IRELAND Is A Corrupt Country

By Rita Cahill
February 9, 17
The leader of our country (or more accurately the leader
of only one in five voters) has gone missing and doesn't
bother with those mundane things like homelessness and
hospital trolleys any more. Enda is just hanging on to the
title of Taoiseach until the more lucrative job in Brussels is
bestowed on him by his Euro pals - for services rendered
to German/French banks and bondholders.

Meanwhile, there is work to be done in Mayo preparing for

a smooth passing of the baton to daughter Aoibhinn who
is inheriting the family seat (that Enda inherited from his
father Henry). Enda's brother (also) Henry is happy
enough not to rock the boat and will continue in politics as
a lowly Councillor. We now know why Kenny needed 17
backroom staff at a cost 1.4m annually - that's your
money and mine. All these advisers are contributing to the
local effort in Castlebar/Mayo to get Aoibhinn on to the
lucrative political ladder once Enda gets the EU job and
resigns as leader of the Blueshirts/Taoiseach.
Enda Kenny, the leader (by default) of our country has
gone missing! The lame duck Taoiseach has not been seen
or heard for weeks and is content to keep going to the
Castlebar Post Office every week to collect his salary of
3,500. Meanwhile the Blueshirt leadership contest heats
up, but it very much a Hobson's choice as far as the
citizens of this country are concerned. The frontrunners
are Varadkar, the Twitterer who is media friendly but has
achieved NOTHING in politics (but has the support of Denis
O'Brien and 2FM), Coveney who has achieved even less,
but is backed by the big farmers and the Fine Gael
business classes, Frances Fitzgerald who has the support
of the Castleknock Coffee Mornings and ... well after that
the talent is thin on the ground. Paschal is throwing
shapes and selfies and has support from Kenny/Noonan,
but poor Simon Harris has stepped on land mines/trolleys
in "Angola".

Yep, there is distinct lack of leadership material in

Blueshirt-land! Maybe Fergus O'Dowd or Catherine Byrne
or even Regina could throw their hats in the ring?

Couldn't be any worse

George Hook is a windbag who is employed by Denis

O'Brien on his ailing failing Newstalk radio station. Hook is
a right wing, Blueshirt supporter who loves to hear his own
voice and usually his guests find it hard to get a word in
edgeways while George goes off on tirades against
perceived enemies of the Blueshirts or The Mighty One -
his tax evading boss Dinny. But on today's "High Noon"
programme poor George more than met his match when
his guest Brendan Ogle of Unite Trade Union appeared on
the show to talk about the Apollo House/homelessness
crisis. Hookie was left floundering and for once was
rendered speechless by the canny Ogle. Listen to this clip
from the show and enjoy it before Newstalk remove it to
save Hook further embarrassment
Owen P Keegan was appointed Dublin City Chief Executive
in September 2013 having served as County Manager of
Dn Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLR) from Feb
2006. Before joining DLR he worked for Dublin City
Council, where he was Assistant City Manager and then
Director of Traffic.
Prior to October 1993 he worked as an economist for
DKM/Davy Stockbrokers. He has also worked in the Dept.
of Finance, the ESRI and for two periods in the Dept. of the
Environment, Community and Local Government.

By all accounts then, Mr Keegan is an "insider" (like his

predecessor in DCC John Tierney who was promoted to
create the disaster called Irish Water). Keegan has spent
all his life in government and financial circles and his
move from Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown saw his salary
increase from 153,000 to 189,000. It is no surprise then
that Owen Keegan has attacked the Apollo House
occupation and mocked the homeless. You see, the
Keegan's of this world are immune to the suffering of the
people they rule over, because their salaries mean they
never want for anything. Keegan just does not understand
homelessness and it is doubtful if he ever will. And he is in
good company - Coveney, Kenny, Martin, the NAMA board,
the receivers O'Brien and Coyle and the politically
appointed justice Paul Gilligan - all these highly paid
members of the 1% club look on the homeless as
nuisance, an inconvenience and an annoyance.

Keegan said of Apollo House .. I just find it difficult to

reconcile why anybody would feel a need to accommodate
homeless people in sub-standard accommodation when
there are more than enough beds available."
Either Keegan is deliberately lying or he is more out of
touch than we thought he was.
Owen Keegan could of course start justifying his massive
salary and get all the stakeholders together to keep Apollo
House open until EVERY homeless person is sleeping in a
safe warm home every night.
Ministers for Health 1994 to 2017

Michael Noonan, 15 December 1994 - 26 June 1997 Fine

Gael
Brian Cowen 26 June 1997 12 July 1997. Fianna Fil
Brian Cowen 12 July 1997 27 January 2000. Fianna Fil
Michel Martin, 27 Jan 2000 - 29 September2004.Fianna
Fil
Mary Harney, 29 Sept 2004 - 19 January 2011 PD / Ind
Mary Coughlan, 20 January 2011 9 March 2011. Fianna Fil
James Reilly, 9 March 2011 - 11 July 2014. Fine Gael
Leo Varadkar 11 July 2014 - 6 May 2016. Fine Gael
Simon Harris, 6 May 2016 - present. Fine Gael

While people are homeless on the streets of ireland,

families with
children in temporary housing like b+b`s, hotels and
hostels sometimes seperated by circumstances beyond
their control, the Irish government members give
themselves bonuses and only develope 75 social houses
to tackle the worst homeless crisis in Ireland since the
days of AN GORTA MOR...

Utter Government failure: 7,000 people listed as homeless

in Ireland today, including 2,549 children
While ministers and TDs enjoy their extended, taxpayer-
funded Christmas break, 7,000 ordinary people are listed
as homeless in the country those very same politicians are
supposed to be looking after.

2,549 children are included in such appalling figure.

One family lost their home every day this month alone.

Sinn Fein have rightly pointed the finger of blame at the

Government, as ongoing disdain for the homeless leads to
inaction and further homelessness.

Despite feeble attempts, the situation keeps getting

steadily worse. The Government will not do anything
drastic, either, lest politicians upset their colluding
landlords and developers.

BOYCOTT AND ALL MAJOR SHOPPING CHAINS. SHOP

LOCALLY FROM LOCAL PEOPLE & STORES. HELP YOUR
OWN LOCAL ECONOMY TO BOOST. WHERE YOU SPEND IS
QUITE IMPORTANT TO YOUR AREA. #BOYCOTT
#ISRAELI_GOODS #BOYCOTT ANYTHING YOU BELIEVE
DESERVES #BOYCOTTING FOR WHATEVER REASON. THIS
IS WHERE WE CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE AS WE ARE
THE 99% - WE HOLD THE POWER. #POWER WE SHOULD
DEMONSTRATE. #POWER TO THE PEOPLE.

#BOYCOTT - #BOYCOTT - #BOYCOTT - 2017

2017 HITTING THESE VIPERS WHERE IT HURTS

A formula had to be found so that the government could

be spared the huge embarrassment of kicking homeless
people from their shelter in Apollo House at CHRISTMAS.
The international shame of it would be very bad PR even
for the Blueshirts of-no-compassion, so the phones were
hopping last night as Kenny, Coveney and other Ministers
and their spindoctors consulted with their judicial
appointees on how to avoid a PR disaster. Judge Gilligan
was the right man for the job - after all wasn't it him who
jailed anti-water protesters on behalf of Fine Gael's friend
and sponsor Denis O'Brien. Gilligan's job was to kick the
can down the road until the season of goodwill had passed
over and he certainly delivered for his bosses.
But what a strange silence from Martin & Fianna Fil. And
a strange silence from our President up there in the park
in his 99 room mansion.
Still the legal eagles like Rossa have earned their
Christmas bonus and the Mazars boys, Simon Coyle and
Tom O'Brien can keep their foot in the Apollo door on
behalf of the hated NAMA and the wealthy, heartless 1%
"Senior Counsel Rossa Fanning said the receivers were
very sensitive to the plight of the homeless.

He said they had been in touch with Dublin City Council

and had been told that there were sufficient facilities
available for the number of people homeless in the city at
the moment"

Do lawyers tell lies? Are receivers motivated only by

greed? Is NAMA the biggest disaster this country has seen
for decades?

What planet do all these people and their political pals live
on? Do they sleep well at night?

And has anybody seen or heard from our President?

Mr Daly and Mr McDonagh ... how about you call off your
expensive lawyers and donate a few thousand Euro from
NAMA's billion Euro budget to buy beds, blankets and
breakfast cereals. And If nobody dies on the streets this
Christmas you might feel you have done some good (for
once).
Remember Jonathan Corrie this Christmas

Kenny 'Is there many sleeping rough on the streets in

Dublin tonight Simon'
Coveney 'None!'
Kenny 'Good man. After five years you have solved the
problem?'
Coveney 'No, Enda, it wasn't me - Home Sweet Home
solved the problem! We failed the homeless
Denis Fucking Doggie Wag Tails
Denis O'Brien started buying shares in Independent News
& Media in 2006 and over the next number of years built
up his shareholding at a cost of tens of millions of Euro (I
suppose if you didn't have to spill blood, sweat and tears
to gain your wealth ...). O'Brien's plan was to take control
of INM from Tony O'Reilly - Irelands first homegrown
billionaire and the majority shareholder. In the battle for
supremacy O'Brien eventually came out on top, O'Reilly
lost everything and was declared bankrupt by a court in
the Bahamas in 2015.

Upon taking control of INM with around 30% of the shares

O'Brien installed his loyalists on the board, people like
Leslie Buckley and Lucy Gaffney. Very soon journalists and
other staff jumped ship or were pushed out and now the
company is fully under the control of O'Brien. Denis
O'Brien likes to have Fine Gael in power and after all his
bribe to Communications Minister Michael Lower when the
Blueshirts were in government in the 1990's was what set
him on the road to riches. His gift from Fine Gael - the first
mobile phone licence, thanks to Lowry made O'Brien a
killing when he quickly flipped the company. He pocketed
250 million and skipped off to Portugal to save having to
pay 55 million in Irish tax on his windfall.

O'Brien lost tens of millions on his investment in INM, but

it has brought him a big dividend in other ways. Control of
the media in Ireland (he also has a huge radio portfolio
through his Communicorp Group) has enabled him to wield
huge political power. He was instrumental in getting Kenny
and Fine Gael returned in the General Election. And when
Fine Gael are in power Dinny makes money. Loads of
money, Contracts awarded. Millions written off ...
O'Brien's media attack opposition politicians and give
endless free PR to his Blueshirt buddies. His media have a
particular hatred of Sinn Fin and in particular Gerry
Adams, and a relentless barrage of attacks before the
General Election resulted in the Shinners not gaining more
seats, possibly as many as a dozen. So O'Brien through his
wealth influenced the result of the election and he got his
protg Kenny returned (albeit with a weak hand).

Journalists working under O'Brien have to toe the line and

through fear of losing their jobs churn out relentless
propaganda on behalf of the government. Journalists like
Irish Independent editor Fionnn Sheehan and Kevin Doyle
Group Political Editor for Independent News and Media
obediently print their master's words. The government are
in thrall to O'Brien and so the present Communications
Minister Independent Blueshirt Denis Naughten will not
threaten O'Brien's media monopoly. In fact the media
baron is adding to his monopoly by snapping up more
regional newspapers. The media control will soon rival RT
and will reach every corner of the land like an octupus,
spouting out it's owner propaganda and promoting his
business interests.
The present government will not touch O'Brien.

We desperately need an alternative, a new national

newspaper that is not controlled by the wealthy 1% and
that can give a democratic voice to the majority of
citizens.
For the second year in a row "Ireland's Most Hated Man" is
Enda O'Brien ... or is it Denis Kenny? Anyway, same
difference - the winner is a two headed Blueshirt monster
Housing Minister Simon Coveney is a landlord

Minister for Housing Simon Coveney who now presides

over Irelands housing crisis is a landlord one of at least
30 politicians who must declare they earn more than
2,600 a month in rent.

Minister Coveney is tasked with controlling the housing

marketin Ireland which has seen rents spiral to record
levels in Dublin. While thousands of Irish families are
homeless.He has had to declare he owns a rental property
in Hartys Quay, Rochestown, Cork city.

The revelation has emerged at the same time that one of

the biggest landords in the country has admitted the
rental market in this country is reaching its limit.

READ MORE:-

https://www.scribd.com/document/334243711/Housing-
Minister-Simon-Coveney-is-a-Landlord
When Deirdre Foley's Natrium consortium engineered a
takeover of Clerys that left its long-serving workforce out
on the street with nothing but statutory redundancy
payments, the Fine Gael/Labour government did NOTHING.
This is all Taoiseach Enda Kenny could offer The
symbolism of Clerys and how long its been there and the
way this was done it certainly could have been handled a
lot better. It was, in my view, very insensitive.
Now, at Independent News & Media which is controlled by
Denis O'Brien and his billionaire pal Dermot Desmond, the
expected pensions of retirees are being slashed, in effect
to enable 24 million to be added to INMs balance sheet
and to be paid out in dividends to O'Brien, Desmond and
Leslie Buckley and the rest of William Martin Murphy's
successors
Hibernia Forum - a right wing think tank

The Hibernia Forum was launched in October 2015 by

Eamon Delaney, Cllr. Keith Redmond, and Cormac Lucey.
The group support free market capitalism and are hawkish
on the state of government finances.
Funding for the group is said to come from
"entrepreneurs".
Delaney is an author and journalist with Independent
News & Media (hence his OTT attack on Gerry Adams in
last Saturday's Dindo) and is the first cousin of Richie
Boucher, chief executive of the Bank of Ireland. In 2011, in
a column in the Sunday Independent Delaney argued that
the gay rights movement is "overreaching" in seeking the
"right to marry, to adopt children, and to intimidate
opponents into silence.
Redmond is a dentist and Fine Gael councillor for Howth-
Malahide. He describes himself as a libertarian.
Lucey is a lecturer - not to be confused with Brian - and
commentator who served as an advisor for former
Tnaiste, Minister for Justice, and Progressive Democrats
leader Michael McDowell.

Interestingly, former UCD economics lecturer Moore

McDowell (brother of Michael) is on the group's academic
board. Also on this board is Sam Bowman of the U.K.
libertarian group the Adam Smith Institute.

Other individuals associated with the group include

businessman and commentator Aaron McKenna, Fine Gael
members Joe Lawlor and Conor McWade (ex-PDs), and
former Fianna Fil members Aidan Brophy and Sarah Ryan.
Speaking on Today With Sen O'Rourke last Friday, Fine
Gael MEP Brian Hayes while demanding answers from
Gerry Adams about the Brian Stack murder made the
preposterous statement that

"we weren't part of the conflict in this Republic".

Brian Hayes is utterly STUPID or a BLATANT LIAR. Or both.
Hayes (who once tried to join Sinn Fin) is part of a party
who were in power when the British security services
armed and sent their loyalist UVF proxies across the
border to set off car bombs in Monaghan and Dublin
during rush hour on 17th May, 1974 killing 33 people, the
highest death toll in a single day of the Troubles and
injuring almost 300.
No-one has ever been charged with the bombings. A
campaign by the victims' families led to an Irish
government inquiry under Justice Henry Barron. His 2003
report criticised the Garda Sochna's investigation and
said the investigators stopped their work premature.
(Wonder why?) It also criticised the Fine Gael/Labour
government of the time for its inaction and lack of interest
in the bombings. The report said it was LIKELY that British
security force personnel were involved but had insufficient
evidence of higher-level involvement. However, the inquiry
was hindered by the British government's refusal to
release key documents. The victims' families and others
have continued to campaign for the British government to
release these documents. Brian Hayes is continuing the
Fine Gael policy of doing NOTHING to find out the truth
about this atrocity. Brian Hayes is happy to turn a blind
eye to the British army's dirty war in Ireland. Fine Gael are
as subservient to the British now as they were in 1974
when the present Minister for Foreign Affairs's father
Oliver J. Flanagan was part of the Fine Gael/Labour
government that FAILED to investigate the bombings or
hold the British to account. Like father, like son.

With weasels like Brian Hayes and his party in power don't
expect the TRUTH about the bombings to be found any
time soon.
I fail to understand the fuss at this time, Brian Stack was a total
idiot, he tried to impose his authority on the IRA prisoners, he was
only a officer, he was on the lowest rung of the ladder regarding
prison staff, but he thought he was the boss, and so he antagonised
prisoners who had very powerful friends on the outside and they
also had the support of the people, so why didn't Stack just do his
job like all the others, why did he want to bully men real men. The
other thing is there is over 250 unsolved murders in this country, so
why is Brian Stack more important than all the rest, well to me it
seems his family are exactly like the father they want to be in the
news. They think their father should be treated like some kind of
hero, where really is was a traitor. Now Brian Hayes is no different or
the Flanagan's they are all traitors. And the people that vote for
them are true blue Brits. Now why not ask the guards to investigate
all the murders including the Stack one, and let them give the
answers to the Stack family, why ask anyone else to do their job for
them, ain't the guards forever telling us how they put their lives on
the line for us, yet we have 250 people dead and no one charged
with their deaths. What about all the missing women, yes what
about them no one knows where they are buried or who murdered
them, they done nothing wrong so why were they murdered, Brian
Stack put himself in harms way, he never thought that the only
hero's out there are dead ones, yes his family should be quite about
him they know why he was killed what difference will it make when
they are told who killed him, i think knowing why is bad enough.
People are very brave now, but we could be in more danger now
than way back then, you see there people in the frontline then,
there is no one out front now and as we see the country is awash
with weapons, is it over i don't think so, i think certain people are
only having a Kit Kat and they are planing a real take over this time.
rom my understanding Brian Stack decided he would punish IRA
prisoners in Portlaoise he set out to make life hell for them. He
wanted them to be treated as cattle, he had no problem telling the
IRA prisoners how much he hated what they were doing. Now he
was entitled to his personal and political opinions, but he was plain
stupid to take it upon himself to dish out very harsh rules that only
applied to the IRA, I do believe he thought he was a hard man and
was certain he was the powerful one because he had them in his
care, but the idiot did not know there were plans taking place far
from Portlaoise to send him on a journey, a one way trip you could
say. His sons have the right to know why he was killed, but i am sure
they do, and i think he was killed for being over zealous. It was a
very bad time to be shouting your mouth off at the IRA, and only a
total fool would take it as far as Brian Stack did.. At that time the
guards on the border decided not to interfere with the IRA crossing
the border, that was they respected their own lives.
Irish People SAY NO to THIS PREVIOUS DEFEATED REFERENDUM
Kenny to Reflect on New Inquiry Powers Vote
https://www.scribd.com/document/333687293/Irish-
People-SAY-NO-to-THIS-PREVIOUS-DEFEATED-
REFERENDUM-Kenny-to-Reflect-on-New-Inquiry-Powers-
Vote

Mr Dooley, the secretary of the Irish branch of the National

Union of Journalists, told the Independent News & Media
chairman Leslie Buckley it was not necessary to screw
your workers to restructure the company, and said
trustees of the defined benefit scheme had been treated
with contempt.
The Moriarty Tribunal was established in 1997 to look into
the financial affairs of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey
and former Fine Gael communications minister Michael
Lowry.

The Tribunal's final report details the investigation into

possible links between businessman Denis O'Brien and
Michael Lowry.

Ireland's second mobile phone licence was awarded to

Denis O'Brien's Digifone in 1995. Mr Lowry was
Communications Minister when the mobile phone licence
was granted.

The report states that it is 'beyond doubt' that Michael

Lowry imparted substantive information to Denis O'Brien
which was 'of significant value and assistance to him in
securing the licence'.

Michael Lowry's role is described as 'disgraceful and

insidious'.

TRAITORS
BEWARE THE RISEN PEOPLE.
WE SHALL TAKE WHAT YE WOULD NOT GIVE..
TYRANTS HYPOCRITES LIARS
Career politicians are mostly parasites who have been
gifted a "family" seat OR who have discovered early on
that politics is a lucrative career which allows them to live
in luxury, with the added benefit of a drug called POWER
being within their reach. The professional parasite TD's are
good at their job - they say the right things and easily spot
a bandwagon coming along which they effortlessly hop on
to.
The money isn't half bad - well why would it when the
parasites make the rules and reward themselves (what
they can get away with). And then there's the "expenses"!
These are like an extra salary and with the use of a good
calculator can be worth more than the wages themselves.
The parasite TD is an actor of course so must put on a
show that will keep the electorate amused or outraged. It's
all Bollywood/ WWE stuff (World Wrestling Entertainment).
The timing is everything, so parasite TD has to be seen to
wallop the bad guys and be the cool clean hero. After the
show of course, it's drinks in the Dil bar, "what are you
havin'?" and a good laugh.

There is a slight inconvenience for Parasite TD every 4 or 5

years. It's called an ELECTION, and Parasite must make
noises to attract enough voters to get re-elected. It usually
works because voters show a strange loyalty and support
parasites in large numbers. On the odd occasion 'though
voters have the audacity to try their luck with an
alternative candidate (often a trainee parasite) but this is
not a huge problem because Parasite TD is usually a
member of an exclusive club called The Party. The Party
looks after the welfare of parasites and so a new home is
found for the rejected TD in an even better doss house
called the Seanad. Here Parasite can amuse itself with the
odd speech, still drink cheap drink in the Dil bar and use
the exclusive Kildare Street car park while shopping in
Brown Thomas. The Party gets MILLIONS of free money
from the taxpayer - that's you and me, so has the cash to
get it's parasites re-elected to the Dil at the next
election.

Are YOU supporting your local Parasite?

Enda Kenny became a TD in 1975

Michel Martin became a TD in 1989
Brendan Howlin became a TD in 1987
Eamon Ryan became a TD in 2002

These are just a few. Is there a parasite near you?

Angry yet?
If you worked hard for your money and wanted buy
something expensive like a car or a house you wouldn't
just throw your hard earned cash at the first one that
comes along. But if you are a government Minister like Leo
Varadkar or Simon Harris throwing ONE BILLION EURO at a
new Children's Hospital is not a problem. It's not their
money and they will suffer no consequences for
squandering it. A new Children's Hospital is URGENTLY
needed (and should have been built years ago), but too
many people have said that the site at St James's Hospital
campus is the wrong place to build the hospital. Another
site that was looked at initially, at the Mater Hospital was
deemed unsuitable. A third choice was at the James
Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown but this was
also rejected. Incredibly, a site near the Red Cow in
Clondalkin was offered to the state for FREE but was not
even looked at. Many, many experts have criticized the St
James's location and I am no expert but I will offer my own
experience to why I think this site is wrong.

One morning recently I stopped for (cheap) petrol down

the road from James's Hospital. After filling up it took me
over 20 minutes to drive from Mount Brown to the Luas
line on the city side of the hospital. Because it was
morning rush hour the Luas passed up and down every
few minutes bringing road traffic almost to a halt. (Bertie
Ahern's fault - the Luas should have been put underground
at this point when the country was awash with money).

James's Street is often at a standstill. One of the main

arteries into the city passes through Kilmainham where
the road is narrow and on into James's Street. Just off
James's Street is Ireland's most popular tourist attraction,
the Guinness brewery and most tourists who visit Dublin
and Ireland go there. There is a constant flow of slow-
moving tour buses on James's Street seven days a week.
Down the road from James's, another huge tourist
attraction is Kilmainham Jail, again drawing tens of
thousands of tourists. Add in the Museum of Modern Art at
the Royal Hospital AND the regular music events also at
the Royal Hospital and you can see that whole area often
comes to a standstill. Imagine an ambulance trying to get
through this bottleneck trying to reach the new Children's
Hospital with a sick child. The present St James's
Hospital(s) are already chock-a-block with huge numbers
of patients AND staff daily negotiating the busy roads into
the complex.

On top of the traffic problems there is another major flaw

with this site! There is not going to be anywhere near
enough parking places for staff, let alone patients. The
hospital will not be able to attract staff in the future
because there will not be adequate parking for them.

The sites at Red Cow and Blanchardstown, near the M50

and with quick access to all major country routes would
make more sense.
But have Enda Kenny or his Ministerial lightweights ever
made sense?

Simon Harris you call your self the Minister of Health and
our people are being poisoned When the soil and water
samples came back we were astounded.....all these
Chemicals were in a small sample bottle that you get in
the hospital and they expect you to drink 2 lts of water per
day ............................................................
Attached are the side effects that these Toxic chemicals
cause to the Human Body when absorbed into the blood
stream they were found on the soil and in the water on the
trees everywhere and they are being absorbed into our
bodies causing all sorts of cancer you are all covering this
up and you really do need to resign

SOIL SAMPLES SHOW; results :

Aluminium: 1306584.00
Barium: 1188.31
Lithium: < 10
Strontium: 4726.93

WATER SAMPLES SHOW; Results;

PVL MEANS Parametric Value Limit as per EU Drinking
water regulations

Aluminium:
Pvl =200.. results 147.8 ug/L
By Rebel Siren
Alzheimers Disease Now Fastest-Growing Threat Globally
Health, Report Finds
Source: by Melvyn R. Werbach, M.D.
STUDIES HAVE DISCOVERED A DIRECT ASSOCIATION
BETWEEN THE
HIGH LEVELS ALUMINUM IN MUNICIPAL DRINKING WATER
AND THE ONSET OF ALZHEIMERS
DEMENTIA which has multiplied 80% in the past few years

Antimony:
Pvl =5..Results =0.243 ug/L

Health effects of Antimony

Especially people that work with antimony can suffer the

effects of exposure by breathing in antimony dusts.
Human exposure to antimony can take place by breathing
air, drinking water and eating foods that contain it, but
also by skin contact with soil, water and other substances
that contain it. Breathing in antimony that is bond to
hydrogen in the gaseous phase, is what mainly causes the
health effects.
Exposure to relatively high concentrations of antimony (9
mg/m3 of air) for a longer period of time can cause
irritation of the eyes, skin and lungs.
As the exposure continues more serious health effects
may occur, such as lung diseases , heart problems,
diarrhea, severe vomiting and stomach ulcers.
It is not known whether antimony can cause cancer or
reproductive failure. Antimony is used as a medine for
parasital infections, but people who have had too much of
the medicine or were sensitive to it have experienced
health effects in the past. These health effects have made
us more aware of the dangers Especially people that work
with antimony can suffer the effects of exposure by
breathing in antimony dusts. Human exposure to antimony
can take place by breathing air drinking water and eating
foods that contain it, but also by skin contact with soil
water and other substances that contain it of exposure to
antimony.

Arsenic:
Arsenic is Arsenic, IT CAN KILL YOU.

Arsenic can cause various health effects, such as irritation

of the stomach and intestines, decreased production of
red and white blood cells, skin changes and lung irritation.
It is suggested that the uptake of significant amounts of
inorganic arsenic can intensify the chances of cancer
development, especially the chances of development of
skin cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer and lymphatic
cancer.

A very high exposure to inorganic arsenic can cause

infertility and miscarriages with women, and it can cause
skin disturbances, declined resistance to infections, heart
disruptions and brain damage with both men and women.
Finally, inorganic arsenic can damage DNA.
A lethal dose of arsenic oxide is generally regarded as 100
mg.

Organic arsenic?... can cause neither cancer, nor DNA

damage. But exposure to high doses may cause certain
effects to human health, such as nerve injury and
stomachaches. Arsenic is Arsenic prolonged exposure kills
and causes serious damage
Read more:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/as.htm#ixzz4
CRUQ9vtI

Barium:
Barium causes stomach cramps diarrhea, nausea,
vomiting, constipation, weakness, pale skin, sweating,
ringing in the ears, hives, itching, red skin, swelling or
tightening of the throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing,
hoarseness
agitation, confusion, fast heartbeat, bluish skin colithium

Beryllium:
Health effects of beryllium
Beryllium is not an element that is crucial for humans; in
fact it is one of the most toxic chemicals we know. It is a
metal that can be very harmful when humans breathe it
in, because it can damage the lungs and cause
pneumonia.

The most commonly known effect of beryllium is called

berylliosis, a dangerous and persistent lung disorder that
can also damage other organs, such as the heart. In about
20% of all cases people die of this disease. Breathing in
beryllium in the workplace is what causes berylliosis.
People that have weakened immune systems are most
susceptible to this disease.

Beryllium can also cause allergic reactions with people

that are hypersensitive to this chemical. These reactions
can be very heavy and they can even cause a person to
be seriously ill, a condition known as Chronic Beryllium
Disease (CBD). The symptoms are weakness, tiredness
and breathing problems. Some people that suffer from
CBD will develop anorexia and blueness of hands and feet.
Sometimes people can even be in such a serious condition
that CBD can cause their death.

Next to causing berylliosis and CBD, beryllium can also

increase the chances of cancer development and DNA
damage.

Read more:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/be.htm#ixzz4
CRVcIpJm

Boron:
Health effects of boron
Humans can be exposed to boron through fruit and
vegetables, water, air and consumer products. we have a
regular daily intake of about 2 mg and about 18 mg in out
body in total.
When humans consume large amounts of boron-
containing food, the boron concentrations in their bodies
may rise to levels that can cause health problems. Boron
can infect the stomach, liver, kidneys and brains and can
eventually lead to death. When exposure to small amounts
of boron takes place irritation of the nose, throat or eyes
may occur. It takes 5 g of borc acid to make a person ill
and 20 grams or more to put its life in danger.
Eating fish or meat will not increase the boron
concentrations in our bodies, as boron does not
accumulate within the tissues of animals.
Read more:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/b.htm#ixzz4C
RAT13DI

Cadmium:
Other high exposures can occur with people who live near
hazardous waste sites or factories that release cadmium
into the air and people that work in the metal refinery
industry. When people breathe in cadmium it can severely
damage the lungs. This may even cause death.

Cadmium is first transported to the liver through the

blood. There, it is bond to proteins to form complexes that
are transported to the kidneys. Cadmium accumulates in
kidneys, where it damages filtering mechanisms. This
causes the excretion of essential proteins and sugars from
the body and further kidney damage. It takes a very long
time before cadmium that has accumulated in kidneys is
excreted from a human body.

