Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
AS PART OF our GE16 FactCheck series, we’re testing the truth of claims made by candidates and parties on the campaign trail.
If you hear something that doesn’t sound quite right, or see a claim that looks great, but you want to confirm it, email factcheck@thejournal.ie.
For this instalment, we’ve tested an interesting claim made during an intense TV debate earlier this week.
Claim: Enda Kenny once called Michael Lowry “a man of the highest integrity and honour” – Shane Ross
Verdict: TRUE
What was said:
During a discussion on Wednesday’s RTE’s Prime Time about the Taoiseach’s refusal to rule out accepting or seeking the support of Michael Lowry in forming a government, Ross challenged Fitzgerald:
Does [Fitzgerald] stand behind Enda Kenny’s statement in the Dáil, in 1997, after Mr Lowry resigned, that he was “a man of the highest integrity and honour”?
Fitzgerald did not answer that particular question.
On Friday, the Taoiseach definitively ruled out accepting Lowry’s support in forming a government, saying “I will not have any dealings with Michael Lowry, or any other independent.”
The facts:
Kenny spoke during a 3 December 1996 Dáil debate (not 1997, as stated by Ross), on the nomination of Alan Dukes as Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications.
This was following the resignation of Lowry amid scandal over the awarding of the first mobile phone license to Denis O’Brien’s ESAT Digiphone.
Kenny, then Minister for Tourism, stated:
You can read Kenny’s full contribution, and the entire debate, here.
On the same programme, Shane Ross was himself the subject of a very specific claim, which he disputed.
Claim: Shane Ross tweeted ‘Viva Syriza’ a few months ago – Frances Fitzgerald
Verdict: TRUE, but gets one detail wrong.
During Prime Time on Wednesday night, Fitzgerald told the Independent TD:
On the other hand, Shane, you did tweet ‘Viva Syriza’ just a few months ago, and you were a cheerleader for the sort of economic policies that we saw.
Ross responded, “That’s complete nonsense, the minister is wrong about part of that.”
The facts:
Shane Ross did indeed tweet “Viva Siriza”, and “Go Syriza” on two occasions in the week before Greek elections in January 2015 (not “a few months ago”, as claimed by Fitzgerald.”)
In the first instance, he criticised IMF managing director Christine Lagarde for comments she made during a trip to Dublin:
And in the second instance, he stated that an election win for Syriza would be “good for Ireland but bad for Enda.”
He was promoting his Sunday Independent column the next day, the date of the Greek legislative elections, in which he wrote:
Enda must be praying that a miracle saves him…If Syriza wins, it may spell trouble for Europe – but it could herald a domestic crisis for Enda…
If a “red cent” of Greek debt is written off by Greece’s European creditors, Enda will look like a patsy. Greece will have succeeded where Ireland failed.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
This is bad news for Ireland, it always amazed me how Britain gets away with there status in Europe. They don’t want to accept rules or fiscal plans laid out by Europe or get involved regarding the currency but they gain all the perks that are only suppose to benefit European countries.
They are not part of the Euro for a start;they use their veto for the benefit of their citizens,they also only ratify treaties that are suitable for them.Finally they don’t feel the need to do the bidding of France or Germany to be treated like attention seeking children.
What perks are we talking about Mr Know?Britain bunged us 7 billion at a very favourable interest not so long ago. They’re the best friend Ireland has. Remember that before you make disparaging comments about them.
Their status. Not there.
Norway are not even members and they get most of the perks, with none of the drawbacks. I’m not advocating that we exit the EU merely expressing my derision of States that seem to be playing from a different rule book than us.
Britain pay over 9bn a year into EU. FTT is complicated , in essence designed to raise money on transactions and is seen as a way of generating some money from the financial sector (allegedly to make them pay their share for the financial crisis ) , as the UK are staying out ,there is some risk to jobs in the financial sector in Ireland , although the EU have now introduced it in a way that means the tax on the transaction applies regardless of where you locate the trader to reduce the fear or jobs migrating. Ireland is not against the principle but is holding out due to the UK position , there is money generated for participating countries- but in Ireland we already pay a tax on trades which would be replaced by FTT .Many fear that if it works it could be the beginning of a road to euro taxation harmony down the road- something we don’t want as our low corporate rates might then be scrapped obviously making us less appealing to FDI etc….
It’ll be brought in yet anyhow. Either by consensus of the government in exchange for something else, or forced upon us by the EU because they have our best interests at heart…. And we ARE a special case ! ! !
Yes indeed a basket case.
Finally democracy takes some control of the predatory banks. All should implement this measure as a moral imperative. Let’s hope this spreads and becomes the norm.
Rothschilds foaming at the mouth
No chance of this coming in here for the simple reason that the banks make banking policy in Ireland, not Noonan.
I thought that was a movie poster for Hitchcock
Banana republic.
have your say