Tomás Ó Flatharta

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Irish General Election 2024 : Corruption and Racist CV of Head Beggar-Gombeen Michael Lowry TD; Bacik Pulls Labour Out of Coalition Talks

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Michael Lowry TD is currently in the news as he is the “point of contact” for the Beggar-Gombeen (BG) Regional Independent Group of Dáil deputies negotiating a coalition deal with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael (FFFG). One of Lowry’s BG colleagues, Verona Murphy, was elected Dáil Ceann Comhairle on December 18, paving the way for the creation of a coalition government bringing together FFFG and the BG’s in January 2025.

FFFG’s coalition options are narrowing, as the Labour party has confirmed it is unwilling to be a coalition mudguard.

Source :
The Labour party will not be a FFFG Mudguard – Ivana Bacik pulls out of coalition government talks

Lowry is a former Fine Gael Minister who had to resign in 1995 over his suspicious financial connections with wealthy business men Denis O’Brien, Ben Dunne, and others. He was marooned on the backbenches, for very good reasons.

The State’s Moriarty Tribunal investigated the finances of Lowry, former Fianna Fáil leader Charles Haughey, and many other establishment politicians.

The Moriarty Tribunal, officially called the Tribunal of Inquiry into certain Payments to Politicians and Related Matters, was an Irish Tribunal of Inquiry established in 1997 into the financial affairs of politicians Charles Haughey and Michael Lowry. It has revealed significant tax evasion by these and other politicians and leading businessmen. As a consequence, the tax authorities have recovered millions of euro in settlements and penalties from many individuals

Michael Lowry’s financial connections to Denis O’Brien (a wealthy businessman) who secured a pot of gold (a licence to set up a mobile phone network in Ireland) were thoroughly investigated. Here are the 2011 Moriarty Tribunal Conclusions :

Link
Moriarty Tribunal – Conclusions, Michael Lowry TD

Lowry has a strong racist CV.

“I am Not A Racist”…..But

Lowry is a well-dressed suit-and-tie racist (STR).

The trick is to oppose the housing of vulnerable immigrants in your own constituency.

Dishonest reasons are proposed : buildings should be used for something else : locals need a nursing home, a hotel…….anything but safe accommodation for immigrants. Arson and rioting drives immigrants onto the streets or sub-standard accommodation such as Crooksling in Dublin’s Clondalkin. But that is bad publicity for a STRs such as Lowry.

So, verbal gymnastics :

Ireland’s current immigartion policy is unfit for purpose and ‘ordinary people’ in communities around the country are angry, Deputy Michael Lowry told the Dáil.

“Taoiseach, recently in the Dail I addressed you in relation to the resentment that is simmering in towns and villages across Ireland. This genuine and heartfelt anger is not coming from organised groups such as we witnessed in Dublin last week, it is coming from ordinary people”, the Tipperary TD said on Tuesday addressing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Justice Minister, Helen McEntee.

“People are filled with pent-up worry, fear and frustration at how their communities have changed due to the influx of International Protection applicants. It has reached a stage where people fear the Department will target every vacant building in their communities.

Source :
Modify and rebalance Ireland’s immigration policy – Michael Lowry

Conclusions

  • Lowry “secured the winning” of the 1995 mobile licence for O’Brien.
  • O’Brien made two payments to Lowry in 1996 and 1999 totalling IR£500,000 (£147,000 and £300,000) and supported a loan of £420,000 given to Lowry in 1999, a benefit equivalent to a payment.
  • Lowry imparted substantive information to O’Brien which was “of significant value and assistance to him in securing the licence”.
  • Lowry bypassed consideration by his Cabinet colleagues and thereby not only influenced, but delivered the result for Esat Digifone.
  • A US$50,000 donation to Fine Gael was made through Telenor on behalf of Esat Digifone.
  • Lowry sought to influence a hike in the lease for Marlborough House (Telecom Éireann headquarters) following a request from Mr Dunne. These rent increases would have improperly enriched Dunne, and were deemed to be “profoundly corrupt”.
  • Lowry was criticised for his “cynical and venal abuse of office” and his brazen refusal to acknowledge the impropriety of his financial arrangements with O’Brien and Dunne.

Anti-racists conclude (correctly) that STR racism is racism.

So Michael Lowry offers statements that do not follow logically from his opening words : non-sequiturs.

“Irish people are not racist, I am not racist. People welcomed the victims of the war in Ukraine with open arms. They have willingly opened their hearts to those in need.

