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Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Free Heroin on the HSE says Ahern (Noel)
I couldn't agree......more!
80% of all crime is related to drug use. Heroin addicts needs a large sum of money every week to feed their habit. This leads them to desperate acts of theft, mugging, house breaking, post office robberies etc etc in order to meet their need for case.
These crimes cause misery to those affected and their families, the fencing of stolen property creates a nice sideline for other criminals while all the cash raised is sucked up into the pockets of the scumbags selling the drugs and is used to increase supply, buy more drugs and the cycle continues.
Making drugs legal for addicts is a brilliant step forward which will break a large part of the vicious cycle and seriously harm the industry finances. It would reduce a lot of petty crime at a stroke as addicts needs are met without their having to resort to crime.
Drug addicts are not criminals they are victims. Victims of drug pushers and of a society that fails to protect them from such people and which leaves them desparate enough to use drugs to escape reality.
Political Quote of the day
--- John Ralston Saul The Unconscious Civilization
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
.....pants on fire.
Can you spot the lies here?
The following is from the Fianna Fail election manifesto of 2002. Remember while you are reading this that Bertie Ahern and Fianna Fail have presided over the wealthiest period of our nation's history (and I am talking all the way back to the Vikings!).
Five years ago Bertie and Co promised to
- - Permanently end waiting lists in our hospitals within two years through a combination of bed capacity, primary care, secondary care and targeted reform initiatives
- - Extend medical card eligibility to over 200,000 extra people, with a clear priority being given to families with children.
- - Expand public hospital beds in line with a programme to increase total capacity by 3,000 during the period of the strategy.
- - Achieving the situation where 80% of taxpayers pay only the standard rate.- We will continue to reduce the pupil: teacher ratio in our schools. Over the next five years we will progressively introduce maximum class guidelines which will ensure that the average size of classes for children under 9 will be below the international best-practise guide of 20:1.
- - We will commit to a further expansion of the various social housing programmes so that we reach a target of meeting the housing needs of 15,000 households per annum.
- - Increase the number of civilians attached to the force so that trained police officers are released to operational duties tackling crime and defending our citizens.
- - Fianna Fail will on return to government ensure that a low cost facility is built at Pier D in Dublin Airport in time for the 2003 season.
- - Ensure the construction of a state of the art National Conference Centre and aggressively promote Ireland as a venue for international conference business
- - We will ensure the putting in place of open-access broadband on a national basis, to fully include rural communities.
- - We recognise the central importance of the Freedom of Information Act in ensuring transparent and accountable public administration. We will ensure that the Act covers all significant areas of public services, involving both those currently in place and such new services as may be established in the future.
Bertie and Co have had the power, the money and the opportunity so tell me why FF has not delivered?
Monday, February 26, 2007
Labour brushes off McDowell
RTÉ has written to the parties proposing a six-way leaders' debate before a live studio audience, plus two further debates - one between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the alternative taoiseach, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, and the other between the Tánaiste and the alternative tánaiste, Pat Rabbitte.
According to Labour the PDs are a niche party that will contest only a limited number of seats while the Labour Party will contest every constituency.
"We are simply not prepared to accept that the Labour Party or its leader should be relegated to some political second division with the Progressive Democrats."
Ouch!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
FF support drops
The Progressive Democrats also climbed one to 4 per cent while Sinn Féin was unchanged at 7 per cent. Independents dropped 1 per cent to 7 per cent.
As the chinese say "May you live in interesting times!"
The greening of Irish politics
I like Trevor Sargent.
If I wasn't a socialist I think I probably would be a green. The trouble with the green party, particularly in Ireland and the UK is that the other parties keep stealing their policies.
The process is as follows, the Greens come up with radical policies, these are poo-pooed at the time. Time passes, public opinion changes and then the other parties take over the policies and effect them and the Greens are left with just more unpopular, but correct policies which in time will be stolen by the others.
This is frustrating for the Greens but must also be satisfying to them on another level as, in or out of government, they get to drive the 'Green' agenda.
However this could be about to change if their surge in support up to 8% in the Polls is carried through it could be the beginning of a larger more forceful player in Irish politics.
Either way the Greens have driven the debate on the environment and have 'greened' Irish politics.
Their future is unclear though. The environment is fast becoming a mainstream issue and this means the other parties will be focusing on it as much as say they have on the economy. This means that for the first time ever the Greens will be competing with the other parties on the issue.