Other health effects that can be caused by cadmium are:

- Diarrhoea, stomach pains and severe vomiting

- Bone fracture
- Reproductive failure and possibly even infertility
- Damage to the central nervous system
- Damage to the immune system
- Psychological disorders
- Possibly DNA damage or cancer development

Read more:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/cd.htm#ixzz4
CRXIYFCA

Cosium: It must be misspelt as nothing is coming up for it?

Results = < 0.37
Chromium:
pvl= 50 = results < 0.93
Chromium is an essential nutrient for humans and
shortages may cause heart conditions, disruptions of
metabolisms and diabetes. But the uptake of too much
chromium can cause health effects as well, for instance
skin rashes.

Chromium(VI) is a danger to human health, mainly for

people who work in the steel and textile industry. People
who smoke tobacco also have a higher chance of exposure
to chromium.

Chromium(VI) is known to cause various health effects.

When it is a compound in leather products, it can cause
allergic reactions, such as skin rash. After breathing it in
chromium(VI) can cause nose irritations and nosebleeds.
Other health problems that are caused by chromium(VI)
are:

- Skin rashes
- Upset stomachs and ulcers
- Respiratory problems
- Weakened immune systems
- Kidney and liver damage
- Alteration of genetic material
- Lung cancer
- Death

Read more:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/cr.htm#ixzz4C
RY25KRe

Cobalt:
Results < 0.2
Too high concentrations of cobalt may damage human
health. When we breathe in too high concentrations of
cobalt through air we experience lung effects, such as
asthma and pneumonia. This mainly occurs with people
that work with cobalt.

When plants grow on contaminated soils they will

accumulate very small particles of cobalt, especially in the
parts of the plant we eat, such as fruits and seeds. Soils
near mining and melting facilities may contain very high
amounts of cobalt, so that the uptake by humans through
eating plants can cause health effects.
Health effects that are a result of the uptake of high
concentrations of cobalt are:

- Vomiting and nausea

- Vision problems
- Heart problems
- Thyroid damage

Health effects may also be caused by radiation of

radioactive cobalt isotopes. This can cause sterility, hair
loss, vomiting, bleeding, diarrhoea, coma and even death.
This radiation is sometimes used with cancer-patients to
destroy tumors. These patients also suffer from hair loss,
diarrhea and vomiting.
Cobalt dust may cause an asthma-like disease with
symptoms ranging from cough, shortness of breath and
dyspnea to decreased pulmonary function, nodular
fibrosis, permanent disability, and death. Exposure to
cobalt may cause weight loss, dermatitis, and respiratory
hypersensitivity. LD 50 (oral, rat)- 6171 mg/kg. (LD50 =
Lethal dose 50 = Single dose of a substance that causes
the death of 50% of an animal population from exposure
to the substance by any route other than inhalation. LD50
is usually expressed as milligrams or grams of material
per kilogram of animal weight (mg/kg or g/kg).)
Carcinogenicity- International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC) haslisted cobalt and cobalt compounds
within group 2B (agents which are possibly carcinogenic to
humans). ACGIH has placed cobalt and inorganic
compounds in category A3 (Experimental animal
carcinogen- the agent is carcinogenic in experimental
animals at a relatively high dose, by route(s), histologic
type(s), or by mechanism(s) that are not considered
relevant to worker exposure.) Cobalt has been classified to
be carcinogenic to experimental animals by the Federal
Republic of Germany.
Read more:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/co.htm#ixzz4
CRewqYe1

Copper:

Copper can be found in many kinds of food, in drinking

water and in air. Because of that we absorb eminent
quantities of copper each day by eating, drinking and
breathing. The absorption of copper is necessary, because
copper is a trace element that is essential for human
health. Although humans can handle proportionally large
concentrations of copper, too much copper can still cause
eminent health problems.
Copper concentrations in air are usually quite low, so that
exposure to copper through breathing is negligible. But
people that live near smelters that process copper ore into
metal, do experience this kind of exposure.
People that live in houses that still have copper plumbing
are exposed to higher levels of copper than most people,
because copper is released into their drinking water
through corrosion of pipes.
Occupational exposure to copper often occurs. In the
working environment, copper contagion can lead to a flu-
like condition known as metal fever. This condition will
pass after two days and is caused by over sensitivity.
Effects
Long-term exposure to copper can cause irritation of the
nose, mouth and eyes and it causes headaches,
stomachaches, dizziness, vomiting and diarrhea.
Intentionally high uptakes of copper may cause liver and
kidney damage and even death. Whether copper is
carcinogenic has not been determined yet.
Read more:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/cu.htm#ixzz4
CRg7mWIV

Gallium:
Results = <0.32
Health effects of gallium
Gallium is an element found in the body, but it occurs in a
very small amount. For example, in a person with a mass
of seventy kilograms, there are 0.7 milligrams of gallium
in the body. If this amount of gallium was condensed into a
cube, the cube would only be 0.49 millimeters long on one
side. It has no proven benefit towards the function of the
body, and it most likely is only present due to small traces
in the natural environment, in water, and in residue on
vegetables and fruits. Several vitamins and commercially
distributed waters have been known to contain trace
amounts of gallium with less than one part per million.
Pure gallium is not a harmful substance for humans to
touch. It has been handled many times only for the simple
pleasure of watching it melt by the heat emitted from a
human hand. However, it is known to leave a stain on
hands. Even the gallium radioactive compound, gallium
[67Ga] citrate, can be injected into the body and used for
gallium scanning without harmful effects. Although it is
not harmful in small amounts, gallium should not be
purposefully consumed in large doses. Some gallium
compounds can actually be very dangerous, however. For
example, acute exposure to gallium(III) chloride can cause
throat irritation, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and its
fumes can cause even very serious conditions such as
pulmonary edema and partial paralysis.
Read more:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/ga.htm#ixzz4
CRgbruA3

Iron:
Pvl =200Results 550.3
Iron in water is not a health hazard by itself but it may
increase the hazard of pathogenic organisms, since many
of these organisms require iron to grow. 200 pvl Results
550.3 which is a staggering amount

Symptoms, signs and diseases resulting from too much

iron (iron overload):
chronic fatigue
joint pain
abdominal pain
liver disease (cirrhosis, liver cancer)
diabetes mellitus
irregular heart rhythm
heart attack or heart failure
 skin color changes (bronze, ashen-gray green)
loss of period
loss of interest in sex
osteoarthritis
osteoporosis
hair loss
enlarged liver or spleen
impotence
infertility
hypogonadism
hypothyroidism
hypopituitarism
depression
adrenal function problems
early onset neurodegenerative disease
elevated blood sugar
elevated liver enzymes
elevated iron (serum iron, serum ferritin)

Lead:
Signs of repeated lead exposure include:
abdominal pain
abdominal cramps
aggressive behavior
constipation
sleep problems
headaches
irritability
loss of developmental skills in children
loss of appetite
fatigue
high blood pressure
numbness or tingling in the extremities
memory loss
anemia
kidney dysfunction
Since a childs brain is still developing, lead can lead to
intellectual disability. Symptoms may include:
behavior problems
low IQ
poor grades at school
problems with hearing
 short- and long-term learning difficulties
growth delays
A high, toxic dose of lead poisoning may result in
emergency symptoms. These include:
severe abdominal pain and cramping
vomiting
muscle weakness
stumbling when walking
seizures
coma
encephalopathy, which manifests as confusion, coma,
and seizures

Lithium;
Results = < 3.32 ug/L
for Bipolar Disorder for to dumb you down

Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) is one of the most widely used

and studied medications for treating bipolar disorder.
Lithium helps reduce the severity and frequency of mania.
It may also help relieve or prevent bipolar depression.
Studies show that lithium can significantly reduce suicide
risk. Lithium also helps prevent future manic and
depressive episodes. As a result, it may be prescribed for
long periods of time (even between episodes) as
maintenance therapy.
Lithium acts on a person's central nervous system (brain
and spinal cord). Doctors don't know exactly how lithium
works to stabilize a person's mood, but it is thought to
help strengthen nerve cell connections in brain regions
that are involved in regulating mood, thinking and
behavior.

Common side effects of lithium can include:

Hand tremor, Increased thirst, Increased urination,
Diarrhea, Vomiting ,Weight gain, Impaired memory, Poor
concentration, Drowsiness, Muscle weakness, Hair loss,
Acne, Decreased thyroid function, diarrhea, vomiting,
fever, unsteady walking, fainting, confusion, slurred
speech, or rapid heart rate.

Manganese:
Pvl=50 Results 14.78 ug/L

Health effects of manganese

Manganese is a very common compound that can be
found everywhere on earth. Manganese is one out of three
toxic essential trace elements, which means that it is not
only necessary for humans to survive, but it is also toxic
when too high concentrations are present in a human
body. When people do not live up to the recommended
daily allowances their health will decrease. But when the
uptake is too high health problems will also occur.

The uptake of manganese by humans mainly takes place

through food, such as spinach, tea and herbs. The
foodstuffs that contain the highest concentrations are
grains and rice, soya beans, eggs, nuts, olive oil, green
beans and oysters. After absorption in the human body
manganese will be transported through the blood to the
liver, the kidneys, the pancreas and the endocrine glands.

Manganese effects occur mainly in the respiratory tract

and in the brains. Symptoms of manganese poisoning are
hallucinations, forgetfulness and nerve damage.
Manganese can also cause Parkinson, lung embolism and
bronchitis. When men are exposed to manganese for a
longer period of time they may become impotent.
A syndrome that is caused by manganese has symptoms
such as schizophrenia, dullness, weak muscles, headaches
and insomnia.

Because manganese is an essential element for human

health shortages of manganese can also cause health
effects. These are the following effects:

- Fatness
- Glucose intolerance
- Blood clotting
- Skin problems
- Lowered cholesterol levels
- Skeleton disorders
- Birth defects
- Changes of hair colour
- Neurological symptoms
Chronic Manganese poisoning may result from prolonged
inhalation of dust and fume. The central nervous system is
the chief site of damage from the disease, which may
result in permanent disability. Symptoms include languor,
sleepiness, weakness, emotional disturbances, spastic
gait, recurring leg cramps, and paralysis. A high incidence
of pneumonia and other upper respiratory infections has
been found in workers exposed to dust or fume of
Manganese compounds. Manganese compounds are
experimental equivocal tumorigenic agents.

Read more:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/mn.htm#ixzz4
CRhi9EsX

Nickel:

Health effects of nickel

Nickel is a compound that occurs in the environment only
at very low levels. Humans use nickel for many different
applications. The most common application of nickel is the
use as an ingredient of steal and other metal products. It
can be found in common metal products such as jewelry.

Foodstuffs naturally contain small amounts of nickel.

Chocolate and fats are known to contain severely high
quantities. Nickel uptake will boost when people eat large
quantities of vegetables from polluted soils. Plants are
known to accumulate nickel and as a result the nickel
uptake from vegetables will be eminent. Smokers have a
higher nickel uptake through their lungs. Finally, nickel can
be found in detergents.

Humans may be exposed to nickel by breathing air,

drinking water, eating food or smoking cigarettes. Skin
contact with nickel-contaminated soil or water may also
result in nickel exposure. In small quantities nickel is
essential, but when the uptake is too high it can be a
danger to human health.

An uptake of too large quantities of nickel has the

following consequences:
- Higher chances of development of lung cancer, nose
cancer, larynx cancer and prostate cancer
- Sickness and dizziness after exposure to nickel gas
- Lung embolism
- Respiratory failure
- Birth defects
- Asthma and chronic bronchitis
- Allergic reactions such as skin rashes, mainly from
jewelry
- Heart disorders
Nickel fumes are respiratory irritants and may cause
pneumonitis. Exposure to nickel and its compounds may
result in the development of a dermatitis known as nickel
itch in sensitized individuals. The first symptom is usually
itching, which occurs up to 7 days before skin eruption
occurs. The primary skin eruption is erythematous, or
follicular, which may be followed by skin ulceration. Nickel
sensitivity, once acquired, appears to persist indefinitely.
Read more:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/ni.htm#ixzz4C
RosXQAD

Rubidium:
Health effects of rubidium
Effects of exposure: water reactive. Moderately toxic by
ingestion. If rubidium ignites, it will cause thermal burns.
Rubidium readily reacts with skin moisture to form
rubidium hydroxide, which causes chemical burns of eyes
and skin. Signs and symptoms of overexposure: skin and
eye burns. Failure to gain weight, ataxia, hyper irritation,
skin ulcers, and extreme nervousness. Medical condition
aggravated by exposure: heart patients, potassium
imbalance.
First aid: Eye: immediately flush with running water for 15
minutes while holding eyelid. Obtain medical attention
immediately. Skin: remove material and flush with soap
and water. Remove contaminated clothing. Get medical
attention promptly. Inhalation: move to fresh air
immediately. If irritation persists, get medical attention.
Ingestion: do not induce vomiting. Get medical attention
immediately.
Read more:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/rb.htm#ixzz4
CRpORCBX

Selenium:

When selenium uptake is too high health effects will be

likely to come about. The seriousness of these effects
depends upon the concentrations of selenium in the food
and how often this food is eaten.
The health effects of various forms of selenium can vary
from brittle hair and deformed nails, to rashes, heat,
swelling of the skin and severe pains. When selenium ends
up in the eyes people experience burning, irritation and
tearing.

Selenium poisoning may become so severe in some cases

that it can even cause death.
Overexposure of selenium fumes may produce
accumulation of fluid in the lungs, garlic breath, bronchitis,
pneumonitis, bronchial asthma, nausea, chills, fever,
headache, sore throat, shortness of breath, conjunctivitis,
vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and enlarged liver.
Selenium is an eye and upper respiratory irritant and a
sensitizer. Overexposure may result in red staining of the
nails, teeth and hair. Selenium dioxide reacts with
moisture to form selenious acid, which is corrosive to the
skin and eyes. Carcinogenicity- The International Agency
for Research on Cancer (IARC) has listed selenium within
Group 3 (The agent is not classifiable as to its
carcinogenicity to humans.)
Read more:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/se.htm#ixzz4
CRq6V6DK

Silver:
Results = <0.33 ug/L

No studies of cancer or birth defects in animals from

eating, drinking, or breathing in silver compounds were
found. Therefore, it is not known if these effects would
occur in humans. One study of animals who drank silver
compounds mixed with water for most of their lives found
no effect on fertility. Another study found that reproductive
tissues were damaged in animals after they received
injections of silver nitrate. However, the tissue recovered
even while the animals received more injections of silver
nitrate. Tests in animals show that silver compounds are
likely to be lifethreatening for humans only when large
amounts (that is, grams) are swallowed, and that skin
contact with silver compounds is very unlikely to be
lifethreatening.
Silver does have helpful uses. For example, silver nitrate
was used for many years as drops in newborns' eyes to
prevent blindness caused by gonorrhea, and it is also used
in salves for burn victims. Some water treatment methods
(including water filters) also use a form of silver to kill
bacteria. Like Colloidal Silver is supposed to be very good
for the human body.

Strontium 90:

Side effects from in high doses that

is in the Chem-trails
Strontium ranelate increased the risk of venous
thrombo-embolism, pulmonary embolism and serious
cardiovascular disorders,cancer
including myocardial infarction. Its use is now restricted.
[10] The
most common side effects include nausea, diarrhea,
headache and eczema, but with
only 24% increase compared with placebo group.
However, most of those side
effects resolved within 3 months. Occasional severe
allergic reactions have
been reported including Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and
Systemic Symptoms
(DRESS syndrome

Thallium:
http://patient.info/doctor/thallium-poisoning
Epidemiology
Thallium poisoning is rare in Western societies. It has
occasionally been the tool for murder.

Thallium poisoning usually follows oral ingestion but it can

be inhaled from contaminated dust from pyrite burners,
cadmium manufacturing, lead and zinc smelting and in
contamination of heroin or cocaine. Its toxic effect is due
to its ability to inhibit a number of intracellular potassium-
mediated processes. It is used in the manufacture of
electronic components, optical lenses, semiconductor
materials, alloys, gamma radiation detection equipment,
imitation jewellery, artists' paints, low-temperature
thermometers and green fireworks. In some parts of the
world it is still used for killing rodents and this may lead to
inadvertent ingestion by humans.
The lethal dose is around 15-20 mg per kg body weight
but serious toxicity and even death can occur with rather
less. It is rapidly distributed throughout all tissues of the
body. Most thallium is excreted by the faecal route but up
to 35% may be excreted by the kidneys. Nevertheless,
prolonged exposure may lead to build-up and chronic
toxicity.
It was originally used for treating skin infections but had a
low therapeutic index. Thallium isotopes are now used in
some cardiac investigations but the dose is too low to be
toxic.
Acute poisoning tends to produce gastrointestinal (GI)
effects, whilst chronic poisoning tends to produce
neurological manifestations. The classical triad of acute
poisoning that should suggest the diagnosis of acute
thallium toxicity is:
Nausea and vomiting.
Followed by painful peripheral neuropathy.
Then alopecia.

Tin:

Health effects of tin

Tin is mainly applied in various organic substances. The
organic tin bonds are the most dangerous forms of tin for
humans. Despite the dangers they are applied in a great
number of industries, such as the paint industry and the
plastic industry, and in agriculture through pesticides. The
number of applications of organic tin substances is still
increasing, despite the fact that we know the
consequences of tin poisoning.
The effects of organic tin substances can vary. They
depend upon the kind of substance that is present and the
organism that is exposed to it. Triethyltin is the most
dangerous organic tin substance for humans. It has
relatively short hydrogen bonds. When hydrogen bonds
grow longer a tin substance will be less dangerous to
human health. Humans can absorb tin bonds through food
and breathing and through the skin.
The uptake of tin bonds can cause acute effects as well as
long-term effects.

Acute effects are:

- Eye and skin irritations
- Headaches
- Stomachaches
- Sickness and dizziness
- Severe sweating
- Breathlessness
- Urination problems

Long-term effects are:

- Depressions
- Liver damage
- Malfunctioning of immune systems
- Chromosomal damage
- Shortage of red blood cells
- Brain damage (causing anger, sleeping disorders,
forgetfulness and headaches)
Effects of tin on the environment
Read more:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/sn.htm#ixzz4
CRvtO88Y

Uranium: KILLS YOU ..

Uranium Health Effects
A discussion of chemical and radiological health effects
associated with exposure to uranium and its compounds.
Chemical Toxicity
Exposure to uranium can result in both chemical and
radiological toxicity. The main chemical effect associated
with exposure to uranium and its compounds is kidney
toxicity. This toxicity can be caused by breathing air
containing uranium dusts or by eating substances
containing uranium, which then enters the bloodstream.
Once in the bloodstream, the uranium compounds are
filtered by the kidneys, where they can cause damage to
the kidney cells. Very high uranium intakes (ranging from
about 50 to 150 mg depending on the individual) can
cause acute kidney failure and death. At lower intake
levels (around 25 to 40 mg), damage can be detected by
the presence of protein and dead cells in the urine, but
there are no other symptoms. Also, at lower intake levels,
the kidney repairs itself over a period of several weeks
after the uranium exposure has stopped.

Vanadium:

Health effects of vanadium

Vanadium compounds are not regarded as serious hazard,
however, workers exposed to vanadium peroxide dust
were found to suffer severe eye, nose and throat irritation.
The uptake of vanadium by humans mainly takes place
through foodstuffs, such as buckwheat, soya beans, olive
oil, sunflower oil, apples and eggs.

Vanadium can have a number of effects on human health,

when the uptake is too high. When vanadium uptake takes
places through air it can cause bronchitis and pneumonia.

The acute effects of vanadium are irritation of lungs,

throat, eyes and nasal cavities.

Other health effects of vanadium uptake are:

- Cardiac and vascular disease

- Inflammation of stomach and intestines
- Damage to the nervous system
- Bleeding of livers and kidneys
- Skin rashes
- Severe trembling and paralyses
- Nose bleeds and throat pains
- Weakening
- Sickness and headaches
- Dizziness
- Behavioural changes
The health hazards associated with exposure to vanadium
are dependent on its oxidation state. This product contains
elemental vanadium. Elemental vanadium could be
oxidized to vanadium pentoxide during welding. The
pentoxide form is more toxic than the elemental form.
Chronic exposure to vanadium pentoxide dust and fumes
may cause severe irritation of the eyes, skin, upper
respiratory tract, persistent inflammations of the trachea
and bronchi, pulmonary edema, and systemic poisoning.
Signs and symptoms of overexposure include;
conjunctivitis, nasopharyngitis, cough, labored breathing,
rapid heart beat, lung changes, chronic bronchitis, skin
pallor, greenish-black tongue and an allergic skin rash.
Read more:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/v.htm#ixzz4C
RxedIhf

These reading are massive as that amount was found in

one little urine sample Jar that you get in the chemist or
the hospital could you imagine the readings if it was a 2lt
bottle of water !!!!!!!!!!!! and they tell you to drink lts a
day it is good for you? why they are spraying is irrelevant,
the fact is they ARE spraying toxic chemicals down on our
people and we have the proof it is not speculation.

These are the effects of the toxic chemicals found to be

falling on our people being absorbed into our skin and into
our blood stream by chemicals they are spraying in the
sky. I was curious to see what they are spraying and I had
some water and soil samples taken and sent to the lab for
analysis to see what they are. I had come across an article
in America but I do not believe in speculation I just deal
with the facts so I needed proof and the results you will
see below for your self and the side effects are
devastating. You will also see how the tests were
conducted so that there was no cross contamination.
You might ask , WHY are they doing this? The answers are
all there as you read down the file , it is all connected
.Every thing in this file can prove beyond a shadow of a
doubt that we are being exterminated. And Why they
want Ireland they do not want you Simple as . And
the People are not educated to see what is going on to be
able to fight them back.

You see there is a cure for all cancers that they do not
want you to know about
http://www.life-saving-naturalcures-and-
naturalremedies.com/natural-cancer-cures-baking-soda-
maple-syrup-treatment.html >>>>>>>>>YOU NEED TO
GET
EDUCATED ON THIS. It is called Bicarbonate of Soda =
Bread Soda https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=zydhIZtZVs4
Kenny for the bananas
Wasteful spending, Exorbitant write downs in debt to
Billionaire friends, which have led to 3rd world public
services.
Where is the Anger people ?
He just runs with the hares and hunts with the hounds but we see
through all the deception now that we know the media is blacking
out vital information, we have all been set up for failure. We need
this government out, we need fresh minds without conflicting
interests who would be happy to do a fucking stand-up job for half
the money these tools are on. Please god a revolutionary emerges
from this shit storm. What have we got if we don't have any hope for
a better future. Look at how much they have taken from us, look at
what they have let the banks do to us after we the very people they
are financially imprisoning bailed them out!! look at our healthcare
system that we pay through the nose for and yet we still have
people laying in hallways, they don't care!! This is what our rebels
fought for? We are no longer free people just slaves to a corrupt self
serving government. We are banging our heads off brick walls!!
When are we taking action. Action speaks louder than words
If you worked hard for your money and wanted buy
something expensive like a car or a house you wouldn't
just throw your hard earned cash at the first one that
comes along. But if you are a government Minister like Leo
Varadkar or Simon Harris throwing ONE BILLION EURO at a
new Children's Hospital is not a problem. It's not their
money and they will suffer no consequences for
squandering it. A new Children's Hospital is URGENTLY
needed (and should have been built years ago), but too
many people have said that the site at St James's Hospital
campus is the wrong place to build the hospital. Another
site that was looked at initially, at the Mater Hospital was
deemed unsuitable. A third choice was at the James
Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown but this was
also rejected. Incredibly, a site near the Red Cow in
Clondalkin was offered to the state for FREE but was not
even looked at. Many, many experts have criticized the St
James's location and I am no expert but I will offer my own
experience to why I think this site is wrong.

One morning recently I stopped for (cheap) petrol down

the road from James's Hospital. After filling up it took me
over 20 minutes to drive from Mount Brown to the Luas
line on the city side of the hospital. Because it was
morning rush hour the Luas passed up and down every
few minutes bringing road traffic almost to a halt. (Bertie
Ahern's fault - the Luas should have been put underground
at this point when the country was awash with money).

James's Street is often at a standstill. One of the main

arteries into the city passes through Kilmainham where
the road is narrow and on into James's Street. Just off
James's Street is Ireland's most popular tourist attraction,
the Guinness brewery and most tourists who visit Dublin
and Ireland go there. There is a constant flow of slow-
moving tour buses on James's Street seven days a week.
Down the road from James's, another huge tourist
attraction is Kilmainham Jail, again drawing tens of
thousands of tourists. Add in the Museum of Modern Art at
the Royal Hospital AND the regular music events also at
the Royal Hospital and you can see that whole area often
comes to a standstill. Imagine an ambulance trying to get
through this bottleneck trying to reach the new Children's
Hospital with a sick child. The present St James's
Hospital(s) are already chock-a-block with huge numbers
of patients AND staff daily negotiating the busy roads into
the complex.

On top of the traffic problems there is another major flaw

with this site! There is not going to be anywhere near
enough parking places for staff, let alone patients. The
hospital will not be able to attract staff in the future
because there will not be adequate parking for them.

The sites at Red Cow and Blanchardstown, near the M50

and with quick access to all major country routes would
make more sense.
But have Enda Kenny or his Ministerial lightweights ever
made sense?

Simons Says new healthcare plan

ALL CORRUPT FAILED POLITICIANS NAMED HERE
Rigged Elections and Rigged Referendums We Said no To
Every EU Referendum but These Bastards gave two Voting
Cards to Illegal migrants in Ireland just Like USA
MR. RABBITT
These bastards Robbed Ireland resources By Giving it
Away, It Belong to the Irish people we are the Tax payers
we own our Resources not The corrupt greedy Fat
Politicians here
Disgraceful allowing old gangsters like him a voice on the TV and
Airways.
Yeah, so Irish Water is amazing. This is my water tonight
from the tap. No warning, no notice, no nothing. When can
I start drinking the water again? What is it? Who knows.
Garda Commissioner Nirn OSullivan contacted
journalists to make allegations of sexual crimes against
Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe, it has
been claimed.
Bertie Ahern on the Pat fkn Kenny show..?

