Tag Archives: Clare Daly

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[United Left Alliance TD, Clare Daly (top) and Alex Marunchak (above) former Irish editor of the News of the World]

In the Dáil yesterday, United Left Alliance TD Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality Alan Shatter if he plans to introduce legislation to ensure phone hacking by any media organisation in Ireland would result in serious penalties. She asked this question in light of civil actions being taken against News International in Britain which, she claimed, are related to hacked material sourced by the company’s Dublin office.

Mr Shatter told Ms Daly the gardaí have received no complaints in relation to the matters she raised, and encouraged her to give him any information she feels he should be made aware of.

Ms Daly said it’s her understanding that complaints have been made, that ‘serious information’ has been given to the authorities and that she believes Mr Shatter’s department already has this information.

She also claimed a former editor of the News of the World in Dublin Alex Marunchak was connected to several Garda informants.

Clare Daly: “The background to this question is the Leveson inquiry in Britain, which was the British response to the very serious issues of phone hacking and information being obtained by media outlets in a manner which breached privacy and caused major concern. It is acknowledged at this stage that large amounts of the hacked material were either sent to or commissioned from News International’s Dublin office. In light of that, what will the Minister or his Department do to investigate these very serious concerns and protect Irish citizens?”

Alan Shatter: “I am, of course, aware in general terms of information which is in the public domain relating to the organisation named and which I understand to have been the subject of a public inquiry and also criminal prosecutions in the United Kingdom. Such a prosecution is still taking place and it would be entirely inappropriate for me to comment on matters which are the subject of proceedings, either civil or criminal, in another jurisdiction. If the Deputy has any information regarding unlawful activity in this jurisdiction, the appropriate course of action is for her to furnish that information to the Garda Síochána, which can then properly assess and act on it, as appropriate. With regard to future legislation, a criminal justice Bill is included in the Government’s legislative programme which will transpose EU Directive 2013/40/EU on attacks against information systems. The Bill will create a range of offences to protect information systems and data from illegal access and interference. The definition of ‘information system’ in the directive is extremely wide and will encompass modern communications systems. The directive also provides for the liability of bodies corporate in relation to the offences created. The Bill is at an advanced stage of preparation and I hope to be in a position to publish it in the autumn.”

Daly: “I am a little bit shocked at the Minister’s flippant response to a very serious situation. He should be aware that shortly after he took office the “Panorama” programme furnished serious information which revealed, without any question or doubt, that substantial amounts of information were emanating from the Dublin offices of News International. The office was presided over by a Ukrainian individual, Alex Marunchak, who had MI5 clearance and operated with MI6. He was very close to Fianna Fáil and the previous Government. This individual is now the subject of criminal charges of phone hacking in Britain. The evidence is unequivocal that he has employed a network of hackers to gain information illegally to be presented in a slanted way, and, in the Irish context, a politically motivated way, targeting Mary McAleese and Peter Hain. If the Minister does not think it is a matter for investigation that this news outlet operated in this city, around the corner from Leinster House, and had very close relationships with the previous Government, particularly Bertie Ahern’s administration, he needs to look more deeply into it because these matters involve massive breaches of privacy. The Minister must contrast his non-response with the response of the British Government in that regard.”

Shatter: “The Deputy constantly confuses the investigative and operational roles of An Garda Síochána and my role as Minister for Justice and Equality. I am advised the Garda received no complaint regarding the matters the Deputy raises. I take with great seriousness the breach by any news media of individuals’ privacy, and any action that could detrimentally impact on the lives of individuals, particularly where the information is false or is obtained and contrived to be put into a narrative to do individuals down. I take that with the greatest of seriousness, as I do, in particular, aspects of information that might impact on people’s private family life, or tragedies that occur in their lives. In the context of matters being criminally prosecuted in Britain I will not say anything – and I ask the Deputy to be cautious in how she articulates these matters in this House – that could prejudice issues before the British courts, and which could be interpreted as so doing, to the benefit of individuals who are facing serious criminal charges. I will not say anything in this House that could be so interpreted. If there are issues of illegality and if there is an investigation that An Garda Síochána should conduct in this context, a formal complaint needs to be made to the Garda. If the English authorities are investigating issues effectively, with the result that appropriate individuals are being brought before the courts it is for the Garda to determine whether to leave these matters to the British police or if there are matters to be investigated separately in this jurisdiction. If the Deputy has information about News International or any media outlet in this State infiltrating the telecommunications systems, e-mail or telephone, of any individual in this State I ask her to furnish it to me and I will furnish it to the Garda and request that it consider the matter with a view to its investigation.”

