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CEANN COMHAIRLE SEÁN Ó Fearghaíl has requested that the Oireachtas Golf Society be wound up in the wake of the ‘golf gate’ controversy.
Ó Fearghíl said in a statement this evening that the society be wound up “as a matter of urgency”.
The move comes following the attendance of a number of politicians at an Oireachtas Golf Society event in Cliden, Co Galway.
The golf dinner was attended by more than 80 people and has led to the resignation of Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary.
Acting chief medical officer Dr. Ronan Glynn has said it “seems clear” that the event did not adhere to public health guidance.
In a statement this evening, Ó Fearghaíl said that the society should be disbanded.
“While recognising that the Golf Society operates independently of the Oireachtas I write to suggest that, in the aftermath of this week’s events in Clifden, the society as it is currently structured and named be wound up as a matter of urgency,” he said.
This I believe is a necessary action for the society in the aftermath of this week’s events. The event has seriously undermined and damaged public confidence in the Oireachtas and in what I hope is our mutual commitment to public health and to the people we serve.
The Clifden event hosted by the Oireachtas Golf Society was held to honour late Fianna Fáil MEP Mark Killelea Junior.
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Ye might as well, because ye are winding the rest of us up fulltime.
@Logan Shepherd: don’t see why they should wind it up we all like a game of golf
@Logan Shepherd: but the whisky fase on your man in the pic
@BriP75: Are you Scots?
@BriP75: Not his good side methinks …
@Val Doyle: no I’m very Irish not long home.
@BriP75: Long day was it?
@BriP75: I dont play but winding up isn’t required. The game of golf wasn’t at fault…..politicians feeling above the rules was.
@BriP75: I think my objection is to the use of “Oireachtas” in the name of the Golf Society. This gives some sort of “legit” suggestion to an unrelated organisation. In fact the work “Oireachtas” should be reserved for official institutions of the state. Maybe the “old codger’s golfing society” would be better – I can come up with 101 good names that would get me banned here.
@BriP75: But he can spell FACE
@BriP75: face whoops
That’s my holiday booked now! I can just apologise when I return! Should be grand.
@Sean Walsh: or not in the case of Phil. Those words are not in his vocabulary.
@Sean Walsh: not good enough sean. You need to UNRESERVEDLY apologise. Nothing else will do
@Sean Walsh: kilmuckrige is it
@Sean Walsh: have a time in the sun get outta here for a while
I don’t think it’s the golf society that’s the problem here
@Crocodylus Pontifex: incredible mindset these creatures demonstrate when caught out for what they are. They’ll be suggesting that all hole flags in all golf courses be replaced with tricolours so as to show national pride in something or something…
@Crocodylus Pontifex: as I said
@Crocodylus Pontifex: They have a lot of responsibility to see social distance is in place and not to overcrowd the place. TECHNICALLY the Gov. said 5 is thE most for indoor meetings, but they said They thought it was 50, so 81 is still over 50.
Its incredible to think of all the money we have spent on tribunals when the seating plan from one of these Oireachtas golfing society events could explain a lot of the corruption during the past 50 years
@6Shangan: what ? Loads of work places have their own social clubs set up by its members , tax payer ain’t paying a cent for this club
They should all be arrested and treated with the same threats of arrest they were gloatingly demanding for the Irish public who questioned this lockdown. There is no Pandemic – from Prof Neil Ferguson on to this the establishment have known all along there was no dangers. This is just a bureaucratic and mass media role playing game to train the public away from freedom and towards enslavement. If you can’t see this now, you deserve to be a slave.
@BeyondRoom313: Go Away.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: fascinating, so it’s now somehow my fault and people like me?
Will you be having a candle-light vigil for the former Minister of Agriculture tonight? How about a Tik-Tok dancing video?
@BeyondRoom313: conspiracy theory’s and tin foil hat people like you do more damage than any government could. Jog on.
@Peter: So pointing out the politicians are pathologically lying potential virus spreaders are a bigger problem than the politicians who pathologically lying potential virus spreaders!
So how long have you worked in the civil service then?
@BeyondRoom313: ah if only I did. I’d have a cushy job for life.
