More footballers to head Down Under?

Meaning to follow up on this Rudd chap, I was looking at some Aussie newspapers. But I got distracted by this story from Tadhg Kenneally. Seems, we won’t be seeing any let up on the numbers of young footballers heading down under anytime soon if these comments are anything to go by (oh, and note the last paragraph):

“There’s been players from the stronger counties, and they decide not to come because they have an opportunity to win an All-Ireland medal. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s not 20 players here in the next two years.

“It’s not a flood of players. A flood of players are going to England to play soccer, a flood of players are playing rugby union, that’s a flood.

“It’s not a huge drama at the moment. There’s 10 players here but in two to three years’ time, there could be 30-plus here.

“The problem is we’re taking the best players from Ireland, and that’s going to affect the game [there] in the future. That doesn’t sit too pretty with me. The last thing I want to do is to see the GAA [Gaelic Athletic Association], or the game itself, suffer.

“Two or three times a day there are stories about it back home, asking what the GAA is going to do about it.

“They are probably going to bring in some policy and get players to sign contracts. Recently, they have set up a players’ association, and the Government is funding $5 million to give to players. So it’s the beginning of an era in Gaelic football where players are going to be paid.

Political blogging – may we see a real start in Kildare?

Irish politics hasn’t really taken to this blogging stuff to any great extent, with blogs being largely the preserve of on-line nerds and the mad left rather than those at the coal-face of mainstream political activism. One interesting place where it may change is Kildare, where two young bucks with political ambition on opposite sides of the political divide have taken to it with gusto in recent months. Keep on an eye on these two blogs; Achem’s Blunt One from FG aspirant Tony O’Donnell and the View from the Tracks from Fianna Fáil’s James Lawless.

Interestingly, both have broadly the same views on a variety of subjects – in particular the extension of the tax-saver system to car-parking at commuter train stations and the extension of the town councils.

Nell McCafferty

Rumour has it she was some form of firebrand back in the mid to late 20th century, but for what reason is Nell McCafferty regularly paraded on program’s like tonights Q&A? She’s ranting away now about “regulating the old-boys network” in a discussion about the regulation of solicitors, offering no insight worthy of consideration on a serious current affairs program. While I appreciate that Q&A is a bit dull at times, but surely there is someone a tad more cogent capable of the odd witty remark to liven things up. Or is Irish public life really that bad?

The Telegraph predicts the demise of the Euro?!

This whole wordpress tag surfer thing is quite useful, and resulted in my stumbling across a blog quoting a Daily Telegraph piece suggesting we may soon see the imminent demise of the Euro on account of the ‘credit crunch’. Now, in my book quoting an opinion article about the possible demise of the Euro from the Daily Telegraph has about as much persuasive strength as quoting an IT columnists (bar the token, John Waters) about the evils of Bertie Ahern.

But anyway, while the Telegraph’s author expends some energy going on about the differences between various EU states with regard to inflation, but as to be expected, the real reason is a dislike of that whole European concept;

Could it happen [the Euro’s break-up]? Why not? Every other currency union in the history of man has broken up – unless, like the US and UK, it has been preceded by generations of political union, and held together with a federal tax system.

It sounds far-fetched, I know. But the ultimate victim of this sub-prime crisis could be nothing less than the single currency’s existence.

See, all other currency unions have broken up previously unless there was a strong political union and a federal tax system. Therefore, this one will too. Kings have always ruled us, therefore they will always rule us.

In an ever increasingly globalised financial world the only solution is to be tied to one of the major currencies. While sterling can hold its own to an extent (by fluke of London’s history more than anything) for nearly every other European state a break up of the Euro would mean a reversion to following the D-mark, and the occasional cycles of devaluing against the D-mark to gain superfical advantage for short periods and paper over long-term difficulties in national economies. For that, Europe’s political elite will continue to support the Euro (outside of possibly Italy), and the currency’s popularity amongst most Europeans will remain untouched.

Indeed, the credit crunch to date has been a positive for the image of the ECB, in particular in contrast with the actions of the Bank of England. Northern Rock, anyone?

Amazing stuff – the hidden trend in the IT feeder list

I would like to congratulate the Irish Times on their recent feeder list publication on what secondary schools send the most students to various colleges in the state. As a result of this pioneering investigative work, just as last year and the year I have detected a  startling trend.

