The Minister, the Commissioner and the whistleblower

[GaillimhIarthair]

Quite a good piece in todays IT outlining yesterdays shambolic performance from Enda Kenny & others in the Dail yesterday -

Miriam Lord: Kenny and Fitzgerald are put on the rack

There were astonishing Dáil scenes as the Taoiseach came under fire over McCabe case
And on the third attempt the Taoiseach made a total hames of the job again.
The Fine Gael backbenchers, those who hadn't already left the chamber, looked thoroughly fed up. How, in the name of God, had they ended up in the middle of this shambles?
It was bad enough that their party leader had been forced into the Dáil to explain himself. But when he did, Enda Kenny still left plenty of room for confusion.
When he completed his short exercise in bamboozlement, Kenny resumed his seat. He sat down to a sullen silence. It emanated from his own TDs.
We are always told that in politics if you're explaining you're losing. By that simple yardstick, Kenny lost big-time yesterday.
To add insult to injury, his Tánaiste, also hauled in to account for her movements, became embroiled in an extraordinary back and forth exchange with her Opposition shadow about which of them was telling the truth.
That will have rankled with members of Fine Gael. They blame Fianna Fáil for frogmarching them, and their leader, into the embarrassing episode. And some, perhaps a growing band of them, also blame Kenny for allowing Micheál Martin to do it to him.
The scenes in the Dáil were astonishing. "Statements of clarification on statements" was the issue up for debate.
The Taoiseach and his deputy leader were on the rack, under sustained fire about what they knew and/or professed to know about a nasty smear campaign waged against a serving Garda sergeant who told inconvenient truths about how the force is run.
As the evening progressed Kenny looked more and more deflated as the questions kept coming, sometimes slumped in his seat, growing redder in the face as the onslaught continued. What did he know? When did he know it? Who said what to whom?
The argument went round and round, members of the Government party deserting the chamber as the Taoiseach's discomfiture grew. Frances Fitzgerald looked distraught.

Queries rained down
Taoiseach and Tánaiste hissed words at each other as the queries rained down. Sometimes Simon Harris, the Minister for Health, leaned across to contribute an observation.
Minister for Children Katherine Zappone, the fourth in this quartet summoned to make statements about statements, emerged relatively unscathed from the experience.
Opposition speakers commended her for her openness and clarity. On the other hand, whether by accident or design, Kenny and Fitzgerald seemed shifty by comparison.
This could be utterly unfair on them. But clarity from the pair of them was in short supply.
One particular question was asked of the Taoiseach first thing in the morning. It was still being shouted at him in the chamber as the night wore on.
It seemed a relatively simple one, but not for Kenny, who squirmed in his seat and either ignored it or deflected when it was asked.
A number of Deputies from various parties asked it – when did you first hear that false rumours about Sgt Maurice McCabe relating to an allegation of serious sexual abuse were being circulated?
Here is Róisín Shortall attempting and failing as the clock crept towards 8pm.
"When did you first become aware of the scurrilous rumours?"
She got nothing back, and followed the lead set by those many TDS who had gone before her by firing the question again and again. Then she too gave up.
"Point of Order," she said in exasperation to the Ceann Comhairle. "The Taoiseach is refusing to answer the questions."
The best he could manage in the face of this recurring demand, the only reply he could occasionally manage, was to angrily retort that he does not deal in rumour and first heard of the smear allegations on Prime Time.
So, he had already forgotten what Labour's Brendan Howlin told him in the Dáil the day before about.

Into a hole
At the start of the day the Taoiseach dug himself pretty smartly into a hole by contradicting his own account of what the Minister for Children told him before and after she met McCabe and what information she gave him.
Last night, by the time whole chaotic mess was adjourned (for the time being), he seemed even deeper in that hole.
""You're well known for having a casual relationship with the truth" is what Paul Murphy of the AAA/PBP told hapless Enda at Leaders' Questions, excoriating him for giving a wrong account of what had transpired between him and Zappone.
"Mea Culpa" was what the Taoiseach said earlier to the House, slapping his hand to his heart as he spoke.
"I am guilty here of not giving accurate information," he confessed, explaining he said Zappone had told him personally about meeting McCabe but "she is very clear that she did not tell me that she intended to meet Sgt McCabe but she did tell her official to tell my office, so I regret that".
In fact the Taoiseach just didn't get his cast of characters mixed up. When interviewed on radio on Sunday, Enda couldn't resist gilding the lily.
It wasn't a case of naming the wrong name, rather he created a little story to bolster his description of a meeting that never actually happened.
Didn't he even tell Zappone (in his own head) to make sure and keep an account of her meeting with McCabe?
That little exchange never happened. The Taoiseach made it up.

