Mary Coughlan signals possible return

corkonion

According to rte

"Former Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has refused to rule out a return to politics.Ms Coughlan said in an interview with RTÉ’s Raidió na Gaeltachta that she has not closed the door completely to a return, "

Does she really believe that she is electable?

gizmo555

corkonion wrote: »

Does she really believe that she is electable?

What frightens me is that she probably is.

road_high

gizmo555 wrote: »

What frightens me is that she probably is.

It's shocking. I read some of this tripe today in the FF Journal (Indo). An attempt by Coughlan (not as dumb as I thought afterall it seems) to rewrite history and and pretend she was just some just kind of neutral observer when her and her FF ilk sold the country down the swanny just 3 years ago.
She was one of dunce Cowens most vervant cheerleaders and should not escape any well deserved culpability for the major part she did play in the disaster.
I'd rate her as of the worst Ministers ever in Irish cabinet. Her crowning glory is surely her sell-out of our once proud sugar industry, providing 1000s of decent jobs which we could sorely do with now.

washman3

The sheer arrogance of people like her is absolutely mind-blowing.:mad:
Its beggars belief that people like her and O'Donoghue in Kerry are contemplating a 'return' to the grave train.
Actually Eamon Dunphy once equated the Donegal electorate to that in Kerry South(Healy-Rae) and Limerick West (Collins) in terms of Gombeen dynasties.
And that was before our economy went belly-up.!!
While on holiday in Bundoran, circa 2005, I recall protest billboards linking Coughlan with corruption in Fas. Back then I was oblivious to what was going on,as were most ordinary people.
I now know exactly what these bill-boards messages were getting at.:mad:

Conmaicne Mara

She was a dire Minister for Agriculture, only surpassed by Smith.

gizmo555

It appears the people most appalled at this suggestion are the current Fianna Fáil leadership.

Attempts by former senior Fianna Fáil office holders to return to elected office are expected to be firmly resisted by party headquarters.

“We need candidates without baggage,” said a party source yesterday. “Running people associated with the previous government could see public anger towards us reignited.”

Another source described running former office holders as an “appalling vista”, adding that it would provide the other parties with anti-Fianna Fáil material.

You'd have to laugh, though, at the inference by the unnamed party source that the likes of Micheál Martin or Willie O'Dea don't carry plenty of baggage of their own . . .

road_high

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

She was a dire Minister for Agriculture, only surpassed by Smith.

Destroyed the REPS scheme by making it "one for everyone in the audience" plus the sugar industry closure. All i remember her for was swanning around the Ploughing in her flowery wellies like it was all a big joke.
That's before you get to her support for Cowen. Autrocious.

jank

I wish she comes back, will cost FF about 5 seats in the GE if she starts showing her mug around the place.

touts

With her pensions she's made for life. What the hell does she want to come back for? If she want's something to do I suggest she volunteer down at the local soup kitchen.

seablue

touts wrote: »

With her pensions she's made for life. What the hell does she want to come back for? If she want's something to do I suggest she volunteer down at the local soup kitchen.

Agree.

When she runs 50 next year she will get a pension of €140k per year. Does she need a TDs salary on top of this?

For Reals

She is most certainly making a comeback. And I was sickened to read the interview where she's looking for sympathy and playing Fianna Fail as the poor but well meaning fools who got done over by the bold bigger boys in the playground.
If shes not willing to accept blame she could in the least not mention that period as it is preferable to bull****ting and would at least show some respect to the Irish public.
She has no regard for Ireland. Its a game. She's Fianna Fail all right.

renegademaster

seablue wrote: »

Agree.

When she runs 50 next year she will get a pension of €140k per year. Does she need a TDs salary on top of this?

she wouldn't but will certainly take it if she's let, the aul bint!!

Conbhar

Unless things have changed up here where I am (I live 10 mins away from Coughlan's house just outside Donegal Town) then I have a horrible feeling she could very well make a comeback! Even with the ever rising support for Sinn Fein here, I still dread the kind of people who voted her in to government in the first place would have no bother doing so again.
Sadly these are the kind of people who have voted FF their whole lives because their father/mother did before them.

Sir Humphrey Appleby

Yeah that's all we need, another dose of "Calamity" Coughlan!
She and her like should be disbarred from holding public office in the same way that corrupt and inept directors can be disbarred!

road_high

Bah Feckin Humbug! wrote: »

Yeah that's all we need, another dose of "Calamity" Coughlan!
She and her like should be disbarred from holding public office in the same way that corrupt and inept directors can be disbarred!

