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Ireland ranked worst in western Europe for tackling human trafficking for second year

Ireland is the only country in western Europe in this watchlist.

LAST UPDATE | 2 Jul 2021

Snag_22fc823 US State Department US State Department

THE UNITED STATES has said Ireland is not meeting the minimum standards on combatting human trafficking, ranking Ireland as one of the weakest EU states alongside Romania and Belarus. 

The Trafficking in Persons Report 2021, published by the US Department of State, ranks countries around the world based on their government’s efforts to combat trafficking as measured against minimum standards and compared to its efforts in the year prior.

These efforts include awareness raising and reaffirming its commitment to enacting anti-trafficking legislation.

The report says Ireland doesn’t fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so. 

The US State Department downgraded several countries and upgraded others for their efforts to combat the scourge of human trafficking, however, Ireland remains on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year. Ireland is the only country in western Europe in this watchlist.

Ireland was ranked in tier one until 2018 when it was reduced to tier two. It was reduced further to the tier two watchlist last year.

Reacting to Ireland’s ranking, Minister of State for Criminal and Civil Justice Hildegarde Naughton said she was disappointed the work of the Department of Justice over the last year had not merited an upgrade in the country’s ranking.

“We would of course like to be further along in advancing some of the improvements we are making in this area, but it is fair to say that despite the challenges posed by the pandemic in 2020 and the first half of 2021 we have advanced a number of these reforms and this is something that is unfortunately not reflected in the report,” said Naughton. 

The report acknowledged some of Ireland’s recent efforts such as the designation of an independent human trafficking national rapporteur and the establishment a formal national anti-trafficking forum.

However, it said the Irish government had not demonstrated an overall increase in efforts compared to the previous reporting period, “even considering the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity”. 

“While courts convicted one trafficker under false imprisonment charges, the government has not obtained a trafficking conviction under the anti-trafficking law since it was amended in 2013, which weakened deterrence, contributed to impunity for traffickers, and undermined efforts to support victims to testify,” the report said. 

“The government investigated and prosecuted fewer suspected traffickers, did not prosecute any labor traffickers, and victim identification decreased for the fourth year in a row. 

“The government continued to have systemic deficiencies in victim identification, referral, and assistance, and lacked specialized accommodation and adequate services for victims.”

The report also noted concerns regarding the Irish government’s inability to identify trafficking victims due to shortcomings in its identification mechanism and limiting identification of victims solely to police.

‘Human suffering’

Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Sinéad Gibney said while there have been some recent positive commitments by the State that will make headway in addressing crucial gaps for the protection of victims, “the plans are at proposal stage and not a reality for victims of trafficking in Ireland today”.

“The gaps and failings in treatment and protection of victims of trafficking that led Ireland to be positioned at Tier 2 status 12 months ago remain largely outstanding. Most of the major issues, such as those pertaining to victim identification, protection and non-prosecution, are yet to be addressed,” said Gibney.

Ireland’s second year on the ‘watchlist’ must act as a serious wake-up call for the State to act more decisively in combatting trafficking.

“While there have been some positive efforts, including appointment of the Commission as rapporteur, and in recent weeks the first trafficking conviction since 2013, the reality today is that Ireland continues to fall below minimum standards compared to other developed nations.”

The State Department report said the Covid-19 pandemic had “generated conditions that increased the number of people who experienced vulnerabilities to human trafficking and interrupted existing and planned anti-trafficking interventions.”

“Governments across the world diverted resources toward the pandemic, ofen at the expense of anti-trafficking efforts,” it said.

“At the same time, human traffickers quickly adapted to capitalise on the vulnerabilities exposed and exacerbated by the pandemic,” the report added.

Six countries were downgraded from Tier 1 – the highest ranking – to Tier 2: Cyprus, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal and Switzerland.

Tier 2 countries do not “fully meet” the TVPA’s minimum standards “but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance.”

Two nations – Guinea-Bissau and Malaysia – were added to the Tier 3 list of worst offenders, a list that already included Afghanistan, Algeria, China, the Comoros, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia, South Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

The governments of 11 of those Tier 3 nations were found to have a “policy or pattern” of state-sponsored human trafficking in government-funded programs.

