Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
PASCHAL DONOHOE HAS said he paid for his own meal during a “private meeting” with Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary.
The Public Expenditure Minister has come under scrutiny from the opposition over the February 2022 meeting with the airline chief, which was previously undisclosed but reported yesterday by The Irish Times.
Sinn Fein finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said there was a need for Donohoe to “come clean” over the meeting, accusing Fine Gael of a lack of transparency and accountability.
He said: “Paschal Donohoe is the Minister for Public Expenditure and Michael O’Leary is a business figure who is regularly seeking to influence government policy.
“It is important for the Irish people to know whose interests their government really serves.”
Doherty said the minister did not disclose the dinner meeting when first asked about engagements with O’Leary. He said he later acknowledged the meeting after journalists came with more information.
“We have now been told by Fine Gael that no records were kept of the meeting as no actions were taken arising from it. That’s not good enough.”
Donohoe said today that “any matter that ever refers to government business is dealt with in the right way.
“Any meeting that I have with anybody that refers to Government business is recorded and it’s published in my diary.”
Donohoe was Finance Minister and 18 months into his Eurogroup presidency at the time of the dinner.
Asked if it was acceptable to have a purely social meeting with the chief executive of Europe’s biggest airline, given his roles at the time, he said: “Yes, it is.”
Pressed on what the two men talked about if no official business or policy was discussed, Donohoe said: “We talked about very general matters.”
“If any issue in relation to government, business, regulation or policy had been dealt with, that would have been recorded and it would have been dealt with in the same way that every other engagement that I do,” Donohoe.
Donohoe said he would not describe himself as “friends” with O’Leary, adding that attendees “paid their fair share”.
It is not the first controversy involving Fine Gael and O’Leary during the election campaign.
The Ryanair boss appeared to malign teachers during the launch of enterprise minister Peter Burke’s campaign in Mullingar.
O’Leary and Fine Gael were criticised after the crowd at the event laughed when the airline chief said he would not hire teachers to “get things done”, saying the Dail needed more people from private sector backgrounds.
Burke and senior Fine Gael figures including Taoiseach Simon Harris welcomed O’Leary’s endorsement but distanced themselves from his remarks about teachers.
Doherty added: “It would be instructive for the public to know just how much influence Michael O’Leary has with Fine Gael and, by extension, over decisions made by that party in government.”
Donohoe was speaking to the media at the launch of Fine Gael’s election policies for Dublin and other urban centres.
The party said it is committed to transforming Dublin city centre into a more vibrant, safe and attractive destination in which to live and work.
Donohoe said Fine Gael would implement recommendations of the Dublin City Centre Taskforce, with a focus on revitalising O’Connell Street, delivering more visible policing and security, and transforming derelict sites.
Fine Gael also pledged improved security measures in the city centre with increased CCTV coverage and a targeted response to reduce open drug use, redeveloping the GPO, collaborating with cultural institutions to offer more late-night events and extended opening hours.
The party said it would recruit 6,000 new gardaí over the next five years and “reduce the concentration” of drug treatment facilities in the city centre.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
It’s a scary thing that nearly 10 years after that spectacular crash there is not a single substantive regulation in place to prevent it happening all over again.
They can still gamble with depositors and savers cash in most countries, and they could still create another house of cards that will come crashing down, and come back to us with the exact same excuse of ”you have to bail us out or your savings and deposits will come crashing down with us”
Don’t worry though, we have a secondary school teacher who was a disaster in every ministerial portfolio he’s ever been in charge of on the case…
It’s strange how many seem to believe Hilary Clinton will be the solution and that she will take on big banking, when in fact it was her husband who repealed the Glass-Steagal act and her highest donors so far are Goldman Sachs
Is this 1892? Why are you judging people based on what their husbands think?
Because she has quite clearly endorsed her husband’s platform, both when he was in office and recently..
Teacher? When was the last time Noonan taught?
There are several reasons why Hillary can be said to be pro-bailout and pro-moral hazard:
1. She voted for it
2. Bill has said the repeal of the wall between depository and investment banking was the biggest mistake he made in his Presidency, she has said it was not a big deal.
3. She is SWIMMING in corporate cash, esp from the financial industry.
Much of the time we compare well to the US system. If I’m elected Taoiseach, I don’t have to worry, as Obama does, that my own party in parliament won’t support the policies I ran on, I know they will because of the whip (which has its downsides but IMO more pro than con) but in this case we compare badly, were v similar. We did no financial reform, at least they did some token reform and a token stimulus, we did nothing
If I am elected Taoiseach … I thought you wanted to be elected Prime Minister Ryan … just saying …ignore if wrong !