The likes of her should be facing legal sanction and/or public enquiry.
I think sometimes the current govt are bad then I just have to remember when her and her ilk were in power what it was like, then i realise they are not so bad afterall.

grainnewhale

Conbhar wrote: »

Unless things have changed up here where I am (I live 10 mins away from Coughlan's house just outside Donegal Town) then I have a horrible feeling she could very well make a comeback! Even with the ever rising support for Sinn Fein here, I still dread the kind of people who voted her in to government in the first place would have no bother doing so again.
Sadly these are the kind of people who have voted FF their whole lives because their father/mother did before them.

Are F.G not afflicted with this.

ednwireland

she has suddenly started been photographed at local events after been invisible (although just to be fair her husband did die in sept 2012)

i would guess shes seeing what support is out there, i would despair if she was re-elected up here but i wouldnt be suprised - especially in a 5 seater

RobbingBandit

Sad fact on History is it repeats it's self time and time again, she would 100% be reelected in the current climate even Bertie would be reelected as that is the nature of Irish Politics, the "ah sure they can't do worse than the current clowns" brigade will see to that. Until we impose a ruling that if you or your party have been found to be corrupt or inept you can no longer run for election then we will get the same types of people running every election.

For Reals

I honestly believe Fianna Fail should be investigated with the possibility of being made an illegal organisation. Its a Ponzi scheme not a party of the people.

Justice for the individual

It is true that Fianna Fail became toxic because of the arrogant behaviour of many of their T.D's, combined with their total failure to manage a vibrant economy during their watch. They allowed the public sector unions, through bench-marking, gain a foothold to drain the economy further (although, to be honest, they are being heavily hit in their wages with the Universal Social Charge. All the T.D's (of every party) voted in huge wages, pensions and expenses to their own benefit. Government advisers, bankers, Health Services Executives, Charity CEO's, ESB CEO's continue to receive payments above the official government guidelines.

The various Regulators were asleep on the job and allowed the so-called privileged sections of our society ride rough-shod and recklessly over the Irish economy which ended in tears, but only for the average man in the street.

It still continues with the Central Remedial Clinic debacle, where CEO's and Board members are on huge salaries, "top-ups" and pensions at the expense of the handicapped. To stop this, the CRC would be better off liquidated and re-open as a new organisation, as at present, fund-raising connected with the present set-up is toxic. Meanwhile, the genuine fundraiser and genuine causes are going to suffer greatly because of the activities of a few.

The cost of medicines is provocative to the average person (and especially if not on a medical card)- this is still not reformed.
Utility costs and the Vat rate of 23% is too high. Bring down these costs and it will help the Irish economy to recover.

The Public Accounts Chairman John McGuinness is doing a thorough job in bringing the activities of the CEO and Board members of the CRC to public knowledge. He is not afraid to stand on a few toes (a rare quality in a politician) and if any man can bring these people to heel he has the *alls to do it. We may be talking about a future leader of Fianna Fail, and importantly, because he is not guilty by association with the Fianna Fail old guard, would have some chance of resurrecting the party fortunes again.

gizmo555

Justice for the individual wrote: »

John McGuinness . . . importantly, because he is not guilty by association with the old Fianna Fail guard, would have some chance of resurrecting the party fortunes again.

Are you kidding me? He was a Fianna Fáil TD right through the Ahern era and voted in favour of the policies that got us into the mess we're in as dutifully as any other government TD. He's as guilty as sin . . .

Justice for the individual

gizmo555 wrote: »

Are you kidding me? He was a Fianna Fáil TD right through the Ahern era and voted in favour of the policies that got us into the mess we're in as dutifully as any other government TD. He's as guilty as sin . . .

I'm referring to him as a potential leader of Fianna Fail. Naturally, he would have to be a member of Fianna Fail to run as a leader of Fianna Fail. I agree the "whip system" is unfair and forces members to toe the line. I do not know if he voted in favour of any particular policy as I was not there. You have got to admit that every party have good decent members, and just to show that I do not support any particular party, Richard Bruton has always impressed me as a genuine person, likewise, Brian Lenihan R.I.P.

golfball37

John McGuinness is mentioned in the Mahon report in relation to a land deal in North County Dublin and representations he made to then Minister Cowan on behalf of his brother who wished to develop land.

Lo and behold this land was re-zoned later.

He is as dirty as the rest of them. Although he is very good to his wife in all fairness.

Justice for the individual

golfball37 wrote: »

John McGuinness is mentioned in the Mahon report in relation to a land deal in North County Dublin and representations he made to then Minister Cowan on behalf of his brother who wished to develop land.

Lo and behold this land was re-zoned later.

He is as dirty as the rest of them. Although he is very good to his wife in all fairness.

