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Updated 3.30pm
SOCIALIST PARTY TD Joe Higgins is to replace the independent deputy Stephen Donnelly on the banking inquiry, it was confirmed this afternoon.
The Dáil Technical Group of independent and small party TDs voted to nominate Higgins at its weekly meeting in Leinster House just before lunch.
It follows Donnelly’s decision to quit the Oireachtas committee on Sunday citing concerns over the government’s control of the inquiry’s terms of reference and overall agenda.
Speaking outside Leinster House this afternoon, Higgins said he would seek to expand the remit of the inquiry to cover the “blowing up of the property bubble and the speculation and profiteering that accompanied it”.
https://vine.co/v/MIxOM2JUXib
He said that the role of the political authorities, the European Central Bank and the Troika must all be investigated, as should the role of the present government “in continuing the policy of bailout and austerity”.
Higgins, who will retire from the Dáil after his current term ends, is a TD for Dublin West and has previously served as an MEP for the capital.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie yesterday, he expressed deep reservations about the government’s control of the investigation.
However he said there would be a “key benefit” in holding public hearings as it would allow people involved in the bank crisis to be questioned and for the public to make up their own minds.
“I think there’s strong merit in that argument,” he said.
https://vine.co/v/MIxeqXEL6OM
Speaking today, Higgins said that he respected Stephen Donnelly’s decision to quit the probe but said it would be a “huge dereliction of my duty not to participate” given he was “one of the only voices in Dáil Eireann who constantly excoriated what was happening”.
He added: “Now that I would not put myself in the position of being able to ask questions on behalf of the majority of the people out there – when I reflected on that, it wasn’t a choice.”
Asked if he was concerned about failing a ‘bias test’ given his criticism of bankers in the past, Higgins responded robustly: “I have convicted the system over and over again that quadrupled the price of a home in ten years at enormous cost to ordinary people.”
Asked if he felt that the two government senators who were added to the inquiry last week should be removed, he said it is “immaterial”.
He added: “They’re all part of the political establishment and that’s my main problem with the inquiry. I would want a committee of inquiry made of citizens.”
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Well done Joe – At least you will ask the hard questions at this gerrymandered and totally compromised Committee Inquiry , which has been totally contaminated by Enda trying to save the brass necks of his Banking Buddies and inept Coalition Government !
Could anyone tell me what Joe Higgins has achieved in his long and well paid public life other than a continuous and whiney moanfest and further than this I would love to know if his membership of the Banking inquiry will prove that he can’t tell the difference between a balance sheet and a fishmongers scales!
voting districts are gerrymandered, stop using words you don’t understand
Hes yet damage the couintry beyond all belief…pretty good achievement id say. He’d probably achieve a whole lot more if you lot would get over your crippling priest induced fear of ‘godless commies’ and vote for him. Instead of the right wing banker owned reptiles you bring in in year after year.
Can you tell me what any of them have achieved in their long political careers?
One thing Joe should know before he embarks on this banking inquiry odyssey; Debit is to the left and Credit to the right.
Master Kaye – Might you consult the dictionary ….. A Chara ?
If natures mutation process acted faster Joe would have four hands so that he could count up to ehhhh 18
What does your conscience achieve, Richard? Oh wait—nevermind.
SFA Richard apart from massive emmissions of methane
Go and read a book Richard.
@Richard Rogers…. For some info on what Joe has achieved you can always use a thing named Google. But I suspect you would know the difference between a Search engine and a Honda 50.
I dont agree or like his politics but at least as said above he will ask the uncomfortable questions. Diversity is the key to political stability. I thought the irish would have grasp this by now. This is a good appointment.
It is a good appointment. At least Higgins allegiances are clear. Donnelly hides his.
No Doubt Mjhint the questions will be uncomfortable but will they be relevant ??
Josh uncomfortable questions I find are always the most relevant. Its why they are uncomfortable. Again I would like to make it clear I dont support this mans political views or standards in anyway but I feel that he may create an element of transparency. I dont trust mainstream politicians anymore & I feel making them uncomfortable will help keep them in line in this enquiry. Already we see some farce in the way this has been handled & Mr Higgins may even add to that but at least he will be honest enough to shed light on any wrong doing or cover ups.