Commissioner leaked McCabe sexual offences

claims, Dil hears
Howlin says OSullivan contacted journalists to make allegations
about whistleblower

SICK, SICK, SICK

The guards (Republic of Ireland's police) could not be
committing crime with impunity" against "the people"
without the support of the unelected JUDICIAL BRANCH of
the Republic of Ireland's Government, plus the support --
by "deed and omission" -- of the Republic of Ireland's legal
profession which is headed by the judges, could they?
Changing the politicians in general elections cannot, by
itself, remedy this particularly sick, and socially-
destructive situation?
=== === ===
MAJOR LONG-STANDING SET OF PROBLEMS WITH THE
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND'S LEGAL PROFESSION ...
"The two main questions I would now like to put to all
addressees of this e-mail are these:
1) Why is the legal profession denying me my legal rights
in such a stubborn, blatant, contrived, unlawful, and
completely uncaring and callous manner for the past
several years?;
and,
2) What (if anything) can anybody do to stop this
outrageous and thoroughly corrupt abuse of the law by the
legal profession?"
===
The excerpt in the section just above is from an email
dated May 29th 2007 to former Chief Justice of the
Republic of Ireland John L. Murray, who is one of the
world's highest paid judges. A FULL COPY of the email in
question, which was titled "The curse of unconstitutional
legislation", can be viewed at the following www location:
http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.co
m//
===
Chief Justice John L. Murray (who was also Attorney
General for a time, and also a judge at the European Court
of Justice), William Finnerty:
https://www.google.ie/
===
OUR LEGAL PROFESSION IS CAUSING, SUSTAINING, AND
EXACERBATING C-PTSD (COMPLEX-POST TRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER) ...
One example of this relates to William Finnerty, and the
ongoing activities of An Garda Sochna (Republic of
Ireland Police), who are the very willing puppets and
accomplices of the Republic of Ireland's legal profession:
Complex-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Garda Sochna,
William Finnerty:
https://www.google.ie/
https://www.google.ie/
=== === ===
IMPUNITY ...
Impunity means the impossibility, de jure or de facto, of
bringing the perpetrators of violations to account
whether in criminal, civil, administrative or disciplinary
proceedings since they are not subject to any inquiry
that might lead to their being accused, arrested, tried and,
if found guilty, sentenced to appropriate penalties, and to
making reparations to their victims.
The above definition for "impunity" is from the United
Nations text titled "Updated Set of principles for the
protection and promotion of human rights through action
to combat impunity", which can be viewed in full at the
following www location:
http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/impu/principles.html
=== === ===
CHARTER OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION ...
"CHAPTER VI
JUSTICE
Article 47
Right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial
Everyone whose rights and freedoms guaranteed by the
law of the Union are violated has the right to an effective
remedy before a tribunal in compliance with the conditions
laid down in this Article.
Everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a
reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal
previously established by law. Everyone shall have the
possibility of being advised, defended and represented.
Legal aid shall be made available to those who lack
sufficient resources in so far as such aid is necessary to
ensure effective access to justice."
Related Link:
"Article 47 of The Charter of the Fundamental Rights of the
European Union, William Finnerty ..."
http://tinyurl.com/cnoyt7v
=== === ===
RELATED HAND-DELIVERED LETTER ...
The scanned copy of a related letter dated April 15th 2015
to Republic of Ireland lawyer Brendan Glynn, of law firm
Patrick Hogan & Co (Ballinasloe, County Galway, Republic
of Ireland), can be viewed at the following www location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/LawyerBrenda/
/Letter.pdf
Without ANY explanation, but with COMPLETE IMPUNITY,
law firm Patrick Hogan & Co apparently decided to
completely ignore the entire contents of the letter at the
www location just above.
=== === ===
RELATED REGISTERED LETTER
(RE: "Request for additional legal advice")
Information relating to a registered letter sent to Northern
Ireland law firm McGuigan Malone Solicitors (Newry,
County Down) on November 5th 2015 can be viewed at
the following www location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/
/5N/RegisteredLetter.htm
To date (January 18th 2016), William Finnerty has not
received any reply of any kind for the registered letter at
the www location immediately above.
=== === ===
THE ABOVE-MENTIONED LEGAL PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO
BE UNRESOLVED (JANUARY 18th 2016) ...
For some evidence of this, please see "acknowledgement
of receipt" from the PSNI (Police Service of Northern
Ireland) dated January 4th 2016 at the following www
location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/
/31December20/Email.html
=== === ===
CLOSELY RELATED EMAIL DATED JANUARY 19th 2016:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/N/19January2016/E
mail.pdf
RELATED REGISTERED LETTER DATED JANUARY 28th 2017:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/
/ScannedRegisteredLetter
=== === === === === ===
Republic of Ireland Chief Police Commissioner Nirn
O'Sullivan
 This Is My Theory of this Treason cover Up White Was
Crime scandal,
The Taoiseach is standing by Nirn OSullivan, saying
there has been no finding of wrongdoing against her,
What a bombshell Labour leader Brendan Howlin dropped
in the Dil chamber yesterday.
He did it during Leaders Questions, the showbiz prime
time event of the political day in Leinster House. Covered
by all media outlets, the exchanges between Taoiseach
Enda Kenny and opposition leaders are also televised.
During his contribution, Howlin surprised many when he
called for the Garda Commissioner Nirn OSullivan to
stand aside while a commission of investigation conducts
its work. This inquiry is to investigate allegations that
senior garda, including Ms OSullivan, led a campaign to
destroy the reputation of garda whistleblower Maurice
McCabe.
I cannot think of another walk of life where, if allegations
of this nature had been made against a person in a
position of power, they would not be placed on
administrative leave until the outcome of the investigation
is known. This would be true of a school principal or even
a shop manager.That it is not true for the head of An
Garda Sochna is troubling, said Mr Howlin.
Then, the bombshell hit.
This morning, a journalist contacted me and told me they
had direct knowledge of calls made by the Garda
Commissioner to journalists during 2013 and 2014, in the
course of which the Commissioner made very serious
allegations of sexual crimes having been committed by
Garda Maurice McCabe, Mr Howlin told a stunned Dil. Mr
Howlins comments have put the Garda Commissioners
role in the maltreatment of Sgt McCabe front and centre
again.
If it were a fact that the Garda Commissioner was in
direct contact with the media making allegations against
one of her officers at around the same time, it would be
extraordinary. I do not know whether the charges being
made against the Garda Commissioner are true, he
concluded.
The allegations against Garda Commissioner Nirn
O'Sullivan make it difficult to see how her tenure as head
of the force can continue for much longer.
Commissioner O'Sullivan now faces a statutory
investigation looking into whether:
She was involved in ordering the Garda Press Office to
brief the media negatively against a Garda whistleblower;
She knew about a secret meeting between her
predecessor as Commissioner, Martin Callinan, and then
Public Accounts Committee chairman and Fianna Fil TD
John McGuinness, where allegations against a Garda
whistleblower were made;
She planned and orchestrated broadcasts on RT,
supposedly a leaked account of the unpublished O'Higgins
Commission Report, in which Sergeant Maurice McCabe
was wrongly branded a liar and irresponsible.
The terms of reference of the investigation into the
treatment of Garda whistleblowers places Commissioner
O'Sullivan front and centre.
More corruption. This stinks to the high heavens.
O'Callaghan criticises Howlin over Dil statement
that Garda Commission O Sullivan, is as Guilty as hell and
lied , Making a Phone to Medal to Revenge The Whistle
blower John Mc Cabe By Making Up A Story to Media of
John Mc Cabe Supposed or alleged to have been up on a
rape charge without any proof of Evidence, John Mc Cabe
said No Such Story, a Certain media Contacted Mr
Brendan Howlin to Tell Him by Phone that Garda
Commission O Sullivan had Rang Up a Member of Media
and Told This Cockn Bull Story, Because She Wanted to
Know Which Media Reported her three years ago and to
revenge on Whistle Blower for Telling The Truth, and She
got Caught Out, And Kenny the Other Fitzgerald Still
Thinks She is Innocent of any Wrong Doing, A Treason
cover Up White was Crime to Discriminate Against
Whistleblowers in General who Report on Garda or
government in General of any Wrong Doing and to Gag
Whistle Blowers by Scandalizing Their Good Name,
Ceann Comhairle Sen Fearghal, who warned everyone
of the long-standing Dil ban on making allegations about
named people who are not in the House Picture: Maxwells
But this is a flavour of what Brendan Howlin had to say:
"This morning a journalist contacted me and told me they
had direct knowledge of calls made by the Garda
Commissioner to journalists during 2013 and 2014, in the
course of which the com-missioner made very serious
allegations of sexual crimes having been committed by
Garda Maurice McCabe.
"In 2015, the Garda Commissioner oversaw the
investigation which examined the call logs of a garda who
was under suspicion of leaking material to the media.
"If it were a fact that the Garda Commissioner was in
direct contact with the media making allegations against
one of her officers at around the same time, it would be
extraordinary.
"I do not know whether the charges being made against
the Garda Commissioner are true," Mr Howlin said.
Last night, Mr Howlin added that the unnamed journalist
who contacted him had not been directly contacted by
Commissioner O'Sullivan, back when she was allegedly
making the allegations against Sgt McCabe.
The Ceann Comhairle, Sen Fearghal, warned everyone
of the long-standing Dil ban on making allegations about
named people who are not in the House.
Invoking an Irish saying about unreliable third-hand
information, the Dil chairman added: "You have just
recounted a 'dirt bean liom go ndirt bean li' story,
relating to a journalist contacting you and referencing the
Garda Commissioner. Such a statement is not
appropriate," the Dil chairman said.
It is a refrain we have heard before - and we expect to
hear again.
Mr Howlin recalled that in the past, he had ended up
before the High and Supreme Courts, after he relayed
another case of allegations of garda misconduct to the
then-justice minister.
He had been told by both courts that he should have first
raised those issues in the Dil.
That was a reference to the saga concerning the
McBrearty family in Donegal which dated back to 1996,
but came to Mr Howlin and others in 2000.
It culminated in the Morris Tribunal findings in 2008 which
severely criticised some serious garda misconduct.
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny was emphatic that there was
not even the basis for charges against anyone in this case.
There were just two conflicting sets of allegations,
vehemently denied by each side.
Mr Kenny said the retired High Court Judge Iarfhlaith
O'Neill could not decide upon these allegations in his
ground-clearing report, which paved the way for the full
inquiry under the Supreme Court Judge Peter Charleton.
But the Taoiseach insisted Commissioner O'Sullivan would
not be standing aside.
"As I have consistently stated on many occasions, there
has been no finding of any wrongdoing of any kind against
her and, in those circumstances, she is entitled to our full
support, and that remains the position," he said.
Crucially, for now at very least, Fianna Fil takes the same
view. Their justice spokesman, Jim O'Callaghan, insisted
there must be "due process" before any decisions can be
taken.
Clearly, this could take time. Mr Justice Charleton has been
given nine months.
Few believe this task can be finished in that time frame.
"The Garda Commissioner heads a policing service
charged with protecting the security of the State,
preventing crime and vindicating the human rights of each
individual," the Labour leader said.
Citing the terms of reference, he listed some of the serious
allegations she faces.
This Dil drama was a major subset of the ongoing
controversy surrounding Garda whistleblowers generally -
and Sgt Maurice McCabe in particular.
Supreme Court Judge Peter Charleton has now been given
extensive terms of reference to examine allegations that
senior garda engaged in a campaign of vilification against
Sgt McCabe at a time when he was trying to raise many
instances of alleged garda wrongdoing.
Privately, some TDs and senators were critical of Mr
Howlin for overstepping the mark with his use of Dil
privilege.
It was also notable that he had insisted that he was not
"making allegations" against the commissioner.
All the Leinster House inmates were waiting on details of
another big investigation into alleged Garda wrongdoing
when the former Public Expenditure Minister stood up in
the Dil. No great surprise that he argued trenchantly for
Commissioner O'Sullivan to stand aside pending the
investigation findings.
But then Mr Howlin dropped the bombshell: he said a
journalist alleged to him that very morning that the Garda
Commissioner had, back in 2013 and 2014, made very
serious allegations to a number of journalists about
"sexual crimes" by the Garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice
McCabe. He said that in 2015 Commissioner O'Sullivan
was herself investigating another garda for alleged leaks
to journalists.
It is important to note that Commissioner O'Sullivan has
several times denied that she ever did any such thing and
stressed that she had no knowledge of others doing such
things.
But, unusually with an investigation in the matter not even
started, she issued a statement repeating that her position
had definitely not changed.
"The commissioner has no knowledge of the matters
referred to by Deputy Howlin and refutes in the strongest
terms the suggestion that she has engaged in the conduct
alleged against a serving member of An Garda Sochna,"
Ms O'Sullivan said in her statement.
Soon after the Garda Commissioner's statement was
published, Mr Howlin made it clear he was standing by
what he had said in the Dil.
In fact, the commissioner's riposte appeared to embolden
him.
This afternoon in the Dil, Brendan Howlin raised
allegations made against Garda Commissioner.
"Taoiseach this morning I was contacted by a journalist.
The journalist told me that they have direct knowledge of
calls made by the Garda Commissioner to journalists
during 2013 and 2014, in the course of which the
Commissioner made very serious allegations of sexual
crimes having been committed by Garda Maurice McCabe.
This Commissioner, in 2015, oversaw an investigation
which examined the call logs of a Garda officer who was
under suspicion of leaking material to the media.
If it was a fact that the Commissioner was in direct contact
with the media, making allegations against one of her own
officers, at around the same time, it would be
extraordinary.
I dont know whether the charges that have been made
against the Commissioner are true.
For her own sake, and for the sake of the reputation of an
Garda Sochna, I am calling on the Commissioner to step
aside from her office pending the outcome of a serious
judicial investigation."
National broadcaster RT faces claims that Garda
Commissioner Nirn O'Sullivan orchestrated a broadcast
in which Sgt Maurice McCabe was branded a liar, and
irresponsible.
The relationship between RT and Garda management will
be put under the spotlight as part of the latest
investigation into allegations of misconduct in the force.
Brendan Howlin is a man who rarely uses one word when
he can use three dozen. But this time the Labour leader
was almost concise,
I am not a Fan of howlin, But in all respect these
individuals set out to destroy his Constituency so that
People will Turn against Labour in next Election,
They Deliberately set out to disgraced Howlin, making a
Mock of Him for mentioning any of This in The Dial, on the
Other Hand Kenny Defend Mrs. O Sullivans Action and in
Kennys Wording Between the lines he Basically Called
Howlin a Traitor,
Minister McGrath INDP alliance who sniggered and sneered
at Howlins series presentation yesterday did the sham
know the journalist in question it was nothing to snigger
about but he obviously was well aware that this was a set
up if all he could do is smirk and snigger at what was a
very serious then it really labels him as one of the nasty
pack you are a disgrace sham and we know your full story.
Labour leader Brendan Howlin has made explosive claims
in the Dil that a journalist has told him the Garda
Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan contacted media in 2013
with allegations of sexual crimes against garda
whistleblower Maurice McCabe
The claims were made as the House and TDs await the
terms and recommendations today of a full inquiry going
ahead into an alleged smear campaign against garda
whistleblowers.
Mr Howlin told the Dil he had been contacted by a
journalist about comments made by the current garda
commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan in 2013.
The reporter allegedly told the Wexford TD that the garda
chief had contacted the media and made very serious
allegations of sexual crimes having been committed by
Sgt McCabe.
Mr Howlin made the comments using Dil privilege today
but was cautioned afterwards by the Ceann Comhairle
Sean O'Fearghail.
The Labour Party has now officially confirmed that Mr
Howlin was speaking about the present Garda
Commissioner, Noirin O'Sullivan, during his comments.
Responding to the allegations in the chamber, Taoiseach
Enda Kenny said these were very serious claims.
Mr Kenny also told the Dil that the Government was
supporting Ms O'Sullivan while the inquiry into the
treatment of whistleblowers was ongoing.
There were no findings against her, Mr Kenny said.
Despite this, Mr Howlin has also called for Commissioner
O'Sullivan to step aside while the inquiry is ongoing.
He said that any normal inquiry whether it be of a school
principle or a shop manager would require that they stand
aside while such an investigation is carried out.
Government sources say they expect the terms for the
inquiry to be published this afternoon.
The terms of reference for the commission of inquiry to
investigate whether there was a campaign against
McCabe spoke volumes. The terms are based mainly on
Taylors claims.
These include his claim that he briefed the media to write
negatively about Sergeant McCabe to the effect that his
complaints had no substance, that the garda had fully
investigated his complaints and found no substance to his
allegations and that he was driven by agendas.
In addition, he admitted briefing that an allegation of
criminal misconduct had been made against Sgt McCabe
and that this was the root cause of his agenda, namely
revenge against the garda.
The latter theme also featured in attempts at the
OHiggins Commission to attack McCabes character.
There is a pattern here, or maybe just a series of
coincidences. Unable to refute McCabes claims of
malpractice, elements within the force allegedly decided
to instead mercilessly attack his character. The question is
whom these elements were.
Taylor admits his role, but claims he was instructed by his
boss, then commissioner Martin Callinan, with the full
knowledge and complicity of current commissioner Nirn
OSullivan.
Taylor had left the press office and HQ by April 2015 when
there was another alleged attempt to attack McCabes
character behind the closed doors of the OHiggins inquiry
into McCabes claims.
Counsel for OSullivan said he was instructed to do so, but
the commissioner says she never issued such instructions.
Only when McCabe produced a tape recording vindicating
himself of such allegations, did the matter die.
Taylor was gone by then. If what happened at OHiggins
was part of a pattern to attack McCabe, then it outlived his
tenure at HQ, which would give some weight to Taylors
claim that he wasnt acting off his own bat.
The goings-on in OHiggins are not included in terms of
reference, which is unfortunate, as they were extremely
serious and remain unresolved.
What is included in the terms is an allegation that RT was
supplied with briefing material about the OHiggins report
ahead of publication, which painted McCabe as a liar.
The inquiry will also examine a meeting between Fianna
Fil TD John McGuinness and then commissioner Callinan
in a carpark in 2014. McGuinness has stated that Callinan
attempted at that meeting to discredit McCabe, saying he
wasnt to be trusted and that there were issues about him.
Earlier in the Dil there was a significant, if somewhat
shocking, development, when Labour leader Brendan
Howlin made an extraordinary allegation under privilege.
He had raised the issue over whether OSullivan should
step aside for the duration of the commission of inquiry.
Then he revealed that he had been contacted by a
journalist by phone that morning.
The journalist told him they had direct knowledge of calls
made by the Garda commissioner to journalists during
2013 and 2014 in the course of which the commissioner
made very serious allegations of sexual crimes having
been committed by Garda Maurice McCabe.
Howlins decision to relate the allegation under privilege
carries a certain weight. He passed on allegations about
the garda in 2000 which led to the setting up of the Morris
Tribunal into malpractice in the force in Donegal.
Afterwards, Howlin and former TD Jim Higgins were
dragged all the way to the Supreme Court over their
refusal to divulge their sources. As it was to turn out,
setting up the Morris Tribunal was a correct, if belated,
decision, demonstrated by an outcome which exposed
serious malpractice and corruption.
Now Howlin is making another claim under privilege about
the guards, and deserves to be listened to. As does
OSullivan, but the questions around her are multiplying to
the extent that either she has serious issues to answer or
a number of people are now out to bury her in the same
way some elements once attempted to bury McCabe.
The other outcome from Howlins Dil claims is that he
apparently has unearthed another whistleblower of sorts.
The journalist who contacted Howlin taking the Labour
leader at his word must have been within the ambit of
those who were fervently briefed by Garda HQ about Sgt
McCabe, if this journalist has the direct knowledge that
they claim.
Judge Charleton will be interested to hear from one who
has apparently undergone a Pauline conversion.
Presumably, the judge will also be curious as to which
other senior figures briefed this journalist and what exactly
they had to say.
In addition, there is the issue over whether these alleged
nefarious briefings affected how this journalist covered the
whistleblower story.
Unless everything is a ball of smoke, as an earlier phase of
this story was once prematurely characterised, then its
not just the upper echelons of An Garda Sochna that will
be damaged by Judge Charletons inquiry.
Elements of the media and some senior political figures
may also emerge from the process shipping damage.
Fianna Fil have backed Garda Commissioner Noirin
OSullivan amid fresh allegations she led a campaign to
undermine garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe.
But justice spokesman Jim OCallaghan said the garda
chief would have to resign if any truth was found in the
new claims now be investigated in a full inquiry.
The new claims centre around Supt David Taylor who,
under protected disclosure, alleges Ms OSullivan and her
predecessor Martin Callinan instructed him to negatively
brief the media, a charge both strenuously deny.
The Government has agreed to hold a commission of
investigation into the allegations, which also include that
Ms OSullivan orchestrated how an RT broadcast reported
leaks from a separate inquiry claiming Sgt McCabe was a
liar and irresponsible.
The inquiry will look at communications between garda
and journalists as well as the mobile phones of senior
members of the force.
Mr OCallaghan said very serious allegations were being
made against the current and former garda commissioners
and there was a need for a thorough inquiry.
He noted that the terms related specifically to claims
made through a protected disclosure by Mr Taylor, the
former head of the garda press office. The terms were
quite specific and stated the probe would be essentially
about whether the current and former garda
commissioners were involved in a campaign to discredit
Sgt Maurice McCabe.
Mr OCallaghan noted the claims had been denied by both
Mr Callinan as well as Ms OSullivan. But Mr Taylor disputes
this, insisting the campaign took place.
The importance of a commission of investigation would be
that it would have the powers to order witnesses to give
evidence, it could access documents as well as access
mobile phones belonging to garda, the TD told Newstalk
radio.
I think because it is such a specific allegation that we
should be able to get a response to this promptly.
He said that if allegations were made about somebody
that fairness should allow that person put forward a
defence.
In my opinion a person who denies an allegation
shouldnt be forced out of their job.
The Dublin Bay South TD added that Commissioner
OSullivan had his faith at this moment and time.
However, he also added: If the allegations against the
commissioner are substantiated, her position will not be
tenable.
Previous Penalty Points Story by Whistleblowers
Garda Inspectorates damning penalty points report,
the-fixed-charge-processing-system-a-21s-century-
strategy
The inspectorate made 37 recommendations for changes
and improvements to the system.
It also detailed issues with cancellation of fixed penalty
notices, records, taking notes, resources, the use of
robotic vans and training.
The Chief Inspector said that the accumulation of
successive incremental fixes to problems in the system
has resulted in a technically deficient, managerially
uncoordinated, inefficient and excessively resourced
support system.
Wasteful
The Inspectorate found that the FCPS (penalty points
system) was fraught with wasteful use of garda and other
stakeholder resources in administering the system.
It found a lack of management oversight in not
implementing required monitoring mechanisms at the
operational level, providing training for cancelling
authorities and clear policy guidelines for its use.
Several senior garda officers told the Inspectorate that if
everyone had just followed the manual we wouldnt be
dealing with this.
The Inspectorate was told by senior garda staff, that but
for the public scrutiny, the extent of the deficiencies within
the fixed charge processing system would not have been
detected.
It found inconsistent and widespread breaches of the
FCPS policy by those charged with administering it, as
well as no meaningful evidence of consistent quality
management supervision, no training and no clear policy
guidelines on its implementation.
Robot vans
On the use of robot vans in speed detection, the report
said it was unclear what if any significant additional role
or function the vans provide that could not be provided
by the Garda Sochna safety camera private contractor.
In essence, the garda robot vans provide no more than a
costly supplementary service.
In addition, the speed threshold assignment is at the
discretion of the traffic member operating the robot van.
This leads to inconsistent speed thresholds applied by the
eight robot vans against the agreed speed thresholds
applied by safety cameras nationally.
The Inspectorate recommends that robot vans be re-
deployed.
PULSE system
Issues were also flagged around people attending different
garda stations with documents after getting a fixed charge
notice.
When a person produces the documents at a different
station to the nominated garda station, PULSE does not
recognise the production of documents.
This means that a summons is incorrectly issued for non-
production, requiring the motorist to attend court.
This system failure results in needless administration for
both the Garda Sochna and the Courts Service and
significant inconvenience for the compliant motorist.
Production of documents at any garda station should be
recognised by the system
Breach of policy
The report also looked at policy, and said in one case a
serious breach of policy was noted in the Assistant
Commissioners report.
A notice was cancelled using the registered number of a
superintendent two weeks after his/her retirement.
The Inspectorate found no auditing of the cancellation
process of fixed charge notices at any level that would
have identified these problems.
Cancellation
The Chief Inspector said he was concerned at the
inconsistent application, interpretation and subjectivity of
the cancellation of fixed charge notices.
He looked at the cancellation rates across 110 districts,
and said a significant proportion of cases were cancelled
in circumstances that do not satisfy system policy.
Discretion
The Attorney General had already advised that it would be
of benefit to have best practice policy guidelines and
examples in the exercise of discretion in deciding on
cancelling fixed charge notices.
But this advice was not acted upon.
The Inspectorate believes that had the Garda Sochna
taken account of the Attorney Generals legal advice in
2006, it is reasonable to assume that the policy may have
been implemented as intended.
There was an inconsistent approach from 113 cancelling
authorities, making subjective decisions, without training
or clear policy guidelines.
In reviewing most of the districts, the Inspectorate found
poorly-maintained cancellation files, with no audit process
present.
Incidents
The report also outlines some examples of incidents
involving garda receiving fixed penalty notices.
In one incident, while driving their own private car, the
member placed themselves on duty, outside of rostered
hours without prior sanction to attend the station where
an offender was being questioned. No documentation
sanctioning the use of the members private car for official
purposes was made available or prior sanction that the
member was rostered on duty.
In another incident one notice was cancelled by a
superintendent outside of the district in which the offence
occurred which was a breach of policy.
Repeat offenders
The report looked at the level of repeat offenders
submitting requests to different district officers for the
cancellation of fixed penalty notices, which meant they
avoided their multiple offences being detected.
In reviewing a sample of cancellation files, the
Inspectorate observed no evidence where the district
officer reviewed the FCPS for previous FCNs cancelled.
Recommendations
The report recommends overhauling the entire penalty
points system.
Other recommendations include:
The cancellation authority for fixed charge notices to be
centralised in the Fixed Charge Processing Office, Thurles
A single Garda Sochna Unit to undertake regular audits
of the full operation of the FCPS
A review of the summons service process be undertaken
to ascertain the reasons for the significant level of
unserved summonses
Cancellation of a fixed charge notice only to be considered
where the petition is accompanied by factual third party
evidence supporting the reason for cancellation. Where a
petition is not accompanied by factual third party
evidence the petition is to be denied
The Inspectorate proposes the introduction of a modern
multi-functional, user-friendly hand-held device capable of
capturing all required data.
The report also said a rigorous audit process is required
to restore public confidence in the processes and systems
of managing the penalty points system.
Never directed
I was never directed by the Commissioner to cooperate
with the OMahony investigation as alleged, the
statement reads.
The following he claims is a transcript of a conversation he
had with the Chief Superintendent of Mullingar Garda
Station Mark Curran on the 14 December 2012.
McCabe was read out a letter from the Commissioner, but
not permitted to keep a copy.
The fact that I was denied a copy of the direction may
have encouraged the author of the statement issued
today about me to grossly misrepresent the terms of the
Commissioners direction as read out to me and as
recorded by me, the statement continues.
Never contacted
I was never contacted by anyone conducting the
OMahony investigation which completed its report without
making any attempt to speak with me or to seek my input
or cooperation into its inquiries. I never withheld any
information or cooperation from the OMahony
investigation as is now suggested.
The following is said to be a transcript of the letter from
the Commissioner that was read out to McCabe:
If you have any further concerns and without prejudice of
your rights under the Confidential Reporting Mechanism
such matters can be brought to the attention of Assistant
Commissioner John O Mahony, Crime and Security, who
will fully investigate those matters.
He was also instructed to stop downloading sensitive
personal data from the PULSE computer system relating to
the cancellation of penalty points:
The Commissioner understands that you have been
searching and printing out from pulse documents that
contain sensitive personal data regarding the cancellation
of the fixed charge notices.
The Commissioner further understands that it is your
intention to provide a third party with that documentation.
It is noted that sensitive personal data in relation to fixed
charge cancelation have already appeared in the public
domain.
The Commissioner has sought the advices of the Attorney
General and has consulted with the Data Protection
Commissioner in respect of this matter.
You are aware that there is power as set out in the Garda
policy procedure and guidelines for cancelling these fixed
charge notices in certain instances in such circumstances.
Having consulted with the above mentioned authority the
Commissioner is satisfied that youre continued access
pulse data and disclosure of such it and personal data to a
third party is likely to be in breach of the Data Protection
Act and other legislation, as well as being prejudicial to
the current investigation being undertaken by Assistant
Commissioner John O Mahony.
http://cdn.thejournal.ie//the-fixed-charge-processing-
syst

GSOC investigate Garda

Feb 14, 2014
Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has said he's
satisfied that the force didn't bug the offices of GSOC.
Speaking alongside Justice Minister Alan Shatter at an
event in Templemore today, Callinan said:
"I want to unequivocally state that at no stage was any
member of the Garda Sochna Ombudsman Commission
or any of its members under surveillance by An Garda
Sochna."
"That was not the case and I relayed that to the Chairman
of the Garda Sochna Ombudsman Commission when he
came to see me last Tuesday and the Chairman in turn
assured me that having carried out their investigations
that there were no matters of concern arising for An Garda
Sochna". hm nothing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x7qGdMVW-E
Martin Callinan "Disgusting" comment to Public Accounts
Committee
Mar 21, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZn_TdjvF-U

February 7th.17

Updated Set of principles for the protection

and promotion of human rights through action
to combat impunity.

United Nations

Distr. GENERAL
E/CN.4/2005/102/Add.1
8 February 2005
Original: ENGLISH

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Sixty-first session
Item 17 of the provisional agenda

PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Impunity

Report of the independent expert to update the Set of

principles to combat impunity, Diane Orentlicher*

Addendum
Updated Set of principles for the protection and promotion
of human rights through action to combat impunity

* The report was submitted after the deadline in order to

take into account replies of all respondents as well as the
results of the expert workshop held in November 2004.

SYNOPTICAL TABLE OF THE UPDATED SET OF PRINCIPLES

FOR THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS THROUGH ACTION TO COMBAT IMPUNITY

Preamble

Definitions

I. COMBATING IMPUNITY: GENERAL OBLIGATIONS

Principle 1. General obligations of States to take effective

action to combat impunity
II. THE RIGHT TO KNOW

A. General principles

Principle 2. The inalienable right to the truth

Principle 3. The duty to preserve memory
Principle 4. The victims' right to know
Principle 5. Guarantees to give effect to the right to know
B. Commissions of inquiry

Principle 6. The establishment and role of truth

commissions
Principle 7. Guarantees of independence, impartiality and
competence
Principle 8. Definition of a commission's terms of reference
Principle 9. Guarantees for persons implicated
Principle 10. Guarantees for victims and witnesses
testifying on their behalf
Principle 11. Adequate resources for commissions
Principle 12. Advisory functions of the commissions
Principle 13. Publicizing the commission's reports
C. Preservation of and access to archives bearing witness
to violations

Principle 14. Measures for the preservation of archives

Principle 15. Measures for facilitating access to archives
Principle 16. Cooperation between archive departments
and the courts and non-judicial commissions of inquiry
Principle 17. Specific measures relating to archives
containing names
Principle 18. Specific measures related to the restoration
of or transition to democracy and/or peace
III. THE RIGHT TO JUSTICE

A. General principles

Principle 19. Duties of States with regard to the

administration of justice
B. Distribution of jurisdiction between national, foreign,
international and internationalized courts

Principle 20. Jurisdiction of international and

internationalized criminal tribunals
Principle 21. Measures for strengthening the effectiveness
of international legal principles concerning universal and
international jurisdiction
C. Restrictions on rules of law justified by action to combat
impunity

Principle 22. Nature of restrictive measures

Principle 23. Restrictions on prescription
Principle 24. Restrictions and other measures relating to
amnesty
Principle 25. Restrictions on the right of asylum
Principle 26. Restrictions on extradition/non bis in idem
Principle 27. Restrictions on justifications related to due
obedience, superior responsibility, and official status
Principle 28. Restrictions on the effects of legislation on
disclosure or repentance
Principle 29. Restrictions on the jurisdiction of military
courts
Principle 30. Restrictions on the principle of the
irremovability of judges
IV. THE RIGHT TO REPARATION/GUARANTEES OF NON-
RECURRENCE

A. The right to reparation

Principle 31. Rights and duties arising out of the obligation

to make reparation
Principle 32. Reparation procedures
Principle 33. Publicizing reparation procedures
Principle 34. Scope of the right to reparation
B. Guarantees of non-recurrence of violations

Principle 35. General principles

Principle 36. Reform of State institutions
Principle 37. Disbandment of parastatal armed
forces/demobilization and social reintegration of children
Principle 38. Reform of laws and institutions contributing
to impunity
SET OF PRINCIPLES FOR THE PROTECTION AND
PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGH ACTION TO
COMBAT IMPUNITY

Preamble

Recalling the Preamble to the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights, which recognizes that disregard and
contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous
acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind,

Aware that there is an ever-present risk that such acts

may again occur,

Reaffirming the commitment made by Member States

under Article 56 of the Charter of the United Nations to
take joint and separate action, giving full importance to
developing effective international cooperation for the
achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55 of the
Charter concerning universal respect for, and observance
of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all,

Considering that the duty of every State under

international law to respect and to secure respect for
human rights requires that effective measures should be
taken to combat impunity,

Aware that there can be no just and lasting reconciliation

unless the need for justice is effectively satisfied,

Equally aware that forgiveness, which may be an

important element of reconciliation, implies, insofar as it is
a private act, that the victim or the victim's beneficiaries
know the perpetrator of the violations and that the latter
has acknowledged his or her deeds,

Recalling the recommendation set forth in paragraph 91 of

Part II of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,
wherein the World Conference on Human Rights(June
1993) expressed its concern about the impunity of
perpetrators of human rights violations and encouraged
the efforts of the Commission on Human Rights to
examine all aspects of the issue,

Convinced, therefore, that national and international

measures must be taken for that purpose with a view to
securing jointly, in the interests of the victims of
violations, observance of the right to know and, by
implication, the right to the truth, the right to justice and
the right to reparation, without which there can be no
effective remedy against the pernicious effects of
impunity,

Pursuant to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of

Action, the following principles are intended as guidelines
to assist States in developing effective measures for
combating impunity.

