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.
GE2024ge24WHILE THERE HAD been talk that tonight’s televised leaders’ debate could be the make-or-break moment in this election, it’s difficult to see how it could move the dial for any voter.
Post-debate, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald was asked if she won. “But of course,” she said, with a smile.
McDonald, who was standing between Micheál Martin and Simon Harris during the live debate, first sought to remind voters of the past, stating:
“You brought the crash and you brought austerity.”
She also spoke about the two men wanting to “jive their way back into Government Buildings”.
However, this debate didn’t bring the same level of success as the 2020 version, a time when the wind was in her party’s sails.
Truth be told, there was no clear “winner” last night.
Did the gloves come off between any of the party leaders as the clock runs down on this election? Not really.
There were accusations of “sniggering” at health issues, while Harris was told he had a “brass neck” by the Sinn Féin leader at one point.
But with such the flat replies and lack of in-depth debate, it’s difficult to see how voters going to bed will remember any clear, breakout moment.
The final debate before the general election got off to an awkward start for Fine Gael in particular with Harris questioned about what interaction his team had with the national broadcaster about that video from Kanturk.
The first question posed to Harris was whether there was a request to take the clip down, but the Taoiseach insists that the party’s communication was to offer a statement about its position on care and disabilities.
He said he had “no knowledge” of any request being made not to air the clip.
Simon Harris responds to questions about his interaction with care sector worker, Charlotte Fallon, in Kanturk, and whether his staff contacted RTÉ about coverage of it.#rtept | @RTENews pic.twitter.com/pRpAoKboNe
— RTÉ Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) November 26, 2024
The viral clip has dominated the election campaign debate for the last week and pushed the debate around pay disparity between HSE and section 39 workers into the spotlight, something which was raised this evening.
Who will go into government with who? This line of questioning was held to the end of the debate.
‘Coalitionalogy’, as Martin put it, has been far to frequently discussed throughout the campaign, he said.
On coalition possibilities and ruling out Sinn Féin, Micheál Martin "it's extraordinary that you put a question that manner..."
— RTÉ Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) November 26, 2024
Asked about previous coalition claims, he says FF and SF's housing policies are "diametrically opposed."#rtept | @RTENews pic.twitter.com/rHFPJnVXEf
Martin was asked about his decision to rule out speaking with Sinn Féin about government formation after the votes are counted. He turned on presenter Miriam O’Callaghan, saying her question was “extraordinary.”
“You told me five years ago that you wouldn’t go in with Fine Gael, just saying,” she responded.
“Just because you get 20% of the vote doesn’t mean that you get to go into power,” said Martin.
Explaining why he went back on his word in 2020, he said Fine Gael was “the only option” but added that Sinn Féin’s housing policies are diametrically opposed to Fianna Fáil’s.
McDonald then wheeled out the old reliable about “tweddledum and tweedldee” – to which Harris shot back by saying: “You’re rolling out the five year old line, you can do better than that.” .”
Housing is one of the main talking points of this election, so of course it featured.
Where is the “radical reset” in the Fianna Fáil housing policy, something the Housing Commission report has stated is needed, presenter Sarah McInerney asked Martin this evening.
He struggled, stating that he wants to get to 60,000 houses per annum, but added:
“We do not need to go back to the drawing board, as some would say.”
He said doing this would only cause more delay.
McDonald was also quizzed about Sinn Féin’s new housing delivery plans, such as the plan to build homes on state-owned land, but land that the state would continue to own.
She said the Banking Federation of Ireland has never said banks would not lend to buyers in this scenario.
It was put to Harris that the “horse’s mouth” – former housing minister Eoghan Murphy – said in his new book that housing was not Fine Gael’s number one priority when he was in government.
He was also asked about promises from another Fine Gael housing minister, Simon Coveney, to end children having to live in hotels.
It was put to Harris that that pledge was made seven years ago and it is now worse than ever.
Asked if Fine Gael had failed to make housing a top priority, Harris said:
“Housing is the number one priority.”
Pressed on whether Fine Gael had put the party in front of the country on reforming housing policy, Harris said: “My party never put party before country.”
He added: “My party’s never crashed the economy.” A subtle dig there at his former coalition partner just a few feet away.
In terms of when there was disagreement between Harris and Martin, it was only evident when the debate moved to the manifesto spending by parties.
Martin poked holes in Fine Gael’s figures, with Harris politely responding that he was sure that the Fianna Fáil leader was making a genuine error and not trying to mislead the public intentionally.
McDonald said she agreed with Harris on one thing, that the scars of the financial crash are still being felt.
Martin said: “You don’t have to tell me that, I have learned from that, I will always put the country before party.”
Harris responded robustly to McDonald’s criticism of Fine Gael’s handling of the Dublin riots.