If all the other parties turn green will the Greens lose out in the long term?
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Political Quote
--- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Friday, February 23, 2007
Poolbeg incinerator collapse stinks!
Ruairi Quinn points out that "Ministers Cullen and Roche decided to ignore the wishes of City Councillors from all parties and even removed their powers to block the proposal. Minister Michael McDowell, as a member of Cabinet, agreed to that hindering of local democracy."
Deputy Quinn goes on "It appears most unusual that Minister McDowell was informed of the abandoning of this project before anyone else, and saw fit to leak the information to a newspaper. This matter does not fall into Minister McDowell's portfolio, and it is important that we verify that there was no improper use of the information about the cancellation of the project by anyone at the Department of the Environment and Local Government. "
It is suspicously convenient that the extremely unpopular project, in McDowell's constituency, is shelved just months before the election. What stinks more is Michael McDowell's two faces on the issue of local government powers and what smells more is his version of the story.
Has the incinerator project collapsed? Not according to Dublin City Council which is behind the project despite the objections of its councillors.
Dublin City Council has issued a statement insisting that that the incinerator was still on track and the statutory processes, including the planning application by Dublin City Council to An Bord Pleanála and the application to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Mr McDowell has said that the company behind the plan has been bought and the new owner has told the council it is no longer interested in pursuing the project.
Dublin City Council says the company's new owner simply wishes to make changes to the commercial arrangements of the project.
So McDowell has a lot of questions to answer on this one.
- How did he know before the city councillors what was going on?
- How is the change of a company's plans a "victory for local government"?
- Why does his story not match that of the council?
- Is he just trying to muddy the waters on this controversial issue until he gets the election out of the way?
Answers please Minister!
Labour will investigate US rendition flights
So says Labour as it calls for a Parliamentary committee investigation into the possibility that rendition flights passed through Ireland.
TD Joe Costello told a public meeting in Dublin that he will put a motion before the Dail on Tuesday next and seek time for a debate and a vote on it.
Labour leads the way but will others follow?
Thursday, February 22, 2007
250,000 audience for Pat Rabbitte
This represents an 18.1% audience share and is one of the largest viewing levels ever recorded for a conference address.
Political Quote of the day
--- Groucho Marx
US concedes deafeat in Iraq and will pull out soon
All indications are that the US will be pulling out shortly as Tony Blair is also expected to announce that the UK will be withdrawing its troops from Iraq. Currently, Britain has about 7,100 soldiers there.
Bush views Britain's troop cutbacks as "a sign of success" in Iraq, according to US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
Who do they think they are fooling? Me? You?
What about the rest of Bush's grand alliance? The major partners in the coalition include South Korea (2,300 troops), Poland (900), Georgia (800), Romania (600) and Denmark (460).
Dick's indirect tax rise
It was introduced in light of the serious litter problem being caused by the bags and saw a decrease of 90 per cent in the use of plastic bags. Following its introduction there was an overnight drop in use from 328 bags by each person to just 21. In addition, a 95 per cent drop in plastic bag litter was also recorded.
So basically this is just a hidden tax increase as there is no other reason for increasing the tax up to 22 cent tax, the maximum allowed under the existing legislation.
Ireland-lowest direct tax around, some of the highest indirect taxes in the OECD!
If you have any doubts about the reasons why this rise is coming ask yourself how committed do you think Dick Roche is to the environment? Does he lie awake at night worrying about it?.............................
Exactly!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Why Peter Power TD (FF) is a disgrace
His party has presided over the privatisation of bin collections.
His party has refused to bring in a national waiver for bin charges for pensioners.
Now he is complaining that when Limerick set up a €500,000 scheme to help pensioners that it is not doing enough.
You are the national legislator Peter, bring a bill before the Dail to start a nationwide waiver or (I am trying to be polite) shut up.
Shame on you Peter Power TD for trying to be popular while you do nothing to help pensioners but put the blame on the councillors.
Your party runs the country you know! But not for long I hope.
A Daily Painting: November 2006
Grainne O'Reilly is a Westport artist who has produced all her work on-line on her blog A Daily Painting.
The above link gives an example of her work and is well worth a look.
Personally I love her work and her take on the ordinary and not so ordinary. Do check it out I strongly recommend the site.
Flight of the Earls? - good riddance!
Oh and I want to bring back the death penalty!
The Polish President added that it was wrong to give a guarantee to murderers that they would remain alive after their crimes.
Yikes!
