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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWkxzdbdtMM
WHILE THE BIG news to emerge from Leaders’ Questions this afternoon was the Tánaiste’s comments on assisted suicide, Eamon Gilmore did find time to engage in one of his favourite pasttimes in the Dáil.
Gilmore will never waste an opportunity to have a go at the previously administration which is why when Seán Fleming raised the sale of State assets it was like a red rag to a bull.
Fleming wanted to know why the government was proceeding with the sale of State assets when no proceeds had been raised so far and won’t be this year and the Troika have now left town.
Gilmore wasted no time in furiously wagging the finger as Pat Rabbitte looked on with a broad smile, and a raised eyebrow.
“Of all the hard-necked hypocrisy that I have heard in this house in the last three years this beats it all. This is wonderful,” the Tánaiste said, before claiming Fianna Fáil wanted to sell €5 million of State assets which was not entirely true.
In any case, Fleming hit back: “It’s clear I’ve rattled the Tánaiste.” He had done something alright.
Watch the full exchange in the video above.
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Rule 1 of politics
If you cant defend your policies or actions, attack the opposition for theirs.
Rule 2: Attack the premise.
Rule 3: Dáil Bar for a pint.
Oligarchy (from Greek ὀλιγαρχία (oligarkhía); from ὀλίγος (olígos), meaning “few”, and ἄρχω (arkho), meaning “to rule or to command”)[1][2][3] is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people. These people could be distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, education, corporate, or military control. Such states are often controlled by a few prominent families who typically pass their influence from one generation to the next. But inheritance is not a necessary condition for the application of this term.
In his influential 2011 book, “Oligarchy,” Jeffrey A. Winters defines oligarchy as “the politics of wealth defense by materially endowed actors.” In Winters’ definition, the possession of massive wealth is the decisive factor in identifying oligarchs. But some oligarchs, according to Winters’ analysis, do not directly govern the societies they inhabit; they thus can rule directly or through an intermediary.
Throughout history, oligarchies have been tyrannical (relying on public obedience and/or oppression to exist) or relatively benign. Aristotle pioneered the use of the term as a synonym for rule by the rich,[4] for which the exact term is plutocracy. However, oligarchy is not always a rule by wealth, as oligarchs can simply be a privileged group, and do not have to be connected by bloodlines as in a monarchy.
Mary – i’m not sure you can copy the whole wiki entry without citation – that’s just plagiarism. Either that our you’re on the wrong site!
Mary,
I think it’s time for your medication
I think Mary’s point is they are a closed golden circle in the Dail.
What a shot a STAGG A Rabbit and Smart fool
That’s all Gilmore and Inda can do, dwell in the past and blame the FF fools instead of coming up with a real plan to get us all out of this mess, they rely on others for everything. If he and Inda have the titles of leaders why the F can’t they lead?
They need to come up with a plan to bring investment from foreign IT companies (perhaps even offer Dublin as a ‘hub’ for say Google etc, they need to increase our exports and reduce the number of unemployed and renegotiate our debt payments to perhaps a longer period (so to as eventually make the principle smaller). If only they could figure out a way of getting rid of the troika from this country and send us back on the road to recovery… i wish they would lead!
I’m so glad that the people of this country are so forgiving towards FF, yes FF did lead the country through prosperity, but what did they do when they were in charge?? Spend, spend, spend, what about the saying save it for a rainy day?? They also totally mismanaged our crash by continuing to come out with lines “bubbles don’t burst” and we’ll have a soft landing. I’m sorry but I do believe bubbles do burst and soft landings are extremely rare in economics and also ignoring the problem doesn’t make it go away, but ye sure lets all forget that it all happened
The problem is Conor if we want a change of Government in the next election what are the alternatives? FG didn’t win the last election, FF gave it to them and the lies that FG told in their manifesto helped as well. People still don’t trust SF and are their enough Independents to make a Government? Can you think of alternatives?
Fcuk Brian lenihan and FF. 8th. Bastards the lot of them.
Brian Lenihan was a patriot… no doubt. Those that lump him in with Cowen and Ahern – think on.. if you were dying of cancer would you A. stay at home to spend last few hours with family or B. go to work and face a population that thinks you are the ruination of them.. and ultimately chart the correct course out of the storm.