Daly: “I have no problem in doing that but we did furnish information to the Minister about Travellers going on the PULSE system over six weeks ago and have not received a reply from him. I will furnish this information. It is not my understanding that no complaint has been made. Very serious information has been given to the relevant authorities. It is without dispute in my mind. The Minister is deliberately confusing matters because we are saying without fear of contradiction this individual, who is before the courts in Britain, was a well-known figure in media circles in Dublin. He was known to the Garda special branch and connected with senior politicians and alleged security journalists. He had a string of informants who were also used by the Garda. It is relevant to ask for an examination of News International’s database here, including its payments records, for details of who was paid and who was hacked, and to establish the nature of the relationship between News International and its informants. There is a crossover with Garda informants and it is relevant to ask whether or how the Garda was involved in this. I am delighted that the Minister wants the information because he will get it, although I am surprised he asked because I think his Department already has the information.”

Shatter: “The Deputy is addicted to conspiracy theories. I have a particular view of the world, which is that if an illegality takes place of a criminal nature, it should be investigated by An Garda Síochána if the illegality is clearly a criminal offence in this jurisdiction. I have a simple view of the world. I do not know why the Deputy thinks my view is more complex than that.”

Anyone?

Transcript: Oireachtas.ie

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“There is a young woman in the gallery who has travelled from England – a woman who Minister Shatter represented when she was a child, a woman who was sexually abused horrendously by her father, a young woman called Sarah Bland. And Sarah and her mother have provided detailed statements to the Gardai in relation to serious allegations against Minister Shatter in relation to perverting the course of justice, obstructing the course of justice and other serious matters. Now this is one of a number of horrendous cases that remain unresolved with the State. There’s too many for us to deal with in a matter of minutes. And to listen to the Taoiseach earlier talk about the Government moving speedily and decisively is quite simply sickening.”

Clare Daly in the Dail yesterday.

Clare Daly Accuses Alan Shatter Of Perverting The Course Of Justice (PoliticalWorld.org)

Previously: Republic Accused Of Sex Cover Up (Breaking News)

daly[Clare Daly and Mick Wallace this afternoon]

Responding to Justice Minister Alan Shatter’s statement to the Dail.

“To mishandle one case might be regarded as unfortunate, and to mishandle two may look like carelessness, but after mishandling six or seven serious scenarios it is time for the Minister to go. His attempt to normalise the latest crisis as no big deal has a shamefully familiar ring.

When is the Government going to realise that we have a crisis of policing in this State? His reactionary response was to say that he would establish an independent Garda authority, even though he laughed Deputy Wallace out of court when he introduced legislation to that effect last year. That is not a genuine attempt at reform.

The Minister stated that the reason this information is now being acted on is that serious information was likely to come into the public domain regarding a horrendous miscarriage of justice and the fitting up of two citizens.

That is clearly a serious and, sadly, all-too-familiar allegation. We have had heard many cases involving people who were wrongly treated by some members of An Garda Síochána.

It is also appalling that the recordings were made. It is not possible to address that issue in detail in the context of breaches of privacy, but the central issues arising are the Minister’s brazenness and barefaced denials, and the Government’s serious mistake in continuing to back him. It is not credible that he did not know.

On 21 May 2013 he told this House that the Commissioner had a duty to tell him about Deputy Wallace’s non-event, but now he is saying the Commissioner did not have a duty to tell him about the most recent issue and he does not have a problem with that.

He berated GSOC for not telling him about the bugging. He listed every piece of legislation he could think of.

Today he devoted several minutes of his speech to explaining why GSOC did not have to inform him and why he does not have a problem with that. Either he does not realise how serious this issue is or he is covering up. Either way, his position is not credible.

We are presiding over a dysfunctional police force. It is undermining the confidence of decent gardaí and the citizens. This is why the Garda Commissioner had no alternative to resigning. When is the penny going to drop with the Minister that he must do the same?

These are not isolated incidents; they are indicative of a systemic problem. None of the mechanisms put in place after the Morris tribunal has worked.

We need a root-and-branch review but, unfortunately, we cannot do that while those at the top are contaminating the process. At this stage, the Minister has contaminated the process beyond his sell-by date.”

Independent TD Clare Daly this afternoon in the Dail

Earlier: Shatter’s Statement

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[Independent TD, Clare Daly]

Further to claims that Justice Minister Alan Shatter has known about Sgt Maurice McCabe’s dossier – which allegedly shows cases of abduction, assault, rape and murder have not been properly investigated by members of the Gardaí – for two years, RTÉ News reports:

Independent TD Clare Daly has said Mr Shatter must account for the fact that he was in possession of very serious allegations for at least 18 months and stood over a situation where nothing was done.