And to think we let this guy's country into the EU and not Turkey?
Going Gay the Polish way!
If homosexuality were "freely promoted" as a lifestyle the human race could disappear said Polish President Lech Kaczynski.
The Polish President seems to think we might all go Gay, as an entire race, if homosexuality is promoted to us as a lifestyle.
At the same time President Kaczynski gave us the old cliche; some of his friends are gay and he is not a homophobe.
Yeah- right!
Monday, February 19, 2007
Reduce the voting age to 16
Would this lead to a concentration on youth issues? Would it revitalise the political scene? Or are 16 year olds too young to be trusted?
Vote here ------------------------------->
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Political Quote
---Michael McDowell, Minister for Justice
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Labour leads; PDs follow
They are right, everyone else is wrong. This is the siege mentality of the party which is now down to 1% in the polls. Everyone else is wrong, they have to be, otherwise why are the PDs so unloved, unwanted and rejected by the people?
Tonight the PDs showcased their tax cuts, yes they will keep the tax cuts for the better off and they will steal Labour's and they will bring in a €300 pension.
This is auction politics at its utter worst. McDowell the self-appointed guardian of good government practice and sound finances will give away anything and everything to stay in power as Tainiste.
Michael McDowell has sealed his party's fate tonight as he becomes the Jack Lynch of the PDs who will ruin the economy just to get back into government. For shame Michael, for shame!
Read more about it here.
Al Franken to run for US Senate
Al Franken, comedian, broadcaster and author has announced that he is to run for the Senate in the state of Minnesota.
Franken, 55, was born in New York City but grew up in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park. He graduated from Harvard University in 1973, and in 1975 joined the writing staff of "Saturday Night Live" during its first season. He soon began appearing in sketches and remained a fixture on the show well into the 1990s.
In 1996, Franken took his career in a political direction when he wrote "Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations," a broadside against the conservative radio host and other figures on the right. He's since published several other books critical of Republicans.
His chances are as good as anyone else's after all Minnesota elected Jesse Ventura as governor.
SF hits out at gardai in Mayo
I agree.
He hit out at the Garda for upholding the interests of Shell and the Norwegian government rather than the common good.
I couldn't disagree more.
The gardai must uphold the law, no matter how we feel about the law. Criticise the law not the lawkeepers.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
The Last Sting
- has praised his party's proposals for cutting tax and attacked Labour for theirs
- introduced legislation to reduce your right to silence
- accused politicans of seeking "cheap publicity" while keeping his face straight
- hit out at media coverage of politics
Is this the last sting of the dying wasp that is Michael McDowell's political career?
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Roses - not just for valentines
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Political Quote of the day
---Michael McDowell, PD leader on Pat Rabbitte's speech.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Will the real Keith Martin please stand up?
Labour's Tax cut can work
For some years now, income tax in Ireland has been structured around two rates. The lower or ‘standard’ rate and the higher rate. In 2007, a single person will pay tax at 20% on income up to €34,000, and tax at 41% on income over €34,000.
In his Budget speech last December, Brian Cowen reduced the higher rate of tax from 42% to 41%. He promised that if returned to Government after the election, Fianna Fáil and the PDs would cut the higher rate again to 40%.
In his conference speech on February 10th, Pat Rabbitte stated that, rather than reducing the higher rate, Labour would cut the standard rate from 20% to 18%.
At present, cutting the top rate of tax only benefits taxpayers who earn more than €34,000 (single person) and those who earn most benefit most. When the standard rate is cut, all taxpayers benefit. Those on lower and middle incomes gain most, as a proportion of their incomes.
But the big question must be an we afford it?
The Government this year ran a surplus of €2265m – so they were €5,190 million better off than expected in the Budget for that year. It is a normal part of the Budget process to include a tax package, to a greater or lesser extent – the income tax package in Budget 2006 cost just over €1250 million. This makes the 2% cut readily affordable.
Why not make your town a Fairtrade town? We did it in Westport.
- The local council must pass a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings and in offices and canteens.
- A range of Fairtrade products must be readily available in the area’s shops and served in local cafés and catering establishments (targets are set in relation to population)
- Fairtrade products must be used by a number of local work places (estate agents, hairdressers etc) and community organisations (churches, schools etc)
- Attract media coverage and popular support for the campaign
- A local Fairtrade steering group must be convened to ensure continued commitment to Fairtrade Town status.
For more information on Fairtrade Towns click here.