“But Taoiseach, I believe it is time to modify and rebalance our immigration policy”

People familiar with the career of the six-county racist rabble-rouser Ian Paisley know the pattern. Fire up racist mobs, stand back as the arsonists and racist mobs take direct action, deny responsibility.

The Racquet Hall premises in Roscrea Co. Tipperary hit the headlines in 2024 for many bad reasons – a racist mob attacked vulnerable people trying to enter a new Direct Provision Centre. Lowry fanned the flames win this Dáil speech addressed to then government minister Heather Humphreys :

“On four different occasions in the past year, I have raised the subject of immigration policy and lack of strategy. Each time I spoke in this Chamber I illustrated Roscrea as a classic example of a system that is not working.

“A town that was overburdened, overwhelmed and in urgent need of vital services to be improved and supplemented. This Government did not listen. You ignored the legitimate and genuine concerns of the people of Roscrea’ he said.

“The people of Roscrea are compassionate by nature. After assurances of enhanced support networks they accepted without protest a Direct Provision Centre with hundreds of asylum seekers and also a Centre to house 400 Ukrainian Refugees.

“The reality is that this influx accounts for up to 20% of the population of Roscrea. Therefore under any sensible, reasonable, logical or sustainable criteria you would have to conclude that Roscrea had exceeded it’s capacity.

“Roscrea is a traditional rural town. Roscrea is a friendly welcoming place. It’s people have shown great generosity and kindness. It’s a town with an excellent community spirit. A town that has coped with a lot of setbacks and adversity.

“A town that is fighting back through it’s community and voluntary leaders and organisations. I worked closely with these groups. A lot of positive things are happening in Roscrea. Projects have been sanctioned, which will bring enterprise, jobs and stimulate the local economy.

“You, as Minister under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, have sanctioned and funded crucial revitalisation projects. It is rather ironic that while your Department is assisting with the renewal of the town, another Department of State has taken the extraordinary decision to take over the only hotel in the town.

“How can it be acceptable for a Department to be complicit in such action?”, Deputy Lowry asked.

Source :
Roscrea Protest Shows Government is on the run with immigration – Michael Lowry

Will FFFG risk bringing Lowry into their new cabinet?

John Meehan December 19 2024

European Parliament : International Migrants Day: The Left condemns Commission greenlight for pushbacks

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Freedom of movement has to be defended in the European Union.

Source :


International Migrants Day – EU Left condemns commission greenlight for pushbacks

The Left marks International Migrants Day today, noting that the European Commission and Member states have significantly backtracked in recent days over commitments to basic human rights protections for migrants and refugees, to the point of endorsing the illegal practice of pushbacks on EU borders.

In a Communication announced last week by Executive President Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission shockingly gave the greenlight for Member States to conduct pushbacks on the EU’s borders and to adopt ‘exceptional measures’ that suspend or delay the registration of asylum applications.

Left MEP Estrella Galán (Sumar, Spain) said: “The Commission’s decision to grant Member States carte-blanche to suspend the right to asylum at borders under the pretext of ‘security’ threats reflects the growing influence of the far-right, which seeks to criminalise migrants and refugees, turning the right to asylum into a mere tool for control and exclusion.

Left MEP Li Andersson (Vasemmistoliitto, Finland)  said: “The most right-wing Commission in the history of the EU starts its mandate by trying to give the greenlight to Member States to legalise pushbacks. But it is important to note that the Commission Communication is a political statement. Pushbacks are contrary to international human rights law and the assessment of their legality will remain in the hands of the courts – not the Commission. Strengthening security must never mean compromising on fundamental and human rights.” 

This comes following the decision of a number of Member States such as Finland and Poland to suspend asylum processes, citing ‘the instrumentalisation of migration’ by Russia and Belarus. This course of action will only further endanger people seeking refuge at Europe’s external borders.

During this week’s plenary session in Strasbourg, The Left expressed deep concern about these flagrant attacks on human rights and the right to asylum. The Commission’s Communication comes as the European approach to asylum and migration deteriorates across the board. The EU’s policy of border externalisation continues apace, as does the criminalisation of humanitarian aid and search and rescue in Member States, all of which represent a pattern of crackdowns on the right to asylum in the EU since the adoption of the Asylum and Migration Pact.

Irish General Election 2024: Verona Murphy wins Ceann Comhairle Mega-Perk – Racist beggar-gombeen in charge of the Dublin parliament’s debates

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Verona Murphy TD (Wexford) has won a Mega-Perk for herself, the Ceann Comhairle job.

