We need to act now

Following the revelations in today's Sunday Tribune regarding the expenses accrued by John O'Donoghue, our supposed Ceann Comhairle, while in that office I think its time something happened. Something big.

In the last two budgets the ordinary person has been severely hit in the pocket. Everyone, private sector and public sector, has been hit and yet this tool continues to squander our money on lavish trips. He stays in the best hotels, travels well above his station and worst of all - we've paid for his wife to see the world. Show me other business men that take their wife's with them on work? This is not good enough and not acceptable.

He must be sacked immediately for gross misconduct. An apology is not enough. Saying sorry for the needless spending of huge amounts of our money is not acceptable.

He should not be given the chance to explain or to pass it off onto the Joe-soap that booked trips. What I don't understand, is that the person who booked the trips when he was a minister still has a job. Surely if they booked trips that were extravagant and above what should have been spent, that's not doing the job right. But again everything glossed over and we were told to leave him alone as he said sorry...poor little bunny.

This man MUST be fired. He is not an appropriate representative of the Irish People, never has been in my eyes, and never will be. He is an example of everything that is wrong in Irish politics and with Fine Fail. He spends the tax-payers money without any thought or care for the people he was supposed to stand for and who worked harder than him to earn.

All money spent on his wife should be paid back into the tax coffers from his own personal wages. All hotels and use of car hire that was not related to his job (for example, car hire to go to horse racing events or flights to events other than state-related items) should be paid back from his personal money. His job should be terminated and he should only receive the pension money that he has accrued until now. No golden handshakes, no car, no pay off. Legislation must be changed now so that no more tax money is wasted on wasters like him or Rory Molloy. People who show disregard for their fellow people should not be rewarded as has been the case.

I think we as a people need to start to stand up and be counted or the budget will only serve to shaft us again. If we were French, German or Italian we would have taken to the streets at this stage instead of bending over and asking the Government for more sir.

Molloy needs to give back money. O'Donoghue needs to give back money and both never working in a public office job again.

Pat Kenny, Frontline

I watched the first Pat Kenny 'The Frontline' program last night and it was great to see a program that really listened to people and also allowed them time to talk back with their grievances.

One of the gripes I had with 'Question & Answers' was that it was almost too intellectual and never really allowed people time to speak. Questions were asked, the panel answered, but not enough time was spent on, as Joan Burton would say, the ordinary people.

'The Frontline' allowed people to ask their questions, receive answers and they were given time to respond to the answers they received. It was great to see Pat Farrell and Tom Parlon (a man I have so little time for I'd rather spend the afternoon with Alex Ferguson & Gary Neville) squirm in their chairs. Men who assisted in our current financial state. Men who until last night never had to face up to the facts of their members actions.

I agreed with Fintan O'Toole from the Irish Times when he spoke about the NAMA money going into the wrong places. Why is none of the money going to a fund to help people to KEEP their homes if/when their jobs go? The last thing the country needs at present are more houses on the market and the state paying rent for people. The Government, as a large shareholder in the banks, should be making the banks help people restructure mortgages so they are paying less now. People will spend the money saved if they can, and if not it keeps people in their homes and prevents more looking for rent or assistance from the state. Instead Lenihan will bail the banks at the cost of the people.

Fintan O'Toole also stated we should, as a people, be taking to the streets. Other than ourselves and the British, every other European country would be on the streets at this stage looking for Government removal. Fintan, if you set up the movement - they will follow. We need a movement not associated with any political party and instead a people movement is needed.

The only part on the program that disappointed me was at the very end. When Clara asked Brian Lenihan if the people let go from the banks got a golden-handshake and were still getting their pensions he never answered and wasn't pushed to answer. We deserve an answer and if they were given golden-handshakes (like the outgoing counsellors were) then why? If some are no longer working and still getting paid a pension then why? If they only got the pension part they 'earned' then fair enough.

Finally, Pat just got it slightly wrong with his final point to Brian Lenihan. He said the Minister will be remembered one way or the other:
- The man who saved the banks and saved the economy.
- The man who broke a generation.

I think its more:
- The man who saved the banks and saved the economy.
- The man who broke a few generations.
- The man who saved the banks and forgot about the people.

Broadband Bill in the Seanad

I was listening to the Last Word on Today FM and heard Senator Shane Ross talk about the broadband bill he will be trying to get accepted in the Seanad.

I hope this gets accepted or even parts of it. Broadband in Ireland is crap and needs to be sorted ASAP.

Support this by emailing your ideas, issues and concerns to shane.ross@oireachtas.ie. Or if you don't have broadband use the old fashioned means (like the Government want us to):

Senator Shane Ross
Seanad Eireann
Leinster House
Kildare St
Dublin 2.

Tel: +353 1 618 3014
Home: +353 1 211 6692
Fax: + 353 1 618 4192

School Broadband

I see on Damien's blog he has a story about more lies from TIF and the Government on school broadband.
I also know this story to be untrue as I have inside information.

I just wonder how much longer can this government go on in light of all the rubbish and scandal that is surrounding it? It seems that for 10 years while they hid everything, they think now that they don't have to hide it anymore as they have been voted back in. That we are all OK with what they have done and will continue to bend over and take it again.

It's about time we all started to stand up to them. Yes we had the Celtic Tiger but it's waning and they are doing nothing at all. We need to do something, and quick.

Underground Dart

So, the powers that be have decided that the answer to Dublin's transport issues are to build an underground Dart (read here). It seems to be like this is, again, a really, really, really fucked up and stupid idea.

Why didn't they think, a few years ago before the Luas, of maybe just making an underground system in Dublin and forget about the Luas. This, to me, would have made more sense. If they can do something now then why not before.

However the one thing that they have finally thought about is that it will link up with the Luas and existing Dart lines.

I bet ya that feck all will use it though as you will have to pay through the nose to get on them. The government need to realise that by dropping prices on public transport, introducing more carraiges and times, then more people will use it.

Personally, I dont think this will happen.

I wonder what they are going to do for the rest of the country though??

Stupid Pricks

Right, I have to say we must have the stupidest, thickest, most idiotic government in the world. People must look at us and laugh their tits off.

In the latest piece of amazing non-brain usage, the Government have succeeded in making BUPA leave Ireland. This means more job loses and more people going to the Government plaything called VHI.

For those that don't know a ruling recently said that BUPA must pay (I think) €160m to VHI as VHI has "older" people. Equalization its called I think. What actaully has happened is that BUPA offered better deals to people, with better policies and a lot less hassle...AND !!! Nice people to answer the phone (rather than the Civil Service gobshites with no personalities who are irritated when they have to answer your calls as they are in the middle of telling Sally what Mary was up to on Saturday night with Tony ("Oh my God, wait till I tell ya.."). What, in my opinion, is happening is as follows:

- All the Government have shares in VHI
- If they close the other companies that will leave only VHI
- Premiums can be spiked up and thus they make money on it.

Well fuckin done you imbeciles. You done this first with the toll bridge on the M50 and made a mint and now this....sweet jesus. And people are leaving poverty to have you fuckers leading us?

Have a look at the latest shite.

Anyway, any country that can have Mary Harney as the minister for health is having a laugh. She is probably the worst roll model for health that could be found. I met her once. Met not really being the right word. At home in Donegal there is a literary festival every year and they try to get some face to open it. In 1993 it was Harney. She was unfriendly, didn't talk to anyone but those in her immediate vicinity, no tip (the change was around £1.20 from a round of 10-odd drinks) and didn't even say thanks. In fact to order she made this hand gesture to show the table and didn't say please or thanks. I made the decision there and then never to vote for anything she was associated with.

Fuck them all...