Details of a letter smuggled out a Cairo jail from Ibrahim Halawa (top), a 20 year old old Irish citizen imprisoned in Egypt for the past three years and where he faces the death penalty.
I face torture every day, says jailed student (The Times Ireland edition)
Previously Ibrahim Halawa on Broadsheet
Thanks Richard
From top: Irish Water CEO John Tierney, 2014; Dan Boyle
Whoever thought setting up Irish Water was an answer to anything must have asking themselves a pretty stupid question.
Dan Boyle writes:
Recently a national protest against homelessness was held. It was attended by hundreds. I would have gone had I been more aware. It is a subject that truly shames us all, and not just the political system.
I have a feeling that when it becomes possible to write the history of this time in a more rounded sense, the amount of anger and energy that has been used on the issue of Water will be seen with some incredulity.
There are those who will claim that water was a binding factor. That it was a clarion call for all the injustices to be found in our society. Some more have convinced themselves that without the issue, and the engagement that has resulted from it, political change on any issue wouldn’t be possible.
And as an issue it has spawned a myriad of sub issues, which of themselves have revealed deep flaws in our democratic structures, as well as our systems of administration.
Whoever thought setting up Irish Water was an answer to anything must have asking themselves a pretty stupid question.
The model of recruiting those shown to be incompetent in their previous roles showed a particular kind of genius. The need to engage consultants by the wagonload underscored a thinking way beyond we ordinary folk.
The barely concealed attempt at fattening up a public utility for the subsequent pleasure of the private sector, added further grist to the mill.
As anger-inducing as these issues were of themselves, they were never the banner items for the dozens of protests that were attended by thousands.
The main point of contention transmitted from these events was that the ‘principle’ of directly paying for water was somehow abhorrent.
The government’s strategy didn’t help of course. It left what it believed to be the easiest issue to be sorted last. It, and especially its key Ministers, seemed to lack any sense of self awareness of a population already pulverised by a series of cack handed policy decisions.
Still public anger remained diffuse. It was never the case that direct payment was ever the issue that most consumed. Unfortunately it became the shorthand for what was was any or a combination of the issues I have mentioned above.
Here I need to confess. I have not paid my water charges either.
I have not done so partially because I have had little confidence that the administrative infrastructure would last, but mostly I was part of that very small subset that wanted to see water metered and directly paid for.
It was the €100 bribe that pushed me over the edge. I imagine each person can speak of a different breaking point, such has been the level of incompetence that has been shown.
Had we been a more mature democracy each of these issues would have been dealt with differently. We still have a lot of growing up to do.
Dan Boyle is a former Green Party TD and Senator. Follow Dan on Twitter: @sendboyle
Rollingnews
The RTÉ Nine O’Clock News, last night.
The alarming result of the make up department’s attempts to conceal what may or may not be the result of a few too many photons to the nose of David Davin Power.
(Thanks Johnny)
MORE to folly
This evening.
In Ballybunion, Co. Kerry.
Meanwhile…
This afternoon.
Inisbofin, Co Galway
Thanks Stephen and Jeni
O’Devaney Garden, Dublin 7
In the round.
Mark Coughlan, of RTÉ’s Prime Time, writes:
Myself and a colleague in Prime Time, Conor Wilson, made a short online-only piece with some of the last residents of the O’Devaney Gardens flats complex, there’s only a few residents left living where there were once more than 270 families. Most of the flats have been boarded up or demolished. They talked to us about life and the history of the flats.
It was shot with a 360-degree camera, so viewers can look around the flats and get a perspective on the place that isn’t quite possible with normal flat-screen video.
If people open it in the YouTube or Facebook apps on their phone, the phone will act like a window onto the picture, so they can move their phone to pan around, or swipe the screen to move the shot…
Last Days of the Flats – A 360º short documentary (RTÉ)
Previously: Community Hearts Torn Apart
Thanks Mark
Ah here
Martyn Rosney tweetz:
Great article on The Liberal today about plagiarism in Irish media…..
Steal This Article (Dublin Inquirer)
Thanks Oisín
National Museum of Ireland
I write to congratulate Rosita Boland on her excellent article on the necessity or other wise of the Irish language. She decries the waste involved in the State funding and supporting something so unnecessary, and I agree with her.
Surely though, we should not stop at our national language in an effort to eradicate this shameful waste.
I propose the following, not exhaustive, list of unnecessary institutions supported by the State that should be scrapped: the National Museum of Ireland, the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the National Concert Hall and Culture Ireland. I look forward to living in Rosita Boland’s particular vision of utopia.
Barra Mac Niocaill,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.
Is Irish a necessary language? (Irish Times)
Pic: Juanfran
Jonty O’Neill is a graphic designer from Cavan but based in Dublin.
Further to the announcement of the Republic of Ireland’s squad for the Euro 2016…
He writes:
“100 years after our great leaders of 1916 we have our heroes of today. I wanted to give that iconic image of the seven signatories a facelift (literally). It was tough picking those seven people. Some really good footballers had to be left out but these are the seven I went with in the end…”
FIGHT!
More of Jonty’s work can be seen here
Earlier: 1988 State
Yesterday.