History will be kind to Lenihan not so to messrs Ahern, Cowen et al.
FG did win the last election, they could have easily done what FF had previously done and gone into gov with the independents, but the state of the country would have been held to ransom over fixing a road in Kerry. In fact no party has won the general election in many number of years we’ve had coalition governments for before I was born
History will not be kind to him. He played a massive part in the mess we find ourself in today and for the next 30 years.
Admirable durning his fight for life but that doesn’t hide the fact the country would be a better place if he never showed his face in politics
So if we don’t vote FF what’s the alternative Conor?
I’ll see you back here in 30 years Chris and we’ll see… btw – Hello Rolly of the future!! you’re still as handsome as ever! (for when i return in 30 years time) so long losers!
Sorry Conor FG were the largest party but had to use the votes of the Labour Party who’s policies are so far opposed to FG it’s a nonsense that these two could ever work together.
Unless both parties don’t believe a word of their own manifesto’s.
I’d say the only thing in common FG and labour have is the amount of lies they told to get elected and now both are feeding at the trough if the Irish tax payer.
Hey Rolly
What about world peace the elimination of famine in sub Sahara Africa and Global warming ?
FF were so busy playing best friends on golf courts with the likes of bankers and others with loads of money that they forgot to run the country like it should. Let’s see you pick up the damage and garbage FF made of Ireland and having to reinvent Ireland again. You sound brilliant in looking past FF’s crap, now I want to see you get real!
Conor
FF dis start saving during the good times with the National Pension Reserve Fund. However when the banks went bust where was the first place the Troika went looking? Why the National Pension Reserve Fund
Hear hear! If I have to pick one blatant FF lie, it continues to be the “no, there will not be a bailout” while five minutes later, poor old Lenihan, literally ill as he was with cancer, saying that “yes, Ireland will get a bailout.” Biffo used and abused the time Lenihan still had by making him work hard and lying to his people. The “no bailout” lie should have put people of FF forever, yet some are already turning back towards them. The people now p*ssing on FG and Labour have very short term memories because they are the ones cleaning up the mess FF created. I’m surprised FF still dares showing their face in the Dáil… that’s exactly how far removed they still think they are from the poor people of Ireland.
Conor, of course they spent spent til the cows came home, but were we not demanding tax cuts, increases services, more childrens allowance etc, and a hand out for every cause under the sun. We were like spoilt children whose parents (in this case FF) gave into us. Instead of saying no and saving for the rainy day. We need to take on some of the responsibility for what happened. Equally so too should FG Labour and SF. They should have shouted louder and made them selves heard. By maybe we would have ignored them in the same way we and the powers to be ignored the few economists who were for casting the bubble bursting
How about a benevolent dictator, he could use his fortune to run the country, and ignore us in the same way any of the 5 you listed ignore us
But Chris FG and Labour were shouting, they were shouting that FF should be spending more.
SSIA, s was a control on spending
Say what you want about Fianna Fail, but at least they actually led us into an age of prosperity. What have Labour done except promote liberal policies that go against the traditional views of the good people of this island?
Johnny there’s sod.all use leading us into prosperity at the cost.of the country. They ran us over the cliff. Destroyed this country. They have no credibility left. They should shut up.on finance matters. Labour are guilty.of.enforcing crippling austerity. Killing family’s and hurting people who cant afford to.live anymore. Both are traitors in my view.but let’s not forget who brought us here in the first place, FF
Except most of that prosperity was borrowed, yes even all the taxes that helped double public spending in a ten year period was largely from taxes on borrowed money. Fianna Fail forgot to mention that it would need to repaid. Some prosperity.
The country was a dirt hole on the peripheral edge of Europe before Fianna Fail led us into prosperity. Remember the 1980s? Of course not. You grew up in the good days of smart phones and jobs where you could get paid €60 an hour for laying blocks.
Age of prosperity ? Where have you been?
@Golden Bryan – Did you miss the nineties / early-mid naughties or something?
I left this country in the ’80s because of the disastrous policies of Lynch and Haughey in the late ’70s and early ’80s. These fools have bankrupted the country three times in my lifetime and I’m not even fifty yet.