Stop being a purposeful tool Dermot, it’s trying. They are the same bloody thing.
I’d have to check his teacher pension statement to answer that one Reg
They are not the same thing Ryan ..In Britain the Prime Minister bows to a sovereign Monarch , in Ireland the people are the sovereign !
You are so full of it Ryan !
Ireland is no longer SOVEREIGN,no if’s buts or any other argument about it,they like spain Greece Portugal etc etc have given up their SOVEREIGNTY to the unelected EUSSR.
Both Noonan and Kenny almost got away with the teachers pensions they never earned, they held their jobs for all the years in the Dail using substitute teachers to earn their pensions for them, the same substitutes usually graduates were not entitled to holiday pay or to contribute to their own public service pension.
Another example of low standards in high places.
If this judge cannot rule then why is he a judge ?
In fairness to Gerry Adams he can’t cut a hedge , but we don’t pay tax for Gerry Adams to cut hedges …that kinda thing …
Does this judge deserve to sit on the benches after proving total incapacity in the role for which he takes a salary ? particulary when Irish Law allows for Appeals … Why was it not referred to the Irish Supreme Court if he was too incompetent to rule , or why was another judge not appointed to the case in the first place !
Irish Law degrees ;- what a waste of a poor little calf’s skin !
She…
She wasn’t too incompetent, I’m sure O’Malley J had plenty of opinions of an intellectual vigour that would put you to shame, however under the law she hasn’t the jurisdiction to express them..
We were promised during Traeties that Irish Law would supercede European law ..No wonder theUnion is going to break up ..it is so riddled with lies that it is now an unholy beast of a thing !
Thanks Paul ..it just shows the conditioning …expect judges to be Male ..ah well mea culpa !
First thing of import to note, the ECJ is entirely unconnected to the European Commission and has regularly in fact ruled against the outcome the commission would have hoped for, so people shouldn’t worry about any kind of bias in this judgment..
Secondly, this has nothing to do with the promissory notes or the bank guarentee, both will be entirely unaffected by this decision..
Michael Noonan admitted that the Promissory Note deal was Illegal after he had it pushed through a drunken Dail.Stephen Donnelly questioned the illegality of it at the time …therefore the Promissory deal must be illegal !
If it illegal to drive a car when drunk then why is not illegal to vote on the future of the Nation when drunk ?
Killjoy, you are well named,lol !
And the high court said that it was legal when Joan Collins took a case.. I think TD’s being drunk while in session is a disgrace, but it makes no difference as to the legality of the outcome of a vote
I think the Irish Citizens should change that law and indeed other cases and compus mentis means that we shouldn’t even have to !
We ought to have a constitutional amendment to ban any future bailouts.
Non compus mentis is to do with criminal law, nothing to do with the legislative process.. And go ahead and change that law, won’t change the legality of the promissory note vote
there was no promissory note vote… after being found illegal, the prom note was converted into soverign debt…
The prom notes were converted into illegal sovereign debt by a vote backed by Fine Gael, Labour and a Michael Martin who said that he “trusted” the TAOISEACH … I WATCHED HIM AND HE LOOKING UP TO THE GALLERY OR CLOCK AS HE SMIRKED !
cAPS LOCKS SORRY !
Well if the decision goes to Europe we all know how that’s going to play out..Seriously!!
The judge is obliged the remit the matter to the ECJ as EU law is “supranational” and all the judge is doing is saving vast amounts of taxpayer’s money and court time whilst seeking a definitive answer to a highly important question. Remember, both sides cannot be correct and the shareholders do have certain rights such as to peaceable enjoyment of their property free from state interference . It looks like clear interference so the role of the ECJ is most welcome as it will bring clarity to a very important issue for thousands of citizens !
Fair enough in one sense ..but Permanent T.S.B. is owned by the people of this State.
It is regulated by the Irish Central Bank and was at the time.
And the Bank guarantee was voted on by the Irish Government under advise from an Irish Attorney General !
Are all our legal set-ups only a front for Angela and the Rotcshilds or what ?
Are all our legal set-ups only a front for Angela and the Rotcshilds or what ?
yes.
A pleasure Dermot,
These days I always check the gender of the judge when something unusual is announced..
Also note there is no mention of the “Supreme Court” which would tie in to your point about the supremacy of Irish Law…
This looks like a judge trying to buy time for the government. Let’s just see if PTSB will still be around by the time the ECJ rules.
Another vulture circling I’d say Paul !
The bank was overcapitalised after the government issues shares at a massive discount then flogged its main asset.
Go Piotr!
have your say