Students from ‘middle class’ or ‘richer area’ in Dublin are more likely to go to college than those from ‘poorer’ ones. Amazing stuff – who would have thought that?

What really got up Ahern’s goat?

During the no confidence motion in Bertie Ahern a few weeks back, Fine Gael newbie Leo Varadkar made some comments which infuriated An Taoiseach. Normally Ahern is fairly sanguine about attacks from the opposition and doesn’t dwell on them publicly. However on this occasion, when Ahern was interview on the radio the following day he made comments to the effect that with luck Varadkar wouldn’t last a wet week in the Dáil.

That Ahern reacted in such a way was noteworthy enough for even the sober citizens of the Cedar Lounge Revolution to pick up on the issue and have a cut at the newbie from Dublin West.

So what comments were made?

Deputy Leo Varadkar: I wish to share time with Deputies Sheehan and Creed.
This debate is not about the Government’s record on Northern Ireland, the economy, the health service, transport and the environment. It is not about the personal affairs of the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, despite his attempts to bring family problems into the debate at every possible opportunity afforded by RTE but not by the tribunal.

Deputy Dermot Ahern: Following in the footsteps of gutter Fine Gael.

Deputy Leo Varadkar: This is about low standards and credibility. Politicians should not take money for personal benefit from wealthy people. I do not know why the Taoiseach took the money. I do not know if the reason he took money in Manchester was that some of them were the Manchester investors in the casino project in my constituency. I do not know why the Taoiseach took money from Mr. Michael Wall, a private bus operator looking for bus services to be deregulated in this country. I would like to know because I do not accept the reasons provided.
What the Taoiseach has done is no different from what Mr. Liam Lawlor, Mr. Charles Haughey, Deputy Lowry and former Deputy Ray Burke did. In none of those cases do we have documentary evidence of corruption. The reason they are discredited, disgraced and removed from office is they behaved in an inappropriate manner by receiving large sums from private individuals for personal gain. The same standards should be applied to the Taoiseach. Just because he is Head of the Government does not mean lower standards should be applied. By any international standard, he would no longer be Head of the Government. In Germany Ministers resign when they keep frequent flyer points accrued on Government flights. In Britain Ministers resign for accepting undeclared loans. In the United Kingdom the Taoiseach would not be fit to be a member of a county council. He is certainly not fit to be a candidate for the Fine Gael Party.

Deputy Lucinda Creighton: Hear, hear.

Deputy Leo Varadkar: Regarding credibility, most people in the State do not believe the Taoiseach’s assertions about his finances. A journalist in the Sunday Independent wrote that if there was a simple explanation, we would have heard it some time ago.

Deputy Simon Coveney: Was that Deputy O’Dea?

Deputy Leo Varadkar Nobody believes the Taoiseach’s story. Privately, most of those on the Government benches do not believe it. Nobody believes the Taoiseach did not have a bank account. The only reason he did not have a bank account in that period is worrying and sinister. Nobody believes his claim that the dig-out came from friends. Even Mr. Padraic O’Connor of NCB Stockbrokers, for example, denies that he is the Taoiseach’s friend and stated the money was given to Fianna Fáil. Nobody believes the money the Taoiseach received was for the refurbishment of a new house. Nobody believes the Taoiseach did not deal in dollars. Nobody believes the 24 people in Manchester were his friends. The Taoiseach claims that they were but cannot name them. Nobody believes the Taoiseach, his partner at the time and the bankers forgot to count the money.

History will judge the Taoiseach with more sophistication than the Sunday newspapers or Senator Harris.

Deputy Dermot Ahern: The people judged him on 24 May, which Fine Gael keep forgetting.

Deputy Leo Varadkar: History will judge him and, in some ways, as a successful Taoiseach. It will also judge his years as Taoiseach as a lost opportunity to achieve great things done in other booms such as the Adenauer years in Germany or the post-war years in America.

Deputy Willie O’Dea: We will see what Deputy Varadkar achieves.

Deputy Leo Varadkar: Sadly, this dark affair will darken the Taoiseach’s record in the same way as Tony Blair’s involvement in Iraq or Bill Clinton’s corruption and personal scandals darkened theirs. History will judge the Taoiseach as being both devious and cunning, in the words of his mentor, master and, clearly, role model.

