FrancieBrady wrote: » Major story in the 'the paper of record' this morning and the national broadcaster still hasn't picked up on it.
Doctors who campaigned against Fine Gael in general election campaigns would be “shooting themselves in the foot”, Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar told GPs representative, Maitiú Ó Tuathail, two years ago. In text exchanges in October 2018, the then-taoiseach also warned Dr Ó Tuathail that ongoing discord among GP groups might disadvantage them over other groups seeking concessions from the Government, saying “we need to cut a deal with you soon. Only a limited pot [of money] and nurses and consultants are much more effective at getting something from it”. Earlier in the exchange, the then-president of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) warned Mr Varadkar that GPs were discussing “actively campaigning” against Fine Gael. “Including posters in waiting room, handing leaflets to patients and placing posters on lampposts,” said one of the text messages, released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act. In response, Mr Varadkar texted: “Who will [they] campaign for. SF and leftists want you all on salaries and not big ones. Maybe €60k. Labour wants free GP for everyone within a few years. Foot and shoot spring to mind.” In his reply to Dr Ó Tuathail, the then taoiseach continued: “Hopeful talks with IMO [ Irish Medical Organisation] will result in a deal on increased resources but they have to be realistic. Budget is limited even with the extra billion” – a reference to a further increase in health funding of €1.05 billion signed off in Budget 2019, which had been announced two days before the text exchange. Dr Ó Tuathail responded by saying: “We are rightly f****d I know this. It’s just frustrating. Like campaigning for FF. I think I’ll resign before I do that.” Mr Varadkar said: “Only way to stop it is for GPs to sign up to a deal that’s affordable for the taxpayer and good for patients – phased reversal of Fempi [recession-era cuts], new money for new services and phased extension for free GP care to those on lower incomes.” Mr Varadkar told the NAGP president that the “biggest problem from our point of view is that GPs are fighting among themselves and don’t know what they want or are willing to give in return for more resources”. Sections of the text exchange are redacted, but Mr Varadkar then continues: “Anyway IMO and NAGP can come together and agree something along these lines. We need to cut a deal with you soon. Only a limited pot and nurses and consultants much more effective at getting something from it”. Dr Ó Tuathail responded, saying the two organisations would “never come together”. “We’ve the members but they’ve the power. S**t situation all round.” ‘Not best practice’ Dr Ó Tuathail and the Tánaiste were at the centre of a controversy in November when it emerged that Mr Varadkar had leaked the NAGP president a copy of a confidential pay deal with a rival group, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), before it was published or finally signed off. Mr Varadkar has said that what he did was “not best practice”, but that it was done in order to secure the agreement of all GPs for the deal. The Opposition strongly criticised the Tánaiste over the leak, saying he had abused his position as Taoiseach, and that the leak may have benefited the NAGP, an organisation which collapsed soon afterwards. The Fine Gael leader and Dr Ó Tuathail are friends, “but not close friends”, Mr Varadkar has said. ‘Kind of irrational’ In a separate exchange, the day after the budget, which extended free GP care to tens of thousands more people, Dr Ó Tuathail told the then taoiseach: “I think the budget may have been the last straw for GPs. I have never seen them so angry.” In response, Mr Varadkar asked whether it was not the case that GP groups wanted to expand eligibility on income rather than age, “and it’s in Sláintecare”. Given that was the case, he said anger at the implementation of these policies “is kind of irrational”. A further text exchange the following month shows Dr Ó Tuathail recommending to the taoiseach a business project – Community Hospital Ireland – being worked on by Chay Bowes, a healthcare entrepreneur who was at the time working with the NAGP. Mr Bowes and Dr Ó Tuathail had also discussed working on the project together. Mr Bowes later supplied documents, including screengrabs of conversations between Mr Varadkar and the NAGP president, to Village Magazine for the story which caused the controversy. “Possible solution to lack of winter initiative being launched in Tallaght in January – called Community Hospital Ireland. Great idea, and one you guys should take credit for. Seriously,” wrote Dr Ó Tuathail. Asked for more information, the NAGP president said it was “a national community intervention team” privately funded but backed by the HSE. “Basically nurses treating patients in their home.” The records released to The Irish Times do not show any further engagement from Mr Varadkar on the matter In his reply to Dr Ó Tuathail, the then taoiseach continued: “Hopeful talks with IMO [ Irish Medical Organisation] will result in a deal on increased resources but they have to be realistic. Budget is limited even with the extra billion” – a reference to a further increase in health funding of €1.05 billion signed off in Budget 2019, which had been announced two days before the text exchange. Dr Ó Tuathail responded by saying: “We are rightly f****d I know this. It’s just frustrating. Like campaigning for FF. I think I’ll resign before I do that.” Mr Varadkar said: “Only way to stop it is for GPs to sign up to a deal that’s affordable for the taxpayer and good for patients – phased reversal of Fempi [recession-era cuts], new money for new services and phased extension for free GP care to those on lower incomes.” Mr Varadkar told the NAGP president that the “biggest problem from our point of view is that GPs are fighting among themselves and don’t know what they want or are willing to give in return for more resources”. Sections of the text exchange are redacted, but Mr Varadkar then continues: “Anyway IMO and NAGP can come together and agree something along these lines. We need to cut a deal with you soon. Only a limited pot and nurses and consultants much more effective at getting something from it”. Dr Ó Tuathail responded, saying the two organisations would “never come together”. “We’ve the members but they’ve the power. S**t situation all round.” In a separate exchange, the day after the budget, which extended free GP care to tens of thousands more people, Dr Ó Tuathail told the then taoiseach: “I think the budget may have been the last straw for GPs. I have never seen them so angry.” In response, Mr Varadkar asked whether it was not the case that GP groups wanted to expand eligibility on income rather than age, “and it’s in Sláintecare”. Given that was the case, he said anger at the implementation of these policies “is kind of irrational”. A further text exchange the following month shows Dr Ó Tuathail recommending to the taoiseach a business project – Community Hospital Ireland – being worked on by Chay Bowes, a healthcare entrepreneur who was at the time working with the NAGP. Mr Bowes and Dr Ó Tuathail had also discussed working on the project together. Mr Bowes later supplied documents, including screengrabs of conversations between Mr Varadkar and the NAGP president, to Village Magazine for the story which caused the controversy. “Possible solution to lack of winter initiative being launched in Tallaght in January – called Community Hospital Ireland. Great idea, and one you guys should take credit for. Seriously,” wrote Dr Ó Tuathail. Asked for more information, the NAGP president said it was “a national community intervention team” privately funded but backed by the HSE. “Basically nurses treating patients in their home.” The records released to The Irish Times do not show any further engagement from Mr Varadkar on the matter.