RTÉ News reports :

As Ceann Comhairle, her seat is assured after the next election as the holder of the office is automatically returned to the Dáil.

She is also set to get a massive pay increase on top of her existing TD salary.

TDs earn €113,680 a year but her new position attracts an additional €141,513 annually, bringing her salary to €255,000 for as long as she stays in the job.

The pay packet exceeds that of the Taosieach by €12,000.

A racist beggar-gombeen is in charge of the Dublin parliament’s debates. A coalition of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Regional Independent Group Beggar-Gombeens (FFFGBG) got Murphy the mega-perk with 89 votes – just over half the number of Dáil deputies (174). This is a prelude to the likely formation of a weak right-wing government in 2025.

Beggar-Gombeens of the 34th Dáil : Verona Murphy, Michael Lowry, Noel Grealish

In 2019 Verona Murphy was kicked off the Fine Gael ticket. Why the change in 2024?

Verona Murphy was kicked off the FG ticket because she was too racist which means now she is the perfect candidate for Ceann Comhairle according to FG. Which means FG only gave her the boot because of public outrage and not because she didn't reflect their values.

Loki (@lokideburca.bsky.social) 2024-12-18T11:37:55.332Z

A number of key facts need to be endlessly repeated.

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As 2024 dust settles : A Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Beggar-Gombeen (FFFGBG) Dublin Government slouches forward

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The result of the November 29 General Election in Ireland was a victory for the outgoing government. The two leading conservative parties – Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael (FFFG) won 86 out of 174 seats, only two seats short of an overall majority. Their previous administration needed a mudguard, provided by the Green party (GP), which lost 11 of its 12 seats.

This time the mudguard is likely to come from right-wing gombeens (The Irish mainstream media calls them “gene-pool independents” as most come from FFFG). In the previous Dáil “independent” deputies from this swamp regularly voted confidence in the government, without formally participating in the cabinet. Since the election result was announced, these gombeens have brazenly begged for perks and freebies in exchange for their Dáil votes.

Green or Moderate Left Mudguard Unavailable?

FFFG is in the market for a Green or moderate-left mudguard. Possible partners – (the Labour party [LP] and the Social Democrats [SDs]) – seem unwilling to perform political suicide.

In the words of one source :

I get the feeling the GP example is terrifying them!

FFFG shoppers in the mudguard supermarket may be seeking unavailable bargains :

Labour sources expect that the party will today rule out continuing discussions about entering government with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, effectively shutting down that coalition option for the two larger parties.

The party’s TDs will meet at Leinster House at lunchtime where leader Ivana Bacik is expected to propose the move, which is likely to be backed overwhelmingly by those present.

Labour sources were careful not to get ahead of today’s decision, but there is little expectation in the party that its engagement on government will continue. This will draw a distinction with the Social Democrats, who yesterday said they would continue discussions.

But after meetings with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil this week, there is similarly little expectation in the outgoing government that the Social Democrats are serious about entering coalition.

Source : Jack Horgan-Jones, Election 2024: Labour set ‘to exit coalition talks’ with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, Irish Times December 13 2024

On Friday December 13 expectation cruised a little bit closer to certainty, but the Titanic option has not been ruled out :

NEW: Labour leader Ivana Bacik has said that it is “unlikely” that her party will go into Government, as they prepare for one final round of meetings with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael

https://twitter.com/TadghMcN/status/1867600549979304410

We await the final whistle.

Once the post-election dust settles we may see a government composed of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Beggar-Gombeens (BGs) (FFFGBG) on one side, and a parliamentary opposition operating within a left-wing and ecological spectrum.

A FFFGBG coalition would be composed of Team FFFG (86 TDs) plus enough BG deputies to guarantee a workable Dáil majority.

Some BGs will oppose the government from the right.

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Irish General Election November 29 2024 – Independent Candidates on the Left and Right : Stop the Far Right : Vote Left, Transfer Left

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The electoral action proposed here is :

How To Vote on November 29? Oppose Any Coalition with FFFGGG – Stop the Far Right : Vote Left, Transfer Left

FFFGGG Equals ; Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Greens, Gombeens.

The 2020-2024 coalition government was composed of three parties : FF, FG, and the Greens – and was regularly supported by Right-to-Racist Gombeens (Independents) in the last Dáil.

In this context it is important to know the identity of left-wing and right-wing independent candidates.