“I think there will be many Garda families at home finding it quite sickening that Mary Lou McDonald is now the champion of An Garda Siochana,” he said.
“That’s the first thing. I’m not ready to take a lecture from you on law and order. My party has never had a TD who has collected a Garda killer from the gates of prison. First point.
“Second point is this – your position was to immediately blame the head of the guards rather than the rioters, and you carried out a press conference at a crime scene. That was your approach. How do I use this to my political advantage? That was your approach. And the public saw right through it.”
She defended her response.
“The state lost control of the streets of our capital city on that occasion, that’s unacceptable and that, by any measurement, is a measure of failure. I don’t know what else it is,” she said.
“I, at the time, was very critical of Minister Helen McEntee. I stand by that position. I see some of your (Micheal Martin’s) colleagues now in Fianna Fail belatedly agree with me. How anybody could imagine that it is a badge of success to have that level of violence, and law and order breakdown, and the fear that it brought and the criminal damage that it meant,” she said.
Climate change, something that has fallen off the radar somewhat of this election campaign trail, was raised this evening.
Martin said he does not agree with an “unfair” report from Friends of the Earth which put Fianna Fail as the third worst party on climate policy.
Fianna Fail scored 30, Sinn Fein scored 33 and Fine Gael scored 38 in the report, out of a maximum of 100.
Martin said: “I don’t accept it and I would robustly defend Fianna Fáil’s commitment to what is the existential crisis of our time.”
Elsewhere, the Fine Gael leader said his party had scored better than Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.
McDonald, defending her party’s position on scrapping carbon taxes, called them a “lazy” and “punitive” form of taxation.
Micheál Martin post-debate: pic.twitter.com/FWyWX8yV0x
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) November 26, 2024
Leaving Montrose this evening, Martin urged voters to read the manifestos before they make up their mind.
It’s good advice, as not much could be gleaned from tonight’s debate that would radically change someone’s mindset heading into the polling booth on Friday.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The Fr Ted episode with the Car Draw springs to mind reading this !!!
Number 11!! Sorry ted I was reading it upside down
There’ll be more credit union car draw fixes coming out,Rush c.u is the start of the snowball.
@Gordon Hughes: ironically that episode is actually filmed in rush!
Now there’s a surprise only 15 cars !!!! anybody who paid into the “alleged” car raffles got their money refunded and got their savings back in a form of a cheque. i feel sorry for the honest staff who worked there…..they are now out of a job because of 3 greedy individuals who are well known in the area.
@Marie Gunbay: There were honest staff????
@Get Lost Eircodes:
There were/are plenty of good honest people working there. While I didnt bank there or do any business there I met a few staff who are so upset. The staff were very good helping elderly people do their business. Few bad apples it appears.
@Marie Gumbay. You know for a fact there were 3? People are using names locally which is a little unfair until such time as someone is charged. We know how stories begin and grow….. By the way if someone is found guilty they should be………….
The bigger issue here is the Credit union had accountants and annual audits from ILCU, Central bank and nobody saw what was happening!! it beggers belief.
@Leo Bissett:
Nail on the head regarding their “audited” annual accounts. Hard to fathom how a professional firm of accountants could have missed these financial irregularities. Time for an independent regulator in the world of Irish accountancy methinks.
@Get Lost Eircodes: Yes there were staff who were not involved in the scam….it was further up the chain of command.
@Leo Bissett: Leo I never mentioned any names I heard it from somebody I know who actually worked there….and I was also a member. Perhaps other people are under suspicion. Hopefully the culpits will be charged soon. I heard a member of the family in the pub saying the family name was ruined because of these two particular individuals and another.
@Marie Gunbay: culprits
Well said Leo!
@Marie Gunbay: Maria I have heard names also but you will know from around the place lots of names have been mentioned which until something is proven or someone charged is a little unfair. The stress some good honest workers have been put under is frightening.
@Frank Cauldhame: indeed Frank…this was missed by the Central bank and the League of Credit Unions as well as Rush own teams of accountants…Are we really to believe the Central Bank has us covered if Anglo 2 comes down the tracks???
It’s probably an administrative error.
I once bought two kerrygolds when i was up in SuperValu and wasn’t really concentrating. How we laughed when I came home.
Journal.ie requests that it be known that other brands of butter are available. Comments may be closed depending on favourite butter brand of editor.
Surely the cars are easy to trace. The Nearys garage would have records of registration plates etc. All traceable. I am curious to find out how many golf course pals are owning them. Or did they quickly sell them on once the proverbial hit the fan?
Agree, the dealer should be able to provide all the details of the cars handed over (bought and paid for). Unless they were phantom sales and thwre was collusion with the dealer.
@Monika Fehlauer: Probably sold them on to pay for the overseas properties, deeds for which were found in the safe and nobody claimed them.
