Michael Lowry: are "the people of North Tipperary" utterly stupid?

Jesus Wept · 31-03-2011 11:57AM

And this is why local politics and national politics should be kept very far away from each other.

whydoibother? · 31-03-2011 12:59PM

9_Iron wrote: »

Thurles is a town of 7,000, give or take, with another 1,000 in the hinterland, so a few hundred on the streets wouldn't strike me as massive support.
It is, however, his heartland and he clearly has some support there, though that is sure to have taken a hit given the recent revelations: some of his loyal supporters are probably unmoved by anything in the Moriarty report; others are likely to be less keen.

He was also nowhere near two quotas: he was 2,000 votes over the 12,000ish quota.

If you say even 300 in Thurles, that's proportionately far more than the 25000 pensioners and students on the streets of Dublin a couple of years ago. Only a tiny fraction of the people that hold a view will ever be moved to take action.

Watching last Mondays Frontline, many of those questioned seem to think he would get a stronger vote in an election together. He's playing this one well. He is getting the locals thinking it's Dublin media against country people. In a wierd way he's managing to anger them into supporting him by focusing on how Tipperary voters are being criticized.

On the quotas, the guardian seem to think he got two quotas. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/23/corruption-allegations-michael-lowry

Cantona's Collars · 31-03-2011 01:10PM

Motion of censure passed against Lowry today but he still refuses to resign,the man has some neck.He promises to stay and continue the work that his constituants voted him in to do.
It will get to the stage that someone will have to catch him by the scruff of the neck and throw him out of the Dail.

whydoibother? · 31-03-2011 01:14PM

What bothers me is that if he gets away with this, which at the moment is looking likely, it will set a trend of people not resigning but trying to hang in there for as long as possible. As someone earlier mentioned the culture of resignation is weak enough in Ireland already.

Dempsey · 31-03-2011 01:16PM

Whats a motion of censure going to do?

steddyeddy · 31-03-2011 01:20PM

whydoibother? wrote: »

What bothers me is that if he gets away with this, which at the moment is looking likely, it will set a trend of people not resigning but trying to hang in there for as long as possible. As someone earlier mentioned the culture of resignation is weak enough in Ireland already.

The thing that bothers me the most is that lowry insists on being the one who welcomes obama when he visits this year. In no way to I want an historical event like this to include that scumbag lowry.

Ireland has far two many cases of people like this getting away with corruption, theft and cronyism. By letting them away with this we are teaching our kids that this behaviour is acceptable. This country is extremely corrupt and yet very little is being done to change it, Why should people feel guilty about petty theft in this country if major theft and corruption worth thousands of euros is encouraged?

seamus · 31-03-2011 01:21PM

It should be a criminal offence for any TD to make any representations to any county council about local issues.

They've been elected to represent their constituents at a national level. If they want to make a difference locally, then they should run for local government.

We need to put an end to the parish pump politics that gets the likes of Lowry, Healy-Rae & O'Dea elected to the national parliament. I don't give a crap what Lowry does in Tipperary, but he shouldn't be doing anything in Tipp while he's in the Dáil.

steddyeddy · 31-03-2011 01:26PM

seamus wrote: »

It should be a criminal offence for any TD to make any representations to any county council about local issues.

They've been elected to represent their constituents at a national level. If they want to make a difference locally, then they should run for local government.

We need to put an end to the parish pump politics that gets the likes of Lowry, Healy-Rae & O'Dea elected to the national parliament. I don't give a crap what Lowry does in Tipperary, but he shouldn't be doing anything in Tipp while he's in the Dáil.

I have little hope that new laws will be passed to govern td's behaviour considering the existing laws seem pretty ineffective!

whydoibother? · 31-03-2011 01:26PM

That's terrifying about Obama. I didn't realise that.

steddyeddy · 31-03-2011 01:29PM

whydoibother? wrote: »

That's terrifying about Obama. I didn't realise that.

Yes the irish americans also rightfully have issue with the prospect.

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Obama-may-meet-man-called-Irelands-most-corrupt-politician---118702039.html

EDIT: heres the link from an Irish source http://www.independent.ie/national-news/residents-fear-historic-obama-visit-will-be-hijacked-by-disgraced-lowry-2597021.html

This is were the good people of tipp should really express their outrage!

Frowzy · 31-03-2011 01:32PM

whydoibother? wrote: »

it will set a trend of people not resigning but trying to hang in there for as long as possible.

Because it's never happened before?

We're (i.e. people of North Tipp) aren't stupid. Perhaps it's a case of better the devil you know... He has a proven track record here and people trust him.

Why is there not a big noise being made about all the FF people (and Enda Kenny) who are holding onto their teaching posts in order to claim two pensions when they resign? keeping temporary people who need the security of a full time job hanging in there at a time of low employment.

They're all a bunch of crooks IMO......

steddyeddy · 31-03-2011 01:36PM

The people of offaly are outraged that lowry wants to hijack the presidents visit to his ancestral home town. this can happen because the constituency boundries of tipp have been enlarged. The man has no business there and he simply wants to plug his idea to build a casino in tipp!! This man is scum. There will be no shame in petty theft, dole fraud or any small time fraud as long as this man can walk free!

GerM · 31-03-2011 01:40PM

Frowzy wrote: »

We're aren't stupid

Irony overload.

steddyeddy · 31-03-2011 01:40PM

Frowzy wrote: »

Because it's never happened before?

We're (i.e. people of North Tipp) aren't stupid. Perhaps it's a case of better the devil you know... He has a proven track record here and people trust him.

Why is there not a big noise being made about all the FF people (and Enda Kenny) who are holding onto their teaching posts in order to claim two pensions when they resign? keeping temporary people who need the security of a full time job hanging in there at a time of low employment.