Nobotty wrote: » The article below? That's not a major story Theres nothing new in it,we already knew that gps were campaigning against FG And we already knew O'Tuathail was pitching chay Bowes project It could be further evidence of Mr Bowes being rebuffed at the end and why he turned on Vradakar from what I can see, to be honest
blanch152 wrote: » Exactly, but Francie is desperately looking for something, anything to distract from Stanley.
Bowie wrote: » He claimed he leaked the document to bring more GP's on board to improve the deal. He lied. It was only to try cadge votes.
smurgen wrote: » He lied to the Dail.
Bishop of hope wrote: » I might say you lie. You guess at best.
Mr Varadkar also rejected as “false and without foundation and deeply offensive” any suggestion that he had anything to gain personally from the disclosure. “I wanted to use the influence of the taoiseach’s office to secure a new contract with GPs, to reverse the [austerity era] Fempi cuts in return for a commitment to provide better services in the community for more patients free at the point of use.”
Bowie wrote: » Just a reminder... Now read the piece in the times. Varadkar is worried GP's will be canvassing again FG. He leaked a confidential document to a pal to try cadge votes. He lied in the Dail.
Nobotty wrote: » He doesn't actually believe he leaked it at all I think Vradakars mistake here from a career point of view was not knowing enough about O'Tuathails neediness as evidenced by his boasts to Bowes But he's got away with that Reading the article, there IS actually nothing new in it Its common knowledge and Vradakar even said this that O'Tuathail was attending/organising rallys against the government There's no smoking gun here Its an extremely tenuous exaggeration to say there is from what I see there I'm open obviously to being convinced otherwise
smurgen wrote: » So it looks like several judges applied for for Circuit Court post handed to Mary Morrissey. The solicitor that worked for Charlie Flanagan's law firm. The only name brought to cabinet by the justice minister Helen McEntee.https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/several-judges-put-in-bids-for-circuit-court-post-handed-to-mary-morrissey-7t86tj8z7
smurgen wrote: » A compulsive liar. His friendship with MOT seems to be alot more concrete than he lead his party colleagues to believe. He also said he deleted the txts and deletes them routinely as he said under Q&A in the Dail and then more appear after a FOI request
golfball37 wrote: » A barrister pal of mine from Tullow who is a member of FG as it happens told me there was shock when her name was put forward locally. Minimal litigation and courtroom experience was his term.
smurgen wrote: » So what criteria did she meet? Friend of fine Gael? Again undermining our legal system. The damage this cartel are doing to our democratic institutions is unreal.
golfball37 wrote: » You’d be very naive to think this hasn’t been going on for decades, it’s not a new FG only initiative
markodaly wrote: » Hold on a second, the accusation from the start that Leo leaked documents to his pal, one of his best friends... Now we are meant to be told that MOT was such a good friend he was going to lead a campaign against FG and Leo in the next GE?? Spinning fairytales here lads.
blanch152 wrote: » Solicitors don’t argue in court, barristers do!!! However, many solicitors become judges.
Bowie wrote: » Not sure were you got that. He was warning LV not threatening him. Both are true; he leaked a confidential document to his pal because both of them were worried FG would lose support/votes. LV lied in the Dail.
NovemberWren wrote: » @Smurgen. this 'dazzling team' of S.F. who are they. pierce doherty.. eoin o'broin. dazzling? but as you said about Mary Morrissey being made a Circuit Court Judge. probably she is F.G. herself? a statistic i saw recently about judges in Europe, per 100,000 of people: Italy 11; Finland 18; France 10.7; Greece 18; Germany 24.3; U.K. 3.5 (+lay persons); Ireland 3.2. This country has the lowest number of Judges in Europe.
smurgen wrote: » Yep she's Fine Gael. Party members were unhappy with it as she done nothing to help perceptions of cronyism that plague Fine Gael.https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40104371.html
NovemberWren wrote: » they all do that; it is at the local level that these three parties carve up the areas After elections, i.e. having taken votes from areas that they intend to discard; and give each other whatever areas that suit them. It is like a gangster gathering. The problem about Judges though; as those statistics show, the lowest number in Europe; is this because the Gardai are too? much involved in deciding crime? and may dissuade ordinary persons from going to Court?
smurgen wrote: » Can you imagine that Fine Gael wanted to celebrate the forces that burned our second city to the ground? 100 year centenary of the burning of Cork this week.https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/cork-fire-burning-of-cork-1920-5291014-Dec2020/
