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TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has told the Dáil that the Gardaí “did not do enough” to engage with whistleblowers.
Kenny said he came to that conclusion after he “went back and read the documentation” relating to the O’Mahoney Report following recent events. He said that under-fire Justice Minister Alan Shatter would be looking into this, among other issues.
During Leaders’ Questions, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin accused Kenny of ‘sacking’ Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan.
Martin said that by sending a civil servant to meet Callinan on Monday to inform him about the pending release of information on phone tapping in Garda stations, he “essentially sacked him .. it’s calling a spade a spade.”
Kenny dismissed Martin’s accusation, saying: “I deplore what you’re suggesting … it’s actually beneath you.”
Martin also claimed that Kenny failed to tell the Opposition “the full story” about this week’s series of events during meetings with him and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams yesterday.
He said that news of phone calls being tapped in Garda stations since the 1980s “wasn’t new at all” and questioned why this information was released on the day of Callinan’s resignation.
“Forgive us all for thinking that the timing of all of this is extremely odd,” Martin said.
Kenny stated that he only became aware of the phone tapping issue on Sunday and informed the Dáil of it yesterday due to its “remarkable gravity”.
“Was I to sit here in silence? … Was I supposed to say everything in the garden is rosy?,” Kenny asked Martin.
The Taoiseach said that he rang the Attorney General Máire Whelan on Sunday and that during this conversation she told him of a matter he “should be made aware of” that she not prepared to discuss over the phone.
This statement was met with audible laughter in the chamber, to which Kenny stated: “Well you may laugh, Deputy [Mattie] McGrath, were you appraised of the situation you might have a very different view.”
Kenny said that all facts relating to the phone tapping should be assessed by “somebody competent in the legal profession to see how serious” the situation is.
He added that there were more than 2,500 such tapes up to 2008, with digital archives of tapes being collected from 2008 until the tapping process was stopped in November of last year.
Martin said that the fact the Attorney General did not inform Shatter of the tapping issue in November when she became aware of it indicated a “dysfunctional” relationship with the minister.
Kenny said that his Cabinet was dealing with “lingering sores that have been around for years”.
“I’ll take no lectures from anybody about not doing what is right here,” he added.
When Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams called for Shatter’s resignation over the “saga of tsunamis” surrounding him, Kenny accused him pf “focusing on a head”.
“A head – that’s all you want,” Kenny added.
Adams said: “Personal loyalty may be an admirable trait but I’m sure that you’d agree it can’t be put before the common good.”
We will have another election within 12 months. I’d prefer if they just one now.
If they are unwilling to form a government and continue on with this ritualistic dance of “no you ask first” neither of them deserve to be apart of government.
I think we should bite the bullet and vote enda 200%..
Send me your details and I’ll send you a rare BLUE PETER BADGE!! Limited offer, so apply now. ImaFool@gmail.com
Enda , Let Me Go Ya Useless Ball-Ox
Those ‘Independents’ would do well to remember the hugely divisive policies of Fine Gael that fostered such inequality in this Country over the past 5yrs. How easily they forget?
…and lest not forget the Mandarins, the ‘Permanent’ unelected and more specifically, unaccountable Senior Civil Servants…who really run the show (as is proof right now) and they should have a lot of questions to answer for their role in this Country’s financial collapse prior to 2008…but, their decisions are privileged and protected under the law…now there’s one Parliamentary change the incoming regime should seriously consider.
What’s Enda telling that lady in the picture. “.sorry we took away your carers allowance.but we had to do it to pay back the banks.”
I thought he was saying “Gottla gear”, having decided to give up on politics and become a ventriloquist.
Yes and don’t be worrying about the death grant, sure you won’t be needing it when your dead.
Which would be ironic, Ted, since he’s been DoB’s dummy for the last five years.
No he is asking her has the man with 2 pints in he’s hand been in yet?
Kenny , F*ck Off Back Too Mayo
Ted Murray………..so funny.
Anyone else reckon Lowry backing enda Kenny in government would guarantee there would be no movement on the findings of the Moriarty tribunal for another Dail term?
The report was published 5 years ago yesterday.
The statute of limitations is up soon anyway, with mr FG having the most to lose nothing will ever be done about it.
Funny thing about all this. The longer it all goes on the more people will realise we don’t actually need any of them in Government.
The country seems to be running along just fine…its always been the civil servants that run country, the minister just signs on the line.
25% of the nations 65% who voted, only wanted him back.
Even if it was a full one fourth of the country, how is it fair that three quarters of those that didn’t opt for him as their number one party are going to be dictated to by the 25%???
Independents that also stated on record pre-election that they were not going to support him – are now going post-election to support him.
…Talk about more u-turns and double-crossing already – and the government isn’t even formed yet!
They again, are starting as they mean to go on – as usual. So what’s really changed in their antics? Bugger all!
