Is the Free State the most corrupt state or statelet in the EU? I will not refer to it as ‘the Republic’. It is not the Republic that the leaders of the revolution in 1916 had in mind. It likes to think it is a republic – or rather the two main parties in power, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, like to think it is the republic that was proclaimed in 1916. No it is not. It is a corrupt ‘banana republic’.
If you look at some statistics you will soon see what I mean. The Taoiseach is paid more that President Obama! The President has another huge salary. The members of the cabinet earn over €80,000 plus expenses and are about to get more.
Those who lost their seats last time round are recompensed to the tune of €30,000.
Six government ministers and more than 20 other TDs employ family members as assistants earning more than €50,000 per annum.
I doubt if any state in the world dishes out money like this. Of course, the usual answer to those who challenge this is: ‘this is the price of democracy’. How pathetic. And the government of FG & FF cannot find homes for many citizens. As Gene Kerrigan pointed out yesterday: “there will soon not be enough doorways in Dublin for the homeless.”
Who would want to join a state like this? There will have to be a total reform of this corrupt little state before it is fit for purpose or before it will be able to attract anyone from the north except those who see nothing wrong with corruption and making money by whatever means necessary while ignoring the poor and the homeless. The politicians in the south will have to show us in the north that they are prepared to end homelessness and provide enough money for health and the well being of the poor. They will also have to show us that they recognise our Irish citizenship by giving us the vote in the Presidential election. They will have to show as another blogger has highlighted that they have moved on from their secret admiration for the Royal family by changing all those societies with the Royal prefix. There is along way to go before realising the Republic proclaimed in 1916.
While I agree with the thrust of Joe’s argument, the alternative to calling the “southern” state, the Republic of Ireland” is to call it (a) The Twenty Six Counties” which,though accurate, is unlikely to be adopted by RTE, BBC or the media in general (b) To acquiesce in the sequestering of the venerable name “Ireland/Eire” by the 26 county establishment. While the “Republic of Ireland” is not the republic Pearse and Connolly fought for, it is probably the least offensive viable term for northern nationalists or republicans. When addressing a letter or postcard home from abroad, I address it “….Newry, Co. Down, Ireland (32), a device I learned from my (elder) brother. “…Ireland (north) is an acceptable alternative. Incidentally Joe was one of a small number of priests who visited our “cage” in Long Kesh in 1971/72 while I was interned . I hereby take this opportunity to belatedly thank him. Gura maith agat, a chara!
Imagine Irish people being called Irish and the country they live in called Ireland. They have some cheek.
Jesus wept, I’m begining to think that all the people from NI are mentally deficient.
“Eire is ainm don Stat, no, sa Sacs-Bhearla, IRELAND” Bunreacht na hEireann, Airteagal 4.
“The Republic of Ireland is the name of a Soccer Team,” Judge appointed under an Bhunreacht ceanna.
In 1932 incoming Cabinet Ministers had salaries 40% below that of their predecessors. For
two generations after 1922 Cabinet Ministers had modest salaries considering their responsibilities.
On taking office as Uachtaran na hEireann in 1959 Eamon de Valera took the same salary as
his predecessor Douglas Hyde had in 1938, and, I understand that, on leaving it in 1973, the salary had not been increased.
The current Oireachtas does not measure up to the standards of its predecessors.That
does not mean that the State and its Constitution should be abolished and replaced by
things concocted by ignorant, opinionated adolescents or idiots manipulated by cynical spin
doctors
“There will have to be a total reform of this corrupt little state before it is fit for purpose or before it will be able to attract anyone from the north except those who see nothing wrong with corruption and making money by whatever means necessary while ignoring the poor and the homeless. The politicians in the south will have to show us in the north that they are prepared to end homelessness and provide enough money for health and the well being of the poor. They will also have to show us that they recognise our Irish citizenship by giving us the vote in the Presidential election. They will have to show as another blogger has highlighted that they have moved on from their secret admiration for the Royal family by changing all those societies with the Royal prefix. There is along way to go before realising the Republic proclaimed in 1916.”
Nonsense. Hundreds of thousands of people in NI would vote to join the South tomorrow.
Northern Ireland not that bad, then?
“Northern Ireland not that bad, then?”
lol your funny PF
“It is not the Republic that the leaders of the revolution in 1916 had in mind”
Very true.
“The Taoiseach is paid more that President Obama! The President has another huge salary. The members of the cabinet earn over €80,000 plus expenses and are about to get more.”
The only way this can change is if the people took to the streets and removed the Government, along with their media friends. But FF/FG get votes, they are where they are because people put them there. But I guess there’s an argument that it was really the media who put them in power because people are constantly lied to 24/7. People vote according to the information they receive.
“Who would want to join a state like this?”
Irish Republicans in the North never wanted to “join” with the South, we want to remove partition and create a whole new Ireland, not some sort of extension of the South’s authority up to the 6 counties.
The vast majority of countries in the World are corrupt. An Italian Mafia expert just recently said he regarded the UK as the most corrupt country in the World (it certainly ranks highly). The only countries I would say are not corrupt are the likes of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland (minus the dodgy banks) and Denmark. That doesn’t mean they don’t have their issues with politicians though.
“They will also have to show us that they recognise our Irish citizenship by giving us the vote in the Presidential election”
The referendum is being held next year in early 2017. Fianna Fail has already declared their support for the referendum and are planning on contesting local elections in the north in 2019. Fine Gael Youth has declared their support for a Border Poll, which came as a surprise.
“They will have to show as another blogger has highlighted that they have moved on from their secret admiration for the Royal family by changing all those societies with the Royal prefix”
Yeah, they should’ve been ditched decades ago, better late than never though.
Sweet Jesus, give me patience. Britain, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden and Norway are all monarchies that are housed and supported by the state yo the tune of millions
The French President and Prime Minister enjoy official residence in Paris and the country. In fact, it’s possible in France for a polititian in France to spend their entire political lives living very comfortably on the taxpayer.
Why in god’s name would anyone in the Rep want anyone from NI in their country? You demand rights while disrespecting the Rep. You want votes without taxation. Get up the facking yard
Bring on the border poll and when an UI fails, I want the Irish government to withdraw Irish passports and citizenship from NI people. Visas for work and travel. A hard border please. A fcking rock hard border preferably.
Christ Almighty, as if the fcking people of NI had anything to offer the island of Ireland.
Take your head out from your arise and ask yourself why nationalists/ republicans/SF voters are so attached to the UK that most wouldn’t vote for an UI anyway.
You’re more British than you’ll admit to as you speak of and treat the Irish people living in the Rep as lesser people, a sub species really. Just like the British did and some do yo this day.
“Why in god’s name would anyone in the Rep want anyone from NI in their country?”
Many people in the Rep regard people from the North as their countrymen/women. Poll after Poll after Poll shows support for Irish Unity going back decades. True, I personally don’t put much store by polls but most people regard them as an indication of the general feeling of the public.
” You demand rights while disrespecting the Rep”
I know, how dare we as Irish citizens demand our rights……
“You want votes without taxation”
Who said we don’t want taxation? We want a United Ireland, therefore we would obviously be taxed if that were to happen. It wasn’t us who undemocratically (and under the threat of violence) partitioned Ireland, that was Britain and her Unionist allies. So we cant be taxed by the Irish Government but we are legal Irish citizens thanks to the Good Friday Agreement. So as Irish citizens we should have the right to vote for our President. Southern politicians have also voiced their support to give that right to Irish citizens living in other countries, so its nothing unusual or uncalled for. I believe other countries have a similar system. I would happily exchange my right to vote in the British General Election in order to vote in the Irish General Election.
“Get up the facking yard”
The…..yard?…..
“Bring on the border poll”
That’s the spirit. If only the DUP/UUP had your courage…..
” I want the Irish government to withdraw Irish passports and citizenship from NI people. Visas for work and travel. A hard border please. A fcking rock hard border preferably. ”
I once had far fetched dreams as well, I always wanted to be a mega rock star. It was never going to happen, unfortunately…..
“Take your head out from your arise and ask yourself why nationalists/ republicans/SF voters are so attached to the UK that most wouldn’t vote for an UI anyway”
arise?….nationalists/republican/SF voters are doing all in their power to make distance between the North and the UK and have been pretty successful so far….devolution, developing an all Ireland economy, All Ireland health facilities, All Ireland utilities in Gas/Electricity, Cross Border bodies, All Ireland tourism, etc…..
“You’re more British than you’ll admit to as you speak of and treat the Irish people living in the Rep as lesser people, a sub species really”
We’re as British as a backstreet Beijing Noodle Bar. We’re both paddies when we go to England, especially you.
“Just like the British did and some do yo this day”
This is why we tell you to stay away from drugs kids.
“It wasn’t us who undemocratically (and under the threat of violence) partitioned Ireland, that was Britain and her Unionist allies.”
“Partition” wasn’t undemocratic. On the contrary, it was democratic. Nationalists did more than threaten violence: they used it, and for anri-democratic purposes.
“So we cant be taxed by the Irish Government but we are legal Irish citizens thanks to the Good Friday Agreement.”
No you’re not. People in NI were entitled to be Southern citizens long before the GFA.
“So as Irish citizens we should have the right to vote for our President..”
Why?
I agree with your last couple of lines, Ryan. The abusive rest – no. And while I admire passionate writing, I’m not so keen on abuse of individuals or groups. Stop it, please.
A Catholic priest complaining about the lack of democracy. LOL.
A member of a paedophile organization complaining about democracy.
Someone give me a gun to shoot myself.
There’s something wrong with people from NI.
“A member of a paedophile organization complaining about democracy”
We’ve got a flegger in the house!
Care to debunk what I said.
A Catholic priest bemoaning the lack of democracy, oh the fucking irony! He himself is a member of the most abusive, paedophile defending organization that’s right up there with the Penal Laws.
Excuse me while I vomit.
Ryan2 – evidence for this claim? To the best of my knowledge, the Catholic clergy come out at about the same percentage of child sexual abusers as other groups in society – teachers, social workers, politicians, etc. Mind you, they should come out BETTER, but as far as I know they score the same as the rest of men…
One problem with underpaid politicians is that they become more susceptible to receiving cash filled brown envelopes from those seeking favors.
It’s a fine line. Much like professional athletes who it can be argued are grossly overpaid but it’s necessary to avoid them throwing games in return for cash from gamblers.
Then , of course, there are those politicians who will welcome gifts of all kinds regardless of how much they are paid.
And nepotism and the hiring of unqualified favorites is nothing new.
Then there are ” no show” jobs.
The list goes on and on.
And while we’re at it why would those living south of the border wish to take on the annual farce of the marching season with all the bother and expense it carries? And then there are the paramilitaries, who havnt gone away you know, but now are engaged in all sorts of criminality .
There are a lot of issues all over the island that need sorting before reunification becomes appetizing to people on both sides of the line.
Nothing would entice me to take on northern ireland. Absolutely nothing.