Definitions

A. Impunity

"Impunity" means the impossibility, de jure or de facto, of

bringing the perpetrators of violations to account -
whether in criminal, civil, administrative or disciplinary
proceedings - since they are not subject to any inquiry
that might lead to their being accused, arrested, tried and,
if found guilty, sentenced to appropriate penalties, and to
making reparations to their victims.

B. Serious crimes under international law

As used in these principles, the phrase "serious crimes

under international law" encompasses grave breaches of
the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and of
Additional Protocol I thereto of 1977 and other violations
of international humanitarian law that are crimes under
international law, genocide, crimes against humanity, and
other violations of internationally protected human rights
that are crimes under international law and/or which
international law requires States to penalize, such as
torture, enforced disappearance, extrajudicial execution,
and slavery.

C. Restoration of or transition to democracy and/or peace

This expression, as used in these principles, refers to

situations leading, within the framework of a national
movement towards democracy or peace negotiations
aimed at ending an armed conflict, to an agreement, in
whatever form, by which the actors or parties concerned
agree to take measures against impunity and the
recurrence of human rights violations.

D. Truth commissions

As used in these principles, the phrase "truth

commissions" refers to official, temporary, non-judicial
fact-finding bodies that investigate a pattern of abuses of
human rights or humanitarian law, usually committed over
a number of years.

E. Archives

As used in these principles, the word "archives" refers to

collections of documents pertaining to violations of human
rights and humanitarian law from sources including (a)
national governmental agencies, particularly those that
played significant roles in relation to human rights
violations; (b) local agencies, such as police stations, that
were involved in human rights violations; (c) State
agencies, including the office of the prosecutor and the
judiciary, that are involved in the protection of human
rights; and (d) materials collected by truth commissions
and other investigative bodies.

I. COMBATING IMPUNITY: GENERAL OBLIGATIONS

PRINCIPLE 1. GENERAL OBLIGATIONS OF STATES TO TAKE

EFFECTIVE ACTION TO COMBAT IMPUNITY
Impunity arises from a failure by States to meet their
obligations to investigate violations; to take appropriate
measures in respect of the perpetrators, particularly in the
area of justice, by ensuring that those suspected of
criminal responsibility are prosecuted, tried and duly
punished; to provide victims with effective remedies and
to ensure that they receive reparation for the injuries
suffered; to ensure the inalienable right to know the truth
about violations; and to take other necessary steps to
prevent a recurrence of violations.

II. THE RIGHT TO KNOW

A. General principles

PRINCIPLE 2. THE INALIENABLE RIGHT TO THE TRUTH

Every people has the inalienable right to know the truth

about past events concerning the perpetration of heinous
crimes and about the circumstances and reasons that led,
through massive or systematic violations, to the
perpetration of those crimes. Full and effective exercise of
the right to the truth provides a vital safeguard against the
recurrence of violations.

PRINCIPLE 3. THE DUTY TO PRESERVE MEMORY

A people's knowledge of the history of its oppression is

part of its heritage and, as such, must be ensured by
appropriate measures in fulfilment of the State's duty to
preserve archives and other evidence concerning
violations of human rights and humanitarian law and to
facilitate knowledge of those violations. Such measures
shall be aimed at preserving the collective memory from
extinction and, in particular, at guarding against the
development of revisionist and negationist arguments.

PRINCIPLE 4. THE VICTIMS' RIGHT TO KNOW

Irrespective of any legal proceedings, victims and their

families have the imprescriptible right to know the truth
about the circumstances in which violations took place
and, in the event of death or disappearance, the victims'
fate.

PRINCIPLE 5. GUARANTEES TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE RIGHT

TO KNOW

States must take appropriate action, including measures

necessary to ensure the independent and effective
operation of the judiciary, to give effect to the right to
know.Appropriate measures to ensure this right may
include non-judicial processes that complement the role of
the judiciary. Societies that have experienced heinous
crimes perpetrated on a massive or systematic basis may
benefit in particular from the creation of a truth
commission or other commission of inquiry to establish
the facts surrounding those violations so that the truth
may be ascertained and to prevent the disappearance of
evidence. Regardless of whether a State establishes such
a body, it must ensure the preservation of, and access to,
archives concerning violations of human rights and
humanitarian law.

B. Commissions of inquiry

PRINCIPLE 6. THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ROLE OF TRUTH

COMMISSIONS

To the greatest extent possible, decisions to establish a

truth commission, define its terms of reference and
determine its composition should be based upon broad
public consultations in which the views of victims and
survivors especially are sought. Special efforts should be
made to ensure that men and women participate in these
deliberations on a basis of equality. In recognition of the
dignity of victims and their families, investigations
undertaken by truth commissions should be conducted
with the object in particular of securing recognition of such
parts of the truth as were formerly denied.

PRINCIPLE 7. GUARANTEES OF INDEPENDENCE,

IMPARTIALITY AND COMPETENCE

Commissions of inquiry, including truth commissions, must

be established through procedures that ensure their
independence, impartiality and competence. To this end,
the terms of reference of commissions of inquiry, including
commissions that are international in character, should
respect the following guidelines:

(a) They shall be constituted in accordance with criteria

making clear to the public the competence and
impartiality of their members, including expertise within
their membership in the field of human rights and, if
relevant, of humanitarian law. They shall also be
constituted in accordance with conditions ensuring their
independence, in particular by the irremovability of their
members during their terms of office except on grounds of
incapacity or behaviour rendering them unfit to discharge
their duties and pursuant to procedures ensuring fair,
impartial and independent determinations;

(b) Their members shall enjoy whatever privileges and

immunities are necessary for their protection, including in
the period following their mission, especially in respect of
any defamation proceedings or other civil or criminal
action brought against them on the basis of facts or
opinions contained in the commissions' reports;

(c) In determining membership, concerted efforts should

be made to ensure adequate representation of women as
well as of other appropriate groups whose members have
been especially vulnerable to human rights violations.
PRINCIPLE 8. DEFINITION OF A COMMISSION'S TERMS OF
REFERENCE

To avoid conflicts of jurisdiction, the commission's terms of

reference must be clearly defined and must be consistent
with the principle that commissions of inquiry are not
intended to act as substitutes for the civil, administrative
or criminal courts. In particular, criminal courts alone have
jurisdiction to establish individual criminal responsibility,
with a view as appropriate to passing judgement and
imposing a sentence. In addition to the guidelines set forth
in principles 12 and 13, the terms of reference of a
commission of inquiry should incorporate or reflect the
following stipulations:

(a) The commission's terms of reference may reaffirm its

right: to seek the assistance of law enforcement
authorities, if required, including for the purpose, subject
to the terms of principle 10 (a), of calling for testimonies;
to inspect any places concerned in its investigations;
and/or to call for the delivery of relevant documents;

(b) If the commission has reason to believe that the life,

health or safety of a person concerned by its inquiry is
threatened or that there is a risk of losing an element of
proof, it may seek court action under an emergency
procedure or take other appropriate measures to end such
threat or risk;

(c) Investigations undertaken by a commission of inquiry

may relate to all persons alleged to have been responsible
for violations of human rights and/or humanitarian law,
whether they ordered them or actually committed them,
acting as perpetrators or accomplices, and whether they
are public officials or members of quasi-governmental or
private armed groups with any kind of link to the State, or
of non-governmental armed movements. Commissions of
inquiry may also consider the role of other actors in
facilitating violations of human rights and humanitarian
law;
(d) Commissions of inquiry may have jurisdiction to
consider all forms of violations of human rights and
humanitarian law. Their investigations should focus as a
matter of priority on violations constituting serious crimes
under international law, including in particular violations of
the fundamental rights of women and of other vulnerable
groups;

(e) Commissions of inquiry shall endeavour to safeguard

evidence for later use in the administration of justice;

(f) The terms of reference of commissions of inquiry

should highlight the importance of preserving the
commission's archives. At the outset of their work,
commissions should clarify the conditions that will govern
access to their documents, including conditions aimed at
preventing disclosure of confidential information while
facilitating public access to their archives.

PRINCIPLE 9. GUARANTEES FOR PERSONS IMPLICATED

Before a commission identifies perpetrators in its report,

the individuals concerned shall be entitled to the following
guarantees:

(a) The commission must try to corroborate information

implicating individuals before they are named publicly;
(b) The individuals implicated shall be afforded an
opportunity to provide a statement setting forth their
version of the facts either at a hearing convened by the
commission while conducting its investigation or through
submission of a document equivalent to a right of reply for
inclusion in the commission's file.

PRINCIPLE 10. GUARANTEES FOR VICTIMS AND WITNESSES

TESTIFYING ON THEIR BEHALF

Effective measures shall be taken to ensure the security,

physical and psychological well-being, and, where
requested, the privacy of victims and witnesses who
provide information to the commission.
(a) Victims and witnesses testifying on their behalf may be
called upon to testify before the commission only on a
strictly voluntary basis;

(b) Social workers and/or mental health-care practitioners

should be authorized to assist victims, preferably in their
own language, both during and after their testimony,
especially in cases of sexual assault;

(c) All expenses incurred by those giving testimony shall

be borne by the State;

(d) Information that might identify a witness who provided

testimony pursuant to a promise of confidentially must be
protected from disclosure. Victims providing testimony and
other witnesses should in any event be informed of rules
that will govern disclosure of information provided by
them to the commission. Requests to provide information
to the commission anonymously should be given serious
consideration, especially in cases of sexual assault, and
the commission should establish procedures to guarantee
anonymity in appropriate cases, while allowing
corroboration of the information provided, as necessary.

PRINCIPLE 11. ADEQUATE RESOURCES FOR COMMISSIONS

The commission shall be provided with:

(a) Transparent funding to ensure that its independence is

never in doubt;

(b) Sufficient material and human resources to ensure that

its credibility is never in doubt.

PRINCIPLE 12. ADVISORY FUNCTIONS OF THE

COMMISSIONS

The commission's terms of reference should include

provisions calling for it to include in its final report
recommendations concerning legislative and other action
to combat impunity. The terms of reference should ensure
that the commission incorporates women's experiences in
its work, including its recommendations. When
establishing a commission of inquiry, the Government
should undertake to give due consideration to the
commission's recommendations.

PRINCIPLE 13. PUBLICIZING THE COMMISSION'S REPORTS

For security reasons or to avoid pressure on witnesses and

commission members, the commission's terms of
reference may stipulate that relevant portions of its
inquiry shall be kept confidential. The commission's final
report, on the other hand, shall be made public in full and
shall be disseminated as widely as possible.

C. Preservation of and access to archives bearing witness

to violations

PRINCIPLE 14. MEASURES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF

ARCHIVES

The right to know implies that archives must be preserved.

Technical measures and penalties should be applied to
prevent any removal, destruction, concealment or
falsification of archives, especially for the purpose of
ensuring the impunity of perpetrators of violations of
human rights and/or humanitarian law.

PRINCIPLE 15. MEASURES FOR FACILITATING ACCESS TO

ARCHIVES>

Access to archives shall be facilitated in order to enable

victims and their relatives to claim their rights. Access
shall be facilitated, as necessary, for persons implicated,
who request it for their defence. Access to archives should
also be facilitated in the interest of historical research,
subject to reasonable restrictions aimed at safeguarding
the privacy and security of victims and other individuals.
Formal requirements governing access may not be used
for purposes of censorship.

PRINCIPLE 16. COOPERATION BETWEEN ARCHIVE

DEPARTMENTS AND THE COURTS AND NON-JUDICIAL
COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY

Courts and non-judicial commissions of inquiry, as well as

investigators reporting to them, must have access to
relevant archives. This principle must be implemented in a
manner that respects applicable privacy concerns,
including in particular assurances of confidentiality
provided to victims and other witnesses as a precondition
of their testimony. Access may not be denied on grounds
of national security unless, in exceptional circumstances,
the restriction has been prescribed by law; the
Government has demonstrated that the restriction is
necessary in a democratic society to protect a legitimate
national security interest; and the denial is subject to
independent judicial review.

PRINCIPLE 17. SPECIFIC MEASURES RELATING TO

ARCHIVES CONTAINING NAMES

(a) For the purposes of this principle, archives containing

names shall be understood to be those archives containing
information that makes it possible, directly or indirectly, to
identify the individuals to whom they relate;

(b) All persons shall be entitled to know whether their

name appears in State archives and, if it does, by virtue of
their right of access, to challenge the validity of the
information concerning them by exercising a right of reply.
The challenged document should include a cross-reference
to the document challenging its validity and both must be
made available together whenever the former is
requested. Access to the files of commissions of inquiry
must be balanced against the legitimate expectations of
confidentiality of victims and other witnesses testifying on
their behalf in accordance with principles 8 (f) and 10 (d).

PRINCIPLE 18. SPECIFIC MEASURES RELATED TO THE

RESTORATION OF OR TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY AND/OR
PEACE

(a) Measures should be taken to place each archive centre

under the responsibility of a specifically designated office;
(b) When inventorying and assessing the reliability of
stored archives, special attention should be given to
archives relating to places of detention and other sites of
serious violations of human rights and/or humanitarian law
such as torture, in particular when the existence of such
places was not officially recognized;

(c) Third countries shall be expected to cooperate with a

view to communicating or restituting archives for the
purpose of establishing the truth.

III. THE RIGHT TO JUSTICE

A. General principles

PRINCIPLE 19. DUTIES OF STATES WITH REGARD TO THE

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

States shall undertake prompt, thorough, independent and

impartial investigations of violations of human rights and
international humanitarian law and take appropriate
measures in respect of the perpetrators, particularly in the
area of criminal justice, by ensuring that those responsible
for serious crimes under international law are prosecuted,
tried and duly punished. Although the decision to
prosecute lies primarily within the competence of the
State, victims, their families and heirs should be able to
institute proceedings, on either an individual or a
collective basis, particularly as parties civiles or as
persons conducting private prosecutions in States whose
law of criminal procedure recognizes these procedures.
States should guarantee broad legal standing in the
judicial process to any wronged party and to any person or
non-governmental organization having a legitimate
interest therein.

B. Distribution of jurisdiction between national, foreign,

international and internationalized courts

PRINCIPLE 20. JURISDICTION OF INTERNATIONAL AND

INTERNATIONALIZED CRIMINAL TRIBUNALS
It remains the rule that States have primary responsibility
to exercise jurisdiction over serious crimes under
international law. In accordance with the terms of their
statutes, international and internationalized criminal
tribunals may exercise concurrent jurisdiction when
national courts cannot offer satisfactory guarantees of
independence and impartiality or are materially unable or
unwilling to conduct effective investigations or
prosecutions. States must ensure that they fully satisfy
their legal obligations in respect of international and
internationalized criminal tribunals, including where
necessary through the enactment of domestic legislation
that enables States to fulfil obligations that arise through
their adherence to the Rome Statute of the International
Criminal Court or under other binding instruments, and
through implementation of applicable obligations to
apprehend and surrender suspects and to cooperate in
respect of evidence.

PRINCIPLE 21. MEASURES FOR STRENGTHENING THE

EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PRINCIPLES
CONCERNING UNIVERSAL AND INTERNATIONAL
JURISDICTION

States should undertake effective measures, including the

adoption or amendment of internal legislation, that are
necessary to enable their courts to exercise universal
jurisdiction over serious crimes under international law in
accordance with applicable principles of customary and
treaty law. States must ensure that they fully implement
any legal obligations they have assumed to institute
criminal proceedings against persons with respect to
whom there is credible evidence of individual
responsibility for serious crimes under international law if
they do not extradite the suspects or transfer them for
prosecution before an international or internationalized
tribunal.

C. Restrictions on rules of law justified by action to combat

impunity
PRINCIPLE 22. NATURE OF RESTRICTIVE MEASURES

States should adopt and enforce safeguards against any

abuse of rules such as those pertaining to prescription,
amnesty, right to asylum, refusal to extradite, non bis in
idem, due obedience, official immunities, repentance, the
jurisdiction of military courts and the irremovability of
judges that fosters or contributes to impunity.

PRINCIPLE 23. RESTRICTIONS ON PRESCRIPTION

Prescription - of prosecution or penalty - in criminal cases

shall not run for such period as no effective remedy is
available. Prescription shall not apply to crimes under
international law that are by their nature imprescriptible.
When it does apply, prescription shall not be effective
against civil or administrative actions brought by victims
seeking reparation for their injuries.

PRINCIPLE 24. RESTRICTIONS AND OTHER MEASURES

RELATING TO AMNESTY

Even when intended to establish conditions conducive to a

peace agreement or to foster national reconciliation,
amnesty and other measures of clemency shall be kept
within the following bounds:

(a) The perpetrators of serious crimes under international

law may not benefit from such measures until such time
as the State has met the obligations to which principle 19
refers or the perpetrators have been prosecuted before a
court with jurisdiction - whether international,
internationalized or national - outside the State in
question;

(b) Amnesties and other measures of clemency shall be

without effect with respect to the victims' right to
reparation, to which principles 31 through 34 refer, and
shall not prejudice the right to know;

(c) Insofar as it may be interpreted as an admission of

guilt, amnesty cannot be imposed on individuals
prosecuted or sentenced for acts connected with the
peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of opinion and
expression. When they have merely exercised this
legitimate right, as guaranteed by articles 18 to 20 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 18, 19, 21 and
22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, the law shall consider any judicial or other decision
concerning them to be null and void; their detention shall
be ended unconditionally and without delay;

(d) Any individual convicted of offences other than those

to which paragraph (c) of this principle refers who comes
within the scope of an amnesty is entitled to refuse it and
request a retrial, if he or she has been tried without
benefit of the right to a fair hearing guaranteed by articles
10 and 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and articles 9, 14 and 15 of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, or if he or she was convicted on
the basis of a statement established to have been made
as a result of inhuman or degrading interrogation,
especially under torture.

PRINCIPLE 25. RESTRICTIONS ON THE RIGHT OF ASYLUM

Under article 1, paragraph 2, of the Declaration on

Territorial Asylum, adopted by the General Assembly on 14
December 1967, and article 1 F of the Convention relating
to the Status of Refugees of 28 July 1951, States may not
extend such protective status, including diplomatic
asylum, to persons with respect to whom there are serious
reasons to believe that they have committed a serious
crime under international law.

PRINCIPLE 26. RESTRICTIONS ON EXTRADITION/NON BIS IN

IDEM

(a) Persons who have committed serious crimes under

international law may not, in order to avoid extradition,
avail themselves of the favourable provisions generally
relating to political offences or of the principle of non-
extradition of nationals. Extradition should always be
denied, however, especially by abolitionist countries, if the
individual concerned risks the death penalty in the
requesting country. Extradition should also be denied
where there are substantial grounds for believing that the
suspect would be in danger of being subjected to gross
violations of human rights such as torture; enforced
disappearance; or extra-legal, arbitrary or summary
execution. If extradition is denied on these grounds, the
requested State shall submit the case to its competent
authorities for the purpose of prosecution;

(b) The fact that an individual has previously been tried in

connection with a serious crime under international law
shall not prevent his or her prosecution with respect to the
same conduct if the purpose of the previous proceedings
was to shield the person concerned from criminal
responsibility, or if those proceedings otherwise were not
conducted independently or impartially in accordance with
the norms of due process recognized by international law
and were conducted in a manner that, in the
circumstances, was inconsistent with an intent to bring the
person concerned to justice.

PRINCIPLE 27. RESTRICTIONS ON JUSTIFICATIONS RELATED

TO DUE OBEDIENCE, SUPERIOR RESPONSIBILITY, AND
OFFICIAL STATUS

(a) The fact that the perpetrator of violations acted on the

orders of his or her Government or of a superior does not
exempt him or her from responsibility, in particular
criminal, but may be regarded as grounds for reducing the
sentence, in conformity with principles of justice;

(b) The fact that violations have been committed by a

subordinate does not exempt that subordinate's superiors
from responsibility, in particular criminal, if they knew or
had at the time reason to know that the subordinate was
committing or about to commit such a crime and they did
not take all the necessary measures within their power to
prevent or punish the crime;

(c) The official status of the perpetrator of a crime under

international law - even if acting as head of State or
Government - does not exempt him or her from criminal or
other responsibility and is not grounds for a reduction of
sentence.

PRINCIPLE 28. RESTRICTIONS ON THE EFFECTS OF

LEGISLATION ON DISCLOSURE OR REPENTANCE

The fact that a perpetrator discloses the violations that he,

she or others have committed in order to benefit from the
favourable provisions of legislation on disclosure or
repentance cannot exempt him or her from criminal or
other responsibility. The disclosure may only provide
grounds for a reduction of sentence in order to encourage
revelation of the truth. When disclosures may subject a
perpetrator to persecution, principle 25 notwithstanding,
the person making the disclosure may be granted asylum -
not refugee status - in order to facilitate revelation of the
truth.

PRINCIPLE 29. RESTRICTIONS ON THE JURISDICTION OF

MILITARY COURTS

The jurisdiction of military tribunals must be restricted

solely to specifically military offences committed by
military personnel, to the exclusion of human rights
violations, which shall come under the jurisdiction of the
ordinary domestic courts or, where appropriate, in the
case of serious crimes under international law, of an
international or internationalized criminal court.

PRINCIPLE 30. RESTRICTIONS ON THE PRINCIPLE OF THE

IRREMOVABILITY OF JUDGES

The principle of irremovability, as the basic guarantee of

the independence of judges, must be observed in respect
of judges who have been appointed in conformity with the
requirements of the rule of law. Conversely, judges
unlawfully appointed or who derive their judicial power
from an act of allegiance may be relieved of their
functions by law in accordance with the principle of
parallelism. They must be provided an opportunity to
challenge their dismissal in proceedings that meet the
criteria of independence and impartiality with a view
toward seeking reinstatement.

IV. THE RIGHT TO REPARATION/GUARANTEES OF NON-

RECURRENCE

A. The right to reparation

PRINCIPLE 31. RIGHTS AND DUTIES ARISING OUT OF THE

OBLIGATION TO MAKE REPARATION

Any human rights violation gives rise to a right to

reparation on the part of the victim or his or her
beneficiaries, implying a duty on the part of the State to
make reparation and the possibility for the victim to seek
redress from the perpetrator.

PRINCIPLE 32. REPARATION PROCEDURES

All victims shall have access to a readily available, prompt

and effective remedy in the form of criminal, civil,
administrative or disciplinary proceedings subject to the
restrictions on prescription set forth in principle 23. In
exercising this right, they shall be afforded protection
against intimidation and reprisals. Reparations may also
be provided through programmes, based upon legislative
or administrative measures, funded by national or
international sources, addressed to individuals and to
communities. Victims and other sectors of civil society
should play a meaningful role in the design and
implementation of such programmes. Concerted efforts
should be made to ensure that women and minority
groups participate in public consultations aimed at
developing, implementing, and assessing reparations
programmes. Exercise of the right to reparation includes
access to applicable international and regional procedures.

PRINCIPLE 33. PUBLICIZING REPARATION PROCEDURES

Ad hoc procedures enabling victims to exercise their right

to reparation should be given the widest possible publicity
by private as well as public communication media. Such
dissemination should take place both within and outside
the country, including through consular services,
particularly in countries to which large numbers of victims
have been forced into exile.

PRINCIPLE 34. SCOPE OF THE RIGHT TO REPARATION

The right to reparation shall cover all injuries suffered by

victims; it shall include measures of restitution,
compensation, rehabilitation, and satisfaction as provided
by international law. In the case of forced disappearance,
the family of the direct victim has an imprescriptible right
to be informed of the fate and/or whereabouts of the
disappeared person and, in the event of decease, that
person's body must be returned to the family as soon as it
has been identified, regardless of whether the
perpetrators have been identified or prosecuted.

B. Guarantees of non-recurrence of violations

PRINCIPLE 35. GENERAL PRINCIPLES

States shall ensure that victims do not again have to

endure violations of their rights. To this end, States must
undertake institutional reforms and other measures
necessary to ensure respect for the rule of law, foster and
sustain a culture of respect for human rights, and restore
or establish public trust in government institutions.
Adequate representation of women and minority groups in
public institutions is essential to the achievement of these
aims. Institutional reforms aimed at preventing a
recurrence of violations should be developed through a
process of broad public consultations, including the
participation of victims and other sectors of civil society.
Such reforms should advance the following objectives:

(a) Consistent adherence by public institutions to the rule

of law;

(b) The repeal of laws that contribute to or authorize

violations of human rights and/or humanitarian law and
enactment of legislative and other measures necessary to
ensure respect for human rights and humanitarian law,
including measures that safeguard democratic institutions
and processes;

(c) Civilian control of military and security forces and

intelligence services and disbandment of parastatal armed
forces;

(d) Reintegration of children involved in armed conflict into

society.

PRINCIPLE 36. REFORM OF STATE INSTITUTIONS

States must take all necessary measures, including

legislative and administrative reforms, to ensure that
public institutions are organized in a manner that ensures
respect for the rule of law and protection of human rights.
At a minimum, States should undertake the following
measures:

(a) Public officials and employees who are personally

responsible for gross violations of human rights, in
particular those involved in military, security, police,
intelligence and judicial sectors, shall not continue to
serve in State institutions. Their removal shall comply with
the requirements of due process of law and the principle
of non-discrimination. Persons formally charged with
individual responsibility for serious crimes under
international law shall be suspended from official duties
during the criminal or disciplinary proceedings;

(b) With respect to the judiciary, States must undertake all

other measures necessary to assure the independent,
impartial and effective operation of courts in accordance
with international standards of due process. Habeas
corpus, by whatever name it may be known, must be
considered a non-derogable right;

(c) Civilian control of military and security forces as well as

of intelligence agencies must be ensured and, where
necessary, established or restored. To this end, States
should establish effective institutions of civilian oversight
over military and security forces and intelligence agencies,
including legislative oversight bodies;

(d) Civil complaint procedures should be established and

their effective operation assured;

(e) Public officials and employees, in particular those

involved in military, security, police, intelligence and
judicial sectors, should receive comprehensive and
ongoing training in human rights and, where applicable,
humanitarian law standards and in implementation of
those standards.

PRINCIPLE 37. DISBANDMENT OF PARASTATAL ARMED

FORCES/DEMOBILIZATION AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION OF
CHILDREN

Parastatal or unofficial armed groups shall be demobilized

and disbanded. Their position in or links with State
institutions, including in particular the army, police,
intelligence and security forces, should be thoroughly
investigated and the information thus acquired made
public. States should draw up a reconversion plan to
ensure the social reintegration of the members of such
groups. Measures should be taken to secure the
cooperation of third countries that might have contributed
to the creation and development of such
groups,particularly through financial or logistical support.
Children who have been recruited or used in hostilities
shall be demobilized or otherwise released from service.
States shall, when necessary, accord these children all
appropriate assistance for their physical and psychological
recovery and their social integration.

PRINCIPLE 38. REFORM OF LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS

CONTRIBUTING TO IMPUNITY

Legislation and administrative regulations and institutions

that contribute to or legitimize human rights violations
must be repealed or abolished. In particular, emergency
legislation and courts of any kind must be repealed or
abolished insofar as they infringe the fundamental rights
and freedoms guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights. Legislative measures necessary to ensure
protection of human rights and to safeguard democratic
institutions and processes must be enacted. As a basis for
such reforms, during periods of restoration of or transition
to democracy and/or peace

http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/impu/principles.html
Garda warning after people posing as detectives take
'large amounts of cash' from elderly people in Cork
People posing as detectives called to elderly people's
homes and asked for cash
February 9, 17

Gardai have sent out a warning after people posing as

garda detectives took "large amounts of cash" from
elderly people in Cork.

Men posing as detectives called to houses of elderly

people in Cobh claiming to need to inspect the house.

Some unfortunate people even handed over cash to the

pretenders.
The gardai posted a warning to people in the region on
their Cork, Kerry and Limerick region Facebook page.

Cannabis worth 700,000 seized in two separate

operations in Galway and Carlow
They said: "Recently in Cork North and neighbouring
Garda Divisions we have had reports of people claiming to
be garda Detectives calling to elderly people on the
pretence of inspecting security and asking to see any cash
being held.

"Some unsuspecting people have handed over large

amounts of cash. Garda will never ask you to hand over
money in this manner."

The gardai also warned people as to what measures to

take when a member of the force calls to the door.

The statement said: "Always ask for official photographic

identification from any caller not just a business card or
official looking stationery, clipboards etc.

"Do not let any person enter your home unless you are
completely satisfied as to who they are. If youre unsure
contact us.

"We advise against keeping large amounts of cash at

home, so if you or someone you know does this, have a
look at alternative ways of taking care of your hard earned
money."
Bogus Callers.
Recently in Cork North and neighbouring Garda Divisions
we have had reports of people claiming to be Garda
Detectives calling to elderly people on the pretence of
inspecting security and asking to see any cash being held.
Some unsuspecting people have handed over large
amounts of cash.
Garda will never ask you to hand over money in this
manner.
If you, or someone you know, have had a caller like this,
contact the Garda immediately by ringing 999/112.
Report any suspicious activity or approaches made in this
manner.
Always ask for official photographic identification from any
caller not just a business card or official looking
stationery, clipboards etc.
Do not let any person enter your home unless you are
completely satisfied as to who they are. If youre unsure
contact us.
We advise against keeping large amounts of cash at home,
so if you or someone you know does this, have a look at
alternative ways of taking care of your hard earned
money.
#TakeControl

If you think that you can't be screwed by the State

apparatus then think again.
With such great power comes great responsibility...
Unfortunately responsibility isn't part of the State's creed
and can, through a so called "clerical error", destroy you...
"A file containing a false allegation of child sex abuse
against whistleblower Maurice McCabe was sent by Tusla,
the child and family agency, to gardai and widely
circulated in 2013, however no effort was made to
substantiate the claim."
Disgusting abuse of power and one in which ALL of us
should be wary of...
Those involved should be brought to book immediately...

