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Fine Gael's website returns - with a defiant message from Enda

The Fine Gael leader says he “regrets” the hacking of the website, as it returns – with a new host in the UK.

FINE GAEL’S CONTROVERSIAL new ‘share your views’ website – hacked last Sunday evening – has returned to full service, alongside a defiant message from party leader Enda Kenny that the party’s consultations will continue.

The site, which had remained offline since it was attacked by rogue members of the Anonymous collective on Sunday, returned to active service this evening with a second video from Enda Kenny, discussing his attitude to the site.

“We very much regret that contact data that the public supplied as part of an open and genuine conversation about the future of our country was accessed in the course of this hacking incident,” Kenny writes in his statement.

“For now we have removed the email and mobile phone sections of the Comment forms but we still want to hear your views, opinions and concerns about the issues facing our country.”

The new video – which Kenny says was recorded “at the end of last week”, and which was uploaded to Vimeo three days ago, and to YouTube two days ago while the website remained offline – features Kenny thanking previous submissions.

“It’s perfectly obvious to me… that you are very concerned about what’s not working in our country,” Kenny says in the video.

The site – which has also been given a moderate facelift during its downtime – also now includes downloadable Fine Gael campaign posters in psychedelic colouring, advertising what the party calls “Ireland 2.0″ and asking users to “join the team”.

Those images can also be downloaded in mobile, Twitter and Facebook-friendly formats.

TheJournal.ie last week reported that the site had been hosted in Miami, from where the site was breached on Sunday evening. The new incarnation of the website is hosted in the UK.

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11 Comments
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    Mute Tom Mc Manus
    Favourite Tom Mc Manus
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    Feb 10th 2012, 1:26 PM

    Best wishes Niall for your new venture. I hope you will still have time and energy to press for quality representatives for the Irish Diaspora. I would be very happy to see you and other people like you taking an active part in the affairs of our country.

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    Mute Sheila Murphy
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    Feb 10th 2012, 8:57 PM

    indeed, and keeping fully abreast of what’s going on here too. Gave a guy a lift this evening – just back after 10 years out of the country and he said that he wasn’t aware AT ALL at how bad it was here. He read about some of it online but he said that the realisation really hit home since he actually came back. We do need a strong voice abroad as well as at home, and here’s hoping those who have emigrated keep pressure on the gov back here. email is such a quick easy free way to do so…. just google their names and you’ll find contact details……. so best of luck to Niall – great work.

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    Mute Jon West
    Favourite Jon West
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    Feb 14th 2012, 10:16 PM

    I like Niall. He’s done a lot for the Irish community in Boston and he has always been proud of his roots.

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