Sparks wrote: »

I think the odds of someone getting in a room to do that convincing are slim and the odds of him being personally involved that far down the chain are slim as well though. It'd be like the CEO getting involved in the decision over what kind of tea to have in the box in the breakroom...
(meaning, sure, they sign the cheque at the end of the day, but they ain't gonna be the ones shouting during the debate between barrys and lyons)

Pfffft. Twinings thankyouverymuch

Barrys of course

Sparks wrote: »

Pfffft. Twinings thankyouverymuch :P

wexfordman2 wrote: »

Jesus, posh it what :-)

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Out of interest, what kind of state security information do you think he would he suddenly gain access to, that M15 wouldn't know about already?

yubabill wrote: »

We all know there is very little the new commissioner would learn that's worth reporting to the UK if he was so inclined. It's more of a situation where the appointment will probably cause internal friction within AGS security apparatus, although it may be less of an issue than it first appears, given the history of co-operation.

My thoughts on separating out security to a dedicated organisation revolve around professionalism: I will concede that senior Gardai increasingly have third level educations (I think Noirin O'S had three degrees), but the force lacks an officer corps, like the defence forces.

We actually do have a very good intelligence service. Called G2[military intelligence, that's an oxymoron I know]But it is small and operates in conjunction with the AGS branches and does so quite well...In fact, the system does work quite well, even in some cases more efficiently than the US intelligence branch, where post 9/11 the legal barriers between, State, Federal, County, and the military was a direct hampering in the WTC investigations. What I think is everyone's big worry is that the investigative and intelligence powers of the state would be turned on us the Irish citizens to crush any sort of dissent of the current govts or the EUSSR scenario. Which is always a possibility,and one that must be remedied by constitutional legislation and laying out exactly ,who,what,when where ,why ,how and how long,can anyone be investigated bythe State,andwhat safegaurds there are embeeded in ferroconcrete

Yes, the people in C&S have vast experience and retained know-how but in this day and age a successful organisation needs dedicated subject experts across all areas, from accounting, HR etc., to ops and board.

Those kinds of people don't come cheap,and are "outsiders" to the clan of the civil service mindset and methodology.Just not the "Done thing" in Irish civil service or politics.

I doubt many politicians are worried about this separation, though, as it would involve spending money. Maybe Brexit will make them think again, as the EU are looking to distance themselves from UK intel.

I really don't think Merkel/Macron etc. are competent in this area and would hate to see what Putin would do to an EU security apparatus without the UK.

Neither of those two countries intelligence agencies are worth spit on a hot stone. The German BND and BVS are so tied up in paperwork, they need everything in triplicate, probably including when they can go to the toilet.:rolleyes: They couldn't even stop the CIA bugging Merkel a few years back.The Frogs, well lets not even go there...

The UK is going the same way,too much PCedness and computer geeks as well as "across the Thames" rivalry and too few 007 types on the ground is starting to show its toll too.

Putin is some operator, he's loving the rise of the far right in the West - the divisions (which I suspect he is stoking, even though he didn't start them) between Republicans and Dems in the US and between Visregard/EU must give him a warm fuzzy feeling as he goes to sleep at night.

Putin couldn't care less about what is happening in the EU,so long as Merkel[a ex Commie stooge of Eric Honecker's GDR system] doesn't meddle any further in the Ukraine and points East that was Russias sphere of influence.All he has to do is turn off the gas to Europe again,and Brussels and Berlin will behave.

The rise of the Euro-skeptics is pretty simple.If you have Jean Claude Drunkner,off praising Karl Marx policies with a body count of +/-100 million in the 20th century,and you have countries that had the pleasure of living under that glorious system for nigh on 70 years,and being told "more ever closer EU " is the answer including many of a certain religion...You might be getting somewhat sceptical about this whole project. especially if you see how places like Catalanion independence is dealt with by orders of Brussels.

As for the US Dems"reds under the bed"..so bloody what?How many elections has the US and the former Soviet Union meddled about in the last century? here hasn't been one piece of concrete evidence produced yet of collusion of Trump with the Russians.But the glaring obvious acts of treason by Hillary Clinton as sec of state is ignored completely...selling 25% of the US uranium stockpile to Russia might be a tad treasonable. This is nothing more than a bunch of spoilt, self-entitled Soros funded crybabies still pissed and not grown up enough to admit their candidate lost and to get over with it.But let them continue,if they think a smoked salmon socialist like Bernie Saunders will win for them in 2020:D:D:D:D:D

hiddenmongoose wrote: »

And look at the state of our DF currently, due in large to poor leadership and a lack of morale courage on their behalf, born of fear of dirtying their bib. Officer corps are too interested in not rocking the boat and getting promoted, their own self interests far out way any actual true leadership responsibilities.
A third level degree and a commission do not guarantee a high standard of leadership.