Tomás Ó Flatharta

Looking at Things from the Left

Archive for the ‘Financial Crisis (September 2008 onwards)’ Category

Book Launch – Ireland in the World Order, written by Maurice Coakley – Thursday September 20, 7.00pm, Teachers’ Club 36 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1

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Invitation to a Dublin launch of a new book :

Ireland in the World Order, written by Maurice Coakley

Maurice Coakley focuses on key elements that contributed to Ireland’s development, examining its bloody and violent incorporation into the British state, its refusal to embrace the Protestant Reformation and failure to industrialise in the 19th century. Coakley considers the crucial question of why Ireland’s national identity has come to rest on a mass movement for independence.

Andy Storey will launch the book

Details :

Thursday September 20, 7.00pm, in the

Teachers’ Club 36 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1

Feel free to bring a friend

Ireland in the World Order examines Ireland’s development from the medieval to the modern era, comparing its unique trajectory with that of England, Scotland and Wales.

Maurice Coakley focuses on key elements that contributed to Ireland’s development, examining its bloody and violent incorporation into the British state, its refusal to embrace the Protestant Reformation and failure to industrialise in the 19th century. Coakley considers the crucial question of why Ireland’s national identity has come to rest on a mass movement for independence.

Cutting through many of the myths – imperialist and nationalist – which have obscured the real reasons for Ireland’s course of development, Ireland in the World Order provides a new perspective for students and academics of Irish history.

About The Author

Maurice Coakley lectures in the Journalism and Media Studies faculty of Griffith College, Dublin.

More information at this link :

Ireland in the World Order – by Maurice Coakley

Have They Gone A Bit Mad in Cavan and Fermanagh, Ted? – Michelle Gildernew MP (SF) says Seán Quinn “is being punished for having the audacity to ‘buy the bank; and for being an ordinary man from Fermanagh”

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The Fall of the Seán Quinn Family Empire has angered many people in the bankrupt billionaire’s home county of Fermanagh and its near-neighbour Cavan, where a demonstration of over 4000 people assembled in Ballyconnell on Sunday July 29.

Supporters include the Sinn Féin Fermanagh-South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew :

 Even Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew has come out to defend the family, telling this newspaper that what has happened to Mr. Quinn was “wrong”.

“He has been treated disgracefully by the Irish Government. Had they not tried to strip him off all his assets, including his home, deny him the ability to function in business, and routinely try to humiliate him I believe he would have paid back every penny he owed to the Irish taxpayer.

“He accepted he had done wrong, but all our attempts to make the government show some comment sense were ignored. He is being punished for having the audacity to ‘buy the bank; and for being an ordinary man from Fermanagh who is hugely respected by his community,” she said.

The support hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Quinns who say they will be “forever grateful” to everyone in both Fermanagh and Cavan “who have stood by us as they have been doing for nearly 40 years now”.

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Reilly left red-faced as he’s named on debt-default list – National News – Independent.ie

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Health Minister Dr James Reilly Named in Stubbs Gazette – Debts of €1.9
The Irish Independent highlights another Government Minister in trouble :

Dr James Reilly, Fine Gael Minister for Health, joins a growing list of Cabinet Members surrounded by dodgy financial deals. Just like the Ahern-Cowen Fianna Fail governments of 1997 – 2011 – Spot the difference?

Stanford University California – Ex-Taoiseach Brian Cowen is a $58,000 student on a Six-Week Course

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The Irish Daily Mail is running a story on ex-Taoiseach Brian Cowen :

Link :

Who is paying ex-Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s $58,000 Fees for a 6 week course in Stanford University, California?

Brian Cowen at Stanford University

 

Let’s wait and see how this story develops.

The words “Stanford University” rang a bell here :

Reilly’s special advisor paid €160,000 for 80% of his time, works here ‘on average’ 2 weeks a month

Health Analyst Sara Burke reported about Mr Martin Connor on February 17 2012 :

Connor, a special advisor to Health Minister James Reilly, divides his time between Ireland and Stanford University, California :

Word was out in the health system that Martin Connor worked here just eight days out of 24 and was based in California. When I asked the Department of Health how much of his time was dedicated to his special delivery unit work and where was he based, I was told, ‘The time commitment is of the order of 80%. Dr Connor is currently completing a research fellowship in Stanford University. He is in Ireland for two weeks a month on average but also conducts work by teleconference on a daily basis.’ Teleconferences on a daily basis must be difficult given the time difference between California and Dublin.

Link :

Health Minister Reilly’s Special Advisor Paid €160,000; Studies at Stanford University California

In recent days mainstream Irish media outlets ran a story about an alleged “scandal” – 3 United Left Alliance TD’s travelled outside their Dublin constituencies to support the Campaign Against the Household Tax.

Link :

Smear Campaign Against ULA TD’s on Travel Expenses

Makes you wonder about the calibre of wealthy students at Stanford University California, Irish State Bodies Paying Very Expensive Fees, and Double Standards in the Main Irish media outlets.

Update 1 :

Link :

Enterprise Ireland not paying Brian Cowen’s Stanford University Fees of $58,000 for a six week course

John Meehan

Anglo Irish 3 Billion Euro Deal in Tatters? Looks like Michael Noonan is in a Deep Hole and Is Still Digging

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Written by tomasoflatharta

May 30, 2012 at 9:29 am

Dutch Socialist defenders of welfare state leading polls

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Electoral Instability is a common feature of European Union states ravaged by austerity –

Holland is no exception.

Read this report from International Viewpoint :

Link :

Socialist Party Might Have Biggest Dutch Parliamentary Group After September Elections

Dutch Socialist defenders of welfare state leading polls

Alex de Jong, Bertil Videt

 

After having agreed to numerous austerity attacks, Geert Wilders’ far right PVV suddenly withdrew its support to the right-wing coalition, and left the Netherlands without a government in April. The Socialist Party is doing remarkably well in polls and might become the biggest party after elections in September. In Netherlands, as elsewhere on the continent, traditional politics is being stirred by opposition to harsh austerity measures, which are being felt hard by ordinary people. Read the rest of this entry »

Jaws – the Austerity Treaty

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image

Written by tomasoflatharta

May 28, 2012 at 7:42 am

Syriza Member of Greek Parliament to Speak in Dublin on Thursday May 24 in Wynn’s Hotel, Abbey Street, 8pm – Supporting Campaign for a No Vote on the Austerity Treaty in the May 31 referendum

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The Irish Government’s Finance Minister Michael Noonan explains the crisis in Greece by guessing how much feta cheese Irish people buy each week.

Let Them Eat Greek Cheese

Defending these comments he said :

I’m trying to stop contagion. It’s one of my jobs as finance minister to protect the Irish economy.

According to a well-researched article on politico.ie, Deputy Noonan has got that wrong too :

http://www.politico.ie/social-issues/8569-michael-noonan-there-he-goes-again.html

 

If you are in Dublin on May 24, come to the meeting addressed by the Syriza MP – we will publish more details as they become available.

International Viewpoint has published three contrasting articles called “What next for Greece?”

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Ireland’s turn to Reject Austerity Fantasy?

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http://m.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/10/now-ireland-turn-austerity-fantasy?cat=commentisfree&type=article

Gavan Titley and John O’ Brennan argue for Voting No to the Austerity Treaty on May 31

Political earthquake in Greece | yalmpanis

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Written by tomasoflatharta

May 8, 2012 at 4:21 pm