Anthony Sheridan: Joining The Shysters

at

From top: Green Party Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin (centre)

Green Party TD Catherine Martin is unfit to represent the people of Ireland. On Thursday, September 2 she cashed in her political integrity when RTÉs Claire Byrne asked her how she felt about the abuse of Cabinet confidentiality.

Claire Byrne: “How do you feel about Cabinet confidentiality being abused?”

Catherine Martin: “I think that’s an internal matter for Fine Gael.”

Byrne: “But it’s not just a matter for one party, it’s a very serious matter for government.”

Martin: “And that’s why I’m saying I’m not happy with the process. I hope lessons are learned and transparency is put in place.”

Byrne: “But when it comes to the leak, that’s a criminal offence?”

Martin: “That’s an issue for, you know, that is absolutely unacceptable that leaks would happen like that but it’s up to that individual…interrupted.”

Byrne: “No, it’s not, it’s a really serious matter for government, it’s a really serious matter for the entire cabinet and a really serious matter for you as a member of that cabinet.

Ms. Martin knows that breaching Cabinet confidentiality is a criminal act and that she, as a cabinet minister, is not only obliged to acknowledge the crime but to act on that knowledge.

By failing to act Ms. Martin has tainted the seal of office bestowed on her by the people of Ireland and thrown in her lot with the cabal of political shysters who have inflicted so much damage on Ireland over the decades.

Whenever an individual or party decides to enter government in Ireland they must make a choice. Challenge and expose the rot eating away at the core of the state or abandon all principles and collaborate with those who have no regard for democracy or the interests of the country.

Clearly, Ms Martin has chosen the latter. It’s likely that her motives are based on the genuine but naïve belief that the end justifies the means. That the implementation of her party’s political agenda is worth the abandonment of her political principles – if so, she is seriously wrong in that belief.

Ireland is not a normal democratic state. The disease of political corruption has polluted the administration of the state to such an extent that all who associate themselves with the diseased become diseased themselves.

This disease must first be eradicated before our country has any hope of becoming a healthy democracy. For that to happen good people must deploy the weapons of courage and principle against the political shysters.

Ms. Martin’s failure to do so will see the people remove her and her party from power at the first opportunity.

Anthony Sheridan is a freelance journalist and blogs at  Public Enquiry.

RollingNews

Sponsored Link

11 thoughts on “Anthony Sheridan: Joining The Shysters

  1. George

    Some people just love bashing the Greens, it is comical. The people will remove the Greens for “throwing in their lot “with the cabal of political shysters”. Would those be the same political shysters who have been in every government since the foundation of the state?

    1. ian-oG

      Here’s a good idea then if you think its comical.

      Perhaps the Greens might actually grow a back bone and speak up when they see stuff that is clearly not right, how about that?

      The reason the Greens get such a kicking is because (and to be fair they are not alone in this, Labour being an obvious example) they spend so much time in opposition whining about the same stuff they defend while in government. Quelle surprise, people do not like hypocrisy and the aforementioned kicking ensues. We really do need a green voice in government but at this stage are the Greens the one to provide it? More interested in hanging in there for the duration because they know a snap election would go poorly for them.

      Anthony’s points above are very valid, can you point out what he got wrong there or do you just think we should ignore stuff like this?

      1. George

        Pinning all the blame for everything on minority parties and enabling the continued dominance of the parties he. describe as “cabal of political shysters” is what he gets wrong. It is why those so-called shysters are and will continue to be very successful. His attitude is what creates the thing he hates.

        1. ian-oG

          Without the Greens, would there be a coalition even?

          The Greens position themselves as being on the moral high ground, nobody expects much else from FFG at this stage, we would have hoped the Greens learned their lesson from the last time in government. Clearly not. Hence, a kicking.

          But hey, if you want to think Anthony calling out facts is what gave us over 100 years of FFG bull, have at it.

          But the Greens will continue to be kicked until they are either a distant memory or start to act like the image they portray of themselves. I think the former is the likelier of the two at this stage, especially after reading Martin’s comments above about Coveney.

          1. Cian

            The Greens position themselves as having green policies.

            They were a very small minority in the 2007 government, 6 of the 89 government. But they got the majority of the blame for all the rubbish that went on in the government.

            They are still a small minority in the 2020 government, 12 of the 84 government, but are still the scapegoats. Why? Blame FF for FF problems. Blame FG for FG problems.

          2. George

            Some people enjoy moaning about the government and they’re very comfortable with that. They don’t actually want the status quo to change.

          1. Darren

            +1 George… The positioning of the minister that she is asked the sort of question live that can be then presented as her seemingly no better than the others while the others are accepted as being as good as we get … that is the spin.. the hundred year spin if you like but certainly it is Claire byrnes role and this piece only serves to underline that same method.. if this was about fg then put them on live and ask away.. write about that .. is it not a familiar tactic and hangover from Christian teaching its and public leanings? Smells like old ireland in every way

  2. GiggidyGoo

    The article is about Catherine Martin cashing in her integrity.

    It mentions cabinet confidentiality. But the distraction, deflection and diversion from Cian and George tries to bring the focus away from the point Anthony Sheridan has made.

    The focus isn’t on the Greens as such. It’s on Catherine Martin, who has jettisoned any integrity she may may have had.

Comments are closed.

Sponsored Link
Broadsheet.ie