Well, the consensus at the time was that Ahern took umbrage at fairly innocuous remarks about the poor legacy Clinton and Blair left behind them (at least, as viewed in some quarters). I wouldn’t agree with Varadkar’s comments with regard to those two fine politicians, but they were hardly lacerating. Certainly, not something that would be bothering Ahern the next day and not something which would explain his bitterness.

However in light of recent tribunal developments about the National Lottery, US Dollars donations and developments at the Phoenix Park racecourse, the ire Varadkar rose may have more to do with comments relating to what Varadkar didn’t know. Namely “I do not know if the reason he took money in Manchester was that some of them were the Manchester investors in the casino project in my constituency.”

As Varadkar remarks in his comments, ministers resign for far less infractions in other states than here. A similiar comment could be made about the Irish media. In other states they don’t need tribunals to do all the investigative work into these issues ten years after the fact. Why? Because they have investigative journalists funded by a responsible media. Unfortunately for us, with the exception of one or two brave souls we don’t have such pioneers operating in this state. And the quality of Irish democratic life will continue to suffer.

All talk, no action? Seanad reform, the Green Party way?

There was great who-ha the other day about Minister John Gormley’s plans and speech on Seanad reform – only 28 years after a referendum was passed at least part of that reform. Anyway, to judge from the hype one would believe that such reform was imminent and just around the corner.

But as the bright boys over on Dublin Opinion suggest “But no one says how fast reforms need to be.” Indeed, and it would appear that in this instance it will be quite a while before anything happens. Why? Because it would appear that there has been no government move with regard to putting the legislation in place to enable such reform (in general at least a two year process) and Gormely was more or less speaking off his own bat. That is the clear implication from the Tanaiste’s less than clear line of answering to Brian Hayes in the Dail the other day.

Deputy Brian Hayes: The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government informed the Seanad last night that it is the Government’s intention to reform the Upper House. In particular, there is a proposal to reform the university seats by merging the two panels together and extending the franchise to all graduates. The latter proposal would implement a referendum decision of the electorate in 1979. When are we likely to see the legislation to implement these proposals? The only way to effect the changes is through primary legislation. Assuming this is an agreed Government initiative, what timeframe is envisaged for its implementation?

The Tánaiste: The Minister pointed out that, in principle, we are of the view that extending the franchise should form part of prospective future reform of the Seanad. He took the first opportunity yesterday to give that indication in the Seanad. I am sure it will be welcomed by Members on all sides of the House given that it is a long-standing recommendation and one that will reflect the far greater participation we are pleased to have reached in third level education. There are many graduates who should have voting rights to those seats along with those who traditionally held them in the past when the situation was different.

The question of when legislation will be brought forward—–

Deputy Róisín Shortall: Surely that is elitism.

The Tánaiste: It is the very antithesis of elitism to extend voting rights to all third level graduates.

An Ceann Comhairle: We cannot have a debate on this issue or we will be here all day.

Deputy Róisín Shortall: Why should voting rights be confined to third level graduates?

The Tánaiste: I never thought I would hear a Labour Party Deputy defend the current situation in regard to Seanad seats.

Deputy Emmet Stagg: We do not defend it; we wish to change it.

The Tánaiste: As they say in my part of the country, that beats Banagher.

Deputy Róisín Shortall: My point is that there is no reason that those who had the benefit of attending third level should have separate representation in the Upper House. There is no justification for that.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: There should be universal suffrage.

Deputy Brian Hayes: There is much to be said about the rotten boroughs that exist. I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. Has a memorandum gone to the Government on this specific issue or was the Minister winging it last night when he spoke in the Seanad?

The Tánaiste: The Minister gave his views—–

Deputy Brian Hayes: That is my point; he gave his views.

The Tánaiste: No. He gave the Government’s views on this matter as part of a wider prospect of reform that should take place. Deputy Brian Hayes may one day get to make a ministerial speech – which I hope he will, although not in the near future.

(Interruptions).

The Tánaiste: In any case, I hope he will be making speeches as a Deputy rather than a Senator. It is possible for a Minister to give his or her views without a memo to Government. Deputy Hayes should not be too stilted if he ever gets the job.

Deputy Michael D. Higgins: The Minister is simply making a narrative.

Deputy Brian Hayes: There is no legislation proposed. The Tánaiste said this proposal is part of a broader review. In other words, nothing will have happened in five years’ time.

The Tánaiste: That is not the case. Deputy Hayes should accept when somebody says something new.