You can download the above criteria for becoming a Fairtrade Town by just clicking here and it will download as a word document.
Westport becomes Fairtrade Town
The Westport Committee also congratulated Castlebar and the Castlebar committee for their achievement in also becoming a Fairtade town. Cllr Martin also expressed the thanks for all the help and co-operation they had received from Castlebar.
Cllr Martin pointed out that there was nothing new about ethical consumerisma as he pointed out that Westport committee member Rosin McAuley and her husband Chris Smith had been selling such products after services at Holy Trinity 20 years ago.
Cllr Martin explained that Fairtrade was set up in 1992 by Oxfam, Christian Aid and Traidcraft and in Ireland it is supported by all the major Charities and by the ICTU.
Fairtrade Ireland is part of International Fairtrade which unites 20 countries across Europe, Japan, North America, Mexico and Australia and New Zealand under the Fairtrade label. Currently Fairtrade sales in Ireland are growing at 40% each year.
Westport Fairtrade Committee was established in 2005 as the campaign got underway with a resolution of support by Westport Town Council and with a very successful Tea and Coffee morning in Carrowbeg House.
Cllr Martin told those gathered in Hotel Westport for the celebrations that Fairtade is a better deal, a ‘fair’ deal for producers and workers in developing countries.
“Any product carrying the distinctive Fairtrade logo is guaranteed to have paid the farmer a fair price for his product. But Fairtrade is more than just paying a fair price for the workers efforts. Fairtrade supports community and social development.
“For example Fairtrade standards help smallholders to get organised in cooperatives, it ensures that those working in factories are also paid decent wages and are guaranteed the right to join trade unions.
“On these Fairtrade approved plantations and factories, recognised health, safety and environmental standards must be complied with, and there is no child or forced labour.”
Cllr Martin also thanked Westport Town Council for its support over the last two years. Both churches in the town were thanked for their backing of the campaign as were the schools and school children who “had taken the campaign and its ideals to their hearts.”
Cllr Martin concluded by pointing out that there was a lot more work to be done stating “This award tonight does not mark the end of the Westport Fairtrade campaign but rather it marks the beginning. Tomorrow we move on to building on this success.”
National Fairtrade Fortnight runs from February 26 to March 11.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Labour Party's Five Commitments For Change
- more beds in clean hospitals
- pre-school education for all children,
- more gardai on the beat in neighbourhoods
- abolition of the means test for carers
- enabling more young people to begin to buy a home
Labour will reduce tax rate from 20% to 18%
Thursday, February 8, 2007
The Tainiste is listening!
Michael is interested in your feelings and opinions on his term as Minister for Justice.
Rules for voting
- Don't mention the promised 2,000 extra Gardai he promised but never delivered.
- Don't mention the "last sting of the dying wasp"
- Don't mention the 1% in the opinion polls
- DO mention his Wonderful Leadership skills
- DO mention his crack down on those friends of the criminals - the judiciary
- DO mention that he is better than Zero Tolerance O'Donoghue
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Irish Times Poll on independent planning authority
Personally I am in favour of a really independent board.
Rats abandoning the ship? PDs loose Policy director
Mr Mulconry who was appointed to the position two years ago, confirmed yesterday he resigned "after getting an offer I couldn't refuse" to join Edelman public relations as head of public affairs.
With the current polls perhaps he doesn't think he will have a job after the next election and is jumping now?
This is the second high profile PDer to go, in September head of communications Ian Noctor resigned to produce a NewsTalk breakfast programme.
The rats are leaving as Michael steers the PDs towards the iceberg.
Gas Crack as Gas Protester chief to run for Seanad
The Corrib gas project will be one of the environmental issues on which Dr Garavan intends to campaign for one of six university seats in the Seanad. Three are held by NUI and three by Dublin University (Trinity College).
The move is understood to be part of a strategy within the Shell to Sea campaign in relation to the forthcoming general election. This may involve canvassing for politicians supportive of the campaign's stance - currently Dr Jerry Cowley (Ind) in Mayo, and members of the Labour Party, Green Party and Sinn Féin in that and other constituencies.
This latest move will bring the Gas protest back to the forefront as an election issues and throw a bit more fuel into the fire in the Mayo Constituency.
