I can’t blame his children for deciding to go abroad. A dad like him would make me sick.

His wife & kids are not fair game here, no need to be brought in to this or any other debate relating to his job.

That is not cool Ryan.

cheap shot in fairness Ryan

………..and what about the parents and siblings and spouses and sweethearts and friends of the emmigrants he so blatantly disregarded with his stupid comments yesterday . I was talking to a taxi man last saturday who told me his only two daughters had emmigrated and not only did they miss their girls but they miss the whole social life that was affected by their departures. No friends calling ,no getting ready to go out parties….Less phonecalls .In other words the whole atmosphere of their home has changed and quietened .Leaving both he and his wife bereft.
So ,I do not agree with some comments ,but I do realise that people are hurting .

Sorry Chicken but it was him that brought them into the debate, to try and cover his ass. In this case the are fair game.

I was one of those people that had to leave in the last recession Eileen & it took me 12 years to get back I have every sympathy with anyone that is forced out of their place of birth seeking employment or cannot afford to live in their country & it is our country we fucking own it not the prick we discuss on a daily basis… But his wife & kids are not fair game & that’s my belief.

Excuse me chicken ball ann……..
where did i say ANYTHING about Noonan’s wife or kids . Nowhere . Read my comment again please . People are angry justifiably so. However I did not mention his wife or children.

Chicken it was you brought his wife up. Forgive Ryan, the blood does rush to the head a bit when faced with the arrogance and absurdity of Noonan’s comments.

Your comment came up in this thread & you mention certain things that would imply a comparison but if you were talking about something else I apologise Eileen.

Agreed with you totally Eileen. I was referring to the comment about his wife (since removed) being in a home which was uncalled for in my opinion.

Thanks Ann
That clarifies things . :)

Rommel
I know what you meant and I am glad too that ,that comment was removed.

Hugh@journal,
If you are going to remove comments within in a conversation you must take all comments relating to this comment down as the exchange is flawed & does not make sense.

I don’t want my comments removed . Thanks all the same but I have not said anything wrong or untoward …..

I was talking about the replys relating to a specific comment that is removed & as you said you were not replying to that comment Eileen so yours should definitely remain in place.

Réada Quinn, I disagreed with you yesterday about this story – and I know I annoyed you (which was not my aim). I also agreed with you that you probably have a fine intuition but I disagreed that it was your intuition that was guiding your opinion in this case. If you like you can watch and listen to the actual news conference below – and see if your intuition (free from the mask of poor reporting) will come to the same opinion…

Full Press Conference:
http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2012/0119/media-3172720.html#
(Goto 31:43 to hear the question and the answer)

As you know my opinion is that this story is an example of unfair, unbalanced and partial reporting and therefore I think people should be given the opportunity to decide whether they would have reported this story in the same way…

Sorry about that, and I am glad my comment was removed. With the benefit of hindsight, I see it was inappropriate. All that I said was taken from interviews Noonan himself gave to the press, and I didn’t consider how it could be deemed offensive By my repeating it. Howeve, I see in the way I said I made a pretty big mess, which I wish I hadn’t, and I hadn’t intended to be disrespectful to his wife.
That was not the point of my comment. The point which I was intending to make in the comment was about Noonan taking his orders from Frankfurt, but I see now I completely took away from my argument with the statement I made.

Apologies

Ryan
Glad to see your back ! AND to apologise shows signs of true good character :)
If only Noonan would take a leaf from your example !!!
We all can say things that are unfortunate or inappropriate ,but to apologise just as you have done ,well fair play . I am proud of you :)
Don’t stop posting !

Hi Ryan

I think that is very big of you well done, dont beat yourself up about it as we all say things without thinking sometimes,,,,,,,,,,

Ryan O’Giobúin. Having read several of your comments on earlier threads over the past few months you have again proved you’re a gentleman. To err is human, yet to apologise is rare. :-)

Robert Lynch, thank you for the link. I saw him on tv last night and still believe that Irish politicians do see emigration as a solution to unemployment. I can’t access it on my iPhone now (at work) but will watch on laptop tonight. If an apology is warranted I’ll do a Ryan O’G on it and revert. 