EXCLUSIVE: False sex allegation against McCabe

circulated by Tusla following clerical error
A file containing a false allegation of child sex abuse against
whistleblower Maurice McCabe was sent by Tusla, the child and
family agency, to gardai and widely

This is the very reason why the sector needs a union.

Someone with the experience and strength that SIPTU has,
as Ireland's largest trade union to raise the hand and say
Stop! The exploitation has gone on for too long and needs
to stop. Experienced and well qualified staff under paid,
undervalued and not recognised for their professionalism
on a daily basis. Providers worry that the business is no
longer sustainable due to serious lack of funding and
resources
Every chance the Garda won't bother with this due to why
and what the man was murdered for... They'll be warned
off it.
#Corruption

Dublin Mountains murder victim may have been

beaten to death with branch
Garda now believe that murdered environmental activist Michael
McCoy was beaten to death with a tree branch.
Creches in Cork may close due to lack of funding
Seven creches looking after vulnerable toddlers in some of the most
disadvantaged parts of Cork City could be facing closure.

Sound advice from the Minister for Finance.

The Irish Constitution has been trampled on for decades by self
serving politicians aided and abetted by their business lobbyists,
clever financial advisers, smart lawyers and a judicial system up to
its eyes in corruption and kickbacks. All to shore up and maintain
the wealth of the elite and powerful in Ireland. Our founding fathers
would be horrified that they sacrificed so much in vain.

The family who were violently evicted from their home of 8 years
last week are currently living in a hotel. They have lost their home
and have now had to suffer a tirade of abuse via social media and a
smear campaign headed by the landlord himself in order to deflect
attention from the violent tactics he employed to remove the family
from their home.
The child of the family is Autistic and has a set of complex needs
that must be met in order to keep on making progress socially and
of course educationally. Can you imagine what it must be like for the
child knowing that a gang of men violently tore his parents from the
place he knows as home as well as having to accept that this same
man has kept hostage the family's pet rabbit along with all their
personal possessions.
Today Park Gate street offered this family with an autistic child a
hostel on Gardiner Street. Not a hotel or BnB considering the
circumstances but a hostel where that child will be exposed to all
sorts as is quite evident in the state of some of the hostels around
the country.
Having been fighting the last year to stay in their home, after 8
years of paying 1000 plus a month, after witnessing two men
hammer a hole through their front door, after been torn from their
home and now to be homeless this is what they are facing. A future
of uncertainty and top it off agenda driven false allegations being
spread about them.
This a man, woman and a child, two parents who want nothing more
than a safe home for their child and for themselves. If people
continue to scrutinize victims and support Landlords then we may as
well give up now.
Please share and support this family even if just by advice, they
need kindness not further aggression and ill will.

Part two of our series on the homeless epidemic in

Ireland at the moment, written by Patrick Prizeman.
'A political analysis of the housing crisis and how it
can be resolved', offers some solutions on how we
may be able to improve the homeless situation in
Ireland at the moment, as well as acknowledges
what possible obstacles may be preventing us from
rectifying the issue immediately.
Please feel free to give an opinion below and don't
forget to hit the like button if you enjoyed the
article.
The series on the issue of homelessness is the first
of many series that we have planned for 2017. So
watch this space and feel free to drop us a message
if there is something you feel passionate about in
society that you believe is not receiving enough
attention in the media. Thanks for your support so
far and we aim to achieve great things together
over the coming months.
For those NOT AFFECTED by Mortgage distress.
You children and beyond will be.
"No European Union member state, apart from
Cyprus, comes anywhere
near Ireland in terms of the fiscal cost"
Just a gentle reminder from figures in 2011!!!
The total direct fiscal cost, as measured by
Eurostat, in the case of Ireland was 41billion. This
sum does not include the additional
cost to Irish taxpayers of reducing cash balances as
well as equity investments under the National
Pension Reserve Fund. This is the HIGHEST absolute
amount for any EU Member State over this period.
It represents 42.6% of the total net cost across all
27
EU Member States (41.0 billion out of 96.2
billion) over the period 2007-2011. And this is
without querying the extent to which the total cost
to taxpayers, which is grossly under-stated by
reference to Eurostat data of the impact on
government deficits only.
Stay in your Residences
Fight the banks.
We will help you.
We are FREE.

The Gravy train 2017

All aboard the gravy train... chooo chooo!
CARLOW-KILKENNY
Just part of YOUR RULERS earnings this year.
Pat Deering (FG) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740
(chair of Joint Committee Agriculture, Food and
Marine)
John McGuinness (FF) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740
(chair of Joint Committee Finance, Public
Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach)
Kathleen Funchion (SF) 95,998: 87,258 plus
8,740 (chair of Joint Committee Implementation of
the Good Friday Agreement)
CAVAN MONAGHAN
Heather Humphreys (FG) 157,540: 87,258 plus
70,282 (Minister)
Brendan Smith (FF) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740
(chair of Joint Committee Foreign Affairs and Trade,
and Defence)
Caoimhghn Caolin (SF) 95,998: 87,258 plus
8,740 (chair of Joint Committee Justice and
Equality)
CLARE
Pat Breen (FG) 121,639: 87,258 plus 34,381
(Minister of State)
Dr Michael Harty (Ind): 95,998: 87,258 plus
8,740 (chair of Joint Committee Health)
Timmy Dooley (FF) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740
(Member of Oireachtas Commission)
Joe Carey (FG) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740
(Member of Oireachtas Commission)
CORK EAST
Sean Sherlock (Lab) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740
(chair of Joint Committee Public Petitions)
CORK NORTH-CENTRAL
Dara Murphy (FG) 121,639: 87,258 plus 34,381
(Minister of State)
CORK NORTH-WEST
Michael Moynihan (FF) 104,738: 87,258 plus
17,480 (party whip)
CORK SOUTH-CENTRAL
Simon Coveney (FG) 157,540: 87,282 (Minister)
CORK SOUTH-WEST
Jim Daly (FG) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740 (chair of
Joint Committee Children and Youth Affairs)
DONEGAL
Joe McHugh (FG) 121,639: 87,258 plus 34,381
(Minister of State)
Pat the Cope Gallagher (FF) 121,639 87,258 plus
34,381 (Leas-Ceann Comhairle)
DUBLIN BAY NORTH
Richard Bruton (FG) 157,540: 87,258 plus
70,282 (Minister)
Finian McGrath (Ind) 121,639: 87,258 plus
34,381 (Minister of State)
Denise Mitchell (SF) 91,858: 87,258 plus 4,600
(party assistant whip)
DUBLIN BAY SOUTH
Eoghan Murphy (FG) 121,639: 87,258 plus
34,381 (Minister of State)
Eamon Ryan (Green) 92,778: 87,258 plus 5,520
(party whip)
DUBLIN CENTRAL
Paschal Donohue (FG) 157,540: 87,258 plus
70,282 (Minister)
DUBLIN FINGAL
Brendan Ryan (Lab) 92,778: 87,258 plus 5,520
(party whip)
Louise OReilly (SF) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740
(Member of Oireachtas Commission)
Clare Daly (Ind4Change) 92,778: 87,258 plus
5,520 (party whip)
DUBLIN MID WEST
Frances Fitzgerald (FG) 171,309: 87,258 plus
84,051 (Tanaiste)
John Curran (FF) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740
(chair of Joint Committee Social Protection)
DUBLIN RATHDOWN
Shane Ross (Ind) 157,540: 87,258 plus 70,282
(Minister)
DUBLIN SOUTH-CENTRAL
Catherine Byrne (FG) 121,639: 87,258 plus
34,381 (Minister of State)
Aengus O Snodaigh (SF) 96,458: 87,258 plus
9,200 (party whip)
DUBLIN SOUTH-WEST
Katherine Zappone (Ind) 157,540: 87,258 plus
70,282 (Minister)
DUBLIN WEST
Leo Varadkar (FG) 157,540: 87,258 plus 70,282
(Minister)
DN LAOGHAIRE
Mary Mitchell OConnor (FG) 157,540: 87,258 plus
70,282 (Minister)
Maria Bailey (FF) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740
(chair of Joint Committee Housing, Planning,
Community and Local Government)
GALWAY EAST
Sean Canney (Ind) 121,639: 87,258 plus 34,381
(Minister of State)
GALWAY WEST
Sean Kyne (FG) 121,639: 87,258 plus 34,381
(Minister of State)
Catherine Connolly (Ind) 95,998: 87,258 plus
8,740 (chair of Joint Committee Irish Language,
the Gaeltacht and the Islands)
KERRY
Michael Healy-Rae (Ind) 95,998: 87,258 plus
8,740 (chair of Joint Committee European Union
Affairs:)
Brendan Griffin (FG) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740
(chair of Joint Committee Transport, Tourism and
Sport)
KILDARE NORTH
Catherine Murphy (SD) 95,998: 87,258 plus
8,740 (Member of Oireachtas Commission)
KILDARE SOUTH
Sen Fearghal :(FF) 157,540: 87,258 plus
70,282 (Ceann Comhairle)
Fiona OLoughlin (FF): 95,998: 87,258 plus
8,740 (party assistant whip)
Martin Heydon (FG) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740
(Member of Oireachtas Commission)
LAOIS
Charles Flanagan (FG) 157,540: 87,258 plus
70,282 (Minister)
Sean Fleming (FF) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740
(chair of Joint Committee Public Accounts)
LIMERICK
Patrick ODonovan (FG) 121,639: 87,258 plus
34,381 (Minister of State)
LIMERICK CITY
Michael Noonan (FG) 157,540: 87,258 plus
70,282 (Minister)
Jan OSullivan (Lab): 90,018: 87,258 plus 2,760
(party assistant whip)
LONGFORD WESTMEATH
Kevin Boxer Moran (Ind): 101,058: 87,258 plus
13,800 (Assistant Government Whip)
MAYO
Enda Kenny (FG) 185,350: 87,258 plus 98,092
(Taoiseach)
Michael Ring (FG) 121,639: 87,258 plus 34,381
(Minister of State)
MEATH EAST
Helen McEntee (FG) 121,639: 87,258 plus
34,381 (Minister of State)
Regina Doherty (FG) 137,468: 87,258 plus 15,829
(Government Whip) plus 34,381 (Minister of State)
MEATH WEST
Damien English (FG) 121,639: 87,258 plus
34,381 (Minister of State)
Peadar Tibn (SF) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740
(chair of Joint Committee Arts, Heritage, Regional,
Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs)
OFFALY
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (FG) 121,639: 87,258
plus 34,381 (Minister of State)
ROSCOMMON GALWAY
Denis Naughten (Ind) 157,540: 87,258 plus
70,282 (Minister)
SLIGO LEITRIM
Tony McLoughlin (FG): 95,998: 87,258 plus
8,740 (party assistant whip)
WATERFORD
John Halligan (Ind) 121,639: 87,258 plus 34,381
(Minister of State)
Mary Butler (FF) 95,998: 87,258 plus 8,740
(chair of Joint Committee Jobs, Enterprise and
Innovation)
WEXFORD
Paul Kehoe (FG) 121,639: 87,258 plus 34,381
(Minister of State)
WICKLOW
Simon Harris (FG) 157,540: 87,258 plus 70,282
(Minister)
Andrew Doyle (FG) 121,639: 87,258 plus 34,381
(Minister of State)
Of the TDs, half get 1,680,286 between them for
their roles as Ministers and Ministers of State.
The other 32 share 365,310 for chairing
committees or acting as party enforcers.
There are 18 payouts of up to 17,480 a year to
these whips and assistant whips, whose job is to
attend business committee meetings, and ensure
TDs and senators vote according to party policy.
Eamon Ryan can get 5,520 a year for being the
whip of the Greens even though the party has
only one other TD which would bring his salary
up to 92,778.
Clare Daly is eligible for the cash as a member of
the Independents4Change group, which has three
other Dail members.
They are Mick Wallace, Joan Collins and Tommy
Broughan, who says he is no longer an
Independents4Change TD.
Deputy Daly did not respond to requests for
comment.
The highest top-up is the 17,480 to Fianna Fail,
whose whip is Michael Moynihan more than the
15,829 paid to Regina Doherty, the Government
Chief Whip.
But as Doherty is also a Minister of State, she is
entitled to pay totalling 137,468.
The Assistant Government Chief Whip perk of
13,800 goes to Independent TD Kevin Boxer
Moran, which gives him a boost up to 101,058 a
year.
Mick Barry and Brid Smith share the duties for the
Anti-Austerity Alliance/People Before Profit.
Labours Brendan Ryan can get 5,520, while
Aengus O Snodaigh Sinn Feins Mr Discipline
can avail of an extra 9,200.
There are four assistant whips: Fine Gaels Tony
McLoughlin and Fianna Fails Fiona OLoughlin are
both eligible for 8,740; Sinn Feins Denise Mitchell
can claim 4,600; and Labours Jan OSullivan is
entitled to 2,760.
Catherine Murphy is the whip of the two-member
Social Democrats.
But she does not get the 5,520 perk as she instead
receives 8,740 for being a member of the
Oireachtas Commission, the body that oversees
delivery of services to Leinster House.
Also eligible for that allowance are TDs Martin
Heydon (FG), Joe Carey (FG), Timmy Dooley (FF) and
Louise OReilly (SF). Three senators are on the
Commission Paudie Coffey (FG), Gerard
Craughwell (Ind) and Ned OSullivan (FF) but
their top-up is smaller at 5,989.
Meanwhile, the chairs of joint committees plus the
chair of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly
can accept an 8,740 boost to their salaries.
These TDs include Maria Bailey (FG), Pat Deering
(FG), Peadar Toibin (SF), Jim Daly (FG), Michael
Healy-Rae (Ind), John McGuinness (FF), Brendan
Smith (FF), Dr Michael Harty (Ind), Kathleen
Funchion (SF), Catherine Connolly (Ind), Mary Butler
(FF), Caoimhghin O Caolain (SF), Sean Sherlock
(Lab), Sean Fleming (FF), John Curran (FF), Brendan
Griffin (FG), Martin Heydon (FG), Joe Carey (FG),
Timmy Dooley (FF) and Louise OReilly (SF).
Senators Hildegarde Naughton (FG) and Padraig O
Ceidigh (Ind) also chair committees, and are among
21 members of the upper chamber who share in
140,738 paid out annually on top of a 65,000
basic wage.
Gabrielle McFadden can take in 2,682 for being
Government Whip while John OMahony is eligible
for 792 as Assistant Government Whip.
Fianna Fails Seanad Group Leader, Catherine
Ardagh, can accept 5,989 the same as whats
available to the deputy leader of the House,
Catherine Noone of Fine Gael.
A 2,682 perk is there for these group leaders:
Marie-Louise ODonnell, (Ind), Rose Conway-Walsh
(Sinn Fein), Alice-Mary Higgins (Civil Engagement)
and Ivana Bacik (Labour). Fianna Fail group whip
-Diarmuid Wilson gets a 2,682 top-up while there
is 792 extra available for whips Victor Boyhan
(Ind), Paul Gavan (SF), Lynn Ruane (Civil
Engagement) and Kevin Humphreys (Labour).
Independent Boyhan told us: I am the whip but the
whip has no jurisdiction. There is no whip as such,
we are independent. It is just for the purposes of
the Seanad, they sometimes send out agendas.
We are the secretaries of the group really. I didnt
know there was an allowance, to be honest. Its set
down, I think, by regulation.

Why should Irish people pay Road tax this year?

Please hear my point.. Last year the Irish
Government gave all the road tax to Irish water who
went away and dug up and destroyed all the roads.
Who are the Irish government going to give the
road tax to this year? Surely this is a breach of
contract. People in Ireland pay tax for certain
reasons. What's the point in paying a road tax that
will never be used to fix the roads? Instead last
year's road tax was handed to a private company
and used to destroy the roads against the will of
the tax payer. Now that the roads are now worse
than ever road tax will now have to go up.. surely
someone has to be held responsible.
Like instead of people protesting against Irish
Water this year would it not make more sense to
protest/ demonstrate or actively unite and March
together that our road tax was robbed last year and
in response people are taking back control of our
roads by way of active demonstration seeking
resolution and money back. This would cause huge
problems for Irish water as people now want our
road tax back. Garda have also had road tax robbed
so it puts them in an interesting position.
Politicians couldn't tell people to get off the roads
as that's the main argument. Our road tax was
robbed yeast year so through breach of contract
they no longer have a say in the roads. They have
proven intent through failure of performance and
the fact that they robbed all our road tax..
If people in Ireland pay road tax. This money must
go to fixing and maintaining our roads. But this
didn't happen last year. The fine gael political party
robbed all the road tax and gave it without consent
to Irish Water.. to me this is unacceptable.. please
share your views and opinions..
Giving Irish road Tax money to Irish Water being the
very people who destroyed the roads is clearly a
breach of contract between the people of Ireland
and the state even under Civil law. Why would you
pay road tax again when the state have already
robbed you and and have broken a contract with
you. If contract makes law and that contract has
been broken is the law itself then broken?
Fianna Fil was "a perfect fit" said Stephen. (It was
the ONLY fit because Wicklow is already spoken for
in Fine Gael). Stephen was looking at the latest
polls and decided that the Soldiers of Destiny were
the best bet to be in government next time. So
Stephen is now a republican (with a very small
Sit on the fence donnelly joined the abstaining
slithering party courupt louser's fianna fail
A culture of jobs for the boys, bonuses for the boys....'
'I don't know where you're quoting from' Stephen Donnelly.
'Lack of accountability and two fingers to the Dil'
'I don't believe I wrote those words' Stephen Donnelly
This is a letter that we have reproduced with the
kind permission of Dr. Edward Horgan of the Irish
Peace and Neutrality Alliance and Shannonwatch.
Detailed Explanation of Lack Of Sovereignty of Stormont
Assembly From Peoples Movement
PEOPLES NEWS: News Digest of the Peoples Movement
02/02/2017
Full Article http://wp.me/pKzXa-tz
Court finds that Stormont has no veto on EU

Part one in our series on the Irish Homeless Crisis -

How are we to feel if we are to live without a roof
over our heads and adequate accommodation?
Numerous Irish citizens are facing this problem
today, who have resorted to sleeping on the streets
or facing temporary emergency accommodation.
This struggle is not just confined to Ireland it is a
universal problem.
7,148 were homeless nationwide in the week of
December 18th to 25th 2016, which is the highest
ever recorded.

How are we to feel if we are to live without a roof over our

heads and adequate accommodation? Numerous Irish
citizens are facing this problem today, who have resorted to
sleeping on the streets or facing temporary emergency
accommodation. This struggle is not just confined to Ireland it
is a universal problem. The number of homeless increase day
by day, which has an overall negative effect on Irish society
and these individuals living standards.
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive states there could be
many reason for an individual to become homeless such as
family breakdown, social exclusion, mental health problems,
drugs and alcohol misuse, low income, rent or mortgage
increases, payment debt and unemployment.
In the article published on Dublin Region Homeless
Executives webpage it states,
The Housing Act 1988 defines a person as homeless if:
(a) There is no accommodation available which, in the opinion
of the authority, he together with any other person who
normally resides with him or might reasonably be expected to
reside with him, can reasonably occupy or remain in
occupation of,
or
(b) he is living in a hospital, county home, night shelter or
other such institution and is so living because he has no
accommodation of the kind referred to in paragraph (a) and he
is, in the opinion of the authority, unable to provide
accommodation from his own resources.
According to figures released by the Department of the
Environment, Community and Local Government at the end of
2015 the number of homeless families has risen by up to 76%
since January, 2015. At the start of 2015 over 400 families had
become homeless and by August it increased to over 700,
which was an increase of 76% in 8 months. The Simon
community describes this situation as disturbing. The
majority of homeless families are from Dublin.
Minister Alan Kelly stated his intention (to)bring a proposal
to government for controlling rents but also warns, that it may
create many complexities on economic and legal issues. In
July of 2016 The Department of Housing published the Action
Plan for Housing and Homeless, which outlines early
solutions to address the high number of households in
emergency accommodation. Seeking to provide 1,500 rapid
build units.
An article by Focus Ireland, titled How the Irish government
is addressing the homeless crisis, discusses the Irish
governments commitment to eliminate long term occupancy
of emergency homeless accommodation for the people who
are homeless during the period of (2008 -2013) with this
strategy The Way Home, which was focused on adult, who
are homeless in Ireland.
This strategy for tackling homeless was based on the
Homeless Policy Statement, which was published in
February of 2013. Although these kinds of measures to
eradicate homelessness have been adopted time and time
again, we are left to question if policy will be able to address
the growing number of people, who could become homeless
due to defaulting on their mortgages or their inability to pay
rent. A number of meetings were held between government
and non- governmental sectors targeting an end to long term
homeless by 2016.
7,148 were homeless nationwide in the week of December
18th to 25th 2016, which is the highest ever recorded.
2016 has passed and one can only speculate, as to how many
people will be homeless or in need of emergency
accommodation by the end of 2017. 7,148 were homeless
nationwide in the week of December 18th to 25th 2016, which
is the highest ever recorded. Foodbanks, hostels and hotels
are in high demand as the government and charity
organisation attempt to deal with a problem that has plagued
society for too long.
According to Threshold the number of people who were at
risk of becoming homeless had risen by 77% in 2013. The
Irish Times published an article in January of 2014, were
Threshold Chief Executive Bob Jordan stated the only way to
control homelessness is real recognition of the shortage of
social housing.
In March of 2015 the Irish Times published an article centered
on the governments funding for local authority housing,
which had fallen by 35 million between 2012 2015, new
statistics show.
An article in the Journal.ie published in 2013 summed up the
shift in focus for the government Since 2008, the capital
expenditure for social housing has been sacrificed more than
most areas in successive budgets with cuts of 80 per cent
(from 1.3bn to 275m). This is at a time when demand for
social housing has reached an all-time high with nearly
100,000 households on waiting lists and in need of social
housing supports.
Since 2008, the capital expenditure for social housing has
been sacrificed more than most areas in successive budgets
with cuts of 80 per cent (from 1.3bn to 275m). This is at a
time when demand for social housing has reached an all-time
high with nearly 100,000 households on waiting lists and in
need of social housing supports.
The Simon community warned that a rise in the price of rent
by 8.6 % a month is forcing people to be homeless after
Private Rental Tenancies Board (PRTB) revealed this figure.
Many families have become homeless having no other option
but to resort to staying in emergency accommodation like
friends house, hostels and hotels This is partially due to
continuous increment in rental price, the housing shortage
and inadequate rent supplement payment.
According to Simon Community, the rate of rent increased by
3% in 2013 and it rose to 5.8% in 2014. The number of families
living in emergency accommodation has risen to 769. The gap
between rent supplement and market rent is becoming ever
more divergent, which creates a threat of even more children,
families and individuals ending up on the street.
In an article published by the Irish Times in 2015 Garrett
Sherry stated The city (Dublin) needs about 5,600 new
houses a year, which is forecast to rise to 8,900 by 2018. In
2014 the supply was under 2,800 units. This unmet demand is
getting worse. What can be done? Whereas ESRI (Think-
tank) has stated that Ireland needs around 25,000 houses built
each year over the medium term to keep pace with demand.
h of November, 2015 Fr Peter McVerry says that governments
goal to end homelessness in Ireland by end of 2016 seems
unattainable. He added the reason is that the number of
homeless people is getting higher and higher, it is due to the
government policies and their inability to eradicate
homelessness. The only solution for this problem is
introducing Social Housing, which would be owned by the
government.
In a press release issued by the Simon Community in
January, 2016 it noted that Ireland has 95% of properties
which are available for rent are beyond their capacity to afford
them. They found an increasing divergence between market
rent and the rent supplement along with the increment of
32.3% in rent since April 2012 while the rent limit stayed
unchanged.
In another press release issued by The Simon Community on
the 11th of March 2016 it identified that the Latest emergency
accommodation figure are shocking and clearly demonstrate
that the existing measures in place to tackle homelessness
are clearly failing.
The Housing Market Monitor report for the first half of 2016,
from the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI),
estimated an annual shortfall of 10,000 units in terms of
housing output and the estimated requirement for new
homes.
The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local
Government show that 6,642 housing units were completed in
the first half of 2016, compared to 5,625 units during the same
period in 2015, an increase of 18%. If the same levels of
activity seen in the second half of 2015 continue for the
second half of 2016, it is likely that there will be around 15,000
units completed in 2016, which is still well below the
estimated requirement of 25,000.
The Contrast

In 1971 Copenhagen was suffering from a housing shortage

and citizens, were forced to seek another means of
accommodation. This led a group of young activists to break
down the fence enclosing the abandoned Bdsmandsstrde
Barracks. The invasion comes in the wake of a severe
residence crisis in Copenhagen, with young people in large
numbers being unable to find a place to live. The activists
found the free-town of Christiania, based on the main concept
of a self-governing society in which each individual can
develop freely while observing responsibility towards the
community. In this sense, Christiania was thought to be
and to quite an impressive extent did become a liberal-
socialist utopia. At the heart of Christiania lay the principle of
self-discipline. There was no law and no justice system each
individual was to be trusted, and expected to respect the
community, but would otherwise be free to do as (s)he
pleased.
Last year, Christiania celebrated their 45th anniversary of the
day that squatters known as slumstormerene broke down
the barricades of an abandoned military base, creatively
activating disused spaces in a time when living conditions
were poor. In 1973, the Social Democratic government gave
Christiania the official temporary status of social
experiment a term that many criticized as its residents had
not agreed to participate. Nonetheless, this ruling allowed
Christiania to persist, and a majority vote in parliament in
1989 set the Christiania Law in stone, legalising the squat.

close group
close row
Christiania is regarded as prime real-estate, which saw the
Danish government insist that Christiania either purchase the
land or be bought out, in 2011. The prospect of ownership
was unappealing based on the Christianites rejection of
property rights. So they set up a foundation to buy the land.
Many supporters of the commune jumped at the chance to
buy a little share of freedom, more than 12.5 million kroner
was raised, a mortgage was secured and Christiania was
saved.
Movements like Home Sweet Home share notable similarities
to the inception of Christiania, which occupied dormant
buildings to provide accommodation for individuals, who
were afflicted by housing shortages. The Irish occupation of
Apollo House was only a temporary solution but it open the
realms of debate once again. The Facebook page of Home
Sweet Home received over 3 million views and the movement
was discussed in the New York Times.
There are many ways that society and government can try to
deal with homelessness. The government could utilize
properties that are owned by NAMA and redevelop them to
offset projected growth in homeless instead of investing 39
million per year for families living in emergency
accommodation, at hotels and B&Bs.
The government could utilize properties that are owned by
NAMA and redevelop them to offset projected growth in
homeless instead of investing 39 million per year for
families living in emergency accommodation, at hotels and
B&Bs.
We can only speculate as to what will happen in the future, as
the number of homeless increases day after day its hard to
assume that there will be a fall in homeless figures by the end
of 2017. Is it sustainable for the government to maintain
spending millions on emergency accommodation while many
dormant buildings lay vacant across the country?
Additional Resources Further Readings
https://irelandafternama.wordpress.com/
https://www.focusireland.ie/
https://www.pmvtrust.ie/news-media/facts-
and-figures/
http://www.dubsimon.ie/Homelessness/Homel
essStatistics.aspx
http://irishhousingnetwork.org/
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding
-ireland/minister-coveney-launches-pillar-2-
under-rebuilding-ireland-action-plan
http://rebuildingireland.ie/
http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/kathy-
sheridan-beware-the-seductive-simplicity-of-
apollo-house-1.2912987?
mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-
origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com
%2Fopinion%2Fkathy-sheridan-beware-the-
seductive-simplicity-of-apollo-house-
1.2912987

Our Politicians are hypocrites that drink excessive

amounts of alcohol when they are working all subsidized
by us the Taxpayer. Yet again the Fine Gael / Labour Party/
Fianna Fil taking the taxpayer for a ride
Justice for Mary Boyle 40th Anniversary public
demonstration to take place in Dublin City Ireland
Prime Bling A public demonstration will take place in Dublin City
on Monday 20th March 2017. This demo has been called in light of a
very tragic case known simply
A public demonstration will take place in Dublin
City on Monday 20th March 2017. This demo has
been called in light of a very tragic case known
simply as Justice For Mary Boyle who will be 40
years missing this year. The meeting place in
Dublin City is directly outside the Garda Siochana
Ombudsman Commissioners Office at number 150
Abbey Street Upper here in Dublin City Ireland.
The text below was sourced from a campaign fb
page known as Justice For Mary Boyle March and
justice for all.
We will assemble that day at 2 PM outside the
Garda Sochna Ombudsman Commission in 150
Abbey Street Upper, Dublin from there we will
Proceed on to the Department of Justice offices at
51 St Stephens Green, Dublin.
Banners are more than welcome from these
campaigns and also anything you would like
to leave outside these offices, in for instance
we will leave teddys and dolls, as well as
purple ribbons to signify the child in our
family whos life was stolen away from her
and whom the state has failed for the past 40
years.
Journalists will be welcomed along to report
but will not be giving a platform to speak
unless asked to do so by a family member,
also no political parties banners will be
welcome, if any politician wants to speak
they will be welcome to along with anyone
else there will be no hierarchy at this march
This is going to be a peaceful protest and for us its
the big one, if you really want to help us get justice
please keep this date free in your diary.
Monday the 20th of March 2017 the day on
which we DEMAND justice!
http://www.primebling.com/justice-for-mary-boyle-40th-
anniversary-public-demonstration-to-take-place-in-dublin-
city-ireland/

Establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into the National

Asset Management Agency: Statements (Continued)
Wednesday, 1 February 2017
Dil ireann Debate
Unrevised
First Page Previous Page Page of 73 Next Page Last Page
(Speaker Continuing)
[Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett: Information on Richard
Boyd Barrett Zoom on Richard Boyd Barrett] I do not have
all the answers, but I want to put this into the domain of
issues that need to be examined. I received the folder
before me on Monday in my office. It is a very detailed
folder about Spencer Dock, a site owned by CIE that was
to be developed by Treasury Holdings. I rang someone in
NAMA today to try to get the par value of the original
loans pertaining to the site and they could not give me the
answer. They said they might get back to me. We are
talking about a figure in the hundreds of millions of euro.
That site is now commencing development again and it is
being talked about as a 600 million development.
When I asked them on the telephone NAMA would not
confirm who bought the site. We know from the National
Asset Management Agency Act that the original
developers were not supposed to get back the sites
pertaining to their loans. The original developer was
Treasury Holdings. It was reported in October of last year
that Johnny Ronan, formerly of Treasury Holdings, was the
preferred bidder in the bidding process, which was
launched in February 2016. That site owned by CIE was
put on the market at a guide price of 50 million, but CIE
had an arrangement with Treasury Holdings. That
arrangement was seriously questioned and criticised at
the time by the then Minister, former Deputy Mary
O'Rourke, and subsequently by former Deputy Pat
Rabbitte. In fact, a report was ordered by the then
Minister, Mary O'Rourke, into the entire deal between CIE
and Treasury Holdings on the grounds that she and others
believed that serious questions arose as to whether the
public interest had been served in the deal that had been
done between CIE and Treasury Holdings as all CIE would
get from its site was 17% of the sale value of any
development or 17% of the rent. The rest was to go to
Treasury Holdings, Johnny Ronan, Richard Barrett and so
on. They went into NAMA owing 2.6 billion in total in
terms of Treasury Holdings, and 1.67 billion went into
NAMA.
With regard to my first question, Johnny Ronan exited
NAMA apparently paying off his 250 million debt, but he
now has the site again. That figure of 250 million is not
1.6 billion. I do not know the exact breakdown of Treasury
Holdings debt, but he has the site again. The guide price
for that six acre site was 50 million. Comparisons with
similar sites currently on the open market suggest one
should be paying about 20 million per acre, which is 120
million, not the reported 42.5 million that Ronan, backed
by Colony, a big investment fund which refinanced
Ronan's loans, is reported to have paid, although I could
not get the answer from NAMA when I rang this morning,
which I find extraordinary. They said they could not tell me
how much was paid for the site or who bought it but it was
reported in October that it was sold for 42.5 million and
that Johnny Ronan, backed by Colony, bought it. If that is
true and if the comparable prices per acre are in the
region of 20 million, that means NAMA sold a site worth
120 million for 42.5 million. That is shocking, and the
developer who now has it is the developer who originally
went into NAMA when Treasury Holdings was taken over
by NAMA.
On the valuations, in 2002, the value per acre in the
Docklands was 8 million to 14 million. It is very
reasonable to assume, therefore, given the massive surge
in property values since then, that 20 million is a
reasonable valuation.
The last question that must be answered in regard to
this-----
Acting Chairman (Deputy Jim Daly): Information on Jim
Daly Zoom on Jim Daly Thank you, Deputy. I cannot allow
you to eat into anybody else's time. I call Deputy Mick
Wallace, Independents 4 Change.
Deputy Ruth Coppinger: Information on Ruth Coppinger
Zoom on Ruth Coppinger Some people did not use their
time-----
Acting Chairman (Deputy Jim Daly): Information on Jim
Daly Zoom on Jim Daly Thank you, Deputy, for that advice
and comment.
Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett: Information on Richard Boyd
Barrett Zoom on Richard Boyd Barrett I hope these
questions will be answered because they are very serious
questions and they deserve investigation.
Acting Chairman (Deputy Jim Daly): Information on Jim
Daly Zoom on Jim Daly Deputy Boyd Barrett, please do not
take up Deputy Wallace's time.
Deputy Mick Wallace: Information on Mick Wallace Zoom
on Mick Wallace This debate was moved from Thursday to
Wednesday to ensure the Minister, Deputy Noonan, could
be in the Chamber and he is not here. His contribution at
the start of the debate was pathetic. The contribution of
the Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts was not
much better. The notion that the Committee of Public
Accounts is an investigative body is rubbish. The
Comptroller and Auditor General looked at one dimension
of one sale, and the Committee of Public Accounts is
looking at it also. It cannot access NAMA's papers. It
cannot possibly hold NAMA to account. NAMA
representatives went before the Committee of Public
Account eight times and said what they liked. It is absolute
rubbish.
It is four months since the Taoiseach agreed to establish a
commission of investigation into the secret society that is
NAMA. Since then, NAMA has sold over 4 billion in par
value worth of loans to vulture funds, and almost 3 billion
worth of those loans went to its good friend, Cerberus.
I agree that the commission should begin by examining
Project Eagle as its first module, but the problems in NAMA
are sadly not unique to NAMAs Northern Ireland loan
portfolio. It is imperative that any commission adopts a
modular approach, similar to the Irish Bank Resolution
Corporation, IBRC, investigation.
The allegations made by Enda Farrell, a former NAMA staff
member, should be the second module. It seems NAMA
may have internally investigated some of the NAMA
officials named by Mr. Farrell in his affidavit who may have
leaked confidential information or engaged in malpractice.
Those internal investigations should be made available to
the commission. I have read his affidavit and I can tell the
Minister of State that it is worrying.
The third module should examine the establishment of
Hibernia REIT. It was set up in 2013, following a three year
stint at NAMA by one of its founders, but it seems the
company was in planning for a long time before that.
Some businessmen on the east coast of the United States
were briefed on Hibernia REIT's arrival as early as 2011.
Kevin Nowlan is on the record as stating: "We know
enough people in Dublin to be able and go buy properties
in Dublin without having to go to auction, of having to go
onto the Market."
If one looks at some of the assets it has purchased, the
links back to NAMA begin to appear - the Forum Building,
the Dublin Observatory Building, the Harcourt Street
building, Windmill Lane, New Century House and Central
Quay. All those assets were in NAMA and are now in the
hands of Hibernia REIT, either through direct purchases or
secondary deals.
A fourth module should consist of an examination of any
internal NAMA investigations into NAMA officials regarding
the leaking of confidential information or alleged
malpractice and, if the judge sees fit, to investigate any
other allegations of unauthorised leaking.
The commission of investigation should provide its initial
report on Project Eagle within six months and the
remaining modules within 12 months. Importantly, any
report should be made public.
Before referring back to Project Eagle, I would like to put
on record that the Comptroller and Auditor General's role
in regard to NAMA has been abused by the Government.
At one stage, the Taoiseach tried to tell us that the
Comptroller and Auditor General had staff within NAMA.
That had to be rebuked by the Comptroller and Auditor
General who stated: "an impression being given that
everything that moves in NAMA is seen by and examined
by somebody from my office is absolutely incorrect".
The Minister, Deputy Noonan, recently tried to tell me that
the Comptroller and Auditor General would have called for
a halt to NAMA's activities had he felt it was warranted.
Again, the Comptroller and Auditor General rebuked that
stating that he "is prohibited from expressing an opinion
on the merits of policy".
As an aside, I want to tell the Minister that Cormac Butler,
a financial consultant and a member of the
namaleaks.com team, has pointed out that NAMA may not
even hold legal title to the assets transferred from the
Irish banks in 2009, given that when a bank is insolvent,
the European Central Bank, ECB, automatically acquires
control of its assets. If that is the case, it would mean that
the ECB, not NAMA, is the owner of the loans. We have
been raising some of these issues with the Minister and
his Department since last August but to little avail.
Cormac Butler has also been making the point that when
Wilbur Ross, President Donald Trump's Secretary of
Commerce nominee, purchased Bank of Ireland shares in
2011 and then flipped them in 2014 for a profit of 477
million, he did so with the advantage of having access to
the financial position of the bank, which was not in the
public domain. That was information that was not
available to smaller shareholders. I would like the Minister
to confirm or deny that his officials are now aware that the
activities of Wilbur Ross and his sale of Bank of Ireland
shares is the subject of an investigation in the US. They do
an odd one there; they are a little more fond of them than
we are here.
To go back to Project Eagle, the sale stinks from start to
finish. In late 2016, we travelled to Asia to meet a
businessman named Barry Lloyd, who had contacted us
through our whistleblowing site, namaleaks.com.
http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/
/takes/dail20170201

WOW, JUST WOW.

Former Anglo CEO David Drumm granted free legal

aid
Drumm granted legal aid for his upcoming conspiracy to defraud
trial in Dublin
Former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm
has been granted free legal aid for his upcoming
conspiracy to defraud trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal
Court.
Judge Karen OConnor granted legal aid to pay for four
barristers after hearing Mr Drumm was in a catch-22
situation regarding his finances. She also noted he is an
undischarged bankrupt.
The judge said her ruling is for the criminal matters only
and that it has no bearing on any civil matters which
may be in the pipeline.
No objection
Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions did not
object to the application and said her main priority was a
fair trial that was not delayed.
Documents to support the legal aid application were
handed into court on Monday. Prosecuting counsel Mary
Rose Gearty SC said the details in these documents have
been verified by garda as much as possible. Ms Gearty
said she realises the court might have concerns about the
amount of assets Mr Drumm possesses. She said his
assets are roughly what one would expect them to be.
Ms Gearty said she doesnt know what will happen to Mr
Drumms pension but that there are related civil
actions in progress concerning the accused.
If his pension is drawn down there are people waiting,
she said.
Trial could last three months
In support of the application Mr Drumms solicitor
Michael Staines said his client has been totally co-
operative with garda. He said it will be an extremely
lengthy trial which could last for three months.
Judge OConnor, who considered the issue overnight,
said the law states someone is entitled to legal aid if they
have insufficient means to pay for representation and if
the interests of justice demand it. In granting the
request, she noted Mr Drumm is facing allegations
which carry a maximum of 10 years in prison on
conviction. The accused was granted legal aid for four
barristers including a documents counsel to handle the
paperwork in the case. The defence requested this so it
would have parity with the States four prosecution
barristers.
No reporting restrictions
Judge OConnor denied a request from the DPP for
reporting restrictions to be imposed on the media
regarding the application. She noted the constitutional
requirement that justice be done in public and said she
was not satisfied the court is at the stage yet for
reporting restrictions.
However she urged the media to exercise caution in its
reporting.
Mr Drumm (50), with an address in Skerries, Co Dublin,
will appear again on March 24th for a pre-trial hearing
ahead of the trial which is expected to start in April. He
faces two charges of conspiring to defraud depositors
and investors at Anglo Irish Bank by dishonestly
creating the impression that deposits in 2008 were 7.2
billion larger than they were. He faces one additional
charge in relation to the EU transparency directive. He
has yet to enter a plea to the charges.
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-
services/former-anglo-ceo-david-drumm-granted-free-
legal-aid-1.2957977#.WJB_CcXZoXc.facebook
HAS A SOLICITOR TAKEN UNLAWFUL
POSSESSION OF ELDERLY MANS HOME?
29 January 2017
An elderly woman was this week shocked to discover that the deeds
to the home of her 84 year old brother are in fact in the name of a
solicitor. Roscommon woman Eileen Linney, who is the sole carer for
her elderly brother Mike Gavin who lives at Taughmaconnell, Co.
Roscommon, became suspicious when strange cars were seen
around the area, whose drivers were asking questions regarding
ownership of the rural cottage and garden. When she phoned the
Land Registry HQ in Waterford, they informed her that the cottage
and garden were in the name of Mr. Robert Marren, of Robert B.
Marren & Co. Solicitors, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Mrs. Linney and Mr. Gavin are the sister and brother of the late Pat
Gavin, bachelor, who died intestate in 2005, thereby necessitating
his farm be sold and the proceeds divided amongst his siblings. The
High Court appointed Mr. Robert Marren of Robert B. Marren & Co.
Solicitors as administrator of Pat Gavins estate. As part of these
High Court proceedings that followed, the land was auctioned. The
cottage and garden were not auctioned or sold as there was legal
provision for Mike Gavin to reside there for the remainder of his life.
But the buyers of the farm itself were other sisters of Eileen Linney
and Mike Gavin. These sisters do not live locally as they are in Cork
and in the USA. To this day, Mike Gavin and Eileen Linney have not
received their full-share of the land sale. Mike Gavin, as registered
herd keeper of his late brothers livestock after his death, spent
thousands of Euro feeding the livestock. Grants to feed the animals,
which were issued by the Department of Agriculture to the estate
which is administered by Robert Marren Solicitor, were never
handed to Mike Gavin, who is out of pocket by tens of thousands of
Euro. Mr. Marren has charged the estate almost 41,000 in fees but
without issuing a detailed bill of costs.
The straw which has now broken the camels back is the discovery
that Mr. Marren is the REGISTERED OWNER of the humble home
where Mike Gavin was born, raised and currently resides. What does
this mean in legal terms? Who gains financially in the event of Mike
Gavins death? With everything that has happened to date Mike
Gavin and Eileen Linney believe that they are victims of financial
elder abuse.
The following information was requested from Mr. Marren in writing
but it was not adequately dealt addressed:
a) Invoice for Willie Penroses fee that the estate was charged for.
b) Proof that Willie Penrose was in fact paid for his opinion.
c) Correct invoice for Catherine OConnor.
d) Proof that your client Robert B. Marren received 165,000 from
Anne Sanford and Kathleen OKeefe through their solicitor Tony Mc
Lynn of T & N McLynn Solicitors Athlone to cover Michael Gavin and
Eileen Linneys 1/6 share from the land sale.
e) Invoice for John Dolan Auctioneer Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
f) Detailed bill of costs for your client Robert B. Marren
g) Detailed Bill of costs for T&N McLynn solicitors Athlone.
The following questions were asked in writing of Mr. Marren but none
were satisfactorily answered:
1. Why Did Robert B. Marren refuse to award Michael Gavin the
grant money paid down from the dept. of Agriculture? Mike Gavin is
owed over 116,000 for 9 Years unpaid.
2. Why did Robert B. Marren hold on to the funds from the land sale
for nearly 2 years?
3. Why did Robert B. Marren award Elderly Michael Gavin and his
widowed sister 12,500 plus interest less than what they were
entitled to?
4. Why did Robert B. Marren deduct 3,500 Eileen Linney for
Animals she never owned? (Also deducted 3,500 from Michael
Gavin)
5. Why was no invoice provided for William Penroses TD BL opinion?
6. Why did Robert B. Marren hire an additional accountant Damien
Hannigan 7 Oliver Plunkett St. Mullingar at a cost of 8,751.45 to
oversee the Accounts?
7. Why did Robert B. Marren not provide the correct invoice for
Accountant Catherine OConnor?
8. Why did Mr. Robert B. Marren not provide a Detailed Bill of
Costs for his fee of 40,892.53 he awarded to himself?
9. Why did Robert B. Marren Solicitor consider the other
beneficiaries to be his clients?
10. Why did Robert B. Marren distribute the estate assets in isolation
to well-founded objections?
11. Why did Robert B. Marren refuse to take the well-founded
objections to a Judge?
12. Why did Robert B. Marren threaten 2 of the elderly beneficiaries
and coerce them to retain a solicitor to prevent him distributing the
estate assets?
13. Why did Robert B. Marren distribute the estate assets speedily
over the Christmas period 2014 in the knowledge that 2 of the
beneficiaries were actively attempting to retain a solicitor to act on
their behalf?
14. Why did Tony Henry of Tormey Solicitors Athlone fail to
undertake the instructions given him through John Glynn Solicitors
to prevent Mr. Robert Marren closing in isolation to well-founded
objections?
15. Why did T & N McLynn Solicitors, Athlone (special) summon Mike
Gavin and Eileen Linney to the High Court attempting to sell his
home along with the farm and failed after three days squandering
estate assets with fees in the High Court?
16. Why was no bill of costs provided for T & N McLynn Solicitors,
Athlone, paid an amount of 38,941 a year prior to the distribution
of the estate assets?
17. Why did/does Robert Marren refuse to provide answers to these
and other questions?
18. Why Has Robert B. Marren retained you Peter D. Jones Mullingar
State Solicitor to represent him?
A book has been written about this sad story of financial elder
abuse. The Book is FREE to Read online here
http://mikegavin83.com/book/ or a copy may be obtained from
Amazon UK goo.gl/vbnCqF Amazon USA goo.gl/Mg6jDh
To draw public attention to this scandal, there have been a number
of protests outside the offices of Robert B. Marren & Co. Solicitors,
Castle Street, Mullingar, during 2016. These protests were attended
by Mike Gavin, some members of his immediate family, his friends,
neighbours and his supporters nationwide. But the ante will be
upped considerably from next month, where Mr. Marrens offices will
be occupied by a number of elderly people who support Mike Gavin.
These occupations will be without any pre warning and will be
intended to cause maximum disruption to Mr. Marrens legal
practice until 84 year old Mike Gavin is given justice. We have seen
TV reports recently about vulture funds, but one does not need to go
much further than any Irish rural town to encounter VULTURE
LAWYERS.
Read My book Financial Elder Abuse available here
Paperback for sale on Amazon
Amazon UK goo.gl/vbnCqF 5
Amazon USA goo.gl/Mg6jDh $7
FREE online www.mikegavin83.com/book
Best to get your copy now in case they take it down!
Please share links far and wide via social media, skype, email, what-
app etc
goo.gl/vbnCqF

An Irishman and his large entourage (including his wife,

daughters and 27 special advisers and other hangers-on)
has been refused entry to the United States as part of
President Trump's ban on immigration. It is thought the
man was seeking asylum in the US after one of his former
supporters Mr Al Varad Kar El Castleknock got impatient
and bought him a one way ticket. Mr Varad Kar said "He's
been talking about leaving for years. Just like that dictator
fella in The Gambia he thought he could stay in power for
one thousand years".A spokesperson for US immigration
said "This foreigner Mr Abu Kenn-y Al Mayo spoke in a
weird accent, we couldn't understand a word he was
saying - he made no sense whatsoever. He also had a
suspicious plant in his luggage which may have been
some illegal drug - he kept saying "It's a gift for the
President, I bring it every year." I don't know about Mr
Obama but President Trump will not be having any green
weed like that around the White House. That's why we
need a wall to keep undesirables like this man out".

Vestager: Ireland must collect 13bn Apple tax - but other

EU countries could
31/01/2017

EUs Margrethe Vestager. Photo: REUTERS/Eric Vidal

Other EU member states will have to prove that Apple
made profits in their jurisdiction in order to claim a share
of the 13bn Ireland has been ordered to collect in Apple
back taxes.
European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe
Vestager said that Ireland must collect the tax, but other
states could claim a share by proving the profits were
generated there.
Apple has argued that its global profits fall due in the US,
not countries where it sells products.
Ireland has yet to collect the money, which will be held in
escrow while challenges to the ruling by the State and
Apple work through the EU courts, the Commissioner said.
Apple has said it will make the payment, the delay in
collecting the tax reflects the complexity of locking away
such a large sum, Margrethe Vestager said.
Including legal challenges and appeals the money could
be on-ice for as long as five years.
She remains convinced that the total to be paid by Apple
will be at the the 13bn level, Commissioner Vestager
said.
Speaking in Dublin, she denied that Brussels had launched
a witch-hunt against US technology businesses, despite
recent high profile cases taken against Facebook and
Google, as well as Apple.
She said she didn't believe the actions would dampen US
enthusiasm to invest in Europe. Ireland is one of the main
European beneficiaries of US investment.
"Europe is open for business, she said.
Europe is probably the biggest, richest market in the
world," she added.
The Commissioner is in Dublin for an appearance at the
Oireachtas Finance Committee today, where she will
answer questions from TDs and senators.
The Apple tax ruling has been challenged by the
Government here, which says it is not entitled to the
13bn, and by Apple itself.
It is understood that the Commission has until the middle
of March to make a formal reply to the Irish challenge to
its ruling, in a case that will ultimately be heard by the
European General Court in Luxembourg.
Each party to the case will have a number of opportunities
to submit rounds of written legal pleadings before an
initial oral hearing in Luxembourg which could still be
more as long as two years away.
Defended

What could Ireland buy with Apple's 13bn? Here's all you
need to know
Apple has said it will make the payment, which will sit in
an escrow account for what's expected to be around five
years until the challenges against the original ruling and
any subsequent appeals are heard.
Ms Vestager, a former Danish deputy prime minister, has
staunchly defended her findings that Ireland granted
billions of euro in illegal state aid to Apple.
Fine Gael senator Kieran O'Donnell, who is a member of
the committee, said he welcomed her decision to attend
the hearing, whereas Apple has declined to speak.
However, he said the Apple tax ruling had raised serious
questions, including over the independence of the
Revenue Commissioners and Ireland's tax sovereignty,
and was in language that was "very ambiguous and
confusing".
Finance Minister Michael Noonan, who is challenging the
ruling having secured support from the Government, will
appear at the Committee on Thursday.
http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/vestager-ireland-
must-collect-13bn-apple-tax-but-other-eu-countries-could-
claim-share-35411205.html

Letter-State-Aid-Investigations President of the European

Commission ... February 11, 2016 I am writing to address
the recent state aid investigations being conducted by the
European
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-
policy/treaties/Documents/Letter-State-Aid-
Investigations.pdf

EU S Treaty state aid Treason

Proof Documentation Here
This area contains the Treaty rules that are relevant for the
State Aid Control.
Art. 109 EC Treaty
Art. 109 of the EC Treaty is the legal base for the adoption
of secondary legislation in the field of State Aid.
More news
Art. 108 EC Treaty - Control procedure
Art. 108 of the EC Treaty was, since the adoption of
Regulation 994 of the 7th of May 1998 on the application
to artt. 107 and 108 of the Treaty to certain Orizontal Aids,
the only normative source of procedural law in the field of
State aid (commission decision lack the general scope as
are addressed to specific beneficiaries).

The ten years that followed the adoption of said regulation

of the Council there has been a significant increase in the
adoption of regulations by the commission, both
procedural and substantial (de minimis, block exemption
regulations, etc).

As the empowering source of the Commission Regulations

was only indirect (Reg. 994/98/EC) the Lisbon Treaty adds
the all new par. 4 giving ex post the higher legal base to
the legislation adopted by the Commission in the field of
State aid.

Art. 108
Art. 107 TFEU (ex Article 87 TEC) - Notion of State Aid and
Derogations
Art. 107 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
Union is made of three paragraphs. The 1st lays down the
definition of "incompatible" State Aid. The 2nd provides for
cases of de iure derogations to the incompatibility. The 3d
provides for cases of discretionary derogation to the
incompatibility.
Art. 107 TFEU (ex Article 87 TEC) - Notion of State Aid and
Derogations
Art. 107 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
Union is made of three paragraphs. The 1st lays down the
definition of "incompatible" State Aid. The 2nd provides for
cases of de iure derogations to the incompatibility. The 3d
provides for cases of discretionary derogation to the
incompatibility.
1.
Save as otherwise provided in the Treaties, any aid
granted by a Member State or through State resources in
any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort
competition by favouring certain undertakings or the
production of certain goods shall, in so far as it affects
trade between Member States, be incompatible with the
internal market.
2.
The following shall be compatible with the internal market:

(a) aid having a social character, granted to individual

consumers, provided that such aid is granted without
discrimination related to the origin of the products
concerned;

(b) aid to make good the damage caused by natural

disasters or exceptional occurrences;

(c) aid granted to the economy of certain areas of the

Federal Republic of Germany affected by the division of
Germany, in so far as such aid is required in order to
compensate for the economic disadvantages caused by
that division. Five years after the entry into force of the
Treaty of Lisbon, the Council, acting on a proposal from the
Commission, may adopt a decision repealing this point.

3.
The following may be considered to be compatible with
the internal market:

(a) aid to promote the economic development of areas

where the standard of living is abnormally low or where
there is serious underemployment, and of the regions
referred to in Article 349, in view of their structural,
economic and social situation;

(b) aid to promote the execution of an important project of

common European interest or to remedy a serious
disturbance in the economy of a Member State;

(c) aid to facilitate the development of certain economic

activities or of certain economic areas, where such aid
does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent
contrary to the common interest;

(d) aid to promote culture and heritage conservation

where such aid does not affect trading conditions and
competition in the Union to an extent that is contrary to
the common interest;
(e) such other categories of aid as may be specified by
decision of the Council on a proposal from the
Commission.

State aid Ireland Alleged aid to Apple S 2014/CP)

http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/cases/253200/2
53200_1582634_87_2.pdf

State aid SA. Luxembourg Alleged aid to FFT 38375

(2014/NN) (ex 2014/CP)
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/cases/253203/2
53203_1590108_107_2.pdf

State aid SA. Netherlands Alleged aid to Starbucks 38374

(2014/C) (ex 2014/NN) (ex 2014/CP)
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/cases/253201/2
53201_1596706_60_2.pdf
individual ruling issued by the Luxembourgish tax
authorities on the calculation of the taxable basis in
Luxembourg for the financing activities of Fiat Finance and
Trade
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/cases/253203/2
53203_1590108_107_2.pdf
Moreover, on 1 October 2014, the Commission announced
its intention to examine Gibraltars individual tax ruling
practices for MNEs as part of (iv) its probe of Gibraltar
corporate tax system which the Commission had already
initiated in October 2013
Commission opens formal investigation into proposed
Polish State aid to Fiat Powertrain
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/cases/250265/2
50265_1480274_33_2.pdf

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSIONS RECENT STATE AID

INVESTIGATIONS OF TRANSFER PRICING RULINGS U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY WHITE PAPER
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-
policy/treaties/Documents/White-Paper-State-Aid.pdf
Letter to Mr Jean Claude Junker State-Aid-Investigations
President of the European Commission ... February 11,
2016 I am writing to address the recent state aid
investigations being conducted by the European
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-
policy/treaties/Documents/Letter-State-Aid-
Investigations.pdf

http://eustateaid.org/46_68_news_232.php
Apple, FIAT FC, Starbucks & Amazon: preview of LuxLeaks
new Fiscal #StateAid trend?

In the second half of 2014 the Commission developed a

second wave of State aid proceedings pursuant to Article
107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the
European Union (TFEU) with respect to measures affecting
the relocation of taxable bases of MNEs within their EU
operations.
The Commission started looking at certain tax practices in
some Member States in the context of aggressive tax
planning by MNEs, with a view to ensure a level playing
field.

For the Commission, a number of MNEs were using tax-

planning strategies to excessively or unfairly reduce their
global tax burden, by taking advantage of the disparities
intentionally granted by certain Member States tax
systems.

In particular, on 11 June 2014, the Commission opened

three State aid investigations with respect to

(i) the individual rulings issued by the Irish tax authorities

on the calculation of the taxable profit allocated to the
Irish branches of Apple Sales International and of Apple
Operations Europe (SA-38.373);

(ii) the individual ruling issued by the Dutch tax authorities

on the calculation of the taxable basis in the Netherlands
for manufacturing activities of Starbucks Manufacturing
EMEA BV (SA-38.374); and
(iii) the individual ruling issued by the Luxembourgish tax
authorities on the calculation of the taxable basis in
Luxembourg for the financing activities of Fiat Finance and
Trade (SA-38.375);

Moreover, on 1 October 2014, the Commission announced

its intention to examine Gibraltars individual tax ruling
practices for MNEs as part of

(iv) its probe of Gibraltar corporate tax system which the

Commission had already initiated in October 2013 (SA-
34.914);

Finally, on 7 October 2014, the Commission opened

(v) an in-depth investigation into the provision of a tax

ruling to Amazon in relation to its Luxembourg corporate
tax base. Based on this formal investigation, the
Commission would determine whether Amazon has
benefited from unlawful State aid granted by Luxembourg
(SA-38.944).
http://eustateaid.org/46_193_news_2716.php

investigation into the provision of a tax ruling to Amazon

in relation to its Luxembourg corporate tax base. Based on
this formal investigation,
the Commission would determine whether Amazon has
benefited from unlawful State aid granted by Luxembourg

The European Commission has opened a formal

investigation under EU State aid rules into Polish plans to
grant aid towards a project by the Fiat group to produce a
new generation of petrol engines in the Silesia region. At
this stage, the Commission has doubts the aid meets the
EU guidelines on aid to large investment projects in
relation to the market shares and production capacities of
the Fiat Group. The opening of a formal investigation gives
interested third parties the possibility to comment on the
proposed measure. It does not prejudge the outcome of
the procedure.
Commission Vice-President in charge of competition policy
Joaqun Almunia said: "The Commission welcomes aid to
encourage investment projects in less-developed or high-
unemployment regions. However, we have to be careful
that the resulting distortions of competition do not
outweigh the benefits of the aid, especially in sectors with
overcapacity or other problems."

The Commission has opened a formal investigation into

plans by Poland to grant aid towards an investment
project to be carried out by Fiat Powertrain Technologies
Poland Sp. z o.o. in Bielsko-Biaa, in the south-western
region of Silesia. This area is eligible for regional aid of up
to 40% of Gross Grant Equivalent under Article 107(3)(a)
of the EU Treaty as a region with an abnormally low
standard of living and high unemployment. For large
investment projects, i.e. projects with eligible investment
costs of more than 50 million, the maximum aid intensity
allowed is decreased in line with the provisions of the
Commission's regional aid guidelines.

The investment concerns the production of new

generation petrol engines. The investment costs to be
taken into account for the calculation of the aid amount to
180 million (circa PLN 732.7 million). Poland intends to
grant aid of 40.9 million (PLN 166.4 million) in the form of
a tax allowance, a grant under the Operational Programme
Innovative Economy, a direct investment grant and a
direct grant for employment costs. The investment aid
project was notified to the Commission for clearance early
last year.