Return visit
Meanwhile, Leo Varadkar, who was not present at Leaders' Questions, slipped into the chamber in the late afternoon when Zappone was taking ministerial questions.
He sat in with her for over an hour. But he didn't make it in time for the Taoiseach's return visit in the evening.
Fianna Fáil, meanwhile, is championing the case of McCabe. Better late than never, might be what Clare Daly and Mick Wallace might say.
The two TDs have been knocking their heads off a brick wall for nearly a decade warning that the McCabe story was far too serious to go away.
They allowed themselves a few rueful smiles as the pandemonium they predicted so long so was unfolding in front of them.
And now we are going to have a tribunal of inquiry. One resisted for so long by both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. So, is there anything to be said for another tribunal?
The Taoiseach now wants to set one up as soon as possible. He mentioned 48 hours.
By which point, the Government can take refuge in the erroneous excuse peddled by Fianna Fáil when Bertie Ahern was making a show of himself in a tribunal by insisting they can make no further comment while it is under way.
Where the future of the government is concerned, Fianna Fáil do not want an election any time soon.
But where the future of Kenny is concerned, the odds on a change at the top have considerably shortened after Tuesday's bizarre carry-on in the Dáil.
And why did he sound like he and his Minister have something to hide? Why are they making things so difficult for themselves?

[Farrandeelin]

The North's assembly was brought down because of less in my opinion. Yet this raggataggle government is still in place. I know nobody wants an election, but in any other country heads would be rolling. If FF had any balls we would be in election mode today. What a farcical shambles our main legislative chamber.

[omagh_gael]

The lack of comment here from our southern brethren is perplexing.  As Far notes, this appears to be far more serious than the problems in the north. Sgt McCabe's treatment and the current government's actions are beyond belief.

[sid waddell]

The lack of comment here from our southern brethren is perplexing.  As Far notes, this appears to be far more serious than the problems in the north. Sgt McCabe's treatment and the current government's actions are beyond belief.

Any chance you could lend us the PSNI to do a criminal investigation of all this?

[passedit]

The lack of comment here from our southern brethren is perplexing.  As Far notes, this appears to be far more serious than the problems in the north. Sgt McCabe's treatment and the current government's actions are beyond belief.

Any chance you could lend us the PSNI to do a criminal investigation of all this?

You need a couple of offices full of incriminating paperwork burnt out?

[OgraAnDun]

IT reporting that FG just told their TDs to get ready for another election.

EDIT: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/varadkar-and-coveney-warn-fine-gael-tds-to-be-ready-for-election-1.2976744

The headline on their app was a bit stronger. It said 'Vradkar and Coveney tell TDs to get ready for an election' rather than "warn" them. The further down the article you read the more of an anti-climax it becomes.

[The Subbie]

The lack of comment here from our southern brethren is perplexing.  As Far notes, this appears to be far more serious than the problems in the north. Sgt McCabe's treatment and the current government's actions are beyond belief.

Quite correct in everything you say.
The lack of comments in the volume there should be is worrying.

Maybe there is just a massive fatigued body of people out there who know that all the gombeens need to do is fudge, bluster, have a tribunal, more fudge, more bluster, stick the findings on the shelf with  Moriarty and up Ye boy Ye away we go again lads !!

Because let's face it Ireland is entirely for "the lads" by "the lads"

Who would have thought that a FG junta could be so overtly propped up by a FF parliamentary party.

Qui Bono ? "The lads", nobody will resign, nobody will be sacked, nobody will do any jail time at all, definitely no one will loose their gold plated pension, indeed it most likely will increase.
The place is fucked, utterly utterly fucked.

[vallankumous]

The lack of comment here from our southern brethren is perplexing.  As Far notes, this appears to be far more serious than the problems in the north. Sgt McCabe's treatment and the current government's actions are beyond belief.

Quite correct in everything you say.
The lack of comments in the volume there should be is worrying.