Your a moron Johnny. Nothing more than that
Eh Johnny do a bit of research would you. The first surplus in the history of the state wasn’t created by a FF government – it was created by the rainbow coalition, of which the minister for finance was from Labour. Indeed FF did a heck of job thereafter !!!!
Ditto.
Ah, Gilmore and ‘the big boy did it’ BS again. That’s well worn out at this point.
And Terry – just look what that Labour Party is doing now. Socialists my arse.
I do remember the 80s Johnny and that was the result of another feckless and populist FF government… And never ever forget FF have had the reins of power here for 80 % of our independent history and it was FF who ruled through decades of emigration and recapitalization. What you call prosperity was a party for all our mates paid for with a high interest credit card and FF stood at the bar ordering Dom Perignon for their mates at our expense. Prosperity me arse!
Ummmm does anybody remember this quote of utter Hypocrisy from Enda Kenny “It is morally unjust and unfair to tax a person’s home, and by so doing grind him into the ground. Indeed in cases it could probably be unconstitutional”
“It reminds me of a vampire tax in that it drives a stake through the heart of home ownership, through enthusiasm and initiative, and sucks the life blood of people who want to own their own home and better their position”
“If the Government fail to appreciate the passion with which people will defend their rights to own their home and have it looking as well as it should, it is making a serious mistake” Do me a favour will you.
Every time Fianna Fáil launches into another attack on Labour and Fine Gael, my stomach turns. I almost feel literally sick hearing their hypocrisy. How they can show up time after time in the Dáil without feeling embarrassed is beyond me. The hardship FG and Labour had to enforce is one thing, FF blatantly blaming the coalition for their mistakes is another. I’d be ashamed and disgusted with myself if I were a member of FF.
FF pathetic as always
A total inability to take responsibility ….. we don’t need constant history lessons in the Dail … we need to see actions in the present and plans for the future. When devoid of ideas and plans this government resorts to the lowest level of debate and attack the past.
Let’s be honest here… they’re all blatant villains. It’s like Ted Bundy calling John Wayne Gacy a serial killer
I listened as far as 1.30, that’s a new record.
I fell asleep after just 1
Didn’t Listen,Heard all this BS before.
The article is extraordinary for how blatant the slant against Labour was. Could it have possibly been phrased with a more biased slant?
Pretty balanced IMHO.
You’re still in the Labour Party, Kevin?
Kevin, Labour deserve everything they get and hopefully that will start with a dam good kicking come the next election. You won’t find much sympathy for their cowardly.style of governance over the past 3rd.
John
I thought your picture reflected intellect and stature until I read the dam thing for the 3rd time!!!
Go away Ritchie you FF lick arse
Who do you Rodger Richie?.
Labour…. the Party of Deflection Politics….sickening!
Kev…hows the Fianna Fail party goin?
Sean- Its great, thanks. I got my first brown envelope this morning. I see the Lobotomy worked well for you. Can really see it’s impact on what you write on here.
I suppose its the same as your used to seeing as both parties are now as corrupt as each other
Can you ask Stroke Reilly if he has found that auld criteria which he used to bump two primary care sites in his own constituency up the list…jazus its nearly six months now since he was asked to produce it…i know the government are slow…. but come on!
What slant precisely Kevin? That they are liars who renounced their morals and traditions?
Enola- I’m no Labour supporter so you’re wasting your ire on me. Might be worth remembering Labour are the junior partner in Government, though. Sort of unrealistic to think the tail would be wagging the dog.
Any sign of that criteria Kevin?
Sean- May well be buried with the disappeared people your Sinn Fein friends murdered in cold blood and then discarded like household trash in lonely empty fields and beaches. Perhaps you could ask Gerry where they are and we could have a look?
deflection deflection….very poor kevin…but i suppose its the only retort you have left
panic id say…the shinners are getting stronger and stronger even with gerry at the helm
Did he lose his baby rattle?