In the meantime, following on what I said to you yesterday, loyalty is an admirable trait and I admire that in you. I have debated issues with some FGers and shall add your name to a short list of worthy ones who play the ball not the man/woman. 

I don’t say this lightly, I know we are at war, economic war. There’s been a lot on YouTube and www and it’s not outside the realms of possibility to suspect some of it is true. I’m sure many threats have been made to our government ministers. I’m sure they are petrified. It’s a pity they don’t share a bit of your loyalty to their country and her citizens. I really think it’s time we all pulled together on this island to stand up to these economic terrorists. 

My intuition is always right. Noonan is lying. So is Gilmore. Our sovereignty is in grave danger. And they have surrendered. Well I haven’t.

I know I sound a bit scary but I have never bought the German/Franco thing. The enemy is big money, European too but mainly USA and Russia. Things are happening but I have no doubt that good will triumph. Makes me laugh really because most of this money is just numbers on a computer screen – no gold to back it up. Can’t feel scared when you’re laughing!

Better go now before the men in the White coats come. Mark my words tho. :-) 

Reáda
”I don’t say this lightly, I know we are at war, economic war. There’s been a lot on YouTube and www and it’s not outside the realms of possibility to suspect some of it is true. I’m sure many threats have been made to our government ministers. I’m sure they are petrified. It’s a pity they don’t share a bit of your loyalty to their country and her citizens. I really think it’s time we all pulled together on this island to stand up to these economic terrorists. ”

I have just read this paragraph in your last post and I agree with you on the points you make that we are at economic war . I just want to say too that I do not agree that any one should threaten our Gov Ministers with harm. I know all this is very serious , but to threaten the ministers is out of order and not acceptable .It is time we all pull together and and stand up to these economic terrorists …

well said ladies.

i believe we are at economic war too. I have believed it to be so for over a year now.
And this aul fart will not be taking it laying down.

Fair dues Ryan. Thumbs up!

No problem Réada. By the way, I do not expect you to apologise … you should not have to..after all after watching the footage you may possibly have the same opinion about Noonan. It is Hugh O’Connell that should apologise. If you listen to what Noonan says, Réada, it will not make you love him … the fact of the mater is emigration and joblessness and Noonan’s ability to always sound like a condescending teacher will never give someone a warm fuzzy feeling. However he was misquoted and half of his answer (that is the part that balances his response to the question) was not reported in the original article:
http://www.thejournal.ie/noonan-young-emigrants-not-driven-away-by-unemployment-331911-Jan2012/

ie Noonan did not say ‘most’ or ‘a majority’ but instead said ‘a lot’ and ‘some’. Indeed the only grouping he put exact numbers on were the unfortunate 100,000 people who lost there jobs over 6 months and now have little hope of finding work here. People who, since Hugh’s article, have commented that Noonan did not mention other groups etc are correct but the point still stands Hugh misquoted and spun Noonan’s answer – indeed they forget to ask themselves “What question was Noonan asked?”. As you remember that was my original point and remains my point: Noonan was misquated by Hugh O’Connell. Noonan’s answer to the question asked was not perfect but in the context of the question (a question that seemed to call into question the patriotism of Irish people who go abroad to work) Noonan’s answer could be summarised as saying that people go abroad for different reasons and that he wishes them well and that our aim – as a government and a people – should be that when Irish people emigrate they should not be struggling abroad when they do (by providing help and education for them here [and I would add abroad]).

PS. Examples of some of the misquotes in Hugh’s original article (http://www.thejournal.ie/noonan-young-emigrants-not-driven-away-by-unemployment-331911-Jan2012/)
(TITLE) “Noonan: Young emigrants ‘not driven away by unemployment’” : This is a misrepresentation of Noonan’s answer indeed he mentioned in particular the skilled construction workers that have been driven to Canada, the UK and Germany.
(From the first sentence) “MICHAEL NOONAN HAS said that most emigration by young Irish people is a ‘free choice of lifestyle’….” : Noonan didn’t say ‘most’ he talked about non-specific numbers like ‘a lot’, ‘many’ and ‘some’ and gave only one specific number (the 100,000 who lost their jobs over 6 months).

Friedrich Nietzsche:
Everything the State says is a lie, and everything it has it has stolen.

