It took months of work by Ken Foxe at the Sunday Tribune. His efforts deserve every applause.
For my own part, I started posting Ken’s FOI work online on August 18. I hope this helped in some way to get Ken’s work more exposure, and help force this resignation. For even half of the trips at the Department of Tourism, John O’Donoghue should have resigned. It took another set of expenses to tip it over the edge.
Mr O’Donoghue is a national disgrace. He has disgraced his party, disgraced the office he holds, disgraced our parliament, and disgraced our country.
But the FOI work continues.
Update: Taoiseach’s statment:
“In indicating his intention to step down from the office of Ceann Comhairle, John O’Donoghue TD, acted in the best interests of Dáil Éireann,
and the office of Ceann Comhairle. He has been a most effective and fair Ceann Comhairle who has acted with commitment and integrity to ensure that the members of Dáil Éireann could debate freely and fairly the issues of the day.”“The Ceann Comhairle has indicated that he wishes to make a statement to the House next week, I respect his right to do that. I thank him for his contribution to this Dáil as Ceann Comhairle and I wish him well for the future.”
Congratulations.
I know that's not the most appropriate word, but caongratulations anyway.
Keep up the good work.
Plenty more like O'Donaghue and I hope they're waking up this morning with a feeling of dread.
Well done Gavin. The shocking thing for me is that it has taken so long for the “opposition” to demand his resignation. What does that say?
If,as is reported,the Taoiseach sounded out John Gormley seeking Green Party support to oppose the Labour Party motion one has to wonder where FFstands on JODs expenditure
Brilliant news. You and your cohorts deserve to share in the praise. Don't take your foot off the gas, though – resignations tend to come in quick succession, use the momentum this has built.
Perhaps the Irish lobby might now get their heads out their arses and begin doing their job properly.
John O Donoghue has disgraced Fianna Fail? Is it possible to disgrace them any more than they have been? The old question of 'How low can you go'? comes to mind. Answer: 'About as low as a Jack Rusell's arsehole!'
Gavin your famous !! you made it to prime-time ..
As regards John O' Donoghue it's about time and really and truly his cohorts would want to go as well. See how far the school building is behind and they have the money to do it …
How much are these prefabs costing ?
one has to wonder where FFstands on JODs expenditure
They quite obviously see nothing wrong with it. Otherwise they wouldn't be plotting revenge on Labour.
Gavin if you see Pat Kenny on your next trip to RTE give him this:
An open letter to Pat Kenny:
Dear Mr Kenny,
In your day,you have interviewed: ” Bertie”, “Charlie”, “Seanie”,
(Fitz) “Rody”, and “Liamie” (Lawlor) and every nasty class of dog
with a pet name like a friendly poodle.
Why do the biggest scoundrels in the nation all have “pet names”.?
If fools in Brazil or Bogota wish to pay the Washington speakers
Bureau huge sums, to listen to discredited Irish politicians lecturing
them on how to create an “economic powerhouse” in Latin America then
as the Danes say:”The last fool has not been born yet”.No problem.
However I and many thousands of good citizens of this island (Ireland)
strongly resent being unwillingly treated to similar showmanship-and
having to pay for the dubious privilege.
Your salary scales in RTE are very high.Some would say
obscene.Particularly as we listners (or non listeners)- are fined or
jailed, for refusing to finance your unnecessary public financed radio
and TV stations
Perhaps there is an unspoken agreement therefore; between your
political paymasters and yourselves, to the effect that ordinary
citizens who bankroll you both to such a degree that you continue to
prosper happily when independent television stations are making
cutbacks;- must suffer the indignity of listening to the formerly
highest public representative in the country; waffling about his
autobiography.I This man would be a social pariah were he living in
Bombay or Beijing.
He would not be getting free publicity on the national radio and TV
station. He would be rightfully boycotted.
If a lie must be called an “untruth” in “Dail-Eireann speak: fair enough.
I put it to you mr Kenny, that a liar and a scoundrel; or an
“untruther” and a scoundrel, has no place on your TV programme.
No more than Ray Burke has; nor Liam Lawlor; nor C.J. Haughey, would
have were they still offending us by their earthly presence;
were either of them to be exhumed, and revivified, from the putrid
soil which probably nourished flowers before their remains were placed
there.
Corruption in political life is not a “Game” as Ahern has often
described his admittedly canny, successful career in buying enough
votes to get re-elected three times in a row.
The 5000 taxi drivers he bought in his Dublin constituency 25 years
ago caused havoc with a shortage of public transport for years.
His later reverse tack to save his own hide from Mata Hearney, has led
to chaos and poverty today for many in the same industry
The taxes he misused to” buy ” the last two elections with, has led
to people actually dying while waiting for hospital treatment
(remember Susie Long).
I have no doubt that reflection rarely crosses his mind.
The day of reckoning has arrived for his party, and not only is the
kitty empty-but his Dept of Finance cronies are borrowing money to pay
public sector wages while planning cutbacks in social welfare and new
stealth taxes helpfully disguised as “Green” taxes by the now
universally despised Gormley Gang.
Further cutbacks in Health are almost inconceivable, so bad is the
situation at present (It never really changed during his three terms
in office.)
That overpaid ass*ole Tubridy would interview Jack the Ripper to try
and get back a few of the viewers who used to watch the late late
show, and now turn off RTE every
morning between 9 and 10 am. Your own programme Mr Kenny has always
been entertaining while serious and probing, asking the right
questions.
You would greatly enhance your already high status with those of us
who listen to your broadcasts regularly were you to decline
interviewing this obnoxious politician,Ahern,
who believes he can still strut the stage like an ostrich, totally
shameless and unrepentant.
Yours etc, John McDermott.