@Conrad Shields: My mother won a car at her local CU afew weeks ago – not Rush. Due to issues regarding registration, the CU does not buy the cars, but presents the winners with a voucher and the winner then deals directly with the dealership. It is hearsay that some dealerships will ‘buy’ the car back immediately from the winner which means that in effect, there was never an exchange of car. However, the CU should display the names of the winners and have a record of the vouchers issued. I know my mother’s name and photo are prominently displayed.
Hi Anne Marie Don’t doubt that other CU’s have held legitimate draws and like you say, your mother’s picture was prominently displayed. Just soinds loke something fishy has been going on here. Not able to identify 1 winner is careless, but 15?
Why don’t they just look for the friend or relative to Nearys in Lusk?
The Credit Union probably just forgot to pick them up.
@Cian Martin:
Nearys didn’t necessarily do anything wrong. An accounting entry doesnt mean that any monies were ever paid to Nearys, it may just have been a way to cover the disseverance of over 200k. Even if cars were bought from Nearys it was not their responsibility to chase down who the eventual winners would be. Its not nice to infer dishonest work practices on a business without knowing the fact and it is also very dangerous and potentially putting people’s jobs and reputation at risk. Please think before posting!
@Nick Allen:
*disappearance of over 200k
Someone is rush is at home now going
“Oh Bo**ox”
Yes and I’m a neighbour of two credit union employees that both miraculously won cars in draws a few years ago. One woman won a BMW and the second woman won a Nissan Primera from credit unions despite being employees. Absolute truth as they are neighbours for years.
What colour curtains do they have? And what sort of carpet?
Their curtains don’t match the carpets I’ve heard, sorry.
Still looking for ticket number 11.
@Ciaran Dunne: Sorry Ted. I was holding it upside down.
@Gordon Hughes: Ironically that episode of Fr Ted was filmed here in Rush
I’m going back 5 or 6 years ago when both women in our local credit union and both living on the same road, won new cars in these infamous draws. It was quite a shock to our small road and cul de sac that both these women won cars after being employed for years. What can anyone do?
Normally employees of a company running a similar draw are prohibited from entering, to include directors or suppliers BTW
@BHJFT96:
Not sure this is true. Some companies will not allow employees enter certain draws. My club raffle a car and we need every member to support the draw by buying tickets and selling and promoting the sale of tickets.
All over Ireland every week local people win prizes in various club draws.
Yes that’s why I’m making the comment. One woman was employed since I was a young kid on her road and the other was a more recent employee. Still they both won new cars from credit union. Many people can confirm this.
You should report it to the Irish league of credit unions of its not Rush.
“cars”
As Neary’s motors are Subaru dealers, no new Subaru costs 14,500, they start at 25k. So, what car did Neary Motors supply the Rush Credit union ?
They sell all makes of cars not just Subaru.
@Diarmuid Lucey:
Usually a ford fiesta which today is around €16,500. Any decent car dealer will get you whatever make of car you want. A ford dealer will get you a B.M.W or a Renault dealer will get you a Citroen.
@Diarmuid Lucey:
Reading it again I feel it is a little unfair on Nearys to be even linked with this draw. They supplied the cars but didnt run the draw.
They had a dual dealership, citreon/subaru. Now they sell near new models regardless of brand. The cars were C3′s and Justy’s (like a subaru Yaris/Aygo style car, not terribly popular) and that works out about right price wise. Plus keep in mind where tbe accounts are coming from. It’s like to be fabricated or inflated on the books.
Don’t Rush to judgement
@Wayne Scales: Ah give them some Credit will ye
It could have gone on for Infiniti.
Suspended sentence….
Surely Garage can provide VIN numbers if vehicles were actually supplied???
You won’t get much of a car for 14,500 these days. Something dodgy going on there too.
@Point Blank:
They most likely got the cars at cost price which is not unusual. I was aware the talk was of 1 car draw allegedly been rigged.
A lot of clubs and charities run car draws some of which are heavily sponsored or subsidised. IIRC the car was usually a ford fiesta or similar.
I have bought a lot of cars from Nearys and they are a very good company to deal with. They are also very good at sponsoring local clubs and charities. They supplied cars which I dont think is a crime? They are entitled to be paid for them also.
So can a member of any club buy a ticket for a raffle of a club they are members of? What if their 3rd cousin twice removed pulled the ticket?
@ Leo… I never implied that Neary’s garage were at any fault whatsoever. The whole thing reeks to the high heavens if you ask me. You’re surprisingly staunch in your defence though. Friends, relations maybe?
@Point Blank: Was not getting at you POINT BLANK meant to answer more re the cost of a car. Garages will do a deal with a club or organisation if they try to raffle a car by giving it at cost price.
Ah I would have known the owner from school and played football against him so Friends for a very long time but not boozing buddies if you get me. Just found them always decent enough to deal with.