EU state aid rules require the Commission to be watchful

of aid to large investment projects above certain
thresholds because they may carry a greater risk of
distorting competition (see Communication on the In-
Depth Assessment of Regional Aid to Large Investment
Projects, see IP/09/993). The Commission opens a formal
investigation procedure for projects where the aid
beneficiary has a market share of more than 25% or the
production capacity created by the project exceeds 5% of
the market while the growth rate of the product market
concerned is below the EEA GDP growth rate. This is to
avoid distortions of competition in markets which are
struggling with overcapacity or low growth problems.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the 25% market

share threshold would be exceeded in one of the markets
for passenger cars according to the market definition used
in previous cases (see for example IP/09/660 Fiat Sicily
and IP/08/666 Ford Craiova). The Polish government
contends that the passenger cars and light commercial
vehicles are part of the same product market. These are
aspects that will be investigated further during the formal
investigation procedure. The Commission has also doubts
concerning the joint treatment of certain market segments
for the determination of the capacity increase generated
by the project.

The in-depth assessment will also seek to ascertain

whether the aid is needed to incentivise the beneficiary to
carry out the investment in an assisted region and
whether the benefits of the aid in the assisted region
outbalance the distortion of competition which it creates.

The non-confidential version of the decision will be made

available under the case number SA.30340 in the State
Aid Register on the DG Competition website once any
confidentiality issues have been resolved
State Aid: New General Block exemption Regulation

European Commission adopted Regulation No 800/2008 of

6 August 2008 that consolidates the former block
Exemption Regulations (except the de minimis one).
Through Block Exemption Regulations the Member States
are able to grant whole categories of state aid without first
notifying them to the European Commission. The General
Block Exemption provides for a simpler and coordinated
text that makes state aid control simpler and quicker.
*The Original version of the citizen Summary is published
on the EU Commission site.

** The General Block Exemption Regulation has been

published on the EU Official Journal
1. WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE COMMISSION TO
SCRUTINISE STATE AID?

State aid can be a real benefit to society, for example by

improving the environment, encouraging research and
development or allowing for increased training of the
employees. However, State support can also have harmful
effects: it can help inefficient firms stay on the market,
which in the long run will lead to higher prices for
consumers. Companies can also play off one government
against another, threatening to move its investments to
whichever country providing the largest subsidies.
State aid has to be notified to the Commission to ensure
that it contributes to commonly agreed objectives. The
Commission receives many hundreds of such notifications
each year, many of which clearly aim at praiseworthy
objectives.

2. HOW DOES THE NEW LAW HELP SOLVING THIS

PROBLEM?

The Commission wants to ensure that clearly compatible

aid gets approved as quickly as possible. This new law
(regulation) will automatically approve whole categories of
aid, without the need for notifications. In practice, this
implies that Member States can grant aid more quickly.
This reduces red tape for the Member State, the
beneficiaries and for the Commission.
The law both simplifies the existing arrangements for
automatic approvals(1), consolidating them into a single
law. It also exempts new types of aid. The Commission has
been allowed by the EU Council of Ministers(2) to adopt
such types of regulations.
This provides simple and transparent rules for the
beneficiaries and the Member States.

3. WHO IS BENEFITING FROM THIS NEW REGULATION?

Among the different measures included in the regulation

intending to ensure growth and jobs for European
businesses and consumers, we can find:
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) aid: Small
businesses are one of the main driving forces in the
economy, but they often face specific problems. The
regulation allows different types of aid to SMEs: aid for
investments in machines or for hiring additional workers,
aid in the form of risk capital, innovation aid, aid
contributing to intellectual property rights costs.

Social aid: Beyond aid allowing subsidising employees

working on new investments in SMEs or in assisted
regions, the law approves aid that helps disabled or
otherwise disadvantaged workers to find mainstream jobs.
The regulation also favours aid for training workers, to the
benefit of both employers and employees.

Regional aid: The regulation approves regional investment

aid essentially when it allows the creation of new
establishments in the most disadvantaged regions. In
assisted regions, aid for newly created start-ups is also
allowed in order to stimulate further entrepreneurial
initiatives.

Environmental aid: The regulation facilitates authorities

granting an important number of aid measures favouring
environmental protection or tackling climate change: aid
promoting investments in energy savings or investments
in renewable energy sources and aid in the form of
environmental tax reductions, amongst others.

Aid for women entrepreneurship: The average rates of

business start-ups by women are lower as compared to
men. This is getting in the way of the economic
development of the Community. The regulation includes
therefore, for the first time, measures in favour of child
care and parent care costs and allows supporting small
enterprises owned and run by women.

Aid for Research & Development & Innovation (R&D&I):

The regulation includes authorisations for a range of
measures including amongst others aid for R&D projects
and aid measures supporting young innovative
companies.
4. WHEN WILL THE NEW LAW ENTER INTO FORCE?

The law has been adopted on 7 July and it will have direct
effect. It should be published in the EU Official Journal in
the course of July 2008 and enter into force 20 days later.

-------------

1) For a complete list of existing regulations click here

2) Regulation from the Council n. 994/1998.

Nama surplus to bring

final bailout bill 'below
30bn'

Donal O'Donovan Twitter

EMAIL
PUBLISHED
09/02/2017

Philip OSullivan said Nama had done a sterling job
The total cost of the bank bailout is now
likely to fall "comfortably" below 30bn,
taking into account a surplus from Nama,
Investec's Philip O'Sullivan said yesterday.
The State bad bank said yesterday that it had paid off a
further 1.09bn owed to banks whose property loans were
transferred into the agency in 2010.
Nama said it is on course to clear all of its original 32bn
of debt by the end of the year.
That would clear the way for the agency to close by its
original deadline of 2020.
It paid for the loans taken from the banks with 30.4bn of
senior bonds, or IOUs, and 1.6bn of subordinated bonds.
The loans had a face value of 70bn, and the difference
translated into losses in the banks themselves.
As Nama sold off property it used the money to redeem
the bonds.
The senior bonds are guaranteed by the State, so taxpayers
were on the hook if Nama failed to repay the banks.
The latest redemption means 95pc of the guaranteed
Nama bonds have now been paid off. Nama still holds
billions of euro of assets, meaning it is now certain to more
than cover its start-up costs, Mr O'Sullivan said.
"We've been saying for two years now that we expect
Nama's surplus to exceed 3bn, and this bears that out,"
he said.
An original expectation that Nama would make a single
payment to the Exchequer when it is wound up has
changed, however, Mr O'Sullivan said.
The agency used low tax Section 110 companies to hold
some assets. That structure became controversial last year
after it was found to have enabled vulture funds to slash
their tax bills in Ireland despite owning billions of euros
worth of property and loans and was effectively scrapped
in Budget 2017. As a result, Nama is expected to make
annual tax payments ahead of its final surplus, though the
total received by the State won't be affected.
"The net cost of the bank bailout - taking into account
returns from the banks, the IBRC liquidation and Nama -
will be comfortably below 30bn," Philip O'Sullivan said.
"30bn is still a hell of a lot of money, but Nama has done
a sterling job in difficult circumstances," he said.
Earlier this month Nama made a 158m preliminary tax
payment related to the closure of Section 110.
Yesterday, the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan
confirmed that both State owned IBRC - the former Anglo
Irish Bank, and the National Treasury Management
Agency (NTMA) have both also used Section 110
companies to hold assets.
It was confirmed in a Dil reply to Fianna Fil's Michael
McGrath. IBRC used Section 110 before its 2013
liquidation, the minister said. The National Treasury
Management Agency (NTMA) had backed investments
that used Section 110 structures, including in connection
with the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), the
8bn State investment fund.
While Section 110 has been used by private investors to
slash their tax bills, Government agencies ultimately pay
their surplus back to the Exchequer through dividends.
http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/nama-surplus-to-
bring-final-bailout-bill-below-30bn-35435590.html

Governments must
support renewables ... if
we leave it to economics,
coal will win'
Making life difficult for 'dirty' power
generators will be key to moving the
energy sector away from polluting
fossil fuels, Fatih Birol tells
Environment Editor Paul Melia. But he
has major concerns that without
support for wind, solar, biomass and
other green energy sources, growing
demand in Asia will see coal power the
economies of the future and hamper
efforts to combat climate change
PUBLISHED
09/02/2017
Dr Fatih Birol says his biggest challenge is to make the
International Energy Agency truly international as it focuses on
green energy. Photo: Bloomberg
WHEN the International Energy Agency
(IEA) was founded in 1974, it was
considered a lobby group for rich OECD
countries, including Ireland, which were
keen to ensure security of supply and price
stability during the oil crisis.
Its role today is very different. Executive director Dr Fatih
Birol says not only will it retain its 'traditional' role over
the coming years, but it will also add members and
become a clean energy hub.
"We don't want to be an organisation of rich countries,
and we have China, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore as
associate members, and Mexico is becoming one," he says.
"The biggest challenge is to make the IEA truly
international. We want to keep our pole position in terms
of traditional energy, and be a clean energy hub."
Appointed as executive director in September 2015, the
Turkish economist is considered among the most
influential figures globally on energy policy. Chairman of
the World Economic Forum's (Davos) Energy Advisory
Board, he also serves on the UN Secretary-General's
Advisory Board on 'Sustainable Energy for All'.
He makes the point that 1.2 billion people across the
planet have no access to electricity, but how the world
sources its power is rapidly changing. While the Paris
Climate Accord paves the way to a low-carbon future,
government supports will be needed to drive change,
especially given that pledges made in December 2015 will
not limit average global temperature rises to no more than
2C.
"We have seen, in the last two years, that emissions did
not grow significantly - although the global economy grew
by 3pc," he says. "It's the first time that global emissions
did not grow despite economic growth. This is mainly as a
result of three facts - renewable energies started to
penetrate the market; many countries, especially China,
pushed the energy efficiency button and in terms of the
volumes - which is the biggest one - in the US, natural gas
replaced coal.
"I expect this decoupling to continue, unless there are
some major changes in government policies. If everything
is left to the economic facts which are in place now, I
expect a weakening of the link between economic growth
and emissions, but even this trend will not bring us to the
2C trajectory."
With oil, gas and coal prices low, securing investment in
renewables is challenging. But he notes that for the first
time, spend on wind, solar, hydro, biomass and nuclear is
outstripping that on fossil fuels. This is in large part due to
government supports, which he says will play a major role
in the transition to a clean energy future. Dirty polluters
will also have to be tackled.
"If prices remain at this level, life for renewables will be
much more difficult in the absence of government support.
If everything is left to pure economics, in all the growing
energy demand centres like Asia, coal will be the winner.
Here is the role of governments in terms of support for
renewables, or making life for the dirty ones more difficult
with regulations not only for climate change, but for air
quality reasons. It can be carbon prices, carbon tax and
policies the government can enact. It's to encourage the
good and punish the bad.
"Half of the coal in the world is used in China, but for the
last two years coal consumption is in decline. Not because
of climate change, but because of local pollution in the
cities. In the electricity sector, more than 150 countries
have support policies. The second half of the story will be
how to increase the share of renewables for heat and
transport.
"What worries me is in south-east Asia, where a lot of coal
power plants are built today, one-third are the worst
efficiency. Once they are built, they are with us for 50
years. One tonne of carbon coming from Shanghai, Hanoi
or Brussels is the same thing, it affects all of us. If they are
building coal-fired plants, they should at least be building
efficient ones."
However, he points out that the West still bears a heavy
responsibility.
"We have to be fair. In India today, 250 million people
have no electricity. It's very natural they go to the cheapest
and easiest way to get electricity. If you want them to not
have a high carbon future, the best way is to provide
mechanisms to allow them have better options.
"Higher efficiency plants, more renewables, and natural
gas instead of coal is important, but in the absence of
those alternatives, to blame the Indians for doing this
would be double standards. More than 90pc of the carbon
which has accumulated in the atmosphere was from
western countries, and we shouldn't tell the Indians to
clean it up."
Because so many of the 1.2 billion without access to energy
live in rural areas, solar, wind and hydro with local
distribution systems can play a major role. Africa has the
best solar potential in the world, and huge scope to roll out
wind and hydropower, and many countries - including
Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania and Mozambique - are investing.
"We may well witness something for the first time in the
history of energy," he says, "The US, Europe and China all
became rich by using a lot of coal. Now, they are moving to
clean energy. Development in Africa may well be based on
renewable energy and natural gas. This is very exciting,
Africa electrified with low-carbon technology."
He adds that in countries like Ireland, which continue to
produce energy using highly-polluting peat, economic
policies including compensation should be considered in
the drive towards cleaner fuels.
"It's important governments find a trade-off between
energy and employment objectives. If peat production
proves to be unsustainable, perhaps finding compensation
for the people who are employed may be the best way
rather than keeping the energy policy as it is."
At the heart of the transition will be energy efficiency,
renewables and putting in place mass transit systems
including rail. Every country will have to make a "positive
contribution", he says, and securing "social licence" for
projects is key. "There are ways to do that in terms of
making the local population feel the benefits by finding
some way to compensate local communities."
Fracking also has a role, if proper "tight" regulations are in
place to protect the environment, he says. On Brexit, he
doesn't see a "substantial impact" on the European energy
market. He also predicts an increase in use of liquefied
natural gas from the US and Australia which will "change
the dynamics" in the gas markets.
But the attitude of US President Donald Trump towards
green energy and the Paris Agreement will shape the
global picture, he says. "The US is still a significant oil
importer, and the target is to minimise those imports. We
say that the first way of reducing imports is to decrease
consumption as a result of efficiency improvements. The
decisions taken in the US will be very important not only
for the US but beyond, given the sheer size of its emissions
and critical role it plays in international affairs."
http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/governments-
must-support-renewables-if-we-leave-it-to-economics-coal-
will-win-35435608.html
AdLib: Sugar tax battle's the real thing
Michael Cullen
PUBLISHED
09/02/2017

Verves Barry Muldowney and Ronan Traynor

Soft drinks have been unfairly attacked as
the "poster boy for sugar" despite reductions
since Diet Coke's launch in 1982, Aedamar
Howlett, Coke's marketing director for the
UK and Ireland, has said. Her remarks
follow meetings between Coca-Cola
executives and various politicians, including
Government ministers Michael Noonan and
Mary Mitchell O'Connor.
The drinks giant has stepped up its campaign against the
tax on sugary drinks, which is set to be introduced in April
of next year to coincide with a similar move in the UK.
"For us, it's about investing - and I use that word
purposefully - where the eyeballs are but also where
consumers are engaging with us," Howlett added.
Speaking at the launch of MediaCom's 'Marketing
Sentiment Survey', Howlett said even allowing for the
questions surrounding Brexit and Donald Trump, there
were opportunities for brands to grow. She urged Irish
marketers to spread their wings and move elsewhere, if
necessary. She was not surprised advertising remains a top
priority.
The report shows three in 10 Irish companies plan to
increase budgets, while only 7pc plan cuts. Almost two-
thirds will invest the same amount in marketing in 2017 as
they did last year, the survey of 209 marketers found. The
top three client priorities are awareness, using social
media to drive sales and upselling to current customers.
MediaCom ceo Peter McPartlin said the results were
encouraging, given the stress many companies are under.
Some 37pc identified price-cutting pressures as a concern,
while 26pc expect new Irish competitors to affect their
business and 21pc cited competitor innovation. For 19pc,
new global rivals were a "pinch point".
Among the companies saying they intend spending more
in 2017, four-fifths plan to invest in their website or
ecommerce functions, while about half will increase ad
budgets. Social media channels were the clear favourite for
further advertising investment.

Jay Taberner has replaced Tanya Cawley as business

development and events manager at the Institute of
Advertising Practitioners in Ireland (IAPI). Marketing
Network is the latest new member agency, while Publicis
D has returned to the IAPI fold. Bloom director David
Quinn and Radical client director Leonie Howlin, have
joined the institute's CopyClear board for vetting alcohol
ads.
MediaVest has appointed Ruairi McNally as head of
digital. McNally has 12 years' digital media experience and
joins the Core group from Mindshare London, where his
clients included American Express, ITV and the British
government. He has been a lecturer with the Digital
Marketing Institute for over seven years.
Aileen McDaid is now MediaVest's digital director. She
worked with OMD in Sydney and Melbourne. Gemma
Corbett has returned to MediaVest from Core sister
agency, Mediaworks, where her clients included Liberty
Insurance, McDonald's and Irish Life.

* EuroEvents became the only Irish agency to win a third

international award at the Special Event Gala Awards in
Long Beach, California. The agency, run by Robert
O'Dowd, came first in the best event for a brand in the
$100,000 to $249,999 budget category. The award was for
the BMW 7 Series closed-room launch in a private
residence in Killiney, Co Dublin. Verve won the gong for
the best corporate event for Grand Hotel Google. The
theme was inspired by the 1930's party in Wes Anderson's
comedy, The Grand Budapest Hotel. The event in the RDS
was attended by over 4,500 Google staff.

* Bord Bia rolls out its second shellfish campaign next

week with a focus on mussels. Ireland produces almost
9,000 tonnes of mussels a year, most of which are
exported. Bord Bia is encouraging consumers to
#flexyourmussels by cooking Irish mussels at home.
The campaign wants to show how quick and simple
mussels are to prepare, as well as highlighting their
nutritional benefits. Mussels are said to be rich in zinc,
iron, selenium, iodine and vitamin B12. Bord Bia's ads are
in press, radio, outdoor, digital and in-store.

No surprise to see out of home company Exterion Media

signing up as a member of the Internet Advertising Bureau
(IAB). Poster sites are increasingly turning to digital in
shopping centres and transport as the best way to
influence consumers. Dublin's Connolly Station was the
latest location to go digital with a gallery of 12 dPods.

On the PR front, FleishmanHillard has been appointed to

handle Allianz Worldwide Care (AWC) following a global
alignment. FH health director Orla Burke will manage the
business. AWC, previously with Grayling in London, has
an operational hub in Dublin.
http://www.independent.ie/business/media/adlib-sugar-tax-
battles-the-real-thing-35435610.html

Long-overlooked Labour
seizes chance to make a
splash
Dil sketch: Brendan Howlin dive-bombs into the Garda
Commissioner controversy
Miriam Lord

Brendan Howlin: The Labour leader wondered if it might not be a good idea
for Nirn OSullivan to step aside or be placed on administrative leave for
the duration of Mr Justice Peter Charletons investigation. Photograph: Cyril
Byrne
It's very hard to get noticed when you're the small leader
of a very small Labour Party so Brendan had to get up on
his soap box and start shouting and howling. Hope you all
noticed Brendan
Not defending Howlin but I'd say Miriam Lord is eating her words
now..
Politics is corrupt, public
administration is corrupt, and
democracy is dead'
Tuesday, February 09, 2016
Fergus Finlay
Accountability. That word is a dirty word in the halls of
Government. They positively hate that word and will do
whatever it takes to avoid it at all costs.
Our State is awash with the lack of accountability to the
point that we are living in a State of Corruption...
"Instead weve had nearly another generation of impunity,
and it has dragged every institution into mistrust and
cynicism. Banks, builders, politicians, the legal and
accounting professions, doctors, sports people, people
who run charities. The list goes on and on. You can argue
on the one hand that the behaviour of a few people in
each category on the list was what did the damage. But
the truth is that we lived, and still do, in a country where
impunity is considered more valuable than accountability."
Can Ireland be fixed? It can't if you keep putting the same
corruption back into power every five years...

There are many other areas of abuse in Ireland that go

unchecked including people who desperately need
access to mental health services having no rights
WE HAVE a really deep problem of accountability in our
country. I shouldnt have got to the venerable age I am
without realising this. I am absolutely convinced that the
issue of accountability, and how its absence runs the risk
of corrupting our state, should be a central issue in the
general election campaign. Sadly, there doesnt appear to
be room in the fiscal space to allow the issue even to be
discussed.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Grace here. I was by
no means the first person to write about her, nor the first
to start a campaign to try to get to the truth of what
happened to her. There is now a consensus that we need
to know that truth, that we can do no justice without
getting to the bottom of it.
And yet those who claim to know the truth cant share it.
Theres a Garda investigation and ironically (because
arent Garda investigations supposed to be about getting
to the truth?) that very fact is preventing Graces story
from being told. If I can believe what I read, it hasnt even
been possible so far for the HSE to share the reports they
have with the State agency (Tusla) that was set up
specifically to protect children.
There is now to be an independent enquiry. Its essential,
and its terms of reference must be broad enough to
enable them to get to the root causes of why abuse can
happen, and why its so easy to turn a blind eye to it. I
hope they get the paperwork they need without obstacle,
and I hope theyre free to publish everything they find. But
in the country we live in, I worry that it may not be so
simple.
Follow

Irish Examiner

Foster care scandal: Justice for Grace comes late in day,

writes
http://
shr.gs/6bdTTFf
 ^DH
12:16 PM - 2 Feb 2016
 2 2 Retweetslikes

Since I first wrote about Grace, Ive heard so many stories

that I now know we are only at the tip of the accountability
iceberg. Ive spoken to families who have sought for years
to have allegations of physical abuse, deep neglect, and
sometimes sexual abuse investigated, and have been met
with locked doors and intransigent officialdom. Ive heard
from social workers whose health has been broken by the
way the system has dealt with their attempts to raise
concerns.
Ive met family members who have been threatened with
prosecution for making false allegations that the
authorities have refused to investigate or take seriously.
Ive met whistleblowers who can only talk surreptitiously
for fear of their careers or because theres an implicit
threat to the funding of their organisations.
Ive also had calls and comments from people who have
pointed out that there are many other areas of abuse in
Ireland that go unchecked not just those involving
people with disabilities. Disadvantaged communities have
seen many broken promises, there is a growing
phenomenon of elder abuse, people dependent on the
direct provision system live lives akin to the poorhouse
system of old, people who desperately need access to
mental health services have no rights whatsoever.
Alongside all that Ive had correspondents who have
accused me of being stupid and nave because I should
have realised years ago that politics is corrupt, public
administration is corrupt, and democracy is dead. Maybe I
am stupid and nave, but I dont believe politics is
essentially corrupt. I have always believed that most
politicians start off with honourable intentions, and most
maintain those intentions through all the compromises
that political life brings.
But authority works differently and always has. Ten years
ago the Ryan Report talked about the peculiar and
sickening relationship between Church and State, a
relationship that was used to abuse generations of Irish
children with impunity. That relationship may be gone, but
it has not been replaced by accountability.

here is an old saying: It is never too late to do the right

thing,

'Grace', now a woman in her 40s, has had to endure so

much, as have her family.

However, for the woman we have come to know as

Grace, the move by the Government to establish a
Commission of Inquiry into her case, comes very late in
the day. Victim of the most horrific abuse over a long
period, Grace has been failed utterly by the State which
promised to cherish her.
Grace, now a woman in her 40s, has had to endure so
much, as have her family, and those brave enough to risk
their careers by speaking out about what went on.
However, just what is this all about?
In 1983, the State started to use the foster home in the
south-east as a respite refuge for intellectually-disabled
children.
For some of the most vulnerable children in our State, who
lacked a voice, it turned out to be a place of absolute
horror.
 View image on Twitter

Follow

Irish Examiner

Barnardos' Fergus Finlay calls for inquiry into abuse of

children with disabilities in sou
http://www.
irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/i
reland/barnardos-fergus-finlay-calls-for-inquiry-into-abuse-
of-children-with-disabilities-in-south-east-718077.html

2:48 PM - 29 Jan 2016
 8 8 Retweets6 6 likes

The vast majority of those who stayed there did so for

short respite periods during the summer months, usually
one week or two weeks at a time. As many as 47 children
and young adults went through the home, which was the
scene of the most savage rape, physical abuse, and
neglect ever to emerge.
In 1995, concerns were raised about the situation at the
home, and, as a result, no more children were sent.
However, it has emerged that some of the children, mostly
with intellectual disabilities, were emotionally, physically,
sexually, and financially abused at the hands of their
carers and others who lived on the site.
Grace, or, Service User 42, as she was referred to by
the HSE, was a girl with an intellectual disability. She was
placed in the foster home on a full-time basis in 1989. She
remained there until 2009, at which point she was
removed to an appropriate full-time resident placement.
A child, she was unable to speak out about the horror she
had endured at the hands of her foster parents.
When she was removed from the home, her carers were
concerned when she acted out some of the sexual abuse
to which she had been subjected.
She would adopt a sexual pose simply on the uttering of a
specific phrase. Her family has said she has suffered
horrendous internal injuries, having been raped with
implements.
In 2009, allegations were flagged by two whistle-blowers
to the HSE into what happened to Service User 42 or
Grace (a name attributed to her by Fergus Finlay in this
newspaper).
The case became the subject of the Conal Devine report,
which cost over 100,000 and was completed in 2012.
However, the report has not been published.

View image on Twitter

Follow
 Irish Examiner

We have betrayed one of our defenceless fellow citizens,

writes
http://
shr.gs/KlKn8UF

(GM)
12:30 PM - 26 Jan 2016
 2 2 Retweets1 1 like

Worse was to come. She and her carers were told her
allegations couldnt be prosecuted, because she would not
make a good witness, due to her inability to speak.
A second report into 46 other cases in the foster home
was completed in 2015 and that too has not been
published. This was on foot of Garda requests, as
investigations into the allegations of abuse continue.
At least two other cases of sexual and physical abuse have
emerged and are under investigation.
In December, the HSE was forced by the Information
Commissioner to release some details of the Devine report
to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). In that document,
it was stated an apology was given to the victim and her
carers.
However, as first revealed by the Irish Examiner, the
victims carers and birth mother denied any apology was
given and have told the PAC that. After our story was
published, the HSE insisted the apology was given and
issued a rebuttal.
Then, in a letter to PAC, the two whistleblowers again
stated that no apology had been given, and that HSE
management knew no apology had been given when it
issued the rebuttal to the PAC.
The two local HSE representatives who were meant to
have given the apology have confirmed that they were
never asked to apologise, that they did not apologise, and
that they told the HSE chief officer that no apologies were
given.
Over the weekend, the HSE embarrassingly admitted the
claimed apology was not given. They issued a grovelling
apology to the PAC for misleading it,
However, shockingly, HSE director general Tony OBrien
then revealed that another woman, now in her 30s was
placed in the foster home in 1993 and was only removed
in October 2013.
Given the debacle within the HSE, Health Minister Leo
Varadkar cleared his diary over the weekend and, along
with Minister for Primary Care Kathleen Lynch, he met
OBrien and other senior brass in the HSE for more than
two hours. Both ministers contacted their party leaders,
Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tnaiste Joan Burton, who
agreed with their calls to establish an inquiry.
Garda Commissioner Nirn OSullivan has also confirmed
the latest allegations will be investigated by officers
already examining what occurred in the foster home.
However, it will be for the new Government to see it
through. They will not be bound by the decision of this
Government, but political and moral pressure will be on to
ensure Grace and her fellow victims get justice.
It is the least they deserve following their experiences.
WHAT do you do if you desperately need help, yet cant
ask? How do you defend yourself if you have no voice, no
physical ability to run or fight, no friend in your corner?
How do you protect yourself if youre abandoned, alone,
and utterly defenceless?
Its a story thats been covered extensively and with
professional rigor and restraint by this newspaper and by
the RT programme This Week. It is the most disturbing
story Ive heard for a long time.
The story concerns an adult, a defenceless voiceless adult
with a profound intellectual disability, who (it is alleged)
was left in the care of a person or persons who (it is also
alleged) abused them without mercy or restraint, to the
point where an already vulnerable life has been degraded
and damaged beyond repair.
I am not going to repeat here the details of the abuse
suffered by this person, because I wasnt able to sleep
after hearing them.
But for the sake of context, its important to know that this
person was a woman, a citizen of Ireland, and a resident of
the South-East of our country.
Most citizens, if they need help, can call out. Help might
be slow in coming, or begrudgingly offered, or bound up
with bureaucratic red tape, but most of us know how and
where we can get the help we need.
Or we can find an advocate, someone who will help us and
advise us. If we have no voice, no ability to cry for help,
nothing but a label, where do we turn then?
I suspect that the woman at the heart of this story has
been labelled all her life. Profound, retarded, handicapped
labels like that. I suspect that even in the reports of the
investigations carried out, in the usual way of these
things, she has probably been labelled with an initial
the usual reason given for that is the need to protect
identity.
The people writing these reports never seem to realise
that when we dont have a name its even harder for us to
assert an identity. Even the TDs like John McGuinness and
John Deasy, who have taken up this case and have acted
entirely honourably, have fallen into the trap of using
words like person or individual.
As have I. I dont know this womans name, and Ive
already referred to her several times in an entirely
anonymous way. The loss of her identity only adds to the
terrible injustices that have already been done to her.
So, lets call her Grace. According to the CSO, its one of
the five most popular names for girls, and it seems to me
entirely fitting for someone who has lived a life where she
simply cannot be to blame for the things that have
(allegedly) happened to her. Grace is entirely innocent,
and has lived a life of innocence, but that has not
protected her.
Because of her disabilities, Grace was entrusted to the
care of the State at an early age. The State ultimately
appears to have discharged its responsibilities by placing
her in the care of a foster family. Thats not all that
unusual.
There are thousands of foster families in Ireland doing
extraordinary selfless work and helping many more
thousands of young people to find the care and stability
that, for one reason or another, they couldnt find at
home.
I know many young people who are growing and
developing, and finding happiness, in foster situations. I
know many foster families who maintain close and
supportive links with the young people who have been in
their care, even after those young people have become
adult or otherwise moved on.
There is a system in place to manage this. Its purpose is to
ensure that there are enough foster parents, that they are
fit for the job, that they are adequately supported in the
vital work they do. Above all, it carries responsibility for
ensuring the safety and wellbeing of anyone in the care of
the system.
As the story has unfolded so far, the system became
concerned about a foster family to whose care they
entrusted dozens of people like Grace. So concerned that
a decision was made that this family would no longer be
allowed to foster anyone.
Except Grace. For some unimaginable reason, Grace was
left in the care of this family for a dozen more years. In
that time she suffered, if the accounts are true,
unspeakable and degrading cruelty. The kind of cruelty
that would destroy the body and the soul of someone
better able to defend themselves than Grace ever was.
Where is Grace now? How is she being cared for? Who is
taking responsibility for her?
We dont know the answers to these questions. We know
more than the system wants us to know, because of the
actions of a brave whistleblower. We know there have
been Garda investigations and internal investigations.
We know there has been no prosecution, and no
prosecution seems likely because Grace cant give
evidence in respect of any abuse that may have
happened. We have no reason to believe that anyone
involved in the decision-making about Grace has ever
accounted to anyone for those decisions.
Instead there appears to be a row going on about whether
the HSE apologised. Who cares? The only value in an
apology is that it admits there is something for which to
apologise.
It means nothing when set alongside the self-evident lack
of accountability.
There is no higher obligation on any state than to defend
the defenceless. Democracy means nothing if those who
have no voice can be treated as Grace has been treated
simply for that reason the lack of a voice.
If I was health minister, I would (I hope) regard it as my
paramount duty to find out what happened to Grace and
how it happened. I hope I would demand that every scrap
of paper relating to Graces treatment was delivered to my
office, and I hope I wouldnt rest until I got to the bottom
of how this was allowed to happen to a defenceless fellow
citizen.
At the same time I would want to know exactly what
arrangements are being made for her enduring care.
At the end of that process, when I was able to account to
Grace, to her family if she has one, and to the people
generally, I would apologise. Not the mealy-mouthed pro
forma apology that a lawyer would draft for a bureaucracy,
but from the heart. We have betrayed one of our fellow
citizens. We need to feel a sense of shame about that.
Grace will never expect us to be ashamed. She expects
nothing. She has no reason to believe she has any rights
at all, any entitlement to our protection. But she has. She
has more rights than most, because thats what were
supposed to be about.
We think of ourselves as an independent state, proud of
our achievements. But if we cant protect Grace, we dont
deserve statehood at all.