A Cedar Lounge Blog writer has done a great job identifying credible candidates on the left who are often categorised as independent. Link :
Possible Left Independents in the next Dáil


Here is the excellent article :

As noted in comments here a number of left Independents of one stripe or another are running, either to hold their seats or to return to the Dáil. Irish Election Literature has material from a huge number of candidates here on a special page on the 2024 election and it’s an essential read to get a sense of matters. One thing that was perhaps under considered in 2020 was the winnowing of left Independents (or those who were with small groups). It really took the wind out of the left side of the Independent equation with barely a handful left and some who barely were left at all (who left for Europe at the last election).

Here’s a selection of possible Left Independents. What of others who are potential, possible or likely to arrive in the Dáil?

Read the rest of this entry »

Written by tomasoflatharta

Nov 27, 2024 at 4:57 pm

Posted in 26 County State (Ireland), Bríd Smith TD, Cabra For All, Catherine Connolly TD, Clare Daly TD, Councillor John Lyons, Councillor Tania Doyle, Diarmuid Mac Dubhghlais, Direct Provision - Irish Gombeen State Racism, Dublin 7 for All, FFFGGG Coalition, General Election February 25 2016, Gombeens, Poltroons, Hazel De Nórtúin, Independent Left (Ireland), Ireland, Irish General Election February 8 2020, Irish General Election November 29 2024, Ivana Bacik TD, Labour Party Leader, Joan Collins TD, Labour Party (Ireland), Left Wing Organisations, Natalie Treacy, Paul Murphy TD Dublin South-West, People Before Profit, Racism, RISE, ruth-coppinger, Séamus Healy TD, Thomas Pringle TD

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Ireland’s November 29 2024 General Election : Racist Warning Signs

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Irish General Election to 34th Dáil; Racist Danger

The June 2024 Euro/ Local results in Ireland produced some alarming results – the racist far-right came from the margins and increased its electoral support. This could be a predictor of the coming General Election result.

Warning signs to anti-racists exist in various opinion surveys. See, for example, these numbers from a recent RedC General Election Opinion Survey) :

Aontú, a right-wing split from Sinn Féin set up by an anti-choice TD from Meath, Peadar Tóibín, is beginning to hoover up right-wing racist votes which were scattered among various mini-Hitlers in the June 2024 European and Local Elections. We can say the same for the Irish Independence party (II). When we note that a majority of independent candidates are part of the racist far-right, a disturbing picture emerges. The numbers are worse in other parts of the Irish state.

Here is the data from an Irish Times Opinion Poll :

Irish General Election November 29 2024 Irish Times Survey Results 15/11/24
First preference voting intentions

DublinRest of LeinsterMunsterConnacht/Ulster
Fianna Fáil16.00%19.00%27.00%13.00%
Fine Gael22.00%29.00%22.00%29.00%
Labour9.00%3.00%2.00%3.00%
Green Party6.00%2.00%1.00%2.00%
Sinn Fein21.00%16.00%19.00%21.00%
People Before Profit/Solidarity4.00%1.00%2.00%1.00%
Social Democrats5.00%5.00%2.00%2.00%
Aontú​2.00%4.00%3.00%2.00%
Independent candidate15.00%21.00%21.00%25.00%


Temptation exists : bending to “understandable” fears. For example an election canvasser from a party with one foot in the left put it to me that some voters are “uncomfortable” because their neighbours come from outside Ireland.

Let’s be clear, harsh, and unambiguous : messages like this pander to the racist view that immigrants are criminals and rapists. There is no evidence backing up claims that people born outside Ireland are any worse than Irish natives. It gives oxygen to the far right shite being whispered around communities.

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Written by tomasoflatharta

Nov 16, 2024 at 12:57 pm

Posted in 26 County State (Ireland), Councillor John Lyons, Dún Laoghaire Welcomes All, Direct Provision - Irish Gombeen State Racism, Dublin 7 for All, Dublin Communities Against Racism (DCAR), Dublin Governments, Dublin’s racist mobs hit the city centre, 23.11.23, Emigration and Immigration, FFFGGG Coalition, Gombeens, Poltroons, Green Party, Gregor Kerr, Hope and Courage Collective, Human Rights, Independent Ireland Party (IIP), Independent Left (Ireland), International Political Analysis, Ireland, Ireland - Emigration and Immigration, Irish General Election February 8 2020, Ivana Bacik TD, Labour Party Leader, Labour Party (Ireland), Left Unity, Mary Lou McDonald TD, Migration in Europe, Niamh McDonald, Opinion Polls, Paul Murphy TD Dublin South-West, People Before Profit, Police Forces in Ireland, Racism, Racket Hall Roscrea Racism January 2024, Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ), RISE, Show Racism the Red Card, Sinn Féin, Social Democrats (Ireland), The Irish Times, Wendy Lyon

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Deport an Immigrant? The view of Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane (the party’s Integration Spokesperson)

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A highly-respected human rights campaigner Wendy Lyon draws our attention to a public statement issued by the Sinn Féin spokesperson on Integration Claire Kerrane TD (Ropscommon-Galway). Kerrane’s home town is Ballaghaderreen, which has recently been the target of sinister anti-immigrant racist mobilisations.