Great to have such a capable politician as Higgins on the inquiry – able to ask the hard questions and not just there for cheap populism like closet Fianna Failer Stephen Donnelly was.
A good choice!
I’d like to thanks Stephen Donnelly for giving Joe yet more chances to bore the arse off us with his continual espousal of a dead political philosophy. If FF and FG represent the worst of the right then Joe is their equivalent on the left.
‘Dead political philosaphy’ why is it dead? Hs it been tried and failed in ireland? Funny how failed right wing dictatorships cant be trawled out as reasons not to use rightwing democracy isnt it? But democratic socialism = ”dat’ll be just like north korea blah blah”
As Maggie once said ‘The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.’
I’m no major fan of Maggie but she has a point. There’s a happy medium otherwise what’s the bloody point of life unless humans are encouraged to evolve, innovate and ultimately change life for the better.
It isn’t about other people’s money, it’s about shared money, resources and services based on needs and then wants. I suppose you think all socialism is communism and all communism is like Stalinist Russia and Maoist China. Thatcher didn’t really have a point
Didn’t we run out of other people’s money while under the centre-right leadership of Fianna Fáil?
Sorry Danny… I don’t really want to share all my wealth with those who are not willing to try and help themselves. As for FF ruining the country… Well yes they did. But what I will say is that they did at least lift a lot of people out of poverty and encourage the risk takers to create real wealth for the betterment of society. I’d rather that then what people like Joe Higgins and his ilk profess about.
When you use Margaret Thatcher quotes to back up an argument you really are being a thick drinky head Paddy.
It’s also other people sharing their wealth with you. Universal healthcare, free education, minimum wage, disability benefit etc are all socialist policies. Would you rather not avail of those kinds of services. Most people who benefit from social welfare are either unable to work or can’t find work. Yes there are people who defraud the system but they’re the minority. What don’t you like about the idea of always having employment and when you can’t have employment you have full cover from the state? And what’s wrong with the idea of sharing the wealth to improve standards for every member of society? What’s wrong with the idea of your needs being covered on the basis of what you need, not what you can or can’t afford?
That “real wealth” wasn’t and isn’t real, it was fake and most of it doesn’t exist anymore. All those houses and hotels were built and now they’re empty. All those businesses were started and now they’re gone. More pubs have closed in this recession than ever before. All those loans were given out that created the illusion of wealth that we never had, but most people couldn’t and can’t pay those off. What “real wealth” are you talking about?
‘other peoples money’ you make it sound like you DONT get taxed under the existing system. The difference is how youyr taxes are used. But anyway by all means use thatcher quotes to back up your argument. V. popular with everyone else im sure.
The banking inquiry? What banking inquiry? What is the purpose of this singing contest? It has no teeth. Its only purpose is to give the government a throwaway line when it’s still spinning its wheels at the next election.
The government will say, “Hold on, now—let’s wait for the findings of the *banking inquiry*.” or “You can’t say anything about the banking crisis because we are all awaiting the official findings of *the banking inquiry*.
It is what destroyer captains used to call a “smokescreen”.
long lost Joe …. haven’t heard his ramblings for a long time !
You must have been hiding behind a large stone….
No Seamus. GGGordon’s brain has shut them out. It’s a safety mechanism to prevent madness
Fool of a man, completely deluded individual
This is becoming more and more like a pantomime as it goes on….
Tommy, when you are finished your pint. I have some property for you in limericks by the sea. Special thick Paddy prices just for you.
Donnelly is some muppet
Off with you Joe, enjoy the skitfest !
He’s got an election to think of!
Reg – Keep up with the news – Joe Higgins , announced months ago , that he is retiring , once the impending General Election is called shortly !
I was referring to Donnelly Ciarraioch!
Donnelly is the best politician in the country.
As least with Donnelly he knows what he’s talking about… Higgins hasn’t a bloody clue.