She told RTÉ’s News At One that she has seen correspondence from December 2012 between the minister and the whistleblower saying that the complaints had been looked into and that they did not stand up.

Gulp.

Previously: There’s Hundreds More

clare daly

“This is a Bill to allow for a termination of a pregnancy in Ireland, where the foetus has a condition which is incompatible with life. This is an issue which I think has probably affected every Deputy in the House – it’s one which the Minister For Justice himself has described as an intolerable cruelty and I think it is motivated really by my desire to see something done in relation to this matter.

We’re talking about women and families, who in the main are dealing with much-wanted pregnancies who experience a diagnosis which is clearly devastating – that the foetus is not going to survive – and having to deal with that grief is compounded by the body-blow that they are then forced to leave this country – they are not given adequate information.

The information they are given is given in a climate of secrecy and then they are not allowed bring the remains of the foetus back – it can sometimes get posted back. We’ve heard stories of some people bringing it back in the boot of a car.

Now this is something that has been correctly taken, in my opinion to the United Nations as a human rights violation and as inhuman and degrading treatment. And I think that what we have to say is that this is happening now. There are large numbers of people who experience this in Ireland every year.

One Liverpool hospital has made a special arrangement, such are the numbers involved – and over 90% of Irish people say that they believe a pregnancy should be terminated in these circumstances.

And the only argument put up against that is the unpublished opinion of the present Attorney General who we are told said that it won’t be constitutional.

Now I have to respond to that by saying that it’s a fact that there are other opinions by eminent legal people and by a former Attorney General which disagrees with that view – and the only way we resolve the conflict is if we bring in legislation and have the Supreme Court adjudicate on it.

The State’s previous Attorney General made the argument that I’m making now that in the case of ‘D’ versus Ireland at the European Court of Human Rights – where the Court found that there was at least a tenable argument which could seriously be considered by the domestic courts to the effect that the foetus was not an unborn for the purposes of ‘Article 43.3’, or that even if it was an unborn, it’s right to life was not actually engaged as it had no prospect of life outside the womb – so in actual fact the State has previously argued that it would be constitutional to legislate in this circumstance.

Now I’m aware that Minister [Alex] White and Minister [Alan] Shatter and other ministers have stated publicly that they believe that this issue should be addressed.

What I’m saying to the Government is that in your lifetime, this won’t be addressed unless we move legislation on it, bring it to the Supreme Court, have them adjudicate and end the misery for these families so they can deal with it as a normal tragedy, without the added burden of having to travel out of the country in secrecy.”

Independent TD Clare Daly in the Dail today.

Previously: A Vital Amendment

Thanks Shayna

 

Anyone?

Update:

claredalyVia Oireachtas Retort

00139255Repeal of Article 40.3.3 from the Constitution

The what?

Article 40.3.3, inserted following the Eighth Amendment referendum in 1983, provides that: “The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.”

Haven’t we just cleared that up?

NO.

Oh. When do we want it?

“In the 30 years since the passing of the 8th Amendment at least 150,000 women have gone overseas for abortions; at least three women have died because they were denied abortions here; and we now have the most restrictive abortion legislation imaginable – which does not even allow abortion on grounds of rape or incest, fatal foetal abnormality, or inevitable miscarriage. Women whose lives are threatened by the risk of suicide due to unwanted pregnancy face so many obstacles that they will probably not even ask for an abortion here.

The perverse logic of Art. 40.3.3, interpreted by the Supreme Court in 1992 and now enshrined in James Reilly’s Act [Protection of Life During Pregnancy], means medical conditions due to pregnancy that are not in themselves life-threatening (eg inevitable miscarriage – like Savita Halappanavar) must be allowed become life-threatening before it is legal to terminate a pregnancy.

Reilly’s Act also says that ‘unborn human life’ should be protected by law from the moment of implantation until delivery, supposedly because 40.3.3 requires it. This effectively rules out fatal foetal abnormality, and inevitable miscarriage, as grounds for abortion. We disagree with Reilly, as do a range of legal experts. Alan Shatter and Alex White claim to support legislation to allow abortion on such grounds: they should put a Bill through the Dáil and see if the Supreme Court says it’s unconstitutional under 40.3.3. Must we have another death before the Dáil acts to protect women’s lives?”

 

Joan Collins TD

 

“Even if [Minister for Health James Reilly] Reilly’s Act was less restrictive, 40.3.3 and the X Case ruling would only allow abortion if a woman’s life is at risk due to pregnancy. It is unacceptable that the Constitution should make a distinction between a woman’s health and her life, or ban abortion on other grounds – including a woman’s choice – and force women overseas for abortions. Art. 40.3.3 must be repealed. We call on Alan Shatter and Alex White to also call for the repeal of 40.3.3.