Maybe there is just a massive fatigued body of people out there who know that all the gombeens need to do is fudge, bluster, have a tribunal, more fudge, more bluster, stick the findings on the shelf with  Moriarty and up Ye boy Ye away we go again lads !!

Because let's face it Ireland is entirely for "the lads" by "the lads"

Who would have thought that a FG junta could be so overtly propped up by a FF parliamentary party.

Qui Bono ? "The lads", nobody will resign, nobody will be sacked, nobody will do any jail time at all, definitely no one will loose their gold plated pension, indeed it most likely will increase.
The place is fucked, utterly utterly fucked.

Exactly. We call ourselves a proud people but in terms of justice and the protection of citizens we're a shamed people. Proud people don't go to ground.

[Tubberman]

The lack of comment here from our southern brethren is perplexing.  As Far notes, this appears to be far more serious than the problems in the north. Sgt McCabe's treatment and the current government's actions are beyond belief.

Quite correct in everything you say.
The lack of comments in the volume there should be is worrying.

Maybe there is just a massive fatigued body of people out there who know that all the gombeens need to do is fudge, bluster, have a tribunal, more fudge, more bluster, stick the findings on the shelf with  Moriarty and up Ye boy Ye away we go again lads !!

Because let's face it Ireland is entirely for "the lads" by "the lads"

Who would have thought that a FG junta could be so overtly propped up by a FF parliamentary party.

Qui Bono ? "The lads", nobody will resign, nobody will be sacked, nobody will do any jail time at all, definitely no one will loose their gold plated pension, indeed it most likely will increase.
The place is fucked, utterly utterly fucked.

Maybe we discuss it elsewhere than a GAA forum?

[Stall the Bailer]

Because GAA is all that is discussed on here. Cop out.

[Tubberman]

Because GAA is all that is discussed on here. Cop out.

Maybe you're right. Or maybe it's because most people have learned that it's impossible to have a reasonable balanced discussion with a rabble of SFers.

[Stall the Bailer]

Because GAA is all that is discussed on here. Cop out.

Maybe you're right. Or maybe it's because most people have learned that it's impossible to have a reasonable balanced discussion with a rabble of SFers.

Why the first comment then? I have seen no Sinn Fein talk in this topic, as it has nothing to do with it.
It is all about the people in power talking out the man when they has missed the ball. Protect the organisations over the public.

[The Subbie]

Because GAA is all that is discussed on here. Cop out.

Maybe you're right. Or maybe it's because most people have learned that it's impossible to have a reasonable balanced discussion with a rabble of SFers.

There's one of the major problems manifesting itself right there in front of our eyes, they are not of my tribe , therefore they deserve less than me.
The lads will see me right.
I'll be all right if the lads are all right.
I better vote for the lads.

Good f**king lad yourself.

It doesn't matter about the naked corruption, cronyism and overt brown envelope culture that leeches across every level of politics in Ireland.
It doesn't matter that a decent man has been slandered with the most disgusting of made up accusations just because he spoke up and tried to act in line with the oath he took to serve the country.

All that matters is giving the shinners a good thump .
Pathetic really, truly truly pathetic.

For what it's worth I'm of no particular political persuasion but would be left of centre, am not in any way a card carrying member of Sinn Fein.

You , Tubster , seeing as we are making sweeping genralisations do seem possibly of the blue shirted variety.
This week must be hard as Ye cling to the myth that Ye are a law and order party, there'll be no bonfires in Mayo after the next election aul schtock....

[Lar Naparka]

The North's assembly was brought down because of less in my opinion. Yet this raggataggle government is still in place. I know nobody wants an election, but in any other country heads would be rolling. If FF had any balls we would be in election mode today. What a farcical shambles our main legislative chamber.

The problem Farr is that FF are shit scared that something might turn up that would implicate them also if and when the tribunal starts up. Once the tribunal gets down to work, there's no telling what might be discovered. Remember it was 2008 when Maurice McCabe raised concerns about senior gardaí quashing penalty points and FF were in office then. There will be a lot of squeaky bums on both sides of the Dail chamber when the craic starts and witnesses are called before the tribunal.

[Rossfan]

They had a chance to try and clean up the top ranks of the Gardai by bringing in an outside Commissioner (Canada, Australia or the like) when they got rid of Callinan.
Instead they went for another insider.

Seeing what they did to McCabe, one of their own, you can only imagine what they might be doing to other people.
Remember McBrearty?