Reg; you are quite a thick Paddy.
Oh good god. This useless windbag is exactly the sort of person you don’t want around the table if you are trying to get things done. They’ll never shut him up with irrelevant pontificating on matters celestial.
Jim Corr would have been a better choice.
Higgins loves to hear himself talking, he some ass-hole
Good man John. Because what we really need are even more right wing, pro-establishment, pro-private banking TDs on the so called independent banking inquiry and not people like Joe Higgins who actually predicted the banking crisis well ahead of everyone else.
There was a time when Joe Higgins was quite literally the only TD in the Dail exposing the corrupt banking practices of this country and he was lambasted by the establishment for it. Now that he has been absolutely vindicated, people like you continue to live in denial.
Stephen Donnelly is to be replaced on the “banking inquiry” by…Joe Higgins?? The “banking inquiry” has now lost all residual credibility.
Going from an intellectual (Donnelly)to a big mouth clown.
Sean – He is not West Limerick Rightwing FIANNA FAIL anyway !
F sake Kerry i thought you had passed away I didn’t see your gibberish for ages or maybe you were in the bog.
In all fairness Kerry I’d say you know as much about socialism as a donkey knows about a church holiday, I pity you you’r more to be pitied than laughed at.
The same FF you went to when you wanted a job you didn’t know I knew that Kerry did you.
Well as long as he’s going into it with an open mind….
Higgins finished for all times always was a turncoat
Oh this just gets better, hitler on the inquiry, when europe banned the nazis they forgot to ban socialist parties as well.
What exactly is it that you don’t like about socialist parties? Is it the universal healthcare? Maybe it’s the free education…or the social welfare, disability benefit maybe? Maybe it’s the minimum wage, or pensions, or insurance?
You think Hitler was a socialist? I’d say you might want to go read a history book there for yourself.
Ever heard of the national socialist party Caoimhghín.
Rachel
National socialism isn’t the same as socialism. Socialism is left-wing, national socialism is far-right. The fact that you don’t know that is baffling. Ever heard of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea? It isn’t any of one three words but that’s what it is called. National socialism is fascists, nationalist and anti-socialist. You don’t get any more non-socialist that that. The “socialist” part of the name was always hollow
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for coming back with that detailed information about socialism. I have never known the same word to have too different meanings and from my perspective it would appear it is a personal choice depending on ones argument. When you look at Mister Higgins, he is a crass individual with extremist views which contradict your views and i have absolutely no faith in a man like that delivering your dreams for the eutopia you have pictured above. I am sorry to disappoint you but he nether has the parity, support or resources to achieve this task and is unlikely to even hold a serious position within Ireland more than what he has attained.
I’m not disagreeing with you. But it is a fact that national socialism is a far-right ideology as seen in the 1930s and 1940s in Europe. It’s a fascist ideology. The word socialism is just thrown in there but doesn’t actually mean anything, so no it doesn’t have two different meanings. If you know much about the Socialist Party you’d realise that they are Trotskyists, which is the ideology based on the thinking/writing/etc of Trotsky. What I have laid out are the fundamental ideas and policies of any socialist. Then you have the split between libertarian socialism and totalitarian socialism (an example of the totalitarian would be Stalinism). There is no single form of socialism but there are common traits that you’re likely to find, more so in the libertarian than the totalitarian. As I said, the socialism in national socialism really doesn’t mean anything, just like the “Democratic People’s Republic” in the full name of North Korea really doesn’t mean anything. Mr Higgins is retiring soon anyway so he definitely won’t have more influence than he does now. Socialism is a minority in Ireland thanks to the teachings of the church (Jesus had very left-wing ideas though) and Trotskyism is a minority of socialism. For a person and a party that has an ideology that is a minority of a minority, Mr Higgins and the Socialist Party have done incredibly well. Btw, my name is Danny not Daniel.
Shame on him.
A point scoring exercise for the next few centuries ..Blame FF !!! Blame(ISH) (just for the YFG’s ) the banks !! And behind close doors ,they will say : ‘ some people went mad!’
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