"In fairness" we would all like to use our influence to help our brother and be good to our wife, but this did not benefit him.

golfball37

Justice for the individual wrote: »

"In fairness" we would all like to use our influence to help our brother and be good to our wife, but this did not benefit him.

His brother left a good few people in hoc because of his actions surrounding this deal including a company that had to let staff go but still John did nothing wrong I suppose?

I didn't say it benefitted him but interfering in the planning process benefitted someone close to him to the detriment of others.

He is as bad as any FFer. Or as good whatever way you look at it.

RedFormanFITA

To me it looks like they are testing the water to see what the reaction is, but I'm sure there are many people in my county, I'm not one of them thankfully, who have very short memories and will do everything they can to first get her back into the party, regardless of what Mickey Martin and the rest of them are saying now, and then get her re-elected.

Worse than that is the thought of who else is Fianna Failure planning on 'digging up'? Bertie 'salt o de ert' Ahern,? Brian Cowan, or nightmare to end all nightmares,.... Mary Harney, oh dear god.

Justice for the individual

golfball37 wrote: »

His brother left a good few people in hoc because of his actions surrounding this deal including a company that had to let staff go but still John did nothing wrong I suppose?

I didn't say it benefitted him but interfering in the planning process benefitted someone close to him to the detriment of others.

He is as bad as any FFer. Or as good whatever way you look at it.

Your article infers that nobody benefited!

For Reals

Justice for the individual wrote: »

It is true that Fianna Fail became toxic because of the arrogant behaviour of many of their T.D's, combined with their total failure to manage a vibrant economy during their watch. They allowed the public sector unions, through bench-marking, gain a foothold to drain the economy further (although, to be honest, they are being heavily hit in their wages with the Universal Social Charge. All the T.D's (of every party) voted in huge wages, pensions and expenses to their own benefit. Government advisers, bankers, Health Services Executives, Charity CEO's, ESB CEO's continue to receive payments above the official government guidelines.

The various Regulators were asleep on the job and allowed the so-called privileged sections of our society ride rough-shod and recklessly over the Irish economy which ended in tears, but only for the average man in the street.

It still continues with the Central Remedial Clinic debacle, where CEO's and Board members are on huge salaries, "top-ups" and pensions at the expense of the handicapped. To stop this, the CRC would be better off liquidated and re-open as a new organisation, as at present, fund-raising connected with the present set-up is toxic. Meanwhile, the genuine fundraiser and genuine causes are going to suffer greatly because of the activities of a few.

The cost of medicines is provocative to the average person (and especially if not on a medical card)- this is still not reformed.
Utility costs and the Vat rate of 23% is too high. Bring down these costs and it will help the Irish economy to recover.

The Public Accounts Chairman John McGuinness is doing a thorough job in bringing the activities of the CEO and Board members of the CRC to public knowledge. He is not afraid to stand on a few toes (a rare quality in a politician) and if any man can bring these people to heel he has the *alls to do it. We may be talking about a future leader of Fianna Fail, and importantly, because he is not guilty by association with the Fianna Fail old guard, would have some chance of resurrecting the party fortunes again.

I'm sick to death of Fianna Fail apologists spouting things like 'old guard' after every Fianna Fail act of hate, (intentional or otherwise) towards the Irish public. As if its a one off. Its constant, its generational. You elude to the resurrecting of the party fortunes being a good thing. For who? At best the party and certainly not the Irish people. The unions securing a pay deal pales in comparison to the other factors leading to the collapse, but deflecting blame is one of the few things Fianna Fail have by way of an actual manifesto.

For Reals

Justice for the individual wrote: »

I'm referring to him as a potential leader of Fianna Fail. Naturally, he would have to be a member of Fianna Fail to run as a leader of Fianna Fail. I agree the "whip system" is unfair and forces members to toe the line. I do not know if he voted in favour of any particular policy as I was not there. You have got to admit that every party have good decent members, and just to show that I do not support any particular party, Richard Bruton has always impressed me as a genuine person, likewise, Brian Lenihan R.I.P.

Fianna Fail does not nurture 'good decent members', well I've never seen one, but I'm sure the odd member may be genuine, unfortunately they never get to become policy makers. DeValera himself was a fraudster who conned people using patriotism to feather his nest, so I mean the barrel was rotten so what hope the apples? Lenihan was either corrupt, incompetent or both. We may never find out the full details.

Justice for the individual

For Reals wrote: »

I'm sick to death of Fianna Fail apologists spouting things like 'old guard' after every Fianna Fail act of hate, (intentional or otherwise) towards the Irish public. As if its a one off. Its constant, its generational. You elude to the resurrecting of the party fortunes being a good thing. For who? At best the party and certainly not the Irish people. The unions securing a pay deal pales in comparison to the other factors leading to the collapse, but deflecting blame is one of the few things Fianna Fail have by way of an actual manifesto.

