere. He will generate discussion and debate. That is worth a lot to a pressure group.

So I stand by my earlier comment, I believe he is doing a good job.

Kim_Il_Jong

Dinosaur windbag ... love it. lol

Senna

He has turn the RSA into a "one trick pony", reduce speed, bugger all else comes out of them. I agree that speed has a part to play, but they just completely ignore driver training, (poor lane discipline, incorrect or no use of indicators, tailgating, no motorway training what-so-ever), poor road conditions, enforcement, allowing an NCT that can pass a car with rubbish breaks as long as the imbalance is small, allowing safety features in cars to be taxed and so giving people the option to get "less" safe cars.
The RSA could spend some of their radio time informing drivers of the correct driving practices and as most people listen to the radio as they drive, it could have a huge effect.

44leto

Senna wrote: »

He has turn the RSA into a "one trick pony", reduce speed, bugger all else comes out of them. I agree that speed has a part to play, but they just completely ignore driver training, (poor lane discipline, incorrect or no use of indicators, tailgating, no motorway training what-so-ever), poor road conditions, enforcement, allowing an NCT that can pass a car with rubbish breaks as long as the imbalance is small, allowing safety features in cars to be taxed and so giving people the option to get "less" safe cars.
The RSA could spend some of their radio time informing drivers of the correct driving practices and as most people listen to the radio as they drive, it could have a huge effect.

While I agree, in part, the speed rush that young drivers get has a very big part to play in road deaths.

Young drivers speed because they like it, at least I did in the day. I could speed now if I was bothered but I have 20+ years of driving experience. You can-not train for that.

Zen65

Spread wrote: »

Given his penchant for bad decision making - putting all his eggs in one basket, should this old dinosaur be allowed to head the road safety organization?

Which bad decision-making are you talking about?

Nobody can deny that since he took up his position in the Road Safety Authority there has been improved enforcement by Gardaí, and the statistics would indicate that this has made a very significant difference to the rate of fatality on the road:


Year Fatalities
2011 185
2010 212
2009 238
2008 279
2007 338
2006 368
2005 396
2004 374
2003 335
2002 376
2001 411
2000 415
1999 413
1998 458
1997 472
1996 453
1995 437
1994 404
1993 431
1992 415
1991 445
1990 478
1989 460
1988 463
1987 462
1986 387
1985 410
1984 465
1983 535
1982 533
1981 572
1980 564
1979 614
1978 628
1977 583
1976 525
1975 586
1974 594
1973 592
1972 640
1971 576
1970 540

It's nonsense to point to the economy as being the reason for the reduced rate of accidents; there was no noticeable decline during previous recessions in the country. The difference is down to roads being improved and enforcement by Gardaí. Remember that the previous head of the RSA resigned because he was not getting support from government. When GB was appointed he stated publicly that he was not an expert in the field, but that he was determined to hold the government accountable for their actions, and if they failed to act as they had promised then he would publicly "out" them.

And in fairness, since his appointment they delivered the dedicated Traffic Corps, and enforcement was improved, and the penalty points system was put in place and people took notice and changed their driving habits.

In every single year since he was appointed, road fatalities have reduced. That can't be dumb luck. You don't need to like the man, but you have to admit he has got results. How he has done so is entirely down to his skill at getting people to commit to taking action, and then using his skill and position as a respected celebrity to ensure that they honour that.

And starting a post in which your primary complaint is his age, well frankly that's just immature and ill-conceived.

Be at peace,

Z

PS: I'm not a Gay Byrne fan either, but I acknowledge his success in this role, and I'm staggered that somebody would suggest he's incompetent because he is old.

Overheal

Gaybo should take a psych course, he'd know there is more than one form of punishment/training to employ. The police in my jurisdiction never seem to act the same from one month to the next. Always in new/old spots, and you can never count on them being there or not being there. Hell the one time I tried to speed on my local road to work after I spilled coffee on myself and had to double back, guess which ****er decided to show up after a 6 week absence? He couldn't prove anything, he just followed me for a mile. But still, I got the message. There's a lot more to enforcement than the number of shirts you have.

In every single year since he was appointed, road fatalities have reduced.

incorrect re-read your data. 2005, 1971, 1972, 1978, etc etc etc. While it has trended down largely you can't make that claim it's been every year. You can't even make the claim it was all attributable to him either but I know you hadnt done that.

44leto

Zen65 wrote: »

Which bad decision-making are you talking about?

Nobody can deny that since he took up his position in the Road Safety Authority there has been improved enforcement by Gardaí, and the statistics would indicate that this has made a very significant difference to the rate of fatality on the road:


Year Fatalities
2011 185
2010 212
2009 238
2008 279
2007 338
2006 368
2005 396
2004 374
2003 335
2002 376
2001 411
2000 415
1999 413
1998 458
1997 472
1996 453
1995 437
1994 404
1993 431
1992 415
1991 445
1990 478
1989 460
1988 463
1987 462
1986 387
1985 410
1984 465
1983 535
1982 533
1981 572
1980 564
1979 614
1978 628
1977 583
1976 525
1975 586
1974 594
1973 592
1972 640
1971 576
1970 540

It's nonsense to point to the economy as being the reason for the reduced rate of accidents; there was no noticeable decline during previous recessions in the country. The difference is down to roads being improved and enforcement by Gardaí. Remember that the previous head of the RSA resigned because he was not getting support from government. When GB was appointed he stated publicly that he was not an expert in the field, but that he was determined to hold the government accountable for their actions, and if they failed to act as they had promised then he would publicly "out" them.

And in fairness, since his appointment they delivered the dedicated Traffic Corps, and enforcement was improved, and the penalty points system was put in place and people took notice and changed their driving habits.