During Leaders’ Questions, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams raised Project Eagle and the Government’s refusal to launch a Commission of Investigation into the sale of Nama’s northern Ireland loan book, known as Project Eagle.
Mr Adams came after the British National Crime Agency arrested two men as part of its investigation into the sale.
The two men were arrested in Co Down on suspicion of fraud offences and have since been released on bail pending further inquiries.
From yesterday’s debate…
Gerry Adams: “I understand the British National Crime Agency has arrested two people today as part of its investigation into NAMA’s Northern loan book, known as Project Eagle. For years now Sinn Féin and others have raised concerns about the sale of NAMA’s loan books, including the sale and purchase process for its Northern loan book. The Taoiseach and the former Tánaiste, Deputy Joan Burton, have accused the Opposition of conflating the matter. Deputy Joan Burton described it as just a “Northern tale”. I put it to the Taoiseach that it is actually a national scandal and a disgrace.”
“The sale and purchase process for NAMA’s Northern loan book has been the subject of serious allegations. It has been alleged that, as part of a cosy cartel that was in operation, insider trading took place, that payments were made to a golden circle and that illegal fixer fees were paid. This was brought to the attention of NAMA by a potential US bidder, Pimco. NAMA previously claimed that its Northern advisory committee was not privy to confidential information on the sale, but it has since been disclosed that the committee discussed potential purchasers on at least two occasions before the loan book was sold at a huge loss to Irish taxpayers.”
“There are investigations in the North by the National Crime Agency, NCA, the law society and revenue. There was an Assembly inquiry which found the Government’s approach very unhelpful. There are also investigations in the USA by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the FBI and other authorities. However, there is no investigation here. In this State, the Minister for Finance, the Government and NAMA have closed ranks.”
“The chairman of NAMA, Mr. Frank Daly, said he briefed the Minister in full, including on the scandal of a fixer fee of £15 million sterling, which is totally irregular and illegal. Despite this, the Minister failed to suspend the Project Eagle sale process or to inform the office of the First Minister or Deputy First Minister. The Assembly inquiry noted this failure with regret. This is a public interest matter, which must be fully investigated.”
Seán Ó Fearghaíl: “Get to the question please, Deputy.”
Adams: “Tá mé beagnach críochnaithe anois, a Cheann Comhairle. It must be fully investigated to get to the bottom of allegations of wrongdoing and cosy cartels which have cost the citizens of this State millions of euro. Does the Taoiseach not believe it is time for the Minister for Finance to make a full statement on all of these matters to the Dáil?”
Enda Kenny: “The Minister has made a full statement already and there has been quite a deal of discussion at the various Oireachtas committees on the question on NAMA. NAMA personnel at the highest level have responded and given much time on different occasions to discuss these matters.”
“If two people have been arrested, they have been arrested on suspicion of particular charges and I expect that the court system in the jurisdiction in which they were arrested will follow through on arresting them in the first instance. Obviously, it is not for me to comment on the court system of a different jurisdiction. If they have been arrested, I assume that it is for good reason in respect of activities that would be outside the law. I trust that this will see itself through that process and be judged before the courts.”
Peadar Tóibín: “Assumptions.”
Adams: “The Minister for Finance has not made a full statement to the Dáil. It is not just Sinn Féin which has these issues. Others have raised these issues consistently and in a very detailed way. It is impossible to get information from any of the Ministers on issues as serious as this one. The Taoiseach refused to establish a commission of investigation. NAMA is an arm of the State. It is dealing with the people’s money. NAMA is not accountable but it should be. It should command public trust and confidence in the business of securing the best possible value for Irish taxpayers and I, for one, have no confidence that it has done this.”
“I have seen this happen to the Taoiseach in that every so often an issue comes up but for all of his cleverness and skills as a politician, he is like a rabbit caught in headlights. This is a huge issue. There needs to be transparency, confidence and accountability. Why not depoliticise it? Why not simply open it up to those of us in the Oireachtas?”
“The people have suffered grievously because of the kinds of activities involved in selling off what were the people’s assets. Given the mounting public concern across the island, will the Taoiseach now commit to establishing a commission of investigation into the sale of Project Eagle?”
Kenny: “No, I will not. There has not been any allegation of wrongdoing against NAMA.”
Tóibín: “Incompetence.”
Kenny: “The Deputy informs me that two people have been arrested. I assume they have been arrested for good reason. Representatives of NAMA have appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts and have given very lengthy statements. They have been crystal clear and that from their perspective, there is no allegation of wrongdoing against NAMA. NAMA has done nothing wrong. It has been completely in compliance with the law and the conditions it was set up under. Coming in and asking for another commission of investigation about this is not the way forward. There is no allegation of wrongdoing against NAMA and at the highest level—–”
Tóibín: “There is an allegation of incompetence.”
Adams: “There was a fixer fee of £15 million.”
Simon Harris: “Not by NAMA.”
Kenny: “Representatives of NAMA have appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts and have given their statements and answered questions at length on all of these issues, and more than once.”
Transcript via Kildarestreet.com
Meanwhile…
@markdevenport That would be the chair who used to be the handpicked special advisor of the person whose actions are being investigated?
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) June 1, 2016
Hmmm.
Previously: Spotlight Falls On Noonan