Wrong. I have not voted Fianna Fail for about 20 years, and I suppose they were up to something then, I can't remember what it was. That meant I was about 17 years ahead of everyone else in my thinking, as it is only recently that people are beginning to wake up to the Irish party politics system which is used by all the parties. I am only giving a view on who would be a candidate for the Fianna Fail leadership role, and some are getting excited and ranting away, jumping to assumptions without any evidence to guide them as to whom I support politically. And I still think that John McGuinness is doing a great job as PAC Chairman, and I would think more people are becoming aware of that fact.

For Reals

Justice for the individual wrote: »

Wrong. I have not voted Fianna Fail for about 20 years, and I suppose they were up to something then, I can't remember what it was. That meant I was about 17 years ahead of everyone else in my thinking, as it is only recently that people are beginning to wake up to the Irish party politics system which is used by all the parties. I am only giving a view on who would be a candidate for the Fianna Fail leadership role, and some are getting excited and ranting away, jumping to assumptions without any evidence to guide them as to whom I support politically. And I still think that John McGuinness is doing a great job as PAC Chairman, and I would think more people are becoming aware of that fact.

Forgiveness...

Justice for the individual wrote: »

It is true that Fianna Fail became toxic because of the arrogant behaviour of many of their T.D's, combined with their total failure to manage a vibrant economy during their watch.

So far we agree...

They allowed the public sector unions, through bench-marking, gain a foothold to drain the economy.

So this is the first example comes to mind?

The Public Accounts Chairman John McGuinness is doing a thorough job in bringing the activities of the CEO and Board members of the CRC to public knowledge. He is not afraid to stand on a few toes (a rare quality in a politician) and if any man can bring these people to heel he has the *alls to do it. We may be talking about a future leader of Fianna Fail, and importantly, because he is not guilty by association with the Fianna Fail old guard, would have some chance of resurrecting the party fortunes again.

To me, my reading of this, you seem to be saying that their is hope. This chap might be the hero in high pants Fianna Fail need to reclaim former glory. The 'Old Guard' lends itself to the Fianna Fail mantra of 'that was then, this is now' and we should all quit living in the past and contemporise (man). All this from a non-supporter? If not why does the idea of a newly invigorated Fianna Fail seem to appeal to you?

I never said you voted Fianna Fail, but to be fair I did assume so. But there were some who had Fianna Fails number a lot longer than seventeen years ago. Sadly we've seen all this before, back in the eighties, but I guess 'that was then, this is now'......

jmayo

Justice for the individual wrote: »

It is true that Fianna Fail became toxic because of the arrogant behaviour of many of their T.D's, combined with their total failure to manage a vibrant economy during their watch.

Ehh they were toxic a lot longer than that.
Have you forgotten about one ff leader, taoiseach and thief called cj ?

Justice for the individual wrote: »

The Public Accounts Chairman John McGuinness is doing a thorough job in bringing the activities of the CEO and Board members of the CRC to public knowledge. He is not afraid to stand on a few toes (a rare quality in a politician) and if any man can bring these people to heel he has the *alls to do it. We may be talking about a future leader of Fianna Fail, and importantly, because he is not guilty by association with the Fianna Fail old guard, would have some chance of resurrecting the party fortunes again.

You wouln't be from kilkenny by any chance ?

FFS he is very much part of the old guard or is that forgetfulness cropping up again.
He was TD that three times voted one b ahern as taoiseach.
He was a junior minister in one of his governments.
He did the old trick of being county councillor and td, extra expenses and all.

Sorry to have to use wikipedia but quickest location.

He first entered local politics in 1979 when he won a seat on Kilkenny Borough Council and was a subsequent Mayor of the city from 1996 to 1997.[2] He was the third generation of his family to serve on this council. From 1991 until the abolition of the dual mandate in 2003, he was also member of Kilkenny County Council, where his father Michael McGuinness was the longest-serving councillor (1959–99).

He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency at the 1997 general election. He was vice-chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee in the 29th Dáil and a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committees for European Affairs, Enterprise and Small Business, Justice, and Women's Rights in the 28th Dáil. In 2007 he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for Trade and Commerce. He has subsequently revealed a testy relationship with his senior minister Mary Coughlan, and considerable disagreement with policy in the department.

About the only positive thing to say there is that at least he couldn't stomach that weapon coughlan.

not part of the old guard my ars*.
He is just a slippery customer who is better at seeing the writing on the wall.

