Deleted User wrote: » Its not like we have a deep pool of talent in which to keep pulling these CEO's and prospective Government ministers from! There SHOULD be exemptions for MEPS and European heads of state who have to travel a lot. In all honesty who here would quarantine for 14 days if they held the position of EU Commissioner for Trade? Who here did not break restrictions at some stage? "Let him without sin..............." I'm delighted Mairead got the job, but we have lost out.
Deleted User wrote: » Based on what .....is that really your best argument? We are all entitled to our opinion , that’s what Boards is about , but at least make an effort to debate your point.
Following his resignation the former EU Trade Commissioner wanted to thank the local community for their support and reiterated that ‘he broke no law’ and was subjected to ‘a full scale attack’ by the government. “I wanted to take the opportunity to thank the people of Kilkenny for supporting me massively over the past few weeks during difficult times,” he said in an interview with the Kilkenny People, the only one he’s given following his resignation. Mr Hogan acknowledged that ‘mistakes were made’ during his visit to Ireland in July and August when he attended the infamous Oireachtas Golf Society Dinner in Clifden and travelled to Kildare, a county in lockdown at the time on a number of occasions. The former Commissioner said that his apology for the mistakes he made during his visit is sincere but added that the Covid regulations are not compatible with the work of MEPs. “The regulations that presently exist are not compatible with the work that MEPs do,” he said. Since Mr Hogan’s resignation a Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green Party MEPs are asking that the 14-day quarantine requirement be lifted for MEPs who receive a negative coronavirus test before leaving Brussels. The former Commissioner told the Kilkenny People that he has no intention to returning to political life either nationally or internationally. “My life in public service after 38 years has come to an end. I am going to take some time out and reflect on what to do next,” he said.“The government had a full scale attack on my compliance or otherwise,” he said adding that he ‘had no option but to resign because of the huge pressure from the Taoiseach, the Tanáiste and the media’. Mr Hogan also remarked that he did not receive ‘due process’ and said that he is ‘very disappointed’ with the way he has been treated. “I didn’t get due process, unlike others. I am very disappointed that there was a huge effort concentrated on my resignation. “I always feel like Irish people expect due process in the right forum. I didn’t get that. I wasn’t given that chance.”
Muahahaha wrote: » So Phil has done an interview with the Kilkenny People and he is blaming Varadkar and Martin for his resignationhttps://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/home/572229/phil-hogan-ive-made-mistakes-but-i-broke-no-law.html I see he is still going with his 'I broke no law' spin, he obviously isnt able to take responsibility for breaking the law when he was caught by the Gardai on his phone
stockshares wrote: » Andrew McDowell and Mairead McGuinness to replace Phil Hoganhttps://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/mairead-mcguinness-and-andrew-mcdowell-to-be-put-forward-as-nominees-to-replace-phil-hogan-as-irelands-european-commissioner-39503536.html McGuinnesses replacements if she takes it.https://twitter.com/gavreilly/status/1301865296202956803?s=19
stockshares wrote: » Colm Markey received €90,000 in total in EU CAP payments for the years 2018-2019. His farm showed a profit of €180,000 for 2019. It would make you question why he needs a subsidy in the first place. Quote from article: "I think every farmer deserves a good income"https://amp.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/new-meps-company-got-90000-in-eu-farm-payments-39516236.html?__twitter_impression=true
... and, just recently Teagasc published its annual farm survey which showed substantially different farm incomes across sectors, with the average dairy farm income at €87,000 while approximately half of all beef farms earned a farm income of €10,000 or less in 2017.
elperello wrote: » I expect he got the same payments as any other farmer on the same farm would have received.
stockshares wrote: » Not saying otherwise but given his farm is so profitable you would wonder why he in particular needed this subsidy. There are no such supports for other sectors . Farmers are a protected species here. If their farm is unproductive they can always sell the land and find employment elsewhere just like others have to. They cannot fail here and have security that others don't have and can plan accordingly. In his case he has a productive farm that was in profit to €180000 in 2019. Minus the subsidy that's €135000 profit. No other industry or worker is protected like this. It's grossly unfair on everybody else. It allows them an enormous advantage over everybody else's d yet they constantly complain. One example of this advantage is that 85% of College students come from a farming background. Those families have the security that enables them to send children to College. I don't want to derail the thread but I think his example shows how things are weighted in their favour.
2smiggy wrote: » if he wasn't so arrogant about it , and in general , maybe he would still be in the job ?
Muahahaha wrote: » yeah I think so. Had he just told the full truth from day one he could have saved his own bacon. But instead we had lots of lies by omission and no less than nine public statements, each one explaining the previous one. His main trip wire was saying he went direct from Kilkenny to Clifden when Leo/Martin already knew he was in Kildare because Drew Harris reported it to them. But similar to Barry Cowen had he told the uncensored truth from the off he could have saved his job. It was the lies to cover up the lies that got him. Ultimately it was Hogans own arrogance that led him to this behaviour.
Dual wheels wrote: » Would the post of commissioner not be a step down for mcguinness as first Vice President of parliament?? I would have thought she was in prime position to be the next president of parliament
Donald Trump wrote: » It's funny to hear people whining about a subject that they have absolutely no knowledge of
stockshares wrote: » Not saying otherwise but given his farm is so profitable you would wonder why he in particular needed this subsidy.
There are no such supports for other sectors .
Farmers are a protected species here. If their farm is unproductive they can always sell the land and find employment elsewhere just like others have to. They cannot fail here and have security that others don't have and can plan accordingly.
In his case he has a productive farm that was in profit to €180000 in 2019. Minus the subsidy that's €135000 profit.
No other industry or worker is protected like this. It's grossly unfair on everybody else. It allows them an enormous advantage over everybody else's d yet they constantly complain.
One example of this advantage is that 85% of College students come from a farming background. Those families have the security that enables them to send children to College.
I don't want to derail the thread but I think his example shows how things are weighted in their favour.
jm08 wrote: » stockshares wrote: » One example of this advantage is that 85% of College students come from a farming background. Those families have the security that enables them to send children to College. I'd say its more like they know there is no money in farming so their kids need to get a good job.
stockshares wrote: » One example of this advantage is that 85% of College students come from a farming background. Those families have the security that enables them to send children to College.
jm08 wrote: » There is a big difference between Barry Cowen and Hogan. Barry Cowen is still in a job as a TD in this State (and will likely be a minister in the future). Hogan actually lost his job in another State. If the Irish State wanted to punish him, it should be before the law courts, not in the court of public opinion.
Hawthorn Tree wrote: » Mr Hogan said: ‘If they knew I was a European Commissioner or a politician, they wouldn’t be stopping me.’ Why has nobody in FG or the Gardaí addressed this statement?
JohnnyFlash wrote: » This was a shít idea wasn't it, looking back with the wisdom of time?
jm08 wrote: » Because you are using it out of context. "I was stopped by a member of the Irish police in relation to putting a phone...in answering a call...to my ear is certainly...ha, like if they knew I was a European Commissioner or a politician they wouldn't be stopping me: police were doing their job and doing it well."https://twitter.com/tconnellyRTE/status/1298965043632013312
like if they knew I was a European Commissioner or a politician they wouldn't be stopping me
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://wf.vanillicon.com/v2/fb99275050ac64b7a6e581b2ca7c8f30.svg)