Just think unless they are “involved” in any way their name should not have been mentioned. You know the way sh*t sticks……
I know Leo. Like I said… no insinuation whatsoever intended. There was something rotten going on but all evidence points to the credit union management. Or mismanagement in this case.
@Point Blank: Definitely mismanagement. Rotten.
I work locally and have done for 38 years so I know the people involved. I hear a lot of bull around the place from people on this. A very big danger here someone very innocent will be named and god knows what someone could do with this hanging over them, in the wrong. It is easy for me or anyone to say if they have nothing to hide they have nothing to fear but there will always be people damaged in these situations. I just hope and pray it is the right ones.
Like a lot of others I want this to end as soon as possible. Deal with the culprits and let the good people move on
I wonder if my Credit Union is still there. Must check tomorrow.
Must’ve been Opel Zafiras.
Regarding cars won in draws.
It is quite likely in my opinion that a cash alternative was offered instead of a car.
The garage therefore would not be able to provide details of VIN/Registration numbers for cars that were never supplier in the first place.
It’s absolutely shameful that people are allowed comment on the actions of a third party business who in all likelihood are guilty of no misdemeanors.
I don’t know the guys in Nearys and have never been in Rush in my life.
But it is well within the realms of possibility that some of the good people of Rush would rather a substantial cash injection instead of a shiny car sitting in the driveway of their rented accommodation or their mortgage saddled home.
No doubt there is some nefarious activity going on in relation to this draw but to drag in the garage to this sordid mess is damaging at best and quite defamatory in the extreme.
But the Journal will condone nearly all comments if it feeds the scandal mill.
Second that, cash alternative was offered. Although less than the value of the car. So harder to trace. I am shocked to see Neary’s name published. I’ve bought a few bits and pieces there. Great lads. Media shouldn’t drag people/companies in like this. Very irresponsible journalism.
same ol story , where was the regulation/regulator !!!!!!!!!!????, …who is going to foot the bill as they say ,,, same as in quinn insr , we end up with levy on our policies BECAUSE someone didnt do what they were getting PAID to do and are probably STILL getting paid to do ,,, or paid( ‘generous’) pension , great lil country ,,,,,for some that is
@Frank Manweiler: Agreed Frank.
This was highlighted over 6 years ago. How was this let go on so long. Someone didnt do their job.
This is surely a case for the highest office in the land to deal with, wherever that is. We have as you said stumped up for Quinn, bailed out the banks and I believe more credit unions will follow.
Dont know if it will ever happen but the credit unions need to go back to small loans that gave people a chance to modestly improve their standards of living with small loans. It is a fantastic organisation but went very like the banks.
@Leo Bissett…Well said Leo and bang on about ILCU and External Auditors. These bodies continually avoid sanction as one scandal after another emerges. Worse still the ILCU probably stumped up funds from the Protection fund to help the poor ailing credit union after their go*s*ite field officers missed all of the issues
This could have been a legit Pyramid Scheme and these guys got in first…anyone else win Toasters or hair dryers on the road by any chance?
Like a lush to a rusk!!!
I am sure Neary’s are completely innocent in all of this and can immediately supply a list of the 15 people for whom they processed the car registration. Because they’re not implicated in any way. At all. If they can provide this information.
@Steve B: As was mentioned above people may have taken a cash alternative. I would not be happy if I were running a business to have my dealing made public. I would not be divulging any information unless it was in strictest confidence. Most certainly not for someone to publish.
People are so wound up with their theories on “who dunnit” we still miss a really important point.. Where were the Central bank auditors, revenue, accountants………………
How come comments on this case are open, with legal proceedings quite likely, but commenting on a case outside this jurisdiction, a case involving Sharia police, is not allowed because legal proceedings are ongoing?
FINANCE THEIR PROJECTS AND DREAMS
(queenethloans@gmail.com)
we give out loan in a low interest rate of 2%
The decision to embark on a project with 2, is one thing; Find funding to enable them to realize that is another.
In order to facilitate access to funding and concerns extend its program to strengthen the purchasing power
of citizens, are a group of individuals meeting within
a pprivate club and registered said advocates have access to better living conditions. We give credit
to all people of good character in well-researched and accessible to ordinary people conditions.
The quality of service of our agency will help you decide the personal loan that suits you offer any:
* Credit Financing * business loan * Investment funds
* Debt consolidation loans * The credit line
* Some mortgages *Acquisition of credit * Personal loans
You are the sole command and decide how much you are satisfied. Must be accountable for their spending. We take
care of providing you the amount needed to carry out your projects.
queeneth loans is a legit and certified loan company, well trusted and reliable money lending company.
apply today for more informations at ( QUEENETHLOANS@GMAIL.COM )
have your say