Harry Barrett, Labour's Candidate, is an Erris man who has backed the protesters all the way. This latest step could see Barrett's Erris vote solidify into a real chance at upsetting the tables on FF and FG who are convinced that they have Mayo to themselves.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Astronaut goes nuts and sets NASA back years
An astronaut drove 900 miles and donned a disguise to confront a woman she believed was her rival for the affections of a space shuttle pilot. She was arrested Monday and charged with attempted kidnapping and other counts.
When she found out that her rival, Ms Colleen Shipman, was flying to Orlando from Houston, Capt. Nowak decided to confront her. Nowak raced from Houston to Orlando wearing diapers so she wouldn't have to stop to urinate.
Dressed in a wig and a trench coat, Nowak boarded an airport bus that Shipman took to her car in an airport parking lot. Shipman told police she noticed someone following her, hurried into her car and locked the doors, according to the arrest affidavit.
Nowak rapped on the window, tried to open the car door and asked for a ride. Shipman refused but rolled down the car window a few inches when Nowak started crying. Nowak then sprayed a chemical into Shipman's car.
Shipman drove to the parking lot booth, and the police were called.
During a check of the parking lot, an officer followed Nowak and watched her throw away a bag containing the wig and BB gun. They also found a steel mallet, a 4-inch folding knife, rubber tubing, $600 and garbage bags inside a bag Nowak was carrying when she was arrested, authorities said.
Inside Nowak's vehicle, which was parked at a nearby motel, authorities uncovered a pepper spray package, an unused BB-gun cartridge, latex gloves and e-mails between Shipman and Oefelein. They also found a letter "that indicated how much Mrs. Nowak loved Mr. Oefelein," an opened package for a buck knife, Shipman's home address and hand written directions to the address.
Misson to Mars how are ya!
For the full story read here
Political Quote of the day
---Peter Garrett
Monday, February 5, 2007
Bird Flu - what you should do!
The Real "Trial of Tony Blair"
Political Quote
---John DeLorian, former head of Pontiac Division at GM
Enda Kenny should be tested for drugs
Then we can extend the tests to the general public, then we can blanket Ireland in CCTV and place a chip in our hands so the government knows where we are and what we are doing at all times.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Frank Luntz and Frank Opinion on RTE 1
Perhaps it is familiarity with the process or the lack of personal focus this time round but the programme was not as informative or as entertaining as the last one.
There was nothing new in the programme, people are unhappy with the health service and crime, don't credit the government for prosperity and seem tired of Bertie but unsure of the alternatives.
The Opposition get criticised for lack of proposals and are perceived as negative on the issues while the government are seen as reacting to crises and not leading.
But did we really need Frank Luntz to tell us all that? One hopes the next episode will be a return to form.
Frank Luntz at 10.20pm tonight for Frank Opinion Part II
Click here to watch RTE's first programme which featured US political opinion specialist Dr Frank Luntz before the Christmas going through the party leaders with undecided voters.
This was the first in a series of specials for 'The week in politics' featuring Dr Luntz which continue with tonight's programme in the run up to this year's general election.
Political Quote of the day
--Steven Biko
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Political Quote of the day
but lets the greater felon loose who steals the common from the goose."
---Anon
Friday, February 2, 2007
Political Quote of the Day
---Senator Don Lydon, on his receiving monies from Mr Jones the friendly developer.
Amazing breaking news-FF politican "remembers" taking money
Fianna Fáil Senator Don Lydon yesterday admitted the existence of a further payment of €2,600 (IR£2000) which he received from property developer Chris Jones in 1993.
Despite this turnabout Senator Lydon was soon back on form with pronouncements like the one that he saw no connection between his role as a councillor having oversight of such rezonings and the payment of money to him by Mr Jones.
The hilarity continued with Don Lydon making comments like "Mr Jones was a very kind and generous man who gave money at different times to various councillors".
Senator Lydon continued: "There was no intention - he didn't say 'I'll give you this if you do that', that never happened at all."
He added, "He was just that kind of fella", and went on to remark that "if he would give me money again I would take it".
Voters leaving government parties
That's according to today's Irish Times. Support for the PDs is at an all time low proving that while the PDs love their leader (he is up six points among PD supporters) no-one else does.
The shine too is coming off the Teflon Taoiseach as despite rallying around him when he cried and told us all about all the money he took, people are deserting FF.
However Labour and Fine Gael have not benefited from this decline as the support has gone to alternatives like the Greens and Sinn Fein.
It is up to Labour and FG to catch these voters and bring them back to the fold.
However it increasingly does look like Labour, FG and the Greens will form the next government.
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