Wendy Lyon posted this comment on the X/Twitter platform :

“A party representative who doesn’t think immigrants accused of crime should be entitled to legal aid is not fit to be integration spokesperson.”

Sinn Féin party leader Mary Lou McDonald TD led a pile-on against critics, featuring a legion of self-declared SF supporters [note of caution : many of them may not be real individuals]

Wendy Lyon has a much better policy :

Anyway, “criminals should be deported instead of imprisoned” is Little Irelander nationalism. If someone is really a danger to others then (until there’s a better alternative) prison is exactly where they should be, not free to be a danger to people in their country of origin.

Claire Kerrane TD, in her own words :

“Sinn Féin’s integration spokesperson has stood over a deleted Facebook post saying deportation should be considered for any immigrant who commits a crime.

But Claire Kerrane said it’s a personal view and she’s “not pushing for it” to become party policy.”

An anti-racist correspondent, EamonVIDF has done an excellent job providing context for this dispute :

This kind of lets the ‘optics’ cat out of the bag

@ClaireKerrane

@AlanWhelanSF

The full information thread is here :

https://x.com/EamonnVIDF/status/1853423563346153484

Who is Wendy Lyon?

Wendy Lyon holds an LLM in International Human Rights Law (Griffith College Dublin), for which she wrote her dissertation on sex workers’ right to health. She has been involved in feminist activism on both sides of the Atlantic for longer than she cares to admit. By day, she works as a solicitor, practising mainly in the areas of immigration and sexual/reproductive/maternity rights. She tweets about human rights law, politics, and her cats at @wendylyon. Wendy contributes to the Feminist Ire blog :

Feminist Ire :

John Meehan November 10 2024

Taoiseach Simon Harris Announces Irish General Election on November 29 – Heading to Phoenix Park HQ of President Michael D Higgins to dissolve current Dáil – Support Credible Radical Left Candidates

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https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/1108/1479774-end-33-dail-general-election/

Simon Harris confirmed that he’ll travel to Áras an Uachtaráin shortly to ask President Higgins to dissolve the Dáil.

The election is set for Friday 29 November 2024.

A number of radical left candidates against any coalition deal with FFFFGGG have a realistic chance of winning a Dáil seat. [FFFGGG = Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Greens, Gombeens].

One of them is Councillor John Lyons in Dublin Bay North.

Councillor John Lyons (Second left) supports Irish Left With Ukraine (Seen Here Picketing the Dublin Russian Embassy of Vladimir Putin

Rejecting any coalition deals with FFFGGG and a policy that All refugees Are Welcome should be top priorities for radical left candidates in this general election.

People Before Profit (PBP) candidates also endorse the above policy.

Link :


No Coalition with FF or FG – PBP Conor Reddy

John Meehan, November 7 2024

Written by tomasoflatharta

Nov 8, 2024 at 2:22 pm

Posted in 26 County State (Ireland), Anti War Movements, Boris Kagarlitsky, Councillor John Lyons, Direct Provision - Irish Gombeen State Racism, Dublin 7 for All, Dublin Communities Against Racism (DCAR), Dublin Governments, Dublin’s racist mobs hit the city centre, 23.11.23, Elected Left for Ukraine, Fall of the Berlin Wall, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Free Russians Ireland, Green Party, History of Ireland, Holly Cairns TD (Cork South West), Hope and Courage Collective, Independent Left (Ireland), International Political Analysis, Ireland, Irish Left With Ukraine, Ivana Bacik TD, Labour Party Leader, Labour Party (Ireland), Left Unity, Mary Lou McDonald TD, Micheál Martin TD, Niamh McDonald, Paul Murphy TD Dublin South-West, People Before Profit, Political Prisoners in Russia, President Michael D Higgins, Racism, Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ), RISE, Roderick O'Gorman TD, Russia, Show Racism the Red Card, Simon Harris TD, Sinn Féin, Social Democrats (Ireland), Ukraine

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