Both sides are an embaresment to the country, they don’t deserve the outragous over inflated salaries that they get, we must be the laughing stock of europe
Haha listen to urselves !!! I don’t like any of them up there in their over paid jobs but when ye mention Prosperity think of the Celtic Tiger which FF brought us ; I’ll bet none of ye were complaining when Charlie Mc Creevy was giving us loads of money, we all had our hand out and took it without a thought : the good times were here to stay , spend spend spend ; now listen to ye moan and blame FF for ur big house ur 2 jeeps ur house in Spain that ye enjoyed when it lasted and FF were the best thing ever. Politics is a game or didn’t ye know ; none of them will ever lose : just look at Pat Rabbitte laughing and the rest cheering ; good entertainment and getting well paid for it ; drinks and dick measuring in the Dail bar later I’m sure
Why in the name of God do we need ex school teachers and other non qualified arse holes run this country of ours? Its time for change but who do we get that knows what they are talking about!FG/FF/LAB/SF i dont think so they are all full of shite.
What was that you said Mr.Gilmore? ……..”Of all the hard-neck hypocrisy I have heard in this house in the last three years this beat it all”
O my god what a statement to make!
Mr.Gilmore you and your parasite party epitomise the “hard-neck hypocrisy” that has emanated from within our Dàil in the “last three years.” “Frankfurt’s way or Labours way”?
The Labour Party has gelled nicely with the Fine Gael and Fianna Failure party and embraced their hypocrisy.
Gilmore is the political equivalent of Dead Man Walking. If desperate, don’t debate or explain, just attack.
There’s a reason he is the least liked leader. No substance.
People are educated enough to see him for what he is. Hopefully things will change. There’s better than Gilmore to take leaders questions.
The dail is the biggest circus in Ireland. And we’re the ones paying them to be clowns.
Any chance we could flog or even give away that waste of space Gilmore?
Labour are a disgrace. At least Fine Gael admit they are right wing. Gillmore is more right wing than FG. Bring on the elections. C ye Gillmore and company. Over and out.
Yet another cringe show in the nations governing chambers. Seriously, what are we to do when every party is full of self serving, hypocritical, lying, toe rags. Not one them worthy of a vote yet what alternative is there to them? Independents? Smaller parties? Don’t think so. Sad.
Gillmore is feeling the heat. Small man syndrome.
The sting of a dying wasp- the Inventor of Economic Treason!
overall i dont have any political allegiances,,,,but what i do know is i had fewer financial vulnerabilities during FF’s reign, including worrying about health care entitlements and costs, than during FG’s reigns in power,,,,each time FG were in power my financial situation has been in total jeopardy,,,,,,,if FF tried to implement a policy or change and people werent happy with it, they would at least pull in their horns on some of these things like when the pensioners took to the streets when their medical cards were going to be withdrawn from them,,,,,FG have crippled us with every inventory tax they can think of, whether we like it or not,,,,the real do it my way or take the high way approach,,,,,their solutions(or lack of them), is to blame the previous government,,,,,they were voted in by a frantic nation of irish voters, on the platform of false promises and lies,,,,,,yes FF made very bad calls, but all of Europe was heading into a recession, no matter who was in power
Good to see FF challenged on this, protesting the deal they signed up to, #hypocrisy
And that Ladies and Gentlemen is what’s running the show.
Time to get the FOOD (F??? out of Dodge).
Its well he can laugh along with that obnoxious man rabbitte, looking at them you would think the country was
I hope you all watched Vincent Brown on Monday night last. You will know then who the liars and the gangsters are. The three on the panel agreed that the budget figures were massaged and falsified to paint a better picture for the public. The budget figure is and remains 3.1 billion not 2.5 billion as the ministers stated. The other 600 millions that was not given out was hidden. This was done to try and save the Labour Party. Not my words but the words of the panel on the show. I will still vote for Fianna Fáil as I think that they are the only Party to lead us to the promised land.
God bless Enda..Anyone who would still vote Fianna Fáil needs to stop popping those mind altering pills
It doesnt matter who signed what anymore they are all a disaster and we`re going to have our grandchildren paying for it, we need new politcs new parties and new policies
fed up with this shite … yes Fianna Fail laid the foundations for the mess we’re in …. but Fianna Fail didn’t come up with the Promissory Note which created non existent debt for Irish tax payers. FG and Lab have fresher blood on their hands than Fiana Fail.
have your say