Tag Archives: Corruption

drawings2rezoning

Rezoning plans (top) and an extract from the Moriarty Tribunal Report

Actio Non Accrevit writes:

“The NAMA Act 2009 as amended by Section 25 of the Finance Act 2010 provided that where land was sold on or after 30 October 2009, and the land in question had been re-zoned since 30 October 2009, then CGT at a rate of 80% applied to any increase in the market value of the land which is attributable to rezoning, which could not be offset against capital losses incurred on the disposal of other assets.

This was known as the Windfall Tax and was applauded by Justice Michael Moriarty in his tribunal findings as a dramatic measure to reduce corruption.

One little-discussed change in Budget 2015 was the repeal of this tax, which had been been strongly and persistently criticised by persons working in the property industry as a serious obstacle to the development of new housing. Although they would say that in circumstances where rezoning and greater capital gains made by developers benefit property professionals generally….

However, is this really true in circumstances where there is already no shortage of land zoned for residential development? According to the  Society of Chartered Surveyors there is already enough land zoned for housing in greater Dublin to build 100,000 dwellings.

What is clear is that the ‘windfall tax’ has been quietly abolished and the risk of rezoning corruption is back on the table again. The more people who know about this, the better chance we have of preventing such corruption…Thank you.”

Thanks Ossian Smyth

pee2 From left: Sculptor Richard Enda King, Councillor Seán Walsh and Pádraig Flynn

On this day in 1989, Minister for the Environment Pádraig Flynn unveiled a new sculpture ‘Spirit of The Air’ to be installed at Dublin Airport.

1989 was the same year developer Tom Gilmartin wrote a cheque for £50,000 as a donation to Fianna Fáil as suggested by Pádraig Flynn. The cheque never made it to Fianna Fáil HQ and was subsequently discovered by the Mahon tribunal that it was used to buy a 100-acre farm in north Mayo by Mr Flynn’s wife, Dorothy.

He was then made our European Commissioner.

Good times.

Watch here.

Previously: ‘They’ll Emerge Unscathed And Unsullied’

Pee Flynn: “Wrongly And Corruptly” Sought Donation From Tom Gilmartin

I Wanna Tell You Something, Try It Sometime

From 1984, Father Michael Cleary was one of five churchmen who took part in a charity Church v State Celebrity Challenge motor race in the Phoenix Park.

Fianna Fáil leader Charles Haughey started the race after arriving in a vintage Rolls Royce.

Participants included Liam Cosgrave.

The race was won by TD Michael Keating, racing for the Stanhope Centre for Alcoholism, who celebrated with champagne.

Good times.

Watch here.

 

The Criminal Justice (Corruption) Bill proposes penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment and unlimited fines, as well as giving the courts power to remove public officials from office and exclude them from holding office for up to 10 years.

The Heads of the Bill also include a recommendation from the Mahon Tribunal which would create a new offence of making payments knowingly or recklessly to a third party who intends to use them as bribes.

One academic specialising in the area, Dr Elaine Byrne of Trinity College, said, if the Bill is not watered down, it will be one of the most radical pieces of legislation internationally on corruption.

ie. It’ll be watered down.

Government publishes wide-ranging bill aimed at tackling corruption (RTE News)

(Will St Leger street art pic: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

A new bill to reform the corruption and bribery laws, you say?

Mr Shatter said the response of the Government to reform, in the light of the self-examination sparked by the reports of the Moriarty and Mahon tribunals, would be “the mark of our integrity as ministers and parliamentarians”.

Yay!

Speaking later to The Irish Times, the Minister declined to comment on the cases of individuals who had been the subject of adverse findings by the tribunals.

Pointing out that gardaí were currently awaiting directions from the DPP in relation to possible criminal proceedings arising from the Moriarty tribunal, he said he had been careful not to say anything that could prejudice any action that could arise.

Sorry?

Mr Shatter ruled out any changes in the law which would facilitate criminal action against those featuring in tribunal reports, saying laws could not be enacted to apply retrospectively to people.

Oh.

Bill to fight corruption due shortly, says Shatter (Irish Times)

(Photocall Ireland)

People in Ireland have mixed feelings about corruption, according to a new Eurobarometer survey carried out for the European Commission.

Just 55pc of Irish people think corruption is unavoidable and has always existed, which is the second lowest rate in Europe after the Czech Republic at 46pc, and well below the EU average of 70pc.

However, 86pc of Irish respondents believe corruption is a major problem in their country, compared with the EU average 74pc, and a one point increase since the 2009 survey.

The Eurobarometer also reveals that, with regard to politics, fewer Irish people think there is sufficient transparency and supervision in the financing of political parties. Whereas only 18pc of Irish respondents agree that transparency and supervision in the financing of political parties is sufficient, 65pc disagree (EU average 22pc to 68pc).

 

Irish Have Mixed Feelings About Corruption – Eurobarometer (Business And leadership)

Revealed: Corporate donations The Parties Didn’t Tell You About (Cormac McQuinn, Irish Independent)