If FG get to come back, there will be no stable government for definite in Ireland.
A lot of people are not going to forget at the next soon possible election, who already looks like they are willing to u-turn on their very own words stated previous.
The independents do this, they are not only ruining the ir own chances next time – they are bring down the rest of any independents that might have some decency in them, by they willing to stick to their previous stated words!
It comes as NO surprise that the Green party might be mixed up in this shenanigans.
They were ran out of office before – look like they will have to be ran out of office again?
Clearly they have learned nothing.
People who don’t vote aren’t allowed a say
What about doing what is in the best interest of the country and not in their best interests ? Either they can form a working government or not.
I voted very simply I do not want Enda Kenny as Taoiseach and I’m am in the AOBE camp and otherwise being poor or disabled you will be crucified by FG and just look st the Tories this week is where Fine Gael got their election manifesto from scew the poor and handicapped
Clearly you are unaware of how the system works.
Very simply, you have no right to vote for a Taoiseach, nor anyone else outside of your constituency. Votes are then pooled to produce the most representative parliament on the face of this earth. Just because it hasn’t worked out how you wanted is no reflection on the system
Your logic is implausible bottom line any vote for FG was a vote for Kenny
Controlling opposition as well as government is the elephant in the room.. FG /FF want to control both as they always have. Conceding opposition to SF is the reason FF will allow FG minority charade until collapse. Self service as always.. The electorate are ever the wiser to these trough seekers and next election might see even bigger losses for the established parties..
Excellent point.
Denis naughton was on radio today and was asked would he push for the emergency department to be reopened in roscommon (which was what he left fg over)and he said no he said rural broadband was the major issue.that just proves his stand was a blatant act of self preservation dreadful characters we elect.
Once FG always FG he only left because Enda didn’t promote him that’s just politics
yes indeed Tim he seen the way he would have looked after promising the retention of the A&E and played the martyr.
Please not another 5 years of these parasites, it’ll be carte blanche on the country
Apparently theres a few elephants in Tallaght too
Sweet Jesus, they still haven’t sorted this out? FFS.
Opposite cheeks of the same arse basically….
Some photo, “a shift’s a shift”
From “Pig in the Kitchen”
to “Horse in the Lift”
to “Elephant in the Room”
….. any snakes LEFT in the grass?
FF and FG get together or call an election. Enough bull about minority governments.
If only it was funny 100 years on since the Rising and there is no proper Government the Irish cannot agree.
Ireland is just full of overpaid little fat , greedy thick unqualified gombeen people filling cronies and their own pockets who claim to be working in the public interest.
Back scratchers the lot of them.
Ireland has done nothing of note in that hundred year. When you travel round the world and see the progress some countries make in give years you see his Ireland lags behind. We can’t make a decision now without checking to see what the EU says or what happens in other countries. We don’t see any trends. We have crap at the top.Cronies and lackies everywhere.
Tommy Broughan isn’t Independent he nominated himself as “Independents 4 change” registered political party.
So Tommy can get an extra 38,000 as leader……..like Eamon Ryan. Ffs
Enda, before you do any deal have a listen to what the 13,000 on the “Unfair Car Tax Law” petition are saying.
Doubtful you will last long unless Reform of your Regressive Taxes is on the list.
https://www.change.org/p/unfair-car-tax-law/c
Fg is obviously not wanted by the majority of people, so anyone supporting them in any way will suffer in future election, so just call GE now.people are suffering on trollies, on the streets, poverty.
Enda looks like he’s trying to hide a boner there.
How, with an 80 year old???
I know, I wouldn’t be able to hide mine either!
Garbage
Looks like he’s trying to snog that old lady, shame on you enda
Fine Gael is still wooing those ‘Endapendants’ – but there’s an ‘elephant in the room’
please God tell me Mary Harney is not back????
We also would have accepted “enda-phant” in the room
Phanting all the way???
As a citizen never had such a blessed period free from listening to those predictably boring elected politicians.The country running as well (or as badly) without you lot Enda
I’m a little confused about issue by issue support. Does that mean if say socdem doesn’t get their way on an issue then the government colapses? or if an Endapendant doesn’t agree then it’s cause a general election? Or that each issue will take months to be decided on with loads of amendments and rewrites? Im genuinely confused by it. Also if FG manage to get in with a minority party who’s to say they won’t just give their new Endapendants lackies (how quickly I reached for the L word) 2 fingers and do what they want. If that happens people will have short memories and no sympathy for any TD who walked into that situation.
Funny that they dont show the picture of Enda with the very old lady , him sitting there with her in her home wrapped up in his fancy warm coat & scarf & this poor old dear , sitting at home in her p.j’s dressing gown an extra coat , hat on her head just to try keep warm!
ENDA IS PUCKERING UP RIGHTLY NOW LOL.
Whatever comes out of this the next government is doomed. It will be in the hands of people who will have their own agendas.
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