They're all a bunch of crooks IMO......

You say the people are tipp arent stupid and then you say they beleive he has a poven track record and the people trust him. You trust a liar, tax cheat and a corupt individual.

Frowzy · 31-03-2011 01:42PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

You trust a liar, tax cheat and a corupt individual.

Have you proof to back up those claims?

steddyeddy · 31-03-2011 01:46PM

Frowzy wrote: »

Have you proof to back up those claims?

I have common sense and a basic logic to conclude that the bank transactions that were made by this man point to nothing else!

OAOB · 31-03-2011 01:50PM

Lowry wasn't the first corrupt politician voted in and he probably won't be the last.
Sure we voted in corrupt men as Taoiseach on numerous occasions

steddyeddy · 31-03-2011 01:52PM

OAOB wrote: »

Lowry wasn't the first corrupt politician voted in and he probably won't be the last.
Sure we voted in corrupt men as Taoiseach on numerous occasions

i didnt

Frowzy · 31-03-2011 01:52PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

I have common sense and a basic logic to conclude that the bank transactions that were made by this man point to nothing else!

Seen his bank statements have you?

The only crooks IMO are the ones holding the tribunal, years of hearings, hearsay and slander. The report was based on the say so of people who were not awarded a contract at the time. There is no physical evidence to prove any of it which is why it has ended up in a report and not a criminal trial.

You're using some strong words to accuse a man of something that you know nothing about, I think he should have his say, and be allowed to defend his name in a court of law. If he's willing to take a case and stand by the outcome why can't you?

Do you not feel that the country is at more of a loss after 14 years of work and millions spent on lawyers and barristers who at the end of the day can prove nothing?

FFS Bertie spent more on make-up!

seamus · 31-03-2011 01:54PM

Frowzy wrote: »

Have you proof to back up those claims?

In 1995, Lowry gave a statement to the Dáil that he did not have any offshore bank accounts. He had four at the time.

He had also stated numerous times through the whole thing that his tax affairs are in order, yet he later had to make a settlement with Revenue (in the millions of euro) for unpaid tax.

This is all in the public domain and has been during the past two elections.

As far as corrupt and deceiving politicians go, Lowry is right up there with the most brazen and shameless of the lot of them. He is one of the few who has been shown publically to have lied barefaced to the country, yet continues to protest his innocence.

ScumLord · 31-03-2011 01:55PM

OAOB wrote: »

Lowry wasn't the first corrupt politician voted in and he probably won't be the last.
Sure we voted in corrupt men as Taoiseach on numerous occasions

We don't vote for the Taoiseach, we vote for corrupt politicians and they choose the most corrupt of them to be their leader.

Frowzy · 31-03-2011 01:56PM

seamus wrote: »

As far as corrupt and deceiving politicians go, Lowry is right up there with the most brazen and shameless of the lot of them.

Phew, so he's not the only one, sure ya wouldn't know it to read this thread!!!

OAOB · 31-03-2011 02:00PM

ScumLord wrote: »

We don't vote for the Taoiseach, we vote for corrupt politicians and they choose the most corrupt of them to be their leader.

Enda's the most corrupt!:eek::eek::eek:

K-9 · 31-03-2011 02:03PM

Frowzy wrote: »

Phew, so he's not the only one, sure ya wouldn't know it to read this thread!!!

Oh you would, definitely. Plenty of mention of Bertie, Calely, Dublin etc.

As Seamus pointed out he definitely lied about offshore accounts and he should have been aware of tax issues.

Really, the candidate in my constituency weren't that fantastic either but there are choices there. I can't see how Lowry could be a top 3 choice other than local, parish pump politics.

Frowzy · 31-03-2011 02:05PM

GerM wrote: »

Irony overload.

Your point being?????

Look this is Ireland, people vote for who gets things done, where is the irony? it happens in every county.

Did I vote for him? YES

GerM · 31-03-2011 02:05PM

Frowzy wrote: »

Phew, so he's not the only one, sure ya wouldn't know it to read this thread!!!

So now you have been shown proof of him being a tax evading, corrupt liar the next move is to say "Sure they're all at it"?

His past behaviour and ongoing existence as a TD is an embarrassment.

Frowzy · 31-03-2011 02:10PM

[QUOTE=K-9;71451415Really, the candidate in my constituency weren't that fantastic either but there are choices there. I can't see how Lowry could be a top 3 choice other than local, parish pump politics.[/QUOTE]

Really, choice in North Tipp was dire.

TBH I don't care what people think of Lowry, that's his battle to fight, it's the title of the thread that piss*s me off, unless I missed them I didn't see a thread questioning the mental ability of Offaly people for vothing Cowen (big brother or little), or any other county for that matter.

It's a little strong IMO............

sensibleken · 31-03-2011 02:11PM

Frowzy wrote: »

Your point being?????

Look this is Ireland, people vote for who gets things done, where is the irony? it happens in every county.

Did I vote for him? YES

What did he get done for who?

Did he get anything done for the national interest, which his job, or did he spend his time polishing the parish pump.

the man would sell ireland if it would keep him is job, even at the last buget he was holding teh country to ransom

Frowzy · 31-03-2011 02:12PM

GerM wrote: »

So now you have been shown proof of him being a tax evading, corrupt liar the next move is to say "Sure they're all at it"?

His past behaviour and ongoing existence as a TD is an embarrassment.

Lol, does my quote say that? I don't see it?

GerM · 31-03-2011 02:13PM

Frowzy wrote: »

Your point being?????

Look this is Ireland, people vote for who gets things done, where is the irony? it happens in every county.

Did I vote for him? YES

The irony was in the quote. You made a glaring grammatical error in a sentence claiming the people of north Tipperary aren't stupid.

Michael Lowry: are "the people of North Tipperary" utterly stupid?

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