Tag Archives: Fintan O’Toole

12/1/2012. Mary Rafterys Funeral ScenesfotIrish Times journalist and writer Fintan O’Toole suggests writing the word ‘Reform’ on the voting slip in tomorrow’s Seanad referendum.

All fine and dandy but the Returning Officer for Galway Marian Chambers Higgins has said there “is a strong possibility” that the vote will be rejected.

Anyone?

Say No to Seanad abolition and the Coalition’s reform charade (Fintan O’Toole, Irish Times)

‘Strong possibility’ extra writing will spoil vote (Hilary Martyn, Galway Independent)

Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

H/t Adrian Devane

 

Perhaps most importantly, the Government has incurred in this deal a huge hidden cost – the loss of the sense of justice, dignity and national self respect that is crucial to the building of a successful society. A nation taught to be grateful for such small mercies is not one that can imagine big things for its future.

 

Debt Deal Is Normalising The Irish Freak Show (Fintan O’Toole, Irish Times)

(Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

 

Fintan O’Toole (above) has proposed a ‘citizens’ petition’.

With the following wording:

“As citizens of Ireland, we believe that the payment of €3.1 billion a year, every year until 2023, for Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide is reckless, immoral and unjust. These ‘promissory notes’ have imposed the debts of now-defunct private institutions on Irish citizens as a whole. These are debts which we cannot, should not and will not pay.

“We therefore instruct our Government: (a) to declare by March 17th, 2013, that it will not make the payment of €3.1 billion due on March 31st, 2013, and to inform the European Central Bank that it will no longer co-operate with this unjust imposition of private debts on the Irish people.

“(b) not to enter into any arrangement with the European Central Bank that involves any acceptance of a duty to pay these debts and/or any substantial payment of Irish public money on foot of the promissory notes.

“We further declare that unless the Government makes this declaration by March 17th, 2013, we will engage in peaceful and dignified mass protest in a form to be decided by ourselves collectively.”

The non-affiliated/sponsored, volunteer-run petition site – OurIreland.ie – goes live within the next few days and will be open to “verified individuals who declare themselves as Irish citizens”.

Will YOU sign?

We Need A Citizens’ Petition On Debt Deal (Fintan O’Toole, Irish Times)

(Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)

 

Aha.

The point is that much of what the Taoiseach had to say was inarticulate drivel and all of it was waffle.

He was starting sentences without knowing where they were going to end. He was using random verbs with no relationship to their objects. (In what language can “progress” be “put” or “grown on”?)

He was making claims, such as low interest rates being a sign of Irish confidence, that it is terrifying to think he might actually believe. He was half speak-your-weight machine, half Alan Partridge.

We pay this man €200,000 a year plus a €3.2 million pension pot.

The inner eejit.

Outed.

Kenny’s Dead Words Fail To Convince (Fintan O’Toole, Irish Times)

(Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland)

The (now rather lonely) liberal conscience of the Irish Times writes:

A majority of voters, I would guess, are actually in one of two camps: (a) Yes, because there is no choice; (b) No, but ask us again when you’ve got the growth strategy worked out.

The first of these – we have to do it – is actually not a reason to vote Yes, it’s a reason to spoil one’s vote.

If there is no choice, a referendum is a charade. It is a parody of democracy.

The second option is “No, but . . .” It acknowledges there might be a context in which the fiscal treaty actually makes sense.

…A No vote with an implied invitation to come back when the bigger picture is visible may be the most honest response to the demand that we make a decision in ignorance.

And the kisser?

” new protocols require a new vote when the people have voted No, but not when they’ve voted Yes”

 

Treaty A Mere Clause In Contract Yet Unseen (Fintan O’Toole, Irish Times)

OK. This is what happens when you use an English illustrator. The guy on the ground in the middle we think is Bertie and to his right is the late actor Charles Laughton. But who is the man on the left? It couldn’t possibly be this chap, could it? Can you help us identify him. Here’s a closer look: