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The publication of the Mahon report in March ended the era of tribunals.
That was a line penned by Irish Examiner journalist Michael Clifford for his newspaper on 1 January 2013.
Citing Mahon and Moriarty, he finished that same (excellent) column with a farewell to an era of public inquiries that “cost an arm and a leg”.
“You provided endless realms of news for those of us in the news business. And you weren’t beyond the odd light moment, when sublime and ridiculous collided as tales of madness for days of yore poured out. We’ll not see your likes again. Thankfully.”
The irony that Clifford would be at the heart of a scandal that would wrench those very same, antiquated, unwelcome throwbacks from the brink of extinction.
For the past three years, while the word tribunal was packed away in a closet with Bertie’s yellow pants, Clifford has been writing about the plight of garda whistleblowers, specifically Maurice McCabe.
Yesterday, Enda Kenny dusted off the 1921 Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act to confirm he would establish a public inquiry into allegations that a smear campaign was waged against the sergeant by senior gardaí.
A senior judge will be asked to investigate this central question and report findings to the Oireachtas. He will have the powers of the High Court to compel witnesses and to ensure their cooperation because, after all, these are probes only set up to inquire “into matters of urgent public importance”.
To anyone who does not remember Mahon or Moriarty, that might sound a quite straightforward prospect. But, most will know that Ireland’s history with such probes has been nothing of the sort.
‘Tribunal’ became a dirty word because of their duration, their cost and, in many cases, their ineffectiveness.
They are essentially fact-finding missions. They cannot dole out justice but they can point fingers. They, in theory, can satiate an Irish desire to know everything about everything (and everyone). The truth is important to us as a society but tribunals often let us down. The truth – or the journey to it, to be more correct – is often too messy for our appetites.
In 1925, the State’s first ever tribunal investigated the ‘retail prices of articles in general consumption’ (or the Tribunal on Food Prices for short).
It was established at the time to figure out what was inflating the price of consumer goods. Moving a motion on the matter in the Seanad on 27 January 1926, Senator John Douglas explained why it was being called, in layman’s terms.
“There was evidence that the loaf in London, which is decidedly cheaper than the loaf in Dublin, is not the same loaf,” he said.
We can discover whether it is not, or whether there is an explanation of that, and then whether it is desirable, contrariwise, that we should have a somewhat reduced loaf. I give this illustration of a matter that the Tribunal might be instrumental in setting right.
However, he also seemed to hit onto a problem with such investigations:
“The resolution provides that the Commission is to make practical suggestions for the reduction of prices. Now, I have no objection in asking them to do so, but I do not wish to be taken as one of those who really believe that the Commission can effectually reduce prices.”
In any case – and whether it worked or not – the entire cost of the exercise was an estimated £1,667.
Throughout the 1920s, tribunals remained in vogue with probes into various scandals to do with ports and harbours, the marketing of butter, maize and cereals and the shooting of Timothy Coughlan (an IRA volunteer linked with the assassination of Minister for Justice Kevin O’Higgins) all brought forward.
They were still popular in the 1930s and 1940s – to look at pig production, the grading of fruit and veg, town tenants, public transport and fires at Pearse Street and St Joseph’s Orphanage in Cavan – before hitting a lull in the 1950s.
By then, politicians had been burned by the public’s outrage at the £4,389 cost of a 1946 examination of allegations against a parliamentary secretary in de Valera’s government. As a result, the Oireachtas established just one public inquiry over the following decade (at almost half the cost).
Eight years passed but soon public sector pay landed the government of the day in hot water, leading to what would now probably be an inevitable inquiry. And then the death of Liam O’Mahony in custody on 30 May 1967 and subsequent claims that the deceased had received injuries in a garda station prompted Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan Senior to establish a tribunal.
In their 65-page report, three judges looked at questions of garda conduct and the use of batons which circulated in media reports.
They found no wrongdoing by gardaí, ruling that O’Mahony – who was intoxicated at the time of his detention – died from injuries sustained in a fall from a barstool. Evidence and re-enactments were seen and heard by the three-strong panel.
The judges, however, did criticise the intemperate language used by journalists in two newspapers which stirred the public’s disquiet and ultimately forced the £13,000 tribunal.
Two years later, an RTÉ programme called Seven Days aired a report by Bill O’Herlihy focusing on the victims of illegal money lenders.
O’Herlihy tracked down those who worked in the black market and talked to them about their behaviours. It caused huge controversy at the time because of the use of hidden cameras, microphones and actors which eventually led to a full-blown inquiry entangling the soon-to-be household sports name, the national broadcaster and the government.
The first 23 tribunals held in this State between 1925 and 1982 cost either hundreds or thousands of pounds (the lowest coming in at £622 in the 1920s).
But by the 1980s, with television, radio and newspapers clamouring, scandals got bigger – and more costly.
When the Kerry Babies Tribunal was formed, it was a talking point for the entire nation.
There were protests outside the offices and it provided a conversation starting point for such lofty topics as women’s rights, Ireland’s attitude toward reproduction and sex.
Also involving the gardaí, it was asked to examine how they investigated the discovery of a newborn baby’s body at the White Strand near Cahircaveen. A young woman living in the village of Abbeydorney 75 kilometres away – who had given birth to a child who had also died – became implicated following a search for its mother and the discovery of a second body.
Both the woman at the centre of the horrific case, Joanne Hayes, and the investigating gardaí were criticised by the final report, but no charges were ever brought. Hayes continues to contest the finding that she precipitated the death of her baby.
More than 30 years on and the harrowing images of Hayes being questioned at the Tribunal in Dublin Castle endure. Not only was the public interest heightened in the case, but the bill was also higher (£1.645 million).
The 1980s had nothing on 1990 tribunals, however.
For starters? The Beef, of course.
That will be £27.233 million (in 1991). And a government collapse (four years later).
The Tribunal of Inquiry into the Beef Processing Industry was launched following an ITV programme which put the spotlight on Larry Goodman’s food empire.
His links to Fianna Fáil’s Charlie Haughey and Albert Reynolds became unsettling – enough so that Progressive Democrat leader Des O’Malley threatened to pull the plug on their coalition if a tribunal wasn’t set up.
In the end (August 1994), Reynolds said the judges’ 580-page report left him “fully and totally vindicated, both personally and as a minister”. But his Tánaiste Dick Spring wasn’t feeling in the same spirits and eventually their coalition ruptured.
The lukewarm findings of the Beef Tribunal didn’t stop the train. In rolled Finlay (into Hepatitis C infection of pregnant women; £4.7 million), McCracken (into Alleged Payments by Dunnes Stores; £6.56 million) and Lindsay (HIV and Hepatitis C infection of haemophiliacs; £46.649 million).
They had nothing on the length and cost of the pleasantly named trio of Morris, Moriarty and Mahon though.
The Tribunal of Inquiry into complaints concerning some Gardaí of the Donegal Division was led by Justice Frederick Morris – and, yes, also involved allegations of poor policing.
Six years and €70 million after being established, its sixth and final report outlined a shocking web of lies and corruption, as well as a ‘blue wall of silence’, in the investigation of the death of local cattle dealer Richard Barron.
In July 2013, the Irish Times published a story with the headline: Morris tribunal recommendations yet to be implemented by An Garda.
As Morris dragged into the bowels of 2008, so did Moriarty. Despite starting the job years earlier, Justice Michael Moriarty was still up against it.
Officially called the Tribunal of Inquiry into certain Payments to Politicians and Related Matters, it began in the late 1990s to look into the financial affairs of Charlie Haughey and Michael Lowry. It was still chugging along in 2008, and beyond.
It cost over €46 million and eventually – after 14 years – found that former Fine Gael minister Michael Lowry had an “insidious and pervasive” influence over the awarding of Ireland’s second mobile phone licence in the 1990s to Denis O’Brien’s Esat Digifone company.
Lowry is currently still a sitting TD for Tipperary. He rejects the findings of the Tribunal, as does O’Brien.
And we come back to Mahon – the Tribunal to End All Tribunals.
It cost an estimated €159 million. It took a staggering 15 years to complete, running from 1997 until the publication of a final report in 2012.
It heard from 600 witnesses over 1,200 days. All to figure out why councillors rezoned land which planners had advised against. Why, indeed.
Although it stopped short of finding him corrupt, Bertie Ahern rejected the findings of the tribunal. It did conclude that the former taoiseach had lied about the source of over STG£215,000 lodged in bank accounts connected to him.
The report made findings of corruption against former Fianna Fáil minister Padraig Flynn, developer Owen O’Callaghan, the late Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor and 11 councillors.
It was still heartily criticised for being mostly toothless, with many forced to resign from the Fianna Fáil party (including Bertie) but facing few other sanctions. While the tribunal was ongoing, former Justice Minister Ray Burke was sentenced to six months in jail for tax evasion after being found to have taken corrupt payments.
Testimony about him was some of the more memorable and explosive. During one public hearing, whistleblower James Gogarty revealed how he had been with property developer Michael Bailey in 1989 when an envelope filled with cash was handed over to Burke.
Afterwards Gogarty said he asked Bailey if he would get a receipt for the money. Bailey’s response was succinct:
Will we fuck.
And, so here we are. The tribunal has risen like a phoenix from the country’s collective shallow memory pool.
We still have to learn the who, the how, the when and the where but for now, Mick, welcome back the sublime and the ridiculous.
Oh, and in case you missed it, Fianna Fáil has an 11-point lead in the latest opinion polls.
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Pity Norris didn’t win the presidency. He’d have been a barrel of laughs. He’s spot on btw.
How yours collogue the lap fondler doing? When your on about standards.
Don’t mind h
er, she’s talking through her fa**y :)
Is English your first language?
So typical of you, Kerry. Your bias is all consuming. Had an FG TD or Senator said that to a female colleague you would have been outraged. Double standards. And undermines any legitimate criticism you might have of the Government as it allows you to be immediately dismissed as irredeemably blinkered. No surprise there, though. Wholly consistent with your posts.
Lap fondling is much more disrespectful. Sexual harassment is to be condemned. FG female TDs are tolerant of sexual harassment but not a slightly ribald comment from a verbally over exuberant TD.
More typical of you Egg willing to see no wrong in any behaviour and happy to allow double standards rein supreme when FG is involved. I’ll let you into a little secret Egg FG are in government as the major party when they produce bad legislation that impacts on the citizens of Ireland I’ll react and find fault just like I did for the last 16 odd years when FF were in power. Ditto when their double standards about what is allowed to occur in the Dail is exposed. There lucky I suppose as I gave my number 1 to FG isn every election I voted in could be a lot worse if I was a against them….
it is only harassment when there is an unwilling and vulnerable party involved.I doubt the lady in question is either and it s obvious the incident was a bit of playful banter among equal colleagues.
Wao, and what gives you the right to define harassment? So, you also have personal knowledge of the individual in question? You can attest to her vulnerability? Give us the benefit of your genius, too and tell us what “unwilling” means in the context of being referred to in vulgar, demeaning terms.
This will be interesting, will the head of the Seanad look at whether the comments were inappropriate or inaccurate?
@ MPA, perhaps the wittiest remark of the month so far. I wish that I could give you more green thumbs. Wickedly funny. Thanks.
@MPA. Both maybe
Funny how fast they work when insulted, yet constituents mean nothing even though the government rapes them everyday…. Bastids…. Hate em all….
all in all it just goes to prove just how useless this seanad or for that matter any seanad is.
they are all failed politicians.
they are not voted in by the general public.
they are just another version of an old boy,s club which we can no longer afford.
but i will add we do need an overseeing body for the dail but not the one we have have now in its present form.
the seanad should and must be voted in by the general public and they should not be beholding to the party whip
well said J ames….totally agree
If he said Richard bruton was talking out of his @rse would that be a sexist comment? Norris is a passionate orator who speaks off the top of his head without notes and is quite brilliant in full flow. Maybe his language today could have been better chosen but it’s no big deal, a remark thrown out in the spur of the moment. We need more politicians with his passion.
If it said talking out his willy it might have. Everyone has @ares like.
Both genders have @rses
Have to agree not enough passion just to much greed with them all whatever part of there anotamy they talk from
They don’t… I was with a bird before who had two gee’s
Oh get the bug out your ass
Complain? ? It was the wittiest speech I heard in ages.
Please FG don’t do the Gilmore righteous bullshit routine… ye don’t need to stoop that low.
Oh get a brain you stupid woman – pleas avoid wasting anymore of the tax payers money with your innocuous complaints that aren’t worth the toilet paper you wipe that fanny with. The amazing David Norris puts you all to shame – he is a beacon of wisdom and truth among you absolute wasters
Robert, do you think women are stupid?, get a life you misogynist!!
No, where in my comment did I imply all women are stupid? I, however did state this particular woman is stupid and her comment is stupid.
Misogynistic…. Get down off your high horse you fool.
To be fair, Robert the only suggestion of stupidity I got from your comment was that you are stupid.
Ouch
Robert do you have a shrine in your room dedicated to Norris?!
Yes …..
@ Robert, neat reply. Great comments.
Cheers like wise :)
Now kiss….
There is nothing like a bit of reasoned rebuttal – and yours is nothing like a reasoned rebuttal.
Good man David. Pity there’s not more like him in politics. Funny,passionate, honest.
Love david Norris
So refreshing
Ms Doherty,
Perhaps if you had reported your Party colleague Mr Tom Barry T D., last week for his shenanigens in the Dáil, to the Ceann Comhairle, we could at least say that we undersand your indignation at Senator Norris’s remarks and maybe we would take you seriosly, but you sang dumb on that episode!
Was Mr Tom Barry’s antics not deemed sexist by the ‘Womens Council of Ireland? So please try to be consisent in your bouts of indignation! I rest my case!
And why , pray tell us all, would responsibility for reporting Tom Barry rest with Ms. Doherty? The incident was witnessed by the entire Chamber, most of whom are men. But, of course, Derek, you still live in the age where you think women are the custodians of male morality.
She should be thanking him. I’d never heard of her before today and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
As a taxpayer you are covering her business losses to tune of 100k plus. You should know her.
Given her personal losses were covered it’s easy to up the ante for us to cover Anglo losses so she voted for that as well.
More than 100k more like 286k. Not only was her company liquidated but the company was accused of not keeping proper accounts, something which carries some heavy penalites. All here http://www.independent.ie/business/small-business/fine-gael-tds-firm-folds-with-debts-of-280000-29021682.html
that is wort reading. is it any wonder we are where we are. by GOD thah lady has some neck. wonder is her taxs up to date r is it differant rules for them.
David Norris is a legend and good for him, we need David Norris, Eamon Dunphy who will speak out against politicians who talk a load of crap and are only interested in their big pensions. Well done senator Norris, this man should be the president because all we have are nothing but a bunch of corrupt and useless people running our country of 4.5million people and are very highly paid.
Amen
Are you that stupid you can’t actually see that he is only trying to safe his own job and huge pension. Oh the irony!!!
And your telling me you wouldn’t try to save your job if it was in trouble ? Of course you would.
You still don’t see it do you, I’ll try and explain, you make a point that Norris is the only one who is speaking out against politicians only interested in their own pensions while he himself is doing the exact same thing!! He isn’t trying to protect the Seanad for the sake of democracy, he’s doing it to protect his own income and he likes the public stature it provides him. He’s a self serving loud mouth who goes from 0-bitch in seconds flat if he doesn’t get his own way. Dont forget He also provided a reference to a convicted paedophile in an effort to usurp and influence a lawful sentence imposed by a court. If it was anyone else they’d have been lynched!
The Seanad offers a sounding board for the people of Ireland, a forum where we as a people, have a voice. Absolutely, I appreciate your point. But the man calls people on their bullshit. The Seanad provided us with the now civil partnership, and said no to the bank guarantee, while the dail pushed for it, something we will be paying from here till eh maybe … Me = dead. Of course he wants to save his pension, so would I. You point the finger at him, but you continue to pay for the dails high salaries and pension plans… And all the corrupt bankers. What has FG or FF ever done for us? If you must tar one lets tar them all. David Norris is fearless – And willing to stand up for what is right for the Irish people. And as for writing a reference for a convicted peadophile – what country was this man convicted in? Isreal, and I believe the sentence imposed would be death. The convicted said the child misrepresented himself as of older age. If the man was my close friend and I held a strong belief the act was a total mistake, I would write a character reference too.
I never said anything about agreeing with the abolishing of the Seanad. I never said anything about agreeing with what any politician was paid. Please refrain from putting words in my mouth. What do you mean by ‘Israel’, who cares where it happened as I believe that the statutory rape of a minor is wrong no matter what country it happens in. The death penalty was never on the cards in that trial so stop being such a sensationalist. Norris sent a letter making representations on behalf of a convicted paedophile as an Irish senator. I’m fuking sorry but anyone who wants to do something like that on a personal level is a bit warped and for a government official to use his position to try to influence is criminal.
And of course Senator Norris doesn’t stand to get a large pension after his long tenure in the Seanad? On top of his university pension. I’m not saying he’s not a good senator. By and large I think he has been. But because the lady in question has only recently been in the senate in no way invalidates her opinion. By that logic the voters should all shut the hell up too. Silly speech smacking of elitism – exactly what those in favour of abolition have been using as an argument. I’m all for passionate politicians but also when they’re considered and thoughtful in their contributions. DN can be that politician, but not with nonsense like this. By the way I favour retention of a reformed Seanad.
Does nobody in this country believe in politicians who do things for anything other than self gain? I find comments like this extremely and unnecessarily negative.
The PC Card out in force as always, even though he’s right.
People need some thicker skin, especially in politics.
I’d belive general public call u lot worse the way they have been screwed, get over urself.
i for one am glad David Norris is not Irelands president. He doesnt know when to keep his gob shut.
neither do you it seems
Real fan of free speech, aren’t you?
Should have pulled her onto his lap after afew pints be all ok then. F***Y Geal..hypocrisy’s our middle name..waiting for Enda’s “morally wrong to mention the word fanny in the seaned speech” and then blame FF and the previous government and Gerry Adams for David Norris actually being in the chambers.
Spot on derek id hive ye 20 green thumbs if I could
hey stop with the red thumbs..its Morally wrong to give me red thumbs..I’m telling Enda :P
so true mate, it’s a disgrace
Is Norris elected or appointed? This is so inappropriate for a so called educated man to be speaking like this.
the truth is far from inappropriate ;)
the revolution will be televised from the Seanad :)
What because he said the word fanny – shock horror
He’s elected
Oh my god, man. You used the word again! There might be children reading this–or people who know people who have children. FFS man, be careful! Arrrgh. There need to be more careful government monitoring of these forums….
Kathleen I agree but obviously we are in the minority…buy hey I don’t care really, entitled to my opinion.
Shocking remark. I’m fanning myself I am so agitated.
The poor, poor sweet lady.
Bad, bad Mr Norris. Wicked, wicked. What is this world coming to!
It will take more than a few decades of he Rosary to fix this scurrilous attack.
I am sure that Ms Doherty does not even possess such an orifice.
No because he’s been chauvinistic!
Tony. You’re a joke. Consumed by bias. Unable to set it aside to condemn something flagrantly sexist, disrespectful and inappropriate. Embarrassed for you, devoid as you are of even a semblance of objectivity. Must be rough being so blinkered, is it?
You’ve obviously spent a lot of time making up those mud pies – you have reiterated your comment like three times already. Bottom line… If Doherty came out and said Norris was spewing bullshit from his ass – we wouldn’t have this article right now. Double standards – absolutely.
My original comment of it being inappropriate is how I feel. I don’t think it was sexist but I do feel that if I were to go to a meeting at work and scream John is talking out his arse I would not have my job for very long. The remarks are inappropriate for the workplace.
@ Egg, from the man who does not trust women not to resort to abortionnon a whim. Fundamentalist pro-life cracked Egg preaches on what is appropriate.
That is hysterically funny.
True Kathleen, also it was a personal attack. Why could he not keep his argument to principles instead of bringing personalities into it ? What an national embarrassment if this guy had have been elected president
The Seanad and Dail have privilege to speak strongly, passionately or critically with protection above and beyond the law and for very good reason…. To protect democracy. That is what David Norris is trying to do. It is sinister that FG want to abolish the Seanad without a reform of the Dail. That is why he is passionate about it.
Passionate is one thing being inappropriate is another.
It’s the worst kind of pub talk, they have to shut that bar !
Ah, Tony. The last recourse of the exposed- diversion.
stop being so silly, your missing the point.
Have you ever heard of over-kill? Enough of the puerile attempts at irony now!
So Regina it is acceptable for your collegue to behave inappropriately in the Dail and you obviously find that behaviour acceptable as you were very silent in your condemnation of his behaviour.Behaviour that has been beamed around the world showing our politicians as boorish drunks with no respect for women.I notice you did not report him to the leader of the house.Yet an independent senator who has spent more years actually doing something worthwhile in the senad speaks his mind and you find it unacceptable behaviour…one word regina describes your reaction hypocritical…..thanfully your five minutes in the public eye will disappear just as fast as your tenure in the dail….
Personally I really couldn’t give a rats ass whether he’s elected, or not, is a senator or a TD, heterosexual or homosexual… He’s out of order to speak to anyone in that manner, Lapgate pales into insignificance in comparison!
Go home Joan!
Yep, give over woman. We don’t want any wimmins speaking up in here, or in the Senate.
Let’s forget about the Banks, deprivation, economic hardship, the recession, the future of this this country, tax exiles, health cutbacks.
The single biggest threat facing this proud nation, the greatest threat to democracy, the most perilous threat to social order and far, far worse that the Belfast riots are the remarks of Senator Norris.
Regina Doherty is a sensitive, timid and vulnerable politician who needs the protection of the Leader of the Seanad.
Senator Norris should be immediately arrested, imprisoned indefinitely without trial.
This is a slur on the comeliest maiden in this nation.
Remember women are more sensitive than men, they are not able for the rough and tumble of the Dail or the Seanad and we need to mp be more paternalistic and patronising towards women.
Regina Doherty needs special protection against such remarks. It’s okay for the 85% male TDs and Senators to abuse each other but women are rightly unused to such coarse and revolting language.
We men must not allow our wives, daughters, nieces or sisters participate in such elected roles until the nasty, rude and bad men are restrained from their loutish and insulting behaviour.
I trust that the Leader of the Seanad will take a serious view of what happened. A life time ban iof Senator Norris from the Seanad must be immediately imposed and his remarks must be permanently removed from the Seanad record.
Unless or until we can guarantee that the sensitives of the lovely ladies in politics are not offended, it may be safer than they step down from their roles. They deserve our protection.
are you being sincere or patronising to women?
Think he’s just telling Regina to get over herself.
Actually I admire women enough to know that they are resilient, determined and capable. I think that Senator Norris made two inappropriate remarks and he might tender a low key apology. He is over exuberant. I don’t think that there was any malice or misogyny in his remarks.
Ms. Doherty might be better served by a dismissive and even indulgent attitude to senator Norris, along the lines of ” boys will be puerile”.
Women and men are equal and I don’t think that people should get too precious about the remarks. Most women I know would have collared Senator Norris on his own and given him a suitable verbal riposte.
@Kerry Blake I really hope he is telling Regina Doherty to get over herself whoever she is I have never heard of her till this story broke
@ Bernadette, I think that I might have slightly over cooked the remarks. It would have been straightforward communication simply to say that Regina Doherty does need to get over herself.
I would have admired her had she made a suitably deprecating remark against the Senator and then moved on to serious business.
We should not be too precious. Sometimes in life we have to take a few verbal punches but stay focused on he broader issues.
I’m sure that Ms. Doherty is now more motivated to achieve the abolition of the Senate. Delivering on that can be her best revenge. She can deliver the P45 to Senator Norris personally.
@ Nathan, if it was totally sincere, then it would be patronising. It has to be sincere and patronising or, as an alternative, insincere and not patronising. The second is the case.
I doubt that there is any man in Ireland who could utter the above remarks with any degree of sincerity.
You must find irony a little bit like steely and bronzy. ……keep up
Shut the bar and ask for our money back this is past stupid
Chuckling.
I’d say if it was one of her FG colleagues had said it she wouldn’t be complaining about it!
I woulndnt support her or her party the way they are going on in recent weeks especially. That said there is no call for this personalised attack . It was insulting to her and women in general he could have critised her all he wanted without been personal. He woulndnt know know too much about this part of a woman’s anatomy by all accounts anyway
Sexist gay? Chauvinist gay? Hm, Interesting. I bet she’s a homophobic witch.
And … I wonder how much you know about fannys?!
Well he came out of one, so he’d know?
And what did you come out of Steven?
Booh who. Poor me.
Keep at it worthy and esteemed Senators,you are doing a fine job of tying that noose in the rope and building a grand scaffold to collectively hang yourselves off come the refendum on whether your cushy numbers should be retained.
I’m delighted this drama queen wasn’t elected president. He may be an accomplished orator and public speaker but he acts like a cat in a bucket of water when he doesn’t get his own way. He has a chip on his shoulder that everyone is out to get him and he is as insincere as those he criticises. His bitchy personal tirade is unprofessional, unethical and wrong. If the abuse or comments had been passed about him he’d be the first one out calling it a homophobic attack of some sort. He acts like being homosexual gives him some class of green card to be bitchy, snide and crass. The fact my taxes are contributing to this tools lavish existence boils my piss.
Ieoinu, your spot on.
Your comment reeks of blatant bigotry. No, you’d rather pay his salary if he was heterosexual, and that’s the sad truth. If you tear any man apart your inevitably going to find something you don’t like, and another mud pie you can throw of course. Being gay has nothing to do with his comments or his behaviour. The man would be president today – providing he had a wife of kids of course.
I never said it did! Can you actually read and form reason? How am I being bigoted? I criticise a man who happens to be gay and I’m a homophobe. His rant was mysogynistic and crass. I commented on that. I couldn’t give a fiddlers what floats his boat. You are the one making the issue about him being gay, not me. You have an awful habit of misquoting and misunderstanding things, life must be very confusing for you. But ironically you proved my point that as soon as something doesn’t go his way the homophobe card would be played.
Btw He wasn’t not-elected because he was gay, it was because the Irish public didn’t vote for him. Everyone has their own reasons, mine were I didn’t like his catty attitude and snide remarks when interviewed. The letter he wrote firmed up my decision it wasn’t a bit if dirt that was dug up, it was him acting in an incorrect and corrupt manner, using his position for his personal furtherance. And corruption is one of the things that he is vocal against. Ironic that, don’t you think!
Well said Robert! Very true.
Norris, to the best of my knowledge, has never acquainted any attack or slur on himself as homophobia. You said and I quote – “he acts like being a homosexual gives him the green light to be bitchy, crass and snide”. So I ask you, again, how does his comments have anything to do with his sexual orientation? You played the card pal.
In relation to the character reference, as I previously stated, the teenager mis represented himself as of older age, and both parties I’m sure suffered, mistakes were made, but if I believed a dead friend of mine acted irresponsibly, and the act was purely out of character, which again in Isreal was the death penalty, I, of course would write a character reference. I’m certainly not condoning what transpired.
ieoinu I have shared your comments on my wall.well said all of them.
She should grow some balls
Why? So Norris might like her then.
hehehe, funny
David Norris is an assh**e .
We don’t need David Norris for president. We need Chuck Norris.
Norris was only takin the piss. Havin the crack. He’s normally such a little pussy. It was a small slit of the tongue and FG are fannying around trying to smear papa of the Senate. He has FG by the short and curlies on this one. Tw8ts!
I don’t think that Regina Doherty is yet ready for the big leagues.
She is overly sensitive and unable to take a shabby and unworthy remark from an independent Senator who is in poor health and given to over statement.
Assistant Director is possibly a premature elevation.
Indeed and she is hardly safe seat material either. Might be one if those who need the seanad.
I do admire the fear that Enda puts into them mind you. Shows the weak gene pool.
Aw, so let’s excuse him because he’s in poor health? Well in that case , just give him free rein to be as offensive, sexist and obnoxious for the rest of his natural life.
Could be the end for Senator Norris.
Hope so, nasty man.The very least one human can give to another another is a little respect.Bad day for the irish gay community,not a good idea to attack the women of Ireland.
@ Paul, well if Senator Norris was speaking on behalf of the entire gay population of Ireland and uttered the remarks in that capacity you might have had a point, however weak.
It is flagrantly discriminatory to invoke sexual orientation as relevant in this matter. Judging an entire sector by the ill judged remarks of one person, who just so happens to be gay, is unwarranted and invalid.
“Attacking the women of Ireland” is a bit overblown.
You have the Senator’s gift of over statement but, sadly, not his wit.
Oh gawd won’t someone PLEASE think of the children!?!? *dramatically rolls eyes*
Oh come of it,he thinks he can get away with it because his gay,he probally can with his lesbian and his fag/hag friends.This woman did’nt deserve this,Norris should know better…
@ Paul, I thought that you would out yourself. Thanks. You reveal yourself better than I could.
Just the facts,as I’m sure most people will see it.
@ Paul, not facts, just bile but you are unable to recognise that. Go in peace.
At least I’ not trying to defend tihis muppet,just because you have the same sexual preference,how sad is that.
@ Paul, give us a kiss!
Just showed my wife your remark on sexual preference. She thinks that you fancy me. Go on, fancy a snog. You know you want to, secretly, deep down, in the hidden depths of your being.
Hardly!
Your wife,is that what u call him? Go have a cold shower Tony u would’nt be able to handle me..
Norris for President!
President of Mna na hEireann, or the ICMSA?
I love fanny
What’s sexist about “talking out of your folly”? Or was it some different word? Talking out of her forty? Talking out of her ferry? Talking fishy? It’s so confusing. D**n you asterisks!
I’d like to register my complaint against the deeply inhuman and anti Irish government she represents
Sure it’s only a fanny.
A woman this over sensitive is not ready to be in the world of politics.
I love David Norris. He tells it like it is. I reckon she must of been talking out of her fanny.
Nope, he’s blooming awful.
Imagine the shitstorm on here if Enda Kenny had made a similar disparaging remark about a woman. Just because the average Journal contributor’s vision of Superman made the remark doesn’t absolve him. Norris is an irritating and arrogant so-and-so who isn’t much more than a drain on the public purse for doing little more than living in a Ulysses based fantasy world.
Very true. They’re both plonkers but the St Norris routine is tiresome.
Anyone else notice she looks like Karl pilkington with blonde hair and a vagina!
Not sure I could see the leader of the Seanad doing much about this – I mean you are trying to put him out of a job, and come the next general election, I can well imagine that the Fine Gael brand will be fairly toxic to his hopes of getting a seat in the Dáil.
Isn’t Norris going through cancer treatment ? I know he’s a bit over the top at times but it could be stress or medication related, it’s just a thought. But at least he isn’t afraid to give his opinion, good or bad.
I was actually pro removing the Seanad until I heard David Norris speak upon coming out of hospital. Frankly I’m with Norris on the Regina monologues!
The Blueshirts have got to be the most thin skinned politicians on the planet. Senator Norris has done more to advance civil rights than any politician in either of those Houses, she on the other hand is government voting fodder who hasn’t done one thing to advance the cause of the Irish people since she was elected. If only the people of Ireland could vote to throw her and most of her colleagues in the Dail off the gravy train rather than voting on closing the Seanad. And if she wants to see sexist then she need look no further than her fellow Blueshirt Barry. I trust that as she wouldn’t want to be called a hypocrite on top of everything else she will be reporting him too. And while she is on about “deeply inappropriate” maybe she should consider the appropriateness of having a Government whip who was caught in a compromising position in the Phoenix Park.
i think the anti-cancer drugs he’s probably on have made him “extra-colourful”
David Norris is exactly right…they only want to try to abolish the Seanad to gain absolute control over the country…not going to happen!.The Irish people are onto this Government..and no amount of spin, will convince us to abolish the Seanad.
Maybe he was talking through his f***y!
I just read on another site that Sweet Fanny Adam has also filed an official complaint.
This is getting serious.
Enda Kenny has phoned Senator Norris and asked him to go into a dark room with a glass of whiskey.
And a handgun-as good old Vincent has said…alegedly…
Perhaps Regina should sit with Mick W
This is coming from a man that talks through another mans anus.
At last, welcome back senator Norris, you have been missed, could not have put it better my self. Inappropriate behaviour, My Fanny, what about the carry on in the dail last week & indeed generally recently. Cringed at the carry in the chamber & the site of those loonies in their T – Shirts, tatty shirts & dulux dog look hair do’s being beamed around the world is disgraceful, coupled with the anglo tapes we are sadly a luaghing stock.
People who will do anything from charm, through berating, to, well, anything, to get their way, are called…..?
“Savage”, I think.
For gods sake! Who cares! He spoke his mind!!! Pity the others who “represent” Ireland wouldn’t do the bloody same!!! This country is a shambles and I’m ashamed to say I’m Irish! Can people can speak their mind and others get on with if or get over it
I suppose you’re right, he spoke his mind and what a pity it is to have such an uproar over so little.
Imagine if you where Italian,their minister just called a black politician a monkey.
I know that water comes out of your fanny dear and please don’t take offence, but I wish it would come out of our feckin taps because I find that really offensive!!!!!
I know that comes out off your fanny dear, I just wish it came out off our feckin taps!!!!!!
Regina and Fine Gael get their knickers in a twist over a calculated comment to get attention by senator Norris, but can’t get engaged by the austerity and bunch of failed promises made at election time. But are going to waste many hours and money on the election promise of getting rid of the senate when much more serious promises to us the people have been dismissed by the like of Pat Rabbitte.
These actions bring Dáil Éireann much more into disrepute than an unfortunate choice of words by David Norris
Where is this idiot woman coming from? It would have been sexist if he had been called her a Stupid C*** which was presumably another option.
Poor Norris, mayb he doesn’t actually know what a fa@@y is. . . . . It holds no interest for him ! , has Enda no control up there at all ! Very quiet on lap gate !
Who is this moaning Minnie, never heard of her prior to this. Reckon if she is so tender skinned she should consider a career change . If she can’t stand the heat get to hell out of the kitchen.
Fair play to David Norris he continues to tell it as it is
Poor reporting journal.ie… No need to provide us with the context for these remarks. Sure why would we be interested in that?
“Doherty to complain”….i kinda lost interest after reading those opening 3 words to be honest…..
Bit rich for a Fine Gael politician making a complaint after behaviour of their own party members over past week! Why do Fine Gael and Labour schedule serious debates at night time are they trying to hide things in the darkness of night time? Are they afraid of conducting their businesses in daylight ( out in the open)?
Change fanny with arse and this wouldn’t have made the news!
its a joke when you think that there is 166 sitting dail deputies and 60 in the senead. Thats not including the 1800 councillors scattered around the country on local authority seats (not including the health boards and vec’s). I sometimes wonder how this country keeps going with around 2000 people running it for a nation of 4.5 million the same population as greater manchester. Fooking joke!
Sure, what the hell would David Norris know about fannies? Being a full-time member of the ‘shirt-lifters’ club and proud of it, the last contact he had with said orifice was his Mother’s when she gave birth to the darling man!
For goodness sake Regina, welcome to the 21st century, get over yourself! She probably was talking through her fanny, they are all full of sh*t, good on you Mr Norris!
Foul mouthed? You’ve led a very sheltered life
Don’t asterix out the word fanny in some places and leave it in its entirety in others.
Would “talking out of her arse be” more acceptable?
Interesting business career btw.
I assume she’ll make good any losses to the state from her business failures
have your say