Piss And Wind In Washington

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From top: Leo Varadkar with US president Donald Trump at The White House yesterday and above at an earlier lunch in the Capitol Hill building where he revealed his efforts to help prevent a wind farm being built near the Trump golf course in Doonbeg, County Clare

Mr Varadkar said that about three or four years ago, when he was minister for tourism, he received a call from Mr Trump who said he had a “problem” near Doonbeg, that somebody was trying to build a wind farm that would “impact on tourism”.

The Taoiseach said he initially thought the call was “a pisstake by one of my staff members” as he thought a businessman like Mr Trump would write a letter first to set up a meeting.

“But, as we all know, President Trump does work like that. He is a very direct man, likes to get things done,…

“…So I endeavoured to do what I could do about it and I rang the county council and inquired about the planning permission and subsequently the planning permission was declined and the wind farm was never built.

Clare wind farm firm ‘disappointed’ at Varadkar call for Trump (RTE)

Meanwhile…

The Clare Champion, September 14, 2014

Clare Coastal Wind Power wanted to build a nine turbine wind farm, 4km from Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg.

In a statement, Clare Coastal Wind Power Director Michael Clohessy said the company was “disappointed” at the admission.

Mr Clohessy said the company had at all times acted with integrity and in good faith but it now appeared that it was not a level playing field.

Clare Coastal Wind Power said it will be reviewing this situation over the coming days.

Clare wind farm firm ‘disappointed’ at Varadkar call for Trump (RTÉ)

Meanwhile…

Last night…

Clare County Council release the following statement…

“The planning application was received on 15th August 2014. All representations, objections and observations made in relation to this and all other planning applications are available to view on planning file and the Clare County Council website.

“There is no representation by Leo Varadkar, the then Minister for Tourism and Sport, or any elected member on this planning file. The decision on 8th October 2014 by Clare County Council to refuse this planning application was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanala. Following consideration of the appeal, An Bord Pleanala upheld the decision by Clare County Council and refused permission for the proposed development.”

Meanwhile…

Meanwhile…

“I’m with stupid“.

An overawed Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is greeted at the White House by US President Donald Trump and Melania Trump.

Pics: AFP/Getty

 

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44 thoughts on “Piss And Wind In Washington”

  5. some old queen

    Oh ffs. Leo just said that to keep the orangutan on side. Ireland is very dependant on US companies and Trump would have been just looking for any excuse to crank up the ‘bring em home’ rhetoric.

    Would love to have been a fly on the wall in the Pence meeting mind.

      1. Nigel

        Really? Whatever the upshot about interference turns out to be, it was a naked attempt at ingratitation.

          1. Nigel

            The entire country is cringing in embarrassment and the opposition is gearing up to chew this to the bone (FF are shocked SHOCKED at the idea of a politician interfering with the planning process) so it is a big deal.

            SOQ was making the case for it being a pragmatic bit of diplomacy which I think it was, but I don’t think that’ll carry much weight.

          2. some old queen

            Yes no big deal. Pretty sure Leo would have known that phone call did not make any difference before announcing it on a world stage.

            Trump seems to operate on a personal level so playing to the ego was quite a clever move. It also highlights the fact that Trump has personally invested in Ireland, which is good PR.

          3. Brother Barnabas

            “a pragmatic bit of diplomacy which I think it was”

            maybe, nigel, but wouldn’t that have been better delivered in private with a playful shoulder punch and some inane guffawing? would have had the same effect on trump. as well as lots of other things, doing it publicly and on such a high profile platform makes us look like a banana republic.

          4. stupidoulwan

            Excellent points there Brother.

            But, no.

            It wouldn’t have had the same impact at all. People following Trump often think that he’s some kind of aberration who will go away quietly and the world will then go back to some kind of globalist consensus again. It won’t. Authoritarianism, fascism and populism is on the rise everywhere. Varadkar was quite right to signal to the US that Ireland is a safe haven for their vulture capitalism. It’s the only card we have to play. It’s not like we have a stable regulatory system, a high quality education system, a supply of affordable housing, a good system of public health, fairness and equity in education and judicial appointments, or any of the things that normally attract foreign investors.

          7. Yep

            You’re being delusional if you think omitting this tidbit would have had a negative outcome for foreign investment or that including it will have some great impact. There is simply no way to measure the success of mentioning.

            However, the fact that he was comfortable on the world stage to mention his intent (the intent is the most important thing, regardless of outcome) to Side step procedures put in place to protect citizens is far more than an anecdote to ingratiate yourself.

            If it was Kenny, I would predict a far different reaction.

          8. some old queen

            Nobody knows what Kenny would have done but what we do know is that Trump has specifically targeted US companies in Ireland. Most americans would have had no idea that Trump has private investments in Ireland so mission accomplished.

            I suspect that despite his background, Leo is more of a Kerry man than he makes out.

  6. Murtles

    D’ya remember in National School when your friend told the story about how badass he was pulling that girls hair and running away.
    “subsequently the planning permission was declined and the wind farm was never built” hehe, goofy giggle teehee, I’m mental me.

  7. Brother Barnabas

    what a cringe. hopefully the toes of the nation are uncurled in time for the parade.

  8. david

    Why is it in all the photos varadka seems to be putting his hands around his crotch
    As for the phone calls was that not called corruption

  9. johnny

    that amount off access with so few bucks, how’d The Donald get Leo’s number ?
    why did he take the call, was he advised too ?
    he only owns one lil golf club, what does owning BILLIONS and BILLIONS of loans, homes,offices,hotels like Cerberus and lots other yank carpetbaggers get you ?

  10. Otis Blue

    Varadkar badly misjudged this.

    But Noonan, the red carpet, the diddly- eye music and the comely maidens was worse.

  11. Catherine costelloe

    I’m glad the beautiful coastline is left preserved. These windfarms are eyesores.

    1. Nigel

      Would honestly rather have wind farms than golf courses. Would rather have good planning than either.

      1. stupidoulwan

        why can’t we have a big beautiful wall around the wind farm?

        Then we wouldn’t be able to see it

    3. Frilly Keane

      Maybe Catherine
      but there was only 9 turbines applied for

      and 4 clicks away from any bunker

      whereas in Spain
      the drive from Almeria to Grenada alone must have hundreds, if not thousands lining it

      and Grenada is one of the biggest attractions in Spain
      And they don’t seem bothered a bit by the Turbines

      1. Andyourpointiswhatexactly?

        I have to say, I love them. I think there’s something very serene about them.

          3. Andyourpointiswhatexactly?

            Small ones. I like those little fellers, flitting around the eaves at sunset.
            I despise flying fox bats: I used to walk through The Domain in Sydney to work in the mornings and those b*stards’ poo was everywhere. Manky big ugly things.

  13. A person

    As someone involved in the planing process, politicians get involved all the time. They are perfectly entitled to, like anyone other citizen of this country. Its not interference, not corruption, but operating in what the legal planning process that entitles anyone to do so.

    1. anne

      Someone, who as minister for transport had the ability to pull funding, is not the same as you or I making a phonecall. Btw, do they take calls? As far as I know they don’t, not from the public..from registered architects only I think. hold on till I get it.

      1. A person

        Pull funding for what – and he was minister of tourism. Developers of wind farms, housing estates, have to provide their access. All Councils take phone, some as better than other. You do not need to be an architect.

  14. GiggidyGoo

    ‘All Councils take phone, some as better than other‘ All planning departments take phone calls from the public then? you left out Plannind Departments. Because all councils take phone calls, about motor tax, housing etc. Do they take public calls about planning.?

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