Four countries – Belarus, Burundi, Lesotho and Papua New Guinea – were removed from Tier 3 and placed on the Tier 2 watch list alongside Ireland. 

Releasing the annual report, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said nearly 25 million people worldwide are estimated to be victims of human trafficking.

“Many are compelled into commercial sex work,” Blinken said. “Many are forced to work in factories or fields or to join armed groups. “It’s a global crisis,” he said.

“It’s an enormous source of human suffering.

“Governments should protect and serve their citizens, not terrorize and subjugate them for profit.”

The United States may restrict foreign assistance to Tier 3 nations subject to presidential approval. Turkey, a NATO member, was cited for violations of the Child Soldiers Prevention Act for the use of child soldiers by Turkish-backed groups in Syria and Libya.

“The United States hopes to work with Turkey to encourage all groups involved in the Syrian and Libyan conflicts not to use child soldiers,” a senior State Department official said.

- Additional reporting from AFP

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:01 AM

    Thankfully, he lost.

    1417
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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:43 AM

    @Tony Daly: What’s going on, the courts are delivering actually justice this week. That’s twice.

    583
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    Mute Dave cullen
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:47 AM

    Trigger happy with the delete button from the copy and paster staff here.

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    Mute Les Behan
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:04 PM

    @Dave cullen: As a corrupt billionaire if you can’t silence people one way, there are alway others Denis probably has a secret bid in to buy The Journal!

    I suspect that this comment will also be deleted, even though the proof is there that Denis O’Brien is a corrupt businessman. We have a cowardly media that would rather kowtow to the likes of him than actually do some real journalism with some integrity.

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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    Mar 31st 2017, 2:09 PM

    @Jayo Breathneach: yea there is that.

    8
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    Mute Jho Harris
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    Mar 31st 2017, 2:40 PM

    @Tony Daly: Damn, that’s my chance of The Euro Millions gone this/weekend, it is not possible to see two miracles on the same day. At least DO. getting shafting has reduced the pain this week. Hip hip, hip hip, hip hip.

    15
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    Mute Billy McNamara
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    Mar 31st 2017, 8:05 PM

    @Thomas Maher: Ah, but Dinny made his bed in Ireland several years ago with Eircom,now the chickens are coming home to roost.Karma,don’t you just love it.

    4
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    Mute Keano
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:02 AM

    Brilliant news. Well done Catherine Murphy.

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Mar 31st 2017, 1:02 PM

    @Keano: just award the state’s costs against him and it really will have been a victory.

    204
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    Mute John Cotter
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:01 AM

    Does that we can talk about him?

    680
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    Mute Dublin Living
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:08 AM

    @John Cotter: If you’re in the Dail, yes.

    315
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    Mute JJ O Riordan
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    Mar 31st 2017, 1:34 PM

    @John Cotter: who can’t talk about him? He’s not Voldermort.

    61
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    Mute ray.farrelly
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:02 AM

    Could not have happened to a nicer person.

    667
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:37 AM

    @ray.farrelly: hope it cost him a pretty penny!

    277
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    Mute Just Me
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:06 PM

    @Deborah Behan: Don’t worry, FG will award him with another state contract and he will recoup the loss 1000 times over. Enda looks after his backers.

    263
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    Mute Cian Keogh
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:01 AM

    Delighted for him. Keep on losing DoB.

    518
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    Mute Eddie Byrne
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:06 AM

    At last some good news roll on the Siteserve decision hopefully it will be more good news. Well done Catherine Murphy for sticking to your guns on this issue.

    476
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:38 AM

    @Eddie Byrne: meanwhile Enda is consoling DOB!

    185
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    Mute Les Behan
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:03 AM

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha………hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…..hahahahahahaahahahahaha! :-)

    492
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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:37 AM

    @Les Behan: child….

    1
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    Mute Soupy Norman
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:50 AM

    @Les Behan:

    That’s infectious, I actually laughed.

    156
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:02 AM

    The separation of powers has been upheld.

    350
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    Mute Kieran O'dwyer
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    Mar 31st 2017, 1:45 PM

    @Tony Daly: he has plenty of money to be wasting it on such frivolities. I imagine the lawyers love him.

    39
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    Mute jane
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:02 AM

    Delighted!

    301
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    Mute prop joe
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:14 AM

    Well done Catherine Murphy, hero to the Irish people

    300
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    Mute Mark
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:06 AM

    Testing comment. Test. 1 2. Omg the comments are actually open!

    267
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    Mute Billy McNamara
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:07 AM

    Poor Denis.He’ll have to be putting in a lot more water meters to pay this bill.

    247
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    Mute Gareth Cooney
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:13 AM

    I’m sure he was advised by his Lawyers that he didn’t have a case but he proceeded anyway to silence the Dail and media for a while. These tactics apply to corporations who have the loot to do so.

    240
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    Mute Skinnerbot
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:02 AM

    Comments are closed are legal proceedings are pending…wait?

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    Mute David
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:02 AM

    Good.

    210
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    Mute LITTLEONE
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:15 AM

    Great news . Well done Catherine Murphy and co.

    183
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    Mute Colin hoop
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:09 AM

    ha ha Denis money don’t buy you everything

    216
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    Mute Virtual Donal
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:24 AM

    DOB has “constitutional rights” to SFA in Ireland because he is a tax exile. Take the case in Malta! Bring your water meters with you.

    166
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    Mute Kate Flaherty
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:13 AM

    One would have thought that Mr O’ Brien would have known all about “privilege”, ironic it should be his downfall on this occasion…..

    153
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    Mute Brendan O Connell
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:06 AM

    Comments closed in 5,4,3,2…..

    148
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    Mute Nigel O'Neill
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:27 AM

    This was a very serious attack on our democracy folks…do not take it lightly…this guy, because he has been allowed to politcally, believes he is bigger than our democracy…look at the favourable rates he was paying to IBRC( IBRC is you and I dont forget) vs what the ordinary joe soap was being charged!!

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    Mute Eamonn Boylan
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:29 AM

    JUSTICE !!!

    129
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    Mute The Risen
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:26 AM

    Happy Friday Everyone! Have a great, great, weekend.

    112
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    Mute Paul Lane
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:17 AM

    I am amazed that he took the case in the first place as it was always going to fail…He is either thick, badly advised/ripped off and has too much money (as per Moriarity findings)

    122
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    Mute Bobby Neary
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:08 AM

    He has the eyes of a whitewalker

    114
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    Mute Noel
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:23 AM

    Great hope he has to foot bill 100%

    95
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    Mute Gerry Fallon
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:21 AM

    I’m delighted.He has some neck suing the state after the mobile licence controversy.
    Every Irish families struggling to get by and working hard paying mortgages and rearing their children and this arrogant man who domiciled himself in Portugal so he wouldn’t have to pay his fair share of tax.
    Get lost back to Portugal Denis,everyone has you copped on.We don’t need him.

    142
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Mar 31st 2017, 4:32 PM

    @Gerry Fallon: he is still trying to sell his Vilamoura site…..

    4
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    Mute Dave cullen
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:45 AM

    Mention noonan and o brien in the same comment and it gets deleted.

    89
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Mar 31st 2017, 4:31 PM

    @Dave cullen: noonan, o’brien………..not deleted yet

    6
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    Mute David Walters
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    Apr 1st 2017, 11:07 AM

    @Gus Sheridan: Not a sentence there Gus

    1
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    Mute Yenreit
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:03 PM

    Would explain why kenny was in Malta yesterday. Apologising to the master in advance.

    78
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    Mute Deskindo
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:10 AM

    Although I don’t approve of Dàil privilege, i totally agree with this outcome.

    75
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    Mute Vic's Burd
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:14 AM

    @Deskindo: I agree. This proves it was justified in this case

    62
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    Mute Sue Doherty
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:45 AM

    Good, good, good, good and good. We’ve have had enough of money hungry moguls thinking they can do whatever they want.

    79
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    Mute Rachel Didleu
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:55 AM

    Word on the street is that Dinnie rents the barricades to the gardai n people when we, the people, take to the streets, hope it was an open and fair tender…
    He is certainly well got with the shakers and weavers of Irish society

    74
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    Mute Dave cullen
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:25 PM

    More Catherine Murphy’s needed in the Dail cesspit.

    73
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    Mute John Nolan
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:12 AM

    Next up the SUPREME COURT.

    70
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    Mute Paul
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:09 AM

    Was there ever going to be any other outcome? Waste of time and money.

    77
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    Mute Nucky
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:45 AM

    Delighted! The Irish Trump doesn’t get his way

    62
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    Mute Mary Murphy
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:59 AM

    Wow a judge with gumption. Well done judge.

    56
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    Mute Coleen
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:29 PM

    In all our misery, at least we can be thankful that we have some integral TDs like Catherine, Clare, Mick, Catherine Connolly, Roisin, Pearse and many more

    64
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    Mute SomeRandomIrishGuy
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:02 PM

    Wow Now this is nice to hear! Big respect to that judge!

    48
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    Mute Cathal Foley
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:16 PM

    He can slink back to Malta for himself.

    50
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    Mute Donal Carey
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:03 PM

    Nice days work for the Government hope he is nailed for costs

    46
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    Mute TommieB
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:36 AM

    yay. \o/

    36
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    Mute Jeremy Croydon
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:23 PM

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

    34
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    Mute @mdmak33
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:08 PM

    Delighted.

    33
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    Mute Marko
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:00 PM

    LOL

    35
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    Mute Kevin Slater
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    Mar 31st 2017, 1:00 PM

    Dail privilege is called that fir a reason Denis

    34
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    Mute Pat McGrath
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    Mar 31st 2017, 1:14 PM

    Great news for democracy and the Irish people

    32
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    Mute Pat McGrath
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    Mar 31st 2017, 1:23 PM

    Great day for democracy

    29
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    Mute John Flanagan
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:20 PM

    DOB’s hair has something in common with Trump’s – both got the comb-over!

    33
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    Mute Noel Martin
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:24 PM

    I would be a bit worried if D.OB. was to read some of the comments in the comments section in case he desides to sue the Journal, i wouldn’t put it past himto do so.

    27
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    Mute David Conroy
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    Mar 31st 2017, 11:17 AM

    And all this “you said this and you said that” has made such a difference to how our Country is governed by the people we pay to govern. One winner here, the Legal Profession and one loser, us!

    37
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    Mute Joanna
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:32 PM

    Lol

    27
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    Mute Niall Sheridan
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    Mar 31st 2017, 1:42 PM

    Lost? Good. This guy thinks he owns the country. He may own the odd politician but clearly not the rest of us.

    29
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    Mute Tony Mcgrath
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    Mar 31st 2017, 1:08 PM

    If u haven’t been sued by dinny u should feel left out

    25
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    Mute John O'Driscoll
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    Mar 31st 2017, 1:37 PM

    Yesssss. Let this be the start of the end of Mr O’Bribe’em’s impunity.

    26
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    Mute Michael Griffin
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    Mar 31st 2017, 1:39 PM

    A good news story at last…

    20
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    Mute John O'Driscoll
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    Mar 31st 2017, 1:39 PM

    I want to see him dragged away in chains some day. One of the biggest crooks not in the country for any useful purpose.

    27
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    Mute Johnr
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:34 PM

    I passed one of those revenue collection vans going home from work the other day, was a wee bit over the speed limited, half expecting a demand for money to arrive in the letter box.

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    Mute Marc Quinn
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    Mar 31st 2017, 1:44 PM

    Hey Deno do you know where the five lamps are!?!

    15
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    Mute Colm Williamson
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:26 PM

    Aw that’s a shame. My heart goes out to him.

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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:45 PM

    I wonder will D O’B let this matter slide, considering that I don’t believe that the Court of Civil Appeal would give him permission to appeal this judgement to the Supreme Court.

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    Mute Daffy the Bear
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    Mar 31st 2017, 2:06 PM

    Most good.

    10
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    Mute Stephen Maher
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:08 PM

    Ha.

    14
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    Mute classic
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    Mar 31st 2017, 2:54 PM

    Woohoo

    9
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    Mute Rob O'Brien
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:00 PM

    Dinny for Taoiseach! #MakeIrelandGrandAgain

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    Mute DeFonz
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    Mar 31st 2017, 1:46 PM

    Who pays for the expenses of tying Courts (not just legal fees) Dail with Dobies rubbish

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    Mute Barbara Edwards
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    Mar 31st 2017, 2:48 PM

    But he didn’t lose per se, comments in the Dáil are outside the remit of our Courts as per the Constitution. The judge couldn’t make a ruling as such.

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Mar 31st 2017, 1:08 PM

    I could not care less about DOB or this particular case and I agree with her point about TD’s not being expected to keep up with injunctions etc., but if the TD freely admins they are aware of the injunction and deliberately uses Parliamentary Privilege to circumvent it then is that not a clear abuse?
    On balance it is for the best that he lost but politicians interfering with court injunctions is not something I am comfortable with.

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    Mute John O'Driscoll
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    Mar 31st 2017, 2:49 PM

    That’s why it is called parliamentary privilege. The court’s reach does not extend into the speaking chamber of the legislature and executive. It’s called. Separation of powers.

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    Mute John O'Driscoll
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    Mar 31st 2017, 2:56 PM

    Parliamentary privilege is a tool of democracy and like any tool it can be used for good and ill. Just as Catherine Murphy uses it to expose the rank underbelly of Ireiand’s powerful, wealthy, corrupt and dishonest, and their political puppets.

    By contrast, Michael McDowell used it to maliciously and mendaciously destroy the reputation and career of an independent journalist with smear and supposition, so as to eliminate the threat of independent journalists – giving hen’s teeth a run for their money always as they do in modren Direland – investigating the corrupt theft and bribery surrounding Rossport and Ray Burke’s corrupt and criminal deals with oil companies to give away the Irish people’s hydrocarbon rights and plant enormous potential bombs near their homes.

    But that is just the fact. All tools are just tools it’s the intention, carefulness or recklessness in their use that produces “good” and “bad” results.

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Mar 31st 2017, 3:20 PM

    @John O’Driscoll: lot of sweeping accusations in there – none of which I am going to engage with.
    I simply don’t trust politicians and think there should be some group able to keep an eye on them. Right now, that group is … politicians.
    I also don’t trust the electorate to do the job given the number of crooks that are elected and re-elected.

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    Mute John O'Driscoll
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    Mar 31st 2017, 3:37 PM

    I think they are quite precise in fact. Agree with your second premise and that group is supposed to be known as the fourth estate however robber barons like Mr O’Bribe’em keep reducing that estate and adding bits of it to their own, irredeemably corrupting and making useless that which is supposed to be the opposite. Otherwise he terrorises it into submission with blizzards of writs. Your third premise agree also it truly is appalling but then look at the alternatives worse yet.

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    Mute John O'Driscoll
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    Mar 31st 2017, 3:41 PM

    Perhaps it will come down to men of straw and little property, citizen bloggers and activists, to form digital star chambers to call the likes of Mr O’Bribester to account. After all he can’t take the knickers off bare arses you can only be intimidated when you got something to lose.

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    Mute Declan Hickey
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    Mar 31st 2017, 4:59 PM

    Comments turn on for a DOB story WTF?

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    Mute Peter Higgins
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    Mar 31st 2017, 3:11 PM

    Good outcome !

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    Mute Roibeard Ó Riain
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    Mar 31st 2017, 2:38 PM

    This man should be in prison. Parasite and criminal. His self righteousness is flabbergasting!

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    Mute Rosa Parks
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    Mar 31st 2017, 3:16 PM

    Poor snowflake.

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    Mute Harry Price
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    Apr 1st 2017, 12:00 AM

    Like the gardai he thinks he is untouchable ………………………

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    Mute Lucille Ball
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    Mar 31st 2017, 9:24 PM

    Yeehoo!!!! Made my otherwise miserable day happy!

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    Mute Arnold_Layne
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    Mar 31st 2017, 12:14 PM

    He will win on appeal of course but this is a good slap in the face for him none the less.

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