100 ANGLOS ! …excellent, I shall use that ..

Ryan, I apologise for replying to your comment with the aim of getting my comment near the start of the Comment List. However I would like to give people the opportunity to view the actual response and the actual question:

Full Press Conference:
http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2012/0119/media-3172720.html#
(Goto 31:43 to hear the question and the answer)

My opinion is that this story is an example of unfair, unbalanced and partial reporting and therefore I think people should be given the opportunity to decide whether they would have reported this story in the same way…

Just wondering them if.his shindig with the german bankers was taken out of context too?? He is a disgrace to this country. He has a conflict of interest and should step down.

Hi Niamh Byrne

I totally agree with you on that, he’s only looking after his own interest namely his German Bonds, this man is a disgrace and should be sacked without pension, but that will never happen, cos he’s part of the new golden circle namely Fine Gael/Labour

And robert I listened to the full.interview and it does not appear to me that what he said was taken out of context. He seems to think that the fact that 170,000 lost their jobs in the building industry and many of them emigrated is a positive thing, that they are better off out of the country because we have nothing to offer them in terms of employment or prospects. He simply doesn’t get it. He is focussed.on the fact that his children have gone abroad….he is trying to get people to identify.with him when in fact his
situation is completely different. He beds a serious dose of reality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vo6VzQddi0&sns=fb

Vincent Browne is a lifestyle choice

I have listened to his comments again (31.50 mins ) and my comments remain unchanged . His arrogance is disgraceful and he should apologise immediately . He was not speaking as a government minister ….. How dare he look down on the genuine hardship of emmigration. Lifestyle choice my A…

ged. If you or I owned German bonds, we’d be right to worry about them. The idea that the likes of Noonan gives them a 2nd thought or makes political decisions to protect them is laughable. There’s only one currency politicians deal in – votes…

He has the strangest way of courting votes that I have ever seen after his double whammy of I don’t give a shit about the irish people week. He is an arrogant f##ker along with the rest of them.

I know Niamh. But a lot of people like, and vote for arrogant f##ckers. We read some of them on here every day…

Don’t be surprised. There is a certain group of people why want to get into politics, those are the power hungry people. It’s nature. Do-gooders by nature love controlling other people’s lives

It’s going to sound very communist of me, but we need less centralised, more local government.
Government needs to be closer to the people. This is a sham.

Fianna Fail make me want to burn things.

Me too Paul !!

Finbar
I really hope things work out for you and yours .
It is not fair and a lot of people feel your pain.
We will continue to argue and do our best here to high light
this governments lies and u turns .
Fair play to you for doing your best for your family .
If Noonan was ever half the man you and men like you are ,we would
not be in the state we are in.
You care . It is a shame that Noonan and company can not empathise too.

New currency. Green thumbs. You’re in serious credit ged. Cheap goods selling well these recessionary days…

Do you actually know what he said Chicken Ball Ann?

Full Press Conference:
http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2012/0119/media-3172720.html#
(Goto 31:43 to hear the question and the answer)

Personally, I think Bertie still comes top of the all-time hate list, but Nonan isn’t far behind tbh

Does Noonan think we are all idiots ………oh wait .He does !
Well we are not idiots , not fools. We are angry and fed up .
We are falling rapidly into poverty .How dare he say that we took his statement out of context .
Noonan you are finished .

What was willie o ‘dea asking Noonan to apologise for . He is nothing but a pathetic little worm too .

@eileen you said it, that is exactly wot he is.

Noonan doesn’t think we’re iditots, he just knows (like the rest of them) that nobody will bother to get off there arse and do something to try change it.

His comments were taken out of context, but even still he shouldn’t have said that. obviously the reporter was asking about people who had no choice but to leave.

What’s more worrying, and probably a far more worthy news story, is the comments following that question where he talks about the amount of time put into drafting this new treaty, to paraphrase –

***
Lisbon took years to put together (7 I think) this “agreement/treaty” or whatever it is has been put together in a matter of weeks.
***

Given the history, the lack of ethical thinking and refusal to follow the actual roadmap when putting the Euro in place in the first place , I think these comments summarise everything that’s wrong with this situation.