There are many in Ireland who think that it should be left to a woman to decide whether or not to terminate a pregnancy, without legal or medical interference. We agree with that. But we also recognise that many others think abortion should only be available if pregnancy puts a woman’s health at risk, or in cases of rape, incest, or fatal foetal abnormality. None of these changes can be made while 40.3.3 is in the Constitution. We think that people with different views can all work together by making repeal of 40.3.3 the focus of our campaigning over the coming months and years.”

 

Clare Daly TD

 

Long-term FIGHT!

Thanks Brendan Young

(Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland)

clare Independent TD Clare Daly’s attack on Ireland’s ‘slobbering’ relationship with the United States approaches a million views on You Tube this evening.

Clare play though, in fairness.

Previously: Raining On Their Parade

 

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(Clare Daly, top, and Finnegan’s, Dalkey)

And how.

A transcript of Clare Daly’s impassioned attack on Ireland’s welcome (not the visit itself, mind) to the the Obama family this week.

Contains Finian McGrath drone punnage.

Clare Daly: “Clare Daly It is important to take this opportunity to bring some balance into the discussion surrounding the visit of the US President and his wife, given the almost unprecedented slobbering over the Obama family to which the nation has been exposed in recent days.
It is difficult to decide which is worse, the outpourings of President Obama and his wife or the sycophantic fawning over them by the political establishment and sections of the media.
While we had separate and special news bulletins by the State broadcaster to tell us what Michelle Obama and her daughters had for lunch in Dublin, there was very little questioning of the fact that they were having lunch with Mr. tax exile himself.
The statement that Mrs. Obama was glad to be home was barely challenged even though “home” is a country she has been in for less than one week and to which her husband has only tenuous links.
The greatest irony of the visit was the protestations of President Obama in his speech about peace to children in Northern Ireland, in which he stated the following:
“To those who choose the path of peace, I promise you, the United States of America will support you every step of the way. We will always be a wind at your back”.
Is the US President seeking the hypocrite of the century award? We must call things by their right names. The reality is that by any serious examination, this man is a war criminal. He has just announced his decision to supply arms to the Syrian opposition, including jihadists, which will fuel the destabilisation of the region, continue to undermine secularism and set back conditions for women.
President Obama is, in essence, stalling the Geneva peace talks by trying to broker enhanced leverage for the Syrian opposition by supplying it with arms and to hell with the thousands more Syrians who will lose their and or the tens of thousands who will be displaced as the war continues. This is the man who facilitated a 200% increase in the use of drones which have killed thousands, including hundreds of children.
The Taoiseach has turned a blind eye to these activities. He spoke of the G8 summit being an opportunity to showcase Ireland.
Is it not the case that he has showcased us a nation of pimps prostituting ourselves in return for a pat on the head? We were speculating this morning about whether the Taoiseach would deck out the Cabinet in leprechaun hats decorated with stars and stripes to mark our abject humiliation.”

Deputy Tom Hayes: “Bring back Mattie.”

Deputy Clare Daly:: “What steps will the Taoiseach take to follow the correct decision made by his colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, to vote against a proposal to lift the arms embargo on Syria? What steps will he take to ensure no weapons destined for Syria will be transported through Shannon Airport in breach of our international duties as a neutral State? What steps will he take to showcase this country, not as a lapdog of US imperialism but as an independent nation with an independent foreign policy, one which takes a lead in international diplomacy to outlaw the use of drones, the favourite method of extermination of the Taoiseach’s friend, President Obama?”

Deputy Anthony Lawlor: “Madame Putin.”

