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This apparently random youth backing Emer Costello is the Labour Youth Chairperson

“If you’re suggesting we’re trying to deceive anyone here that’s not the case.”

[Hugh O'Connell]

A FRESH-FACED YOUNG man appears on the front page of today’s Irish Times offering his full support to Labour MEP Emer Costello in her bid to retain a seat in Brussels.

“Emer has delivered on the Youth Guarantee for my generation,” says a quote — presumably from him.

Only Emer has the influence and track record to deliver on the legacy bank debt for us.

It’s all the sort of thing you’d expect someone appearing in an ad for a political candidate to say, obviously.

If the person saying those things happened to be the chair of a political party’s youth wing, you might also expect some sort of caption telling you that, too.

Ciarán Garrett, the Labour Youth Chairperson, is the man whose profile peers out from the bottom-right hand corner of today’s Paper Of Record.

He’s rejecting any suggestions that the ad may be a little disingenuous.

“I’m a young person who’s actively campaigning, not just for Labour but for ICTU Youth, and the Young Workers Network to try and improve conditions for young people,” Garrett said.

To be honest I don’t see how its disingenuous to me as young person and as a campaigner.

A Labour spokesperson pointed out that Garrett was a well known figure within the party who had spoken at many party events.

“If you’re suggesting we’re trying to deceive anyone here that’s not the case,” the spokesperson said.

Read: Gilmore on whether he still wants to be Taoiseach, running in 2016 and the reshuffle

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61 Comments
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    Mute Rachel Walsh Howe
    Favourite Rachel Walsh Howe
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    Nov 22nd 2011, 9:00 AM

    If I hear anyone else say “life style choice” in relation to social welfare, I swear to God I wont be responsible!!!

    38
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    Mute Glyn Carragher
    Favourite Glyn Carragher
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    Nov 22nd 2011, 9:43 AM

    The other thing that I m tired of hearing is “we need to reduce social welfare to motivate people to go back to work” Our TDs receive over €2500 pay per week, plus expenses, free transport etc and they are spending their time on how to cut child welfare by €10 and the dole by €8. Those who profit most from Irelands wealth are mostly tax exiles and pay nothing at all …is something wrong here?? Should we not be “motivating” those who earn €1 million plus to be paying their fair share?

    26
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    Mute Christine Downey
    Favourite Christine Downey
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    Nov 22nd 2011, 10:32 AM

    I “live” on Social Welfare. Yes you could say it is a “lifestyle choice”. I have cardiac artery disease, diabetes and arthritis, and am on Disability Allowance. I get the same amount to exist on as someone trying to find a job. It is not a lot. In fact it is not enough. Do our T.D.s know or care? I think not. Would they do anything if they did know?
    NO! Because they are not concerned about how ordinary people get by.

    21
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    Mute Tony Mcintyre
    Favourite Tony Mcintyre
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    Nov 22nd 2011, 9:50 AM

    Oh Sugar !!

    15
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    Mute Caroline Whoriskey
    Favourite Caroline Whoriskey
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    Nov 22nd 2011, 10:39 AM

    this country has thee most disconected politicians in relation to real life and how we cope and live with the decisions they make.

    15
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    Mute Paul M Brady
    Favourite Paul M Brady
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    Nov 22nd 2011, 9:05 AM

    living on social welfare is a great lifestyle choice, i do it all the time :-P

    12
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    Mute Joe Sixtwo
    Favourite Joe Sixtwo
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    Nov 22nd 2011, 10:01 AM

    It is an absolute disgrace what happened to Fr Kevin Reynolds and I am happy for him that his name was cleared. Why the hell won’t Dev jnr respect this mans wishes and those of Fr. Reynolds legal team?

    7
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    Mute Sophie Le Cuiche
    Favourite Sophie Le Cuiche
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    Nov 22nd 2011, 12:33 PM

    Before cutting social welfare for single mothers, can we please first have a National plan to provide community childcare to every family? Community Childcare workers do a great job but when they have to be closed during school holidays, what’s the point?
    Believe it or not, not every child in this country has a granny who can take over during school holidays.

    6
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    Mute Seán Kearns
    Favourite Seán Kearns
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    Nov 22nd 2011, 11:18 AM

    Am I the only person who thinks the defamation by autocomplete thing is stupid? It would be like punishing a news reporter for reporting the news. It happened and people were looking up the recievership online to find out information about it so google took a popular term being used and suggested it as a search item. Google simpley did what it’s supposed to do, help people find information online in a quick manner by streamlining what is relevent to what people wanted at that time.

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    Mute Graham Mace
    Favourite Graham Mace
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    Nov 22nd 2011, 11:44 AM

    If the term “receivership” is now considered pejorative then google in Ireland had better beware, as the number of businesses in that situation is more likely to grow than shrink.

    1
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