Also, RE: the Vincent Browne video, wouldn’t have been a coup for Irish journalism if the next reporter they went to for a question had said ” I’d like an answer to Vincent’s question”.

Correct! The Republic of Ireland is truly a maddening country. I fucked off in July 2006, aged 32. Best decision of my life.

500k Joe, the Angelus, pompous FF politicians sounding off in opposition. So much I am NOT missing.

Paul Carr (Irish Emigrant of 5 and a half years)

The Angelus is an embarrassment! It is more than just a religious institution. It’s rationale is mind control! I can’t think of another country on the planet that has the chimes of the Angelus on its national broadcaster! Our churches can peel the Angelus 3 times a day for all I care. It is not appropriate for our National Broadcaster, RTE, to do so, not even once.

@patrick..we have a lot to thank our great catholic tradition for…. (:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvvwNR3vF44&feature=youtube_gdata_player

@ paul not patrick…sorry.

Not that I care but whoever thumbed me down did ye actually watch the clip??

Well the last government blindly devastated our economy, destroyed the working lives of nearly half a million, handed over our sovereignty to foreign self interested bodies and have doomed generations to come to pay for a golden circled party that we all allegedly were at….

He could turn up to the dail in black face and slap his cock on pictures of your children and he’d never be asked to resign.

Ok I’m with you on the first two paragraphs but really could have done without the last one :)

holy jasus dave!!
Don’t hold back whatever u do :-)

Dave’s right, Berties head should be on a pike in front of the dail. You want Noonan to resign for these comments, but Fianna Fail raped this country, sold everyone’s futures and I can’t even figure out what their personal gain is?
Just ego? Is that really it? yet he still walks the streets like he’s done nothing wrong.
Sort out your priorities people!

@Niamh, that last sentence is for dramatic effect, to push the point home – I think it is necessary. :-D
I feel your pain Dave.

Ryan that’s totally uncalled for regardless of the economic situation or government. Hang your head in shame,I’d ban you I I could…..

Well the comment is removed and he has apologised . Youthful exuberance ! So let that be that . :)

And then you found weed…….

Yes I watched and listened to what he had to say it’s more the dismissive and condescending manner of his delivery than the content.
Indeed the terrible scourge of emigration has indeed reached the inner sanctum of government now.
Even Joe Costello s wife had to take one of those terrible arduous jobs in Brussels.
Nepotism and cronyism gone ?
Special adviser salary cap?
Is feidir linn my arse

Hi P Wurple,
I feel I must clear things up for you:
First off, he wasn’t being asked about people who are emigrating by choice, he completely ignored the context of the questions the way the media is ignoring the context of his answer :-D
Secondly, emigrating so they can “have a good quality of life” .
That’s their lifestyle choice?
Effectively saying – they could stay here and have a shit life if they wanted to, it’s there choice to leave.
A good quality of life is a “lifestyle choice” now? people should be happy to stay here and live in the world of shit Fianna Fail delivered us to?
I don’t think so.

“his story is an example of unfair, unbalanced and partial reporting ”
No, it is not. He poohed-poohed the problem, implying that the only emigrants are unskilled labourers and people taking time out.
and HE brought his family into the argument.

Nice lips Rosie

NOONAN held his family up as an example at the press conference and dragged them into the argument. You cannot have it both ways.

Are you for real Rosie? He brought his children into this debate. The fact that three of them are living their lives abroad is fair game. You can be damn sure they had more than your average Irish person’s chances and of course being part of the elite would have more than the average Irish person’s chance to get a decent job in Ireland. Noonan is so completely out of touch he doesn’t realise that most of us don’t have these ‘choices’. I agree that his wife, whatever her circumstances, shouldn’t be brought into this debate, but I would love to know what it is his kids do. What’s the bet they didn’t get their jobs on merit alone?

Rosie, didn’t he bring his kids into this conversation/debate in his inital blundering statement?

Rosie
We all know the country was sold out by FFailures ….. Then FG/Labour got in on empty promises and FF failings.
They did u turns on all their election promises . They are every bit as bad as FF/Greens.
His comments were not taken out of context .He is a condescending so and so, and being honest They will never be elected to power again.
.