View image on Twitter

 Follow

Irish Examiner

Foster care scandal: Justice for Grace comes late in day,

writes
http://
shr.gs/6bdTTFf

^DH
12:16 PM - 2 Feb 2016
 2 2 Retweetslikes

Instead weve had nearly another generation of impunity,

and it has dragged every institution into mistrust and
cynicism. Banks, builders, politicians, the legal and
accounting professions, doctors, sports people, people
who run charities. The list goes on and on. You can argue
on the one hand that the behaviour of a few people in
each category on the list was what did the damage. But
the truth is that we lived, and still do, in a country where
impunity is considered more valuable than accountability.
In 2011, by a majority of 53% to 47%, we rejected a
proposal to change the Constitution to give Oireachtas
Committees greater powers of investigation into matters
of general public importance. That was a mistake
although the mistake wasnt ours. The provision was badly
drafted and sweeping, and the campaign was rushed, with
an air of arrogance about it.
Ive always believed that (like in other jurisdictions)
parliamentary enquiries can be a cornerstone of
accountability. But the core job of such enquiries should be
to hold public administration to account. I still believe that
it would be possible to generate public support in a
referendum for enquiries into matters of general public
importance provided that those matters arose from the
administration or maladministration of public policy.
But even that doesnt go far enough. The oddity is that we
have a written constitution. That constitution has
language in it, in one of its articles, that would go a long
way towards addressing the fundamental issue of
accountability throughout our system.
Its old-fashioned language, but its robust enough to be
useful. It talks about the welfare of the whole people. It
refers to a social order informed by justice and charity. It
sets out real priorities for our state, including that people
should have the right to make reasonable provision for
their domestic needs; that there may be established on
the land in economic security as many families as in the
circumstances shall be practicable; that efficient private
enterprise should protect the public against unjust
exploitation.

Follow

Fiachra Cionnaith
Barnardos CEO columnist giving some badly needed
sense on the foster care abuse scandal
http://www.
irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/col
umnists/fergus-finlay/we-have-betrayed-one-of-our-
defenceless-fellow-citizens-378140.html

4:42 PM - 26 Jan 2016

 We have betrayed one of our defenceless fellow citizens
Grace is entirely innocent, and has lived a life of innocence, but
that has not protected her, writes Fergus Finlay
irishexaminer.com
 Retweetslikes

And it goes on to say that the State pledges itself to

safeguard with especial care the economic interests of the
weaker sections of the community, and, where necessary,
to contribute to the support of the infirm, the widow, the
orphan, and the aged. The State shall endeavour to ensure
that the strength and health of workers, men and women,
and the tender age of children shall not be abused Its
powerful stuff, the stuff on which an accountable society
could be built. But theres a fatal flaw. All of this is in
Article 45, and the introduction of the article says that
these principles are only for the general guidance of the
parliament, and can never be challenged in any Court.

It will be argued, of course, that we simply cant afford

these things theyd wreck the economy, and thats why
we cant make them or similar principles mandatory.
Well, heres two laymans lessons from history. Lesson one
real improvements in the human condition never
wrecked an economy. The abolition of slavery didnt do it,
equality for women didnt do it, freedom of speech didnt
do it. And lesson number two: A country that turns it back
on accountability to its most vulnerable people wakes up
some morning wondering how democracy died. It couldnt
happen to us, could it?
Power-sharing must emerge after
Northern Ireland election for all our
sakes
Arlene Foster and Michelle ONeill give off the signs of
being able to work together,
February 9, 17

You may not have noticed, and I wouldnt blame you, but
theres an election going on the island. In Northern Ireland
to be exact, where a new Assembly is due to be put in
place on March 2. Thats around three weeks from now.
I havent been in Northern Ireland since the Assembly was
dissolved, so I cant tell you whether the posters are even
up yet. But as far as the media are concerned, something
weird seems to be happening. I searched the pages of the
main Northern Ireland newspapers over the weekend the
Belfast Telegraph, the Newsletter, the Irish News and
youd be very hard pressed to discover theres an election
on at all.
Its early yet, and no doubt therell be lots of coverage as
the election heats up. But so far, its eerily quiet. Theres
been one opinion poll so far, as far as I can tell, and it
shows Sinn Fin and the DUP running neck-and neck to
become the largest party the DUP down a little and Sinn
Fin up a little. That may or may not be maintained
there seem to be early signs the DUP has been damaged
by the ash for cash fiasco.
It would of course be depressing if this election turns out
like so many in the past, as a restatement of tribal
loyalties. But there is the intriguing possibility that
instead, this time well see a referendum on which of two
women is most trusted by the people of Northern Ireland.
Because for the first time in political history on this island,
the leaders of the main political parties in a significant
election are both women. And the differences between
them, at this early stage, are quite striking.
Arlene Foster has been in power, and appears to have
been damaged by it. She is struggling to maintain her hold
on her own party, and its loyalty, and may have to bang a
lot of tribal drums to ensure that she is not done-in by the
election outcome. Michelle ONeill, on the other hand
(despite having been a member of the cash for ash
government) is presenting herself as an entirely new face.
She has said repeatedly that she sees her job as being to
bind up wounds.
So there is a real possibility that this will be a contest
between a forward-looking, fresh-faced leader on the one
hand, and a tired and damaged older leader on the other.
Both women are, though, still young theres only a few
years between them, and it will be fascinating to see how
the personality images evolve.
Whats equally intriguing, though, is that, so far, neither of
them has dug the kind of hole that it would be impossible
to climb out of after the election. They both give off the
signs of being able to work together. Neither has so far
played the tribal card in a way that would make
relationships impossible (although both have surrogates
that are well capable of making that sort of noise).
The result will matter, of course. If it should be the case
that Sinn Fin manages to pass out the DUP, that will open
up an entirely unpredictable sequence of events. But if the
status quo emerges after the election, with the DUP able
to field a First Minister, even if the gap has narrowed
considerably, there will be, Im guessing, hope that power-
sharing can be sustained.
And thats more crucial than weve taken into account. For
most of us down here, even though we love our politics,
theres nothing more boring than a Northern Ireland
election. But be certain of one thing. Right now, the more
boring it is, and the more predictable the outcome, the
better it will be for everyone on this island.
Thats because Northern Ireland faces an existential threat
from Brexit. Its a far deeper threat, potentially, than
anything we face in the rest of the island.
In our case, the threat is economic. Thats real, and in a
worst-case scenario it could be catastrophic. There is no
doubt that already, civil servants are warning ministers
that they are going to have to pull in their horns when it
comes to public spending.
Homelessness and health care crises are going to have to
wait, theyre saying, until stability is restored.
But in Northern Ireland there is a real danger that Brexit
will lead to increased political conflict.
My youngest daughter Sarah is an independent woman in
her 30s. She was 10 when the first IRA ceasefire was
announced, followed six weeks later by the loyalist
cessation. Because Sarah never lived in Northern Ireland,
her life wasnt shaped and tempered by violence. But for
thousands of her contemporaries, violence was the
defining factor in their development into adulthood.
More than 20 years have passed since then. We have lived
through a half-century on our island thats three
generations characterised for roughly half the time by a
violent and life-taking conflict, and for the other half by a
growing concentration on economic, social and cultural co-
operation.
If an entire generation of children and young people have
been able to grow and develop in a time when daily
violence is becoming a distant memory, that is an
incredible political achievement. One of the great symbols
of that achievement has been the disappearance of a
physical border.
Many of us can still remember when the border was more
than just physical not just a crossing point between two
pieces of land, but a barrier between two people. For
many it came to be seen as a constant reminder that
there was them and there was us. No one on this island
wants to see a day when that mindset would ever be
allowed or encouraged to reappear.
Its often forgotten now that part of the underpinnings of
that peace process was a set of principles, first enshrined
in the Downing Street Declaration of 1993 and used to
inform every subsequent development in the peace
process. Those principles were actually written by loyalists
like David Ervine and Gusty Spence, and they included,
among other things, the right to live wherever one
chooses without hindrance, and the right to equal
opportunity in all social and economic activity, regardless
of class, creed, sex or colour.
In many ways the disappearance of the border the
hearts and minds border as much as the physical one
was one of the core illustrations of the efficacy of those
principles, articulated at a time when people were
struggling to find ways to lay down the gun.
The hearts and minds border still exists, of course. A bitter
and divisive election now would exacerbate it, and Brexit
carries the real threat of adding back the physical border.
The British Government says it doesnt want that, but its
harder and harder to see how it can be avoided.
That, above all, is why power-sharing must re-emerge
after the election. So, if it stays quiet, if no tribal drums
are banged, if no implacable positions are adopted, Arlene
Foster and Michelle ONeill will be doing us all a
considerable service. We should wish them both well.

VOTING FOR THIEVES IS A WASTE OF MONEY

Feb 8, 2017
Marie Porter Sov Indo Ill start this by posing a simple question
If you had a prime business asset and were looking for someone to
run it; perhaps you advertise for the best possible
Ill start this by posing a simple question
If you had a prime business asset and were looking for
someone to run it; perhaps you advertise for the best
possible people, but the only applications for the job
comes from a few companies all of whom show records of
abject failure, fiscal mismanagement and leave huge
debts in their wake, would you let any of them anywhere
near your business or would you find an alternative
methodology to running that business?
The only answer to the question which makes sense is to
find an alternative.
So why then do we continue to elect political parties who
have a proven record of incompetence and financial
mismanagement which has brought the country to its
knees yet again?
Fine Gael, as a political party, are currently in debt.

Ill start this by posing a simple question

If you had a prime business asset and were looking for someone
to run it; perhaps you advertise for the best possible people, but
the only applications for the job comes from a few companies
all of whom show records of abject failure, fiscal
mismanagement and leave huge debts in their wake, would you
let any of them anywhere near your business or would you find
an alternative methodology to running that business?

The only answer to the question which makes sense is to find an

alternative.

So why then do we continue to elect political parties who have a

proven record of incompetence and financial mismanagement
which has brought the country to its knees yet again?

Fine Gael, as a political party, are currently in debt.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/we-need-to-be-
prepared-once-an-election-is-called-fine-gael-ministers-told-to-
ramp-up-fundraising-efforts-to-cut-partys-debt-35433237.html
The article above also shows the arrogance of Fine Gael in that
all theyre concerned about is the partys ability to fight the next
election in the hope of holding onto the power and purse strings
of government so they can continue to flush Irelands wealth
down the toilet and into the pockets of their friends in the
corporate sector.

To suggest such an entity is capable of running a country and

making the best use of its financial resources is laughable when
it cant even look after its own very insular and one dimensional
business.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/our-shameful-legacy-of-
waste-and-incompetence-30953852.html

The above article is 2 years old and yet waste continues on a

massive level in virtually every sector of government and its
not just in this country. Irelands biggest trading neighbour the
UK has a similar culture of waste in government.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2342045/120billion-
money-drain-EVERY-year-The-astonishing-Whitehall-waste-
send-British-family-annual-luxury-holiday.html

And how about Germany?

http://www.dw.com/en/germanys-taxpayer-watchdog-uncovers-
government-waste/a-2800108-0

Or the USA?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/16/richard-
rahn-us-government-wastes-1-trillion-a-yea/

Or Japan?
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/11/29/editorials/sham
eful-waste-tax-money/#.WJr7ycLauM8

But we, the taxpayers who paid for all this waste, are the ones
who have to suffer austerity measures while politicians maintain
their high salary increases and expense accounts and pocket
party donations.

They just cant steal enough!

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/full-list-of-candidates-
and-election-agents-referred-to-garda%C3%AD-by-sipo-
1.2936165

In the case of Ireland its easy to see how this occurs when a
political party cannot look after its own insubstantial finances.
The kid in the candy store can only consume so much before he
gets sick. Politicians just keep returning to the trough to help
themselves to your cash; and they never stop consuming.

The whole system of government is built on lies, incompetence

and corruption. That should be obvious to anyone.

So why do people keep voting for this?

When did adult human beings lose all common sense and not be
able see that a system which is so incompetent, and endemically
corrupt to the core, can never be a viable choice to run any
country?

Of course there has to be some form of alternative and Im not

going to make any suggestions because there are many. But the
first principle in any move towards some form of alternative
must be for people to start taking responsibility for their own
lives, not give up all semblance of individuality and to start to
think for themselves.
And you start when you intelligently accept, using nothing more
than common sense, to see whats obvious right in front of your
eyes.

The system of government in place now is not working and

never will work because it never has worked for the vast
majority of the people who support it.

If nothing changes then your children and generations to come

will struggle through life in ways often far worse than yours as
the country is stolen from under their feet by corporate vultures
aided by corrupt politicians.
Fine Gael ministers believe the prospect of
an early general election has increased after
being issued with a stark warning
surrounding the party's finances.
Ministers were summoned to a meeting by the party's
general secretary, Tom Curran, during which the need to
significantly increase fundraising efforts in order to reduce
the level of debt was discussed.
The meeting held before yesterday's sitting of Cabinet was
also attended by trustees of the party, who have in recent
weeks met to discuss the fallout from the John Perry
affair.
The party was last year saddled with a significant six-
figure legal bill after settling a High Court challenge
initiated by the former junior minister.
The decision by Fine Gael to settle on the steps of the court
after five days of hearings has seriously impacted on the
party's finances.
Tensions have remained between the party leadership and
Mr Perry.
Meanwhile, sources present at yesterday's meeting said
there was an emphasis placed on ministers ramping up
their own fundraising efforts.
The staging of more breakfast events and other
fundraisers was discussed.
"It was made clear that we needed to be financially
prepared once an election is called," said one source.
While there was no prediction that an election is
imminent, yesterday's warning has heightened such a
prospect in the eyes of ministers.
Various sources across Fine Gael believe the party's
finances are in a very poor state and that this could put
them on the backfoot if an early general election takes
place.
Senior positions within Fine Gael have been filled only
recently, having been left void for months.
Some Fine Gael ministers have appointed advisers who
previously served as staff in the party's headquarters.
Yesterday's meeting was held just days after Fine Gael
bosses surprised TDs and senators by announcing an
increase in the fee to join the party from 15 to 20.
At last week's parliamentary party meeting, Mr Curran
also revealed Fine Gael is scrapping a special rate for the
"unwaged", who previously secured a discounted
membership.
Mr Curran told his TDs and senators that the recent
controversy surrounding election donations proved
"embarrassing" for the party.
Without singling out a member by name, Mr Curran told a
Fine Gael meeting last Wednesday that such controversies
must not dog the party again in the future.
Earlier this month, it emerged the party's deputy leader
and senator James Reilly was among 66 general election
candidates to be referred to garda by the Standards in
Public Office Commission.
Dr Reilly, the former health and children's minister,
accepted a 1,000 cash donation. Dr Reilly returned 800
but failed to file the correct paperwork - which led to the
SIPO ruling. He said it was an oversight on his part.
Borrowed time for the
Garda Commissioner,
Howlin's howler
On this week's show, discussing the week in Irish politics
was INM's Niall O'Connor, Philip Ryan and Niamh Horan.
Topics included: the pressure increases on Garda
Commissioner, Noirin OSullivan, how much longer can she
last? Was Brendan Howlin right to use Dail privilege to
name the allegation against Maurice McCabe? Plus, should
Enda Kenny really be extending an invite to Donal Trump
to visit Ireland?
Should Noirin O'Sullivan step aside while an investigation
is ongoing and is the Commissioner on borrowed time?
There were diverging views across the table on the
Floating Voter this week as Philip Ryan argued she was
due 'proper process during the investigation and shouldnt
step down.'
"But, there is little confidence left in the Garda
Commissioner," countered Niall O'Connor. "And she
should step down. If she is found innocent then all is
fine."
Turning their attention to the issue of Brendan Howlin's
use of Dail privilege, Niamh Horan questioned a
politician's motives behind such acts.
"This is the third time in a short time when Dail privilege
has been used to drop bombshells," she told O'Connor.
"With great power comes great responsibility, but how
much is it to do with their own interests and political
careers?"
"What Brendan Howlin said is all based on hearsay and
Labour is all at sea over Howlins actions," said Ryan.
"Howlin himself has not done himself any favours at all. If
this was Mary Lou McDonald people would be castigating
her for it."
And let's not forget, Labour is on 4% and now everybody is
talking about them, Niall O'Connor reminded the panel.
Finally on this week's show, the team asked whether
Trump should be invited over for an Irish State visit?
"Why not?," wondered Ryan. "We can invite Putin and
Kim Jong-un over as well and use it as an opportunity to
discuss their policies and get our point of view across.
What's the harm in that?"
"Yes we should invite him over," agreed Horan. "Its about
the economy, jobs and American investment and not for
keeping liberals happy."
Each week on the Floating Voter, INM's political team
discuss the main issues affecting Irish politics, bursting
the bubble around Leinster House. New episodes on
Independent.ie every Thursday.
With Kenny & Co expressing 'full confidence' in O'Sullivan, she's got to
be worried about knocks on her door.
https://soundcloud.com/the-floating-voter-independent-
ie/borrowed-time-for-the-garda-commissioner-howlins-
howler-and-cead-mile-failte-to-trump

Troika visits are a waste

of resources needed for
Brexit - Hayes

John Downing Twitter

BIO
PUBLISHED
06/02/2017 | 02:30
SHARE



Brian Hayes says six-monthly inspections are excessive. Photo:
Damien Eagers
More than three years after Ireland exited
the EU-ECB-IMF - known as the Troika -
bailout, the European Commission is still
sending officials to look over the national
accounts every six months.
Dublin Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes has said the six-
monthly account inspections are "excessive and wasteful"
and resources would be better directed towards helping
Ireland prepare for the forthcoming Brexit fallout.
Under the conditions of Ireland's bailout, every six months
the European Commission produces a "post-programme
surveillance" report which assesses Ireland's financial
situation and its ability to repay bailout funds. The EU
Finance Commissioner, Pierre Moscovici, has said that his
report usually includes a visit by commission officials to
Ireland, which Mr Hayes argues is unnecessary.
"The current post-bailout procedure for Ireland represents
an excessive level of surveillance. For a country with the
highest growth in the EU, it seems perverse that we have
twice yearly reports assessing our economic and financial
situation," Mr Hayes told the Irish Independent.
"In the first quarter of 2017, there will be a seventh post-
bailout surveillance mission to Ireland. It would be better
for the commission to focus on preparing for the challenge
of Brexit," Mr Hayes said.
http://www.independent.ie/business/brexit/troika-visits-are-
a-waste-of-resources-needed-for-brexit-hayes-
35425934.html

Irish ambassador to UK: Fully

controlling movement of people
and goods between north and
south not 'remotely possible'
Colm Kelpie Twitter
EMAIL
PUBLISHED
09/02/2017

Irish ambassador Dan Mulhall

Fully controlling the movement of goods and
people across the border between north and
south is not "remotely possible", Ireland's
ambassador to the United Kingdom has
said.
Veteran diplomat Dan Mulhall said the European
Commission will not be trying to create problems for
Ireland post Brexit in terms of the "modest quantities" of
cross border trade.
He added the UK will not be "taking back control" of its
border in the north if it wants to maintain the common
travel area, despite border security being a key plank of
the Brexit campaign.
He said monitoring the border fully given the level of
traffic and crossings wasn't doable.
"Even if somebody wanted to, the effort involved, I just
don't think it's remotely possible to think in terms of
having a border that really controls every movement of
goods and people accross, so we have to find practical
solutions, " the ambassador told the Northern Ireland
Affairs Committee.
He argued that there was always flexibility within the
European Union to make things work.
I havent got any impression that any of my colleagues in
governments are looking to throw a spanner in the works
and make life difficult for Ireland, he said.
Although both the UK and Irish governments have argued
that there is no desire for a hard border, Prime Minister
Theresa Mays ambition to leave the single market and
potentially pull the UK out of the customs union has raised
fears that border controls will be required.
Former European Commission customs expert Michael
Lux told the Committee last week that Ireland would be
obliged to implement controls on this side of the border,
even if it didnt want to, because it would be an EU
frontier.
The veteran diplomat, with almost 40 years experience,
said that Europe has a reasonable understanding of the
need not to do anything to create problems or destabilise
the political situation in Northern Ireland.
The ambassador told the committee that there were more
than 200 crossings on the border.
He said there were 177,000 lorry crossings over the border
each month, 208,000 light vans and 1.85 million cars.
It may be that even those figures dont pick up the huge
scale of it, he said.
Under questioning from Lady Sylvia Hermon MP about
the prime ministers stated desire to take back control of
the UKs borders, Mr Mulhall said: The intention is to
maintain the common travel area which means they will
not be taking back control of that border.
Mr Mulhall said nothing will stop EU citizens from
entering the UK through Ireland, but that if they want to
live and work in the UK, they may be breaking UK laws.
He said the free movement principle was not about the
right to enter a country, but the right to settle there.
http://www.independent.ie/business/brexit/irish-
ambassador-to-uk-fully-controlling-movement-of-people-
and-goods-between-north-and-south-not-remotely-
possible-35437542.html
Worries about free movement in the context
of Brexit don't simply apply to people.
Concerns have been raised about horses
also.
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has warned the United
Kingdoms exit from the European Union poses significant
implications for Irelands thoroughbred industry.
Horse racing and thoroughbred breeding essentially
operates on an all-island basis, he said, with horses,
trainers and riders regularly moving between both
jurisdictions.
The introduction of tariffs or regulations has the potential
to increase the cost of business and reduce the free
movement of labour and horses, Mr Creed said, in
response to a parliamentary question from Independent
TD Tommy Broughan.
Mr Creed said trainers in Northern Ireland are licensed
by the Irish Turf Club, and races there are run under the
Turf Clubs Rules of Racing.
90pc of runners at these fixtures are trained in the
Republic with horses moving on a daily basis, so the return
to a hard border would seriously disrupt this movement,
he added.
The two countries operate a single entity for stud book
purposes - ie British and Irish foals are both registered in
the one stud book - and together with France, have
historically had a tripartite agreement between the
respective Departments of Agriculture to facilitate free
movement of thoroughbred horses between the three
countries.
Ireland exports of thoroughbreds to Britain are worth
around 225 million each year, he said. This may be at
risk due to reduced trade flows following the Brexit vote,
the Government believes.
The horse industry overall contributes in excess of 1.1
billion annually to the Irish economy.
Brexit may have very serious implications for the Irish
thoroughbred racing and breeding industry and the
concerns of the sector will need to be taken into account in
any discussions/negotiations on the matter, the minister
added.
To a large extent the horse racing and breeding industries
of the UK and Ireland operate as one with horses, trainers,
riders regularly moving between both jurisdictions.
http://www.independent.ie/business/brexit/concern-about-
free-movement-postbrexit-isnt-just-about-people-it-could-
apply-to-horses-too-35438256.html

A fifth of EU banking may

shift to Ireland after
Brexit
Colm Kelpie Twitter
EMAIL
PUBLISHED
08/02/2017

The report estimates that around 1.8 trillion of UK banking assets

will be on the move following Brexit. Photo: PA
Almost a fifth of wholesale finance activity
within the European Union could shift to
Ireland after Brexit, a Brussels-based think
tank has projected.
It would make this country a major European financial
power house.
London currently dominates the sector, which includes
large-scale banking for other banks, large corporations
and finance houses.
The Bruegel think tank said 2pc of the EU's wholesale
activity is currently here, versus 90pc in the UK, but this
share could increase to up to 15pc or 18pc once it leaves
the EU.
The report estimates that around 1.8 trillion of UK
banking assets will be on the move following Brexit.
 About 35pc of London wholesale banking currently relates
to clients in the other 27 EU member states. That varies
from about a fifth for UK-headquartered banks, to a third
for US and half for EU banks. "Thus, about 1.8 trillion, or
17pc, of all UK banking assets might be on the move as a
direct consequence of Brexit," the report states.
It also claimed that about 10,000 banking jobs and 20,000
related professional services roles could be up for grabs by
other EU capitals as a result, with Dublin, Frankfurt, Paris
and Amsterdam among the cities listed. However it also
notes that other cities, including Brussels, Luxembourg,
Warsaw, Milan and Vienna could also feature.
The report presents two scenarios for capital markets
services in the wake of Brexit - an integrated wholesale
market, or one that fragments along national lines.
"In both scenarios, the UK's share of the total European
wholesale market drops from 90pc to 60pc because of
Brexit," it notes.
"The starting point is that financial firms with a MiFID
passport can serve EU27 clients from anywhere in the
EU27, just as they currently do from London."
Y EU faces new crisis over 'explosive' Greek debts,
warnsIMF
Y Ireland tipped for growth but Asia will surpass EU by
2050
The report, co-authored by Andr Sapir, Dirk
Schoenmaker and Nicolas Vron, stated that in the
fragmented case, Frankfurt, given the fact that it already
hosts the biggest European operations of the US
investment banks outside of London, and is home to the
European Central Bank, will become the main centre with
45pc of the EU27 wholesale market.
Paris, which is home to the European Securities and
Markets Authority and several large banks, may cover
20pc, and Dublin and Amsterdam might cover 15pc and
10pc respectively.
In the scenario that assumes integration, there is less need
for all activities in one location, therefore the industry
could be more geographically spread across the bloc.
In this case, 35pc of wholesale finance would be in
Frankfurt, 12 to 20pc in Amsterdam, Dublin and Paris
each, with Dublin getting 18pc.
"The fact that several countries are vying to attract
business from London suggests that they hope to reap the
benefits from having larger financial sectors, not least in
the form of additional tax revenue," the report noted.
"At the same time, countries with larger financial sectors
face higher potential costs associated with potential public
expenditure in case of financial turmoil. These potential
costs would be shared by all euro-area countries in a full
banking union, but not in an incomplete banking union, as
is currently the case.
"It will be a challenge to keep a sense of the balance
between the benefits and potential costs across euro-area
countries."
The report comes a day after a senior French politician on
a visit to London to poach bankers, warned Britain will
lose crucial financial access rights to the EU. Valerie
Pecresse, president of Ile-de-France, said Brexit is opening
up "fierce competition" between Europe's capital cities
vying to take business from the City.
http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/article35433290.
ece

Workers involved in an industrial dispute at Tesco have

received letters from the company offering to help them
leave the trade union movement, it has been claimed"

Tesco encouraging staff in industrial dispute to

leave unions
Company rejects suggestion it proactively encouraged workers on
membership
Workers involved in an industrial dispute at Tesco have
received letters from the company offering to help them
leave the trade union movement, it has been claimed.
The dispute centres on workers who joined the company
prior to 1996. About 700 of these left last year under a
redundancy programme, and the supermarket is now
attempting to implement changes to the contracts of the
remaining 250 individuals.
Mandate, the trade union that represents the bulk of the
workers, said the changes would mean some workers
could see their incomes reduced by up to 15 per cent.
The dispute has led to workers at nine Tesco stores
voting to commence indefinite strike action from
February 14th, which is Valentines Day, while another
five stores will join them on the picket lines from
February 17th.
Following a meeting of trade union leaders in Dublin on
Thursday, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions claimed
Tesco was engaged in a campaign to encourage workers
to leave their unions.
It said letters from a senior company director were
distributed to staff, offering to facilitate them in exiting
their respective trade unions if they filled out a form.
It has taken an extremely serious turn, said congress
general secretary Patricia King. The company has made
decisions that demonstrate how they intend to approach
their dealings with staff into the future.
They are telling workers they will work when they want
them to work, on the terms they want them to work, and
that they would be better off leaving their trade unions.
They have provided workers with forms to leave their
unions.
Desire to leave
A spokeswoman for Tesco denied the company was
proactively encouraging workers to leave unions, and
said the letters were only distributed in circumstances
where workers had previously expressed a desire to
leave.
We are not circulating any materials encouraging
colleagues to leave the union, she said. We respect our
colleagues right to choose if they wish to be in a union or
not. If colleagues indicate they wish to leave the union
then obviously we have to process this request.
Mandate general secretary John Douglas said the letters
were an attack on all trade union members.
The company is seeking to take trade unionism off the
pitch, he said.
Mr Douglas called on all union members to shop with
their conscience on February 14th and beyond. We
believe we will get a massive response from the public.
In a statement, Tesco said it was shocked at the stance
taken by ICTU and urged Mandate to accept a recent
Labour Court recommendation in relation to the dispute.
We are further disappointed that Mandate continues to
engage in a campaign of myths and misinformation to
misguide our colleagues and damage our business
impacting everyone who works for Tesco, it added.