Should the DPP be fired? Surely there is enough to bring small sample charges on at least one person. Then offer them a state’s evidence deal? That’s how the omerta of gangs is broken. The same gangbusters should be applied to the banks.
Yes. But who’s got the power to fire the DPP? As far as I remember it’s only government ministers/President/high or supreme court judges have such powers and I think it requires a move or push with action to be taken by some of the same to actually bring about the firing. It won’t happen in Ireland. Not this Ireland anyway. The buck stops nowhere here. Best just to prolong the investigation into the next government and then embarrass them due to their same lack of action on the matter. Most of the major parties have a vested interest in continuance of the status quo.
Definitely. But see above. Bringing charges is not what we do here in Ireland. We really don’t do it like that here. The method is as follows. Recognize that there is a problem (I confess that there are sins), then make like we’re going to do something about it (Hold an investigation), then drag that on for as long as possible (at least 3 years and probably a decade or longer if it’s a planning tribunal for example), people get fed up about it don’t think that past behavior of 10 years or more ago is important any longer. Soon there is nothing to be done. Another more pressing issue has come along that now needs investigation and consideration. No action. Ever. Not against our friends.
No deals necessary. Why would you offer a deal to your friends who you’ve been helping out by carrying out a long drawn out investigation over 2 years already. Why do this? No. You simply elongate the investigation. Drag it out for as long as is possible. Make the little people pay and keep your buddies in high office.
Not here. Remember again that the banks and bankers/banksters are friends of the government. Close allies. Certain topshocks from the past have been given debt relief by the banks (e.g. Haughey and Fine Gael). The main parties hardly refuse to accept donation from the banks now do they to finance their political campaigns. No hope on action from any of the main parties.
I call a gross cover up through obfuscation through investigation.
I’ve heard that Appleby has a fetish for forensic detail.
Given the complexity and volume of evidence we could be here forever.
Here’s a hint Paul, just in case you are reading and slow on the uptake
One other factor is the pitiful level of legal authority the ODCE actually has. In many cases they are hamstrung by lacking the legal framework to gather all the necessary evidence to make things move along. No surprise that FF managed to along with appointing useless regulators & worthless guangos supposedly ensuring consumer rights; they also coincidently made sure that the people responsible for prosecuting the wrongdoers were hamstrung from the get-go.
For what it’s worth my info is from a family member in the CS who doesn’t have Rose coloured glasses, & while not in the dept responsible is close friends with people within.
Further, the quote from the same insider that resonated with me was their statement that; “…whistleblower legislation can’t come soon enough !”
I’m not shy on here about taking a cut a both PS workers & their Unions, but that isn’t to say that I don’t believe that there are a majority of people in the PS that aren’t ethical, honorable, & decent people who want to do the right thing, but who feel trapped by the dreadful environment created in the PS by the various VIs !
IMO, the bowdlerising of the FOI act changed the game. Power moved firmly into the Minister’s hands. He could ride rough-shod over any advice he received, no matter how good it turned out to be and no-one would know; further Ministers could cast dispersions with their “best advice available”, somehow implying that the rubbish that was enacted wasn’t their idea. Now I’m sure that slashing FOI suited some in the CS and more in the wider PS and that more thought it a good move, but the idea behind FOI is as much to keep politicians honest (particularly if they’ve served a long time) as it is to track a beady eye on the CS/PS.
FOI should be constitutionally set up, IMO (part of my reform agenda) with briefing papers automatically published unless there is a stated good reason not to…
Have alook at this document. I think you’ll like what you see.
(personally there are bits of it that are a bit kamikaze making life a little too easy for opposition which when going into government is typical of the kind of principled decision Labour have been making in the public interest since 1918.
Labour are well aware that part of the problem has been the deliberate gradual emasculation of the civil service in particular as a strategy since Haughey’s time.
What do I learn from this story? The idea of gardai being able to retire after 30 years of service is a relic and is not really appropriate, necessary nor affordable now.