Justice for the individual wrote: »

... , and just to show that I do not support any particular party, Richard Bruton has always impressed me as a genuine person, likewise, Brian Lenihan R.I.P.

bruton is a traitorous back stabber who couldn't pull off a coup and lenihan was a buffoon who cost this state billions.

Justice for the individual wrote: »

Wrong. I have not voted Fianna Fail for about 20 years, and I suppose they were up to something then, I can't remember what it was. That meant I was about 17 years ahead of everyone else in my thinking, as it is only recently that people are beginning to wake up to the Irish party politics system which is used by all the parties. ...

Well I never voted for them and I could have voted for douche bag haughey's party, so I must be miles ahead of you.
BTW if you voted for them 17 years ago, that would be 1996 would it not ?

So you had voted for a party led by either albert (passports for investment in his dog food) reynolds or even cj (where is my next shirt coming from, oh yeah mny dying friends fund) haughey ?

At least you appear to have given up around time b ahern took over.

Justice for the individual

Fairly blinkered views regarding laying the blame on one particular party. If you are old enough to remember the
Fine Gael/Labour Government 1982-1987 led by Garrett Fitzgerald was a disaster where their policies bankrupted the country leading to mass immigration - nothing new there.

The bailout of the banks and the financial support for the Anglo Irish Bondholders were supported by all the major parties, including Fine Gael and Labour. Brian Lenihan was in a no-win situation and did what he had to do, rightly or wrongly.

If the voting fraternity voted in Bertie Ahern for two terms and a record third term (it is called democracy) it appeared that a huge majority did not 'have his number".

After almost three years of Fine Gael/Labour Government there has not been any noticeable reform of the sacred cows of Banking, the Legal system, the Public sector, semi-state bodies and the HSE. The cost of medicines has been maintained at a high level with protection from competition. The government quangos continue with obscene salaries to CEO's. Multinationals are pandered to by offerings of low tax rates (The Double Irish) and this is the only reason we are so successful at it. The ESB still hold their monopoly and their senior managers salaries match and in some cases exceed the obscene salaries of the CRC CEO's and Board.

When you compare the transport systems to the ones in Vienna, Barcelona and Berlin, they pale in comparison.

So, what's new.

All of the above issues quoted by me were conveniently ignored in following posts, but instead resorted to personal attacks on individuals who did or are doing their best. It is galling to them but also rather ironic that it is a Fianna Fail man who is trying to break down and reform corporate cultural greed. An element of begrudgery is fairly evident in some remarks.

Again, for the doubters, I do not support any particular political party. I try to support the ones (parties or individuals) that look like improving our lives and the futures of our children. If I think that a particular politician is doing a good job, I will give him credit for it regardless of the party or alignment.

grainnewhale

jmayo wrote: »

Ehh they were toxic a lot longer than that.
Have you forgotten about one ff leader, taoiseach and thief called cj ?



You wouln't be from kilkenny by any chance ?

FFS he is very much part of the old guard or is that forgetfulness cropping up again.
He was TD that three times voted one b ahern as taoiseach.
He was a junior minister in one of his governments.
He did the old trick of being county councillor and td, extra expenses and all.

Sorry to have to use wikipedia but quickest location.



About the only positive thing to say there is that at least he couldn't stomach that weapon coughlan.

not part of the old guard my ars*.
He is just a slippery customer who is better at seeing the writing on the wall.



bruton is a traitorous back stabber who couldn't pull off a coup and lenihan was a buffoon who cost this state billions.



Well I never voted for them and I could have voted for douche bag haughey's party, so I must be miles ahead of you.
BTW if you voted for them 17 years ago, that would be 1996 would it not ?

So you had voted for a party led by either albert (passports for investment in his dog food) reynolds or even cj (where is my next shirt coming from, oh yeah mny dying friends fund) haughey ?

At least you appear to have given up around time b ahern took over.

If you hate Richard so much why did you make him a minister.

Sheldons Brain

When you compare the transport systems to the ones in Vienna, Barcelona and Berlin, they pale in comparison.

This is true. But the present government were never going to be able to vastly improve things with an 8% deficit, so it is hardly relevant.

RedFormanFITA

Calamity Coughlan Rides Again.

The story of a down on her luck cow poke politician, who ups sticks and leaves the dust bowl era of South West Donegal. She heads off to the bright lights of the big city to seek fame and fortune. Join her on her adventures as she meets all types of characters including the Gombeen Men, Bertie O Bowl and Wilie 'Stumpy' O Dea.