Enda Kenny: “Let me first confirm to Deputy Daly that President Obama did not inquire about her whereabouts or well-being. The Deputy’s comments are disgraceful and do down the pride of Irish people all over the world who were more than happy to see Ireland host the G8 summit of the leaders of the most industrialised nations of the world. For the Deputy to criticise the American President for offering his continued support for the fragile peace process in Northern Ireland where more than 3,000 people lost their lives in 30 years is a disgraceful doing down. If she represents the Deputies on the back row of the benches opposite, the comments she made were beneath her. Even the comments made by her colleagues, in their brilliance, have never matched what the Deputy has said here.
I remind Deputy Daly that communities in Northern Ireland, various Irish and British Governments and politicians from Northern Ireland have put together a very fragile peace. Far be it for her to criticise somebody who wants to support this process visibly, personally and by providing the assistance of the United States. Some 35 million Irish Americans want the peace process to continue. The young student who introduced President Obama in Belfast put her finger on the matter when she stated that Northern Ireland has both a past and a future. That future is one where peace should abound in and across communities. It is beneath the Deputy to state the American President should not be a party to keeping the peace process alive and visible.
In so far as Syria is concerned, there was a serious discussion among members of the G8 at the summit. I am not sure whether Deputy Daly favours the Russian intervention or the position put forward by the European Union. While there was division among the countries of Europe about the lifting of the arms embargo on Syria, Ireland took a very clear position on the matter, one which was articulated by the Tánaiste, namely, that the embargo should not be lifted. The conclusion of the G8 summit was that the Geneva peace talks should proceed. Nobody wants to see wanton slaughter and the exodus from Syria of hundreds of thousands of people. Far from a warmongering discussion, the question is what can be done to bring about discussions and negotiations that will restore peace and a structure to allow Syria to continue in the time ahead without the obscenities and humanitarian crisis we have witnessed in the past two years.”

Deputy John Halligan: “The Americans are warmongering in Afghanistan, Iraq and South America. Hezbollah is using American arms.”

Deputy Clare Daly: “I did not say anything about the Northern Ireland peace process. While everyone supports the peace process, that does not give one a licence to do whatever one likes anywhere else around the globe. There is not much peace in Iraq where 26 people lost their lives yesterday, Afghanistan, Pakistan or Syria. My position on Syria is one of agreement with Oxfam, which issued the following statement on the issue:Sending arms to the Syrian opposition won’t create a level playing field. Instead, it risks further fuelling an arms free-for-all where the victims are the civilians of Syria. Our experience from other conflict zones tells us that this crisis will only drag on for far longer if more and more arms are poured into the country.
This is essentially what the Americans have done in Syria. I can only assume from the Taoiseach’s failure to answer my question that he will not take steps to ensure arms are not sent through Shannon Airport in breach of our neutrality.”

Deputy Clare Daly: “He said here last week that no arms ever came through Shannon Airport. How does he know that given that no investigations take place? In 2012, 548 US planes landed in Shannon Airport. How does he know what was on them if they were never examined? In reply to a parliamentary question, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport revealed that 239 civilian planes that landed in Shannon Airport sought permission because they were carrying munitions of war or dangerous goods on civilian aircraft. What steps will the Taoiseach take to intervene in this situation?
People in this country are very fond of our American brothers and sisters. We stand far more shoulder to shoulder with them by making valid criticisms of their President who has broken his election promises rather than just pimping this nation as a tax haven for their corporations. I am sure the Americans would far prefer their multinationals to pay their taxes at home rather than offshore here so that they could develop their health care and would not be wasting money on arms being sent to slaughter people in other countries.”

Enda Kenny:: “As the Deputy is aware, 100,000 American people are employed by Irish-owned firms across 50 states, and it is something similar here from American invested corporates in this country.
The American Government – I obviously do not speak for it – has taken a view in terms of withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan and Iraq. There was not any intervention in terms of troops in Libya and there has not been any intervention in terms of troops in Syria. We have never supported rendition flights through Shannon Airport and it ill-behooves the Deputy to make comments that are not true.”

(Interruptions).

Enda Kenny: “Out of the middle of that rant, she seemed to support the Government position as articulated by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade that this country did not and does not support the lifting of the arms embargo in Syria. Clearly, with an opposition comprising very diverse factions, these are very vexed questions. The decision of the European Council not to agree in terms of the embargo means that that opportunity presents itself. Everybody at the G8 summit, as I understand it, was focused on getting the peace talks in Geneva under way which might bring about some sense of solution here.
Clearly, the Deputy has not condemned the Iranians, Hizbollah or the Russians for supplying arms to the regime of President Assad. She has not commented on the atrocities carried out under President Assad in Syria.”

Deputy John Halligan: “The arms Hizbollah is using are American arms.”

Enda Kenny: “She seems to have a very biased view of the wanton slaughter of the Syrian people. Everybody on this side, in so far as we are party to the European Union, wants to see a structure that will bring about the removal of President Assad and peace restored to that country and its troubled people, including the hundreds of thousands involved in the exodus across the border with nothing but their families and belongings with them.”

Deputy Finian McGrath: “The Taoiseach did not answer the drone question. He ducked it.”

Enda Kenny: “In that sense I hope – it is the hope of the Government – that the peace talks in Geneva can actually take place and that something comes from them. While I was not party to the discussion about Syria at the G8 summit, I understand there was a very frank disclosure about the various views here and that it is hoped something beneficial will come from that.”

Via Oireaschtas.ie

Previously: Making Herself Clare

(RTE/PA)