Yearly Archives: 2013

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You may have seen yesterday’s Irish Examiner, in which PJ Mara, above, former Government Press secretary and now a director at Denis O’Brien’s Digicel – revealed

…how, as a lobbyist, he accessed key officials and ministers after he stopped working for Fianna Fáil.

He also shared his views on Fine Gael and Labour’s proposed lobbying regulations, warning:

“If that’s what they want to do, away with them [the Coalition]. But it’s still not going to stop people having quiet words in corners. People are going to find their way around that, if they want to.”

He should know, in fairness.

But is he right?

In a global comparative investigation of lobbying laws, Dr Raj Chari, of Trinity College, Dr Gary Murphy, of DCU, and Dr John Hogan, of DIT, adopted a ranking system developed by the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) in the US to measure the effectiveness of lobbying legislation.

A score of 1-29 is seen as lowly regulated, 30-59 is medium regulated and 60 to 100 is highly regulated. A score of 60 is a pass.

They later added scores for Fine Gael and Labour’s proposed policies…

FGLAB

Hmm.

Dr Chari and Dr Murphy concluded:

“These scores would place both proposed pieces of legislation in the low‐regulation category.
This is particularly disappointing in the case of the Fine Gael proposal, coming 11 points below the lowest regulated jurisdiction in Canada—Manitoba. In fact, the Labour Party’s proposed legislation is very close to being in the medium‐regulation category. If this Bill included a ‘cooling‐off’ period for former legislators, then it would achieve a score of 31.

That neither proposal contains a ‘cooling‐off’ period for former legislators raises questions as to why this rule, common in both medium and high‐regulation jurisdictions, is absent here.

Even more ironic is the fact that such a cooling‐off period does exist in Ireland since 2004 for former senior civil servants and government officials, but not for politicians.”

International Trends in Lobbying Regulation: Lessons Learned for Ireland

(Mark Stedman/Photocall ireland)

bertie…cometh the LOL.

Public Relations consultant Paul Allen writes:

…So rather than hysterically cheer lead the rise in property prices, or indeed blinding blame Bertie and Co for our downfall, the only way we can ever ensure we learn from the past is to embrace it.
And while that includes the bad and the ugly of Fianna Fail’s and Bertie’s reign, it also needs to include the good.
Indeed, many of Bertie’s skills and insider knowledge of the drastic errors he and his government made could just be what it takes to drag this country out of recession and back to sustainable levels of prosperity.

Could it be time for Ireland to bring Bertie Ahern back? (Paul Allen, Irish Central)

“I have worked with Paul Allen and his team for many years and have always been impressed with their hard-working approach and commitment to getting results. Paul never takes no for an answer”

Bertie Ahern quoted on Paul Allen’s website (since removed)

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The Ormond Hotel, Ormond Quay, Dublin.

Escaped boomtime demolition.

But still not safe.

Environmental activist Ruadhán MacEoin writes

Scene of the setting of the Sirens episode in Ulysses – The Ormond Hotel – is proposed for demolition and redevelopment.

Although the building behind the facade is understood to be largely unoriginal, the facade is of integral importance to the character of Dublin’s 18th century quays – and indeed to Joyce’s Dublin.

The proposed scheme neither retains the character nor would be sympathetic to the historic quays – being bulkier and higher than the adjacent terrace

Peculiarly the plaque (top) noting the Joyce Sirens Episode connection disappeared recently, apparently just before the current planning application was made.

A coincidence no doubt…

Deadline for objections September 2.

Planning application details here.

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LEGO builder Rifiröfi has imagined a line of Monty Python and the Holy Grail tie-in sets.

There’s plenty more like The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, The Knights Who Say “Ni” and The Trojan Rabbit.

The Brothers Brick

super

Finally.

Galway businessman Pat McDonagh would not be drawn on who the potential franchisees are, but he told the Irish Echo that many of those interested were newly-emigrated Irish.
…Mr McDonagh said the Irish fast food chain is currently searching for a site in Bondi Junction in Sydney and Northbridge in Perth.

Supermac’s eye up sites in Bondi, Perth (Pat McDonagh, Irish Echo)

Thanks Markham

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“The issue is very clear. Syria is Washington’s war. It was planned many years ago. The issue was replacing an independent government with a subservient, pro-Western one.

Any government that is independent gets targeted for regime change.

“This is longstanding US policy and the situation in Syria is very grave.

…American forces have been beefed up in the Mediterranean. There is every indication that America plans to attack. It will do it extra judiciously, lawlessly.”

 

Stephen Lendman.

US war on Syria ‘planned many years ago’ (Press TV)

Kerry Cites Clear Evidence of Chemical Weapon Use in Syria (New York Times)

Obama Can Strike Unilaterally (Time)

Previously: Meanwhile, In Syryia

Meanwhile…

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Syria, named one of the top ten countries to visit by Lonely Planet, 2011.

Thanks Aisling Hussey

hank

Actor Dean Norris spoils everything except the final episodes of Breaking Bad. We hope.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P3bi78degE

In other Breaking Bad related internettery, here’s Aaron Paul auditioning for the role of Jesse Pinkman in 2008, showing why Vince Gilligan shelved his initial plans to kill off the Jesse character in series one.

And finally, here’s Aaron Paul as a contestant on The Price Is Right, Bitch ten years earlier in 1998.

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