In every single year since he was appointed, road fatalities have reduced. That can't be dumb luck. You don't need to like the man, but you have to admit he has got results. How he has done so is entirely down to his skill at getting people to commit to taking action, and then using his skill and position as a respected celebrity to ensure that they honour that.

And starting a post in which your primary complaint is his age, well frankly that's just immature and ill-conceived.

Be at peace,

Z

Post of the week, no arguing with that, discussion ended.

Zen65

Overheal wrote: »

incorrect re-read your data. 2005, 1971, 1972, 1978, etc etc etc.

I'm a bit old and forgetful, but I'm fairly sure he was appointed in 2006?

The only years of relevance to him then are 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011


Z

Overheal

BAH then dont show me all those numbers like i live there or give too many ****s!

Zen65

Overheal wrote: »

BAH then dont show me all those numbers like i live there or give too many ****s!

No worries. I understand that to achieve over 30,000 posts you sometimes have to post in threads where you haven't read all the facts or give enough ****s to understand the arguments being made.



No offence intended; my form is a little over-sensitive when the elders are being attacked (not by you, I know!!).

Hell I'm not even nearly as old as Gaybo, I should not be so quick to be grumpy.


Be at peace,

Z

Overheal

Zen65 wrote: »

No worries. I understand that to achieve over 30,000 posts you sometimes have to post in threads where you haven't read all the facts or give enough ****s to understand the arguments being made.

Hey now to have as many interests as I do sometimes you need to skim a little

You'll know when I get serious when my arguments turn into essays and I make heads spin.

Victor

Spread

Zen65 wrote: »

Which bad decision-making are you talking about?
..................................................................................................
..................................................................................................

When greed clouded his judgement ............... first believing a con artist and then, many moons later, believing that he was part of a winning syndicate in the stock market. He hasn't lost his arrogance but he no longer speaks condescendingly of the lower orders. From the chair of the Late Late to the gimp of Ozymandias.

jive

Getting so sick of all this road safety bullshít you'd swear the roads were war zones. Fair enough, have an ad campaign run on RTE year round to keep everyone on their toes. The roads are laced with speed vans now as well. The numbers of people dying are very low these days especially considering how many of those deaths are suicides. There are far bigger killers out there that don't get a look in due to everyone being so proud about our magical road safety record.

He's certainly done a good job, but there are far more important things to turn our attentions to given how low the road death figures have gotten.

Victor

jive wrote: »

There are far bigger killers out there that don't get a look in due to everyone being so proud about our magical road safety record.

1969-1998 during the Troubles, about 3,500 people were killed. In the same time 20,000 died on the roads in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Worldwide, every year 500,000 people die on the roads.

Gophur

Gay Byrne is the Chairman of the RSA, he does not have an executive role. He is the mouthpiece of the organisation.

Road fatalities are decreasing, granted, but too much credit is being given to and taken by the RSA. We have much safer cars ( until that ridiculous CO2 policy put thousands of too-small cars on our roads) and a hugely improved road network. Look, for example, at the reduction in fatalities between Kells and Dublin, since the M3 opened? One fatality, and that was a man hitch-hiking in the fog.

pow wow

Zen65 wrote: »

Nobody can deny that since he took up his position in the Road Safety Authority there has been improved enforcement by Gardaí, and the statistics would indicate that this has made a very significant difference to the rate of fatality on the road:

...

In every single year since he was appointed, road fatalities have reduced. That can't be dumb luck.

The only thing those stats say is that the number of fatalities has fallen. You can make any number of assumptions about why that's the case but nothing in the actual figures can make the kind of links you are.

Samba

Peoples views on the stats are too crude and simplistic and the RSA have failed at the most elementary level, where the bad driving starts.

The driving test here in Ireland is grossly inadequate.

Fuinseog

Spread wrote: »

Gaybo again at crossed swords with road statistics/gardai.
Is there any antidote for this old bore's press releases?
Given his penchant for bad decision making - putting all his eggs in one basket, should this old dinosaur be allowed to head the road safety organization?

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gaybos-warning-on-road-safety-crude-says-senior-garda-2975375.html

surely you mean saint greybo, the man who single handedly modernised ireland

Fuinseog

Gophur wrote: »

Gay Byrne is the Chairman of the RSA, he does not have an executive role. He is the mouthpiece of the organisation.

Road fatalities are decreasing, granted, but too much credit is being given to and taken by the RSA. We have much safer cars ( until that ridiculous CO2 policy put thousands of too-small cars on our roads) and a hugely improved road network. Look, for example, at the reduction in fatalities between Kells and Dublin, since the M3 opened? One fatality, and that was a man hitch-hiking in the fog.

he is not much of a mouth piece. you never hear from him.

stovelid

The recession probably means that loads of mongs in the 18-25 age bracket are now digging roads in England rather than tearing around the roads here.

ottostreet

The RSA should be shot for that safe cross code ad. I felt my brain turn slightly mushy watching it.

44leto

I was going down Collins Avenue yesterday and a biker hoored past me rather dangerously. Then about 50 metres from me I seen a flash from a van (a speed trap van). I broke and slowed right down.

Thanx to whoever the biker was, he may have saved me 2 points and 80euro.

But really, although there is a school there, it was a public holiday, that speed van IMO could be better placed to contribute significantly to road safety.

BUT perhaps if they place them where they know they will catch people, perhaps that discourages speeding everywhere. Going by that bikers overtaking I would say he has a good few points already, if not some already accident scars.

--Kaiser--

Why is the chairman of the RSA a man who a) hasn't passed a driving test and b) admitted to drink driving a lot in the past?

mikom

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

Why is the chairman of the RSA a man who a) hasn't passed a driving test and b) admitted to drink driving a lot in the past?

Carrying on the fine tradition started by Mary Harney as minister for "health".