Lenses by CinemaScope.... needed to fit her over inflated ego on the screen
Hair by FAS
Costumes by NASA or was that FAS aswell?
And filmed in glorious Fianna Failcolour (Rose tinted, to you and me)

My abiding memory of her was when she replied to me as minister of education, via a TD why I couldn't get BTEA as I was 3 days short of unemployment benefit (I was on part-time dole and disability benefit before that) of the amount I needed.

She passed me on to the woman (in Limerick, I think) who was in charge of the whole BTEA. Her advice? Stay on the dole for another year and don't take up a job, even if offered one if I want to be a mature student.

So instead of letting someone in as they were 3 days short (even though I had been receiving benefits for two years), they would prefer I stay on the dole for a whole year.

Mary Coughlan can rot.

Justice for the individual

Justice for the individual wrote: »

Fairly blinkered views regarding laying the blame on one particular party. If you are old enough to remember the
Fine Gael/Labour Government 1982-1987 led by Garrett Fitzgerald was a disaster where their policies bankrupted the country leading to mass immigration - nothing new there.

The bailout of the banks and the financial support for the Anglo Irish Bondholders were supported by all the major parties, including Fine Gael and Labour. Brian Lenihan was in a no-win situation and did what he had to do, rightly or wrongly.

If the voting fraternity voted in Bertie Ahern for two terms and a record third term (it is called democracy) it appeared that a huge majority did not 'have his number".

After almost three years of Fine Gael/Labour Government there has not been any noticeable reform of the sacred cows of Banking, the Legal system, the Public sector, semi-state bodies and the HSE. The cost of medicines has been maintained at a high level with protection from competition. The government quangos continue with obscene salaries to CEO's. Multinationals are pandered to by offerings of low tax rates (The Double Irish) and this is the only reason we are so successful at it. The ESB still hold their monopoly and their senior managers salaries match and in some cases exceed the obscene salaries of the CRC CEO's and Board.

When you compare the transport systems to the ones in Vienna, Barcelona and Berlin, they pale in comparison.

So, what's new.

All of the above issues quoted by me were conveniently ignored in following posts, but instead resorted to personal attacks on individuals who did or are doing their best. It is galling to them but also rather ironic that it is a Fianna Fail man who is trying to break down and reform corporate cultural greed. An element of begrudgery is fairly evident in some remarks.

Again, for the doubters, I do not support any particular political party. I try to support the ones (parties or individuals) that look like improving our lives and the futures of our children. If I think that a particular politician is doing a good job, I will give him credit for it regardless of the party or alignment.

Sorry, I meant emigration.

take everything

gizmo555 wrote: »

Are you kidding me? He was a Fianna Fáil TD right through the Ahern era and voted in favour of the policies that got us into the mess we're in as dutifully as any other government TD. He's as guilty as sin . . .

And you needn't worry in 2-3 years time (with their inexplicable (to anyone rational) and depressingly unstoppable resurgence) he'll be as FF and proud as the rest of them.

Sand

I was just reading up on Coughlan, just to remind myself of her reign of incompetence. She's a fairly amazing character it has to be said. A whole range of stupid and vulgar to choose from. The below being the highlights.

"Yes, we do have one Commissioner but other larger member states have more than one Commissioner."

She was quietly removed from the Lisbon Yes campaign after this little gem, as it was considered damaging for a Minister to display gross ignorance of the most basic structures of the EU.

"Of the savings of €100 million, €86 million is for GPs and €30 million is for pharmacists"

Basic maths fail when arguing the government case in the 2008 medical cards row.

"The public finances are under control...there will be no supplementary budget"

Five days before the announcement of the April 2009 emergency Budget.

In September 2009 when speaking to an audience of invited entrepreneurs to announce IDA Ireland's new smart economy campaign, she described the upcoming campaign as being "like Einstein explaining his theory of evolution".

Rody Molloy of FAS was forced to resign in November 2008 under accusations of ...dubious spending by FAS on executives. Coughlan not only gave him a 110K severance payout and full pension rights, she also later topped up that pension to a full value of 4 million Euro. When The Sindo ran the story in September 2009, she claimed she had acted on legal advice and to avoid a lengthy legal battle to remove Molloy. Brian Cowen contradicted this in September 2009, telling RTE no legal advice was sought and Molloy made no threats or approaches on the issue.

I think its a good thing to see these lads return to Fianna Fail. They are there anyway - they're in the DNA of Fianna Fail: incompetence, greed, corruption stupidity. Its good that they're sitting up front for the public to see rather than sitting in the background pretending there is some "change" in Fianna Fail. It has to be remembered Fianna Fail are still led by a man who was a colleague of Coughlan and didn't seem to object to her then. Its good that the voting public are reminded of that by having Coughlan front and centre in FF's next campaign.

jmayo

Justice for the individual wrote: »

Fairly blinkered views regarding laying the blame on one particular party. If you are old enough to remember the
Fine Gael/Labour Government 1982-1987 led by Garrett Fitzgerald was a disaster where their policies bankrupted the country leading to mass immigration - nothing new there.

And I give you the government of jack lynch who bought the electorate with the removal of residential rates, whose biggest fallout was to be the housing bubble 25 odd years later, and the removal of motor tax.
I would say you are still a fianna fail sympathiser since rather than agree that fianna fail were once led by a theif, tax cheat and corrupt politican who even looted his best friends medical expenses fund, you had a pop at fitzgerald and his government.

grainnewhale wrote: »

If you hate Richard so much why did you make him a minister.

Ehh I am not a member of fine gael and I am certainly not in a position to make anyone a minister.
Whoe the feck do you think I am ?

Sand wrote: »

I was just reading up on Coughlan, just to remind myself of her reign of incompetence. She's a fairly amazing character it has to be said. A whole range of stupid and vulgar to choose from. The below being the highlights.

"Yes, we do have one Commissioner but other larger member states have more than one Commissioner."

She was quietly removed from the Lisbon Yes campaign after this little gem, as it was considered damaging for a Minister to display gross ignorance of the most basic structures of the EU.

"Of the savings of €100 million, €86 million is for GPs and €30 million is for pharmacists"

Basic maths fail when arguing the government case in the 2008 medical cards row.

"The public finances are under control...there will be no supplementary budget"

Five days before the announcement of the April 2009 emergency Budget.

In September 2009 when speaking to an audience of invited entrepreneurs to announce IDA Ireland's new smart economy campaign, she described the upcoming campaign as being "like Einstein explaining his theory of evolution".

Rody Molloy of FAS was forced to resign in November 2008 under accusations of ...dubious spending by FAS on executives. Coughlan not only gave him a 110K severance payout and full pension rights, she also later topped up that pension to a full value of 4 million Euro. When The Sindo ran the story in September 2009, she claimed she had acted on legal advice and to avoid a lengthy legal battle to remove Molloy. Brian Cowen contradicted this in September 2009, telling RTE no legal advice was sought and Molloy made no threats or approaches on the issue.
...

You forgot the worse.
She closed down our last sugar factory because she and her overpaid mandrins didn't bother their ar**es.

Tea drinker

jmayo wrote: »

You forgot the worse.
She closed down our last sugar factory because she and her overpaid mandrins didn't bother their ar**es.

Thanks for the reminder. Didn't the EU lead them up the garden path there too? They inferred that Ireland had to close the factory, and once it was closed said "oh you didn't have to close it" Some shenanigans involved anyway.
Kind of reminds me of the "vote yes for jobs" thing, once it was over they interviewed Cowen who said "I never said there would be any jobs!"

grainnewhale

Tea drinker wrote: »

Thanks for the reminder. Didn't the EU lead them up the garden path there too? They inferred that Ireland had to close the factory, and once it was closed said "oh you didn't have to close it" Some shenanigans involved anyway.
Kind of reminds me of the "vote yes for jobs" thing, once it was over they interviewed Cowen who said "I never said there would be any jobs!"

sure where would we be without the e.u.

Brussels Sprout

A friend of mine works in management in a multi-national manufacturing facility. A number of years ago he had the dubious honour of being part of the group who were showing Mary Coughlan around (she was minister for enterprise at the time). He said that he couldn't believe the foul language that she casually used. For example when shown a new production line "That's f**king great that is, really f**king impressive". And this would have been in front of members of the head office over from America for the occasion. He said it was just embarrassing and that she was completely oblivious to this.

Also on John McGuinness. Yes he seems to be doing a good job in the PAC but let's not forget his demands that his wife should be able to travel with him on all of his political junkets (paid for by the taxpayer) and that he employed his son in his early twenties as one of his parliamentary assistants-who then went on to claim €30k in overtime payments in one year.

murphaph

grainnewhale wrote: »

sure where would we be without the e.u.

Even more up sh!t creek than we are?

Gambas

Brussels Sprout wrote: »

A friend of mine works in management in a multi-national manufacturing facility. A number of years ago he had the dubious honour of being part of the group who were showing Mary Coughlan around (she was minister for enterprise at the time). He said that he couldn't believe the foul language that she casually used. For example when shown a new production line "That's f**king great that is, really f**king impressive". And this would have been in front of members of the head office over from America for the occasion. He said it was just embarrassing and that she was completely oblivious to this.

Also on John McGuinness. Yes he seems to be doing a good job in the PAC but let's not forget his demands that his wife should be able to travel with him on all of his political junkets (paid for by the taxpayer) and that he employed his son in his early twenties as one of his parliamentary assistants-who then went on to claim €30k in overtime payments in one year.

McGuinness may be a classic power and money politician, but he seems to be competent. Even if Coughlan worked for free I won't want her representing anyone. She is a disgrace.

tipptom

Brussels Sprout wrote: »

A friend of mine works in management in a multi-national manufacturing facility. A number of years ago he had the dubious honour of being part of the group who were showing Mary Coughlan around (she was minister for enterprise at the time). He said that he couldn't believe the foul language that she casually used. For example when shown a new production line "That's f**king great that is, really f**king impressive". And this would have been in front of members of the head office over from America for the occasion. He said it was just embarrassing and that she was completely oblivious to this.

Also on John McGuinness. Yes he seems to be doing a good job in the PAC but let's not forget his demands that his wife should be able to travel with him on all of his political junkets (paid for by the taxpayer) and that he employed his son in his early twenties as one of his parliamentary assistants-who then went on to claim €30k in overtime payments in one year.

Wow,i heard before about sweary Mary but that's outrageous.

Justice for the individual

Gambas wrote: »

McGuinness may be a classic power and money politician, but he seems to be competent. Even if Coughlan worked for free I won't want her representing anyone. She is a disgrace.

Well, at least his wife will still travel with him. I would have a job getting my wife to go with me when I am working. If I said the taxpayer was paying for her hairdo maybe she would! Or is a junket classed as working?

Also, Richard Bruton let me down today. He said on radio this morning from the Gulf that he sees nothing wrong doing business with Dubai and the UAE (annual Enterprise Ireland trip to drum up business for the "best small country in which to do business") He was asked if he had any problem with the ethics and civil rights of these countries and he said he was not the one to discuss these issues as he was strictly on a business raising trip. He said these issues should be raised with the diplomatic section. So, no ethics in business there.
However, if an SME tendered for Irish Government business and treated his workers in the same fashion, the tender conditions would prevent it, and there is no way they would get the business.

Also, as the CEO of Enterprise Ireland is a woman, she would be prevented by protocol from offering or shaking hands with the Arab representatives (usually the sheikhs). However, we will do anything to maintain our reputation as "the best small country in the world in which to do business". We will bend down to our shoelaces if we have to!

Gambas

Justice for the individual wrote: »

Well, at least his wife will still travel with him. I would have a job getting my wife to go with me when I am working. If I said the taxpayer was paying for her hairdo maybe she would! Or is a junket classed as working?

Also, Richard Bruton let me down today. He said on radio this morning from the Gulf that he sees nothing wrong doing business with Dubai and the UAE (annual Enterprise Ireland trip to drum up business for the "best small country in which to do business") He was asked if he had any problem with the ethics and civil rights of these countries and he said he was not the one to discuss these issues as he was strictly on a business raising trip. He said these issues should be raised with the diplomatic section. So, no ethics in business there.
However, if an SME tendered for Irish Government business and treated his workers in the same fashion, the tender conditions would prevent it, and there is no way they would get the business.

Also, the CEO of Enterprise Ireland (she is a woman)would be prevented by protocol from shaking hands with the arab gulf representatives (usually the sheikhs). However, we will do anything to maintain our reputation as "the best small country in the world in which to do business". We will bend down to our shoelaces if we have to!

Everyone holds their nose when doing business with the Saudi's. Nothing remarkable about our position.

Red Kev

Justice for the individual wrote: »

Also, the CEO of Enterprise Ireland (she is a woman)would be prevented by protocol from shaking hands with the arab gulf representatives (usually the sheikhs). However, we will do anything to maintain our reputation as "the best small country in the world in which to do business". We will bend down to our shoelaces if we have to!

Slightly off topic here, I heard Bruton say that this morning and nearly thumped the radio. Arabs shake hands with western women when they have to/want to. If a woman in that group extended her hand they would return the gesture out of politeness and respect. Bruton spoke a pile of nonsense this morning, embarrassing really. Cowardice or clueless on their part more than anything else.

Here's Saudi's King Fahd shaking hands with Thatcher.


Here's Merkel in Dubai :



Clinton with the Crown Prince of Bahrain;

For Reals

Money rules.
Back to Coughlan and chums. They sent a Bertie backed trade delegation to China, (hardly champions of civil rights/democracy) and applauded industry bright sparks for having the entrepreneurial skills to sack Irish staff and relocate to China. A classic case of commending the money maker to the detriment of the public they represented.