@BeyondRoom313: Muppet or maybe just no brains
@BeyondRoom313: the fact that they broke the rules doesn’t mean there isn’t a global pandemic
@BeyondRoom313: the earth is flat lad. You tell em
@Elaine Phelan: of course it does, if their lives were in danger and the danger of infecting their own families upon return was real they would not have went. Simples! Try to think using logic and not not Varadker’s LOTRs speech.
@BeyondRoom313: I agree….all these deaths just made up. Doctors are being forced to put covid on death certs. It’s all a giant conspiracy to benefit the large multinationals who really control everything. Or is it the aliens? Let me just check my “conspiracies for beginners” manual.
@Sal Paradise: The virus is real. the hysterical predictions of the pandemic is not. the death were mostly people dying of other conditions anyway. the human population of Sweden still exists.
it was a nasty virus which took out people who would normally die from such a virus. For 98% of the population it was not dangerous. The politicians and civil servants just developed a taste for terrorising the population is all.
@BeyondRoom313: I somewhat agree with you but your initial comment above made out that you felt the virus as a whole was a hoax.
@BeyondRoom313: Look at the Journal headlines when 80 of them tried to be sneaky and you think 100s or 1000s of them have a secret hoax-pushing cabal that no one outside it knows about? LOL!!!
@BeyondRoom313: GROW UP FFS!!!
@BeyondRoom313: ill give it to you, after a crap week, you gave me a good laugh to lighten my mood, especially the “you deserve to be a slave ” part. Keep the madness coming its helping
@BeyondRoom313: learn English and write correctly before you dribble. Christ.
@BeyondRoom313: oh I hope I don’t actually know you .. that would be depressing you made it into my circle .. you know he was part of the establishment right ? On the uk committee .. helping them deal with the pandemic you say he says is not real .. and then had to resign when he broke his own suggested rules .. any chance of you lot heading to an island and mingle together and see how you fare against this make believe conspiracy theory .. any chance
@BeyondRoom313: find a bog hole and jump into it . Make sure that you put some weights into the pockets
Wind up this shambles of a government pronto
And no mention of the banking big wig Brian Hayes whose decision affect peoples mortgages, raising interests and I’m sure his logic has to be questioned, he makes decision that affect thousands of families its a spit in the face if he gets off Scott free. Remember the meeting Leo missed the minutes of the meeting, 2 months ago. Lads this is not good enough.
@Enda Loughney: haven’t seen Brian Hayes mentioned as attending anywhere. Also it’s not his fault that the banks charge so much interest. It’s because we all those that repay have to cover those who don’t and the banks spend years trying to repossess the security the loan was granted for as per the agreement.
And FFS now you made me feel dirty for mansplaining that to you..shame on you
Members of Government and judiciary as well as bankers all at a piss up together ignoring the rules that apply to the rest of us. Ireland in a nutshell. How is a judge or a banker at an oireachtas golf outing? We really really need to clear the decks urgently. The whole thing is rotten.
Too many bogeys?
@Mattress Dick: who got nearet to the pin on the par tree
No need to wind up the society – not unless there are skeletons in the cupboard they don’t want getting out
@Anne Marie Devlin: agreed, there should be a full open audit done on this elite golf society.
@Anne Marie Devlin: I do think that the name should be changed from “Oireachtas Golf Society” to something else as using the word Oireachtas in the title suggests it is related to the Oireachtas which it is not.
Does taxpayer contribute to this Golf Society?
@Phil West: well at only 140 euro for 2 nights hotel and meal something is being subsidised somehow
All political junkets should be banned. Politician’s should not be having friendly dinners/meetings with the judiciary, gardai or businessmen. This leads to nepotism and cronyism, which is rife in this country. Only meet these individuals on a professional basis. This is FF and the Galway races tent again, just in a different guise. Politicians are too arrogant and thick necked to care, so it’s important to force them to behave in a manner appropriate to their office and the people they SERVE, which they are paid handsomely for.
@Seán Dillon: 100% of the population would agree with you, making that change happen is another thing, this country would be 10 times the country it is overnight if these rules were applied
Ridiculous, having a golf society is perfectly ok and normal, what happened this week is proof that the arrogance of those who have run this state since its inception knows no bounds!! The ceann comhairle is simply deflecting from that fact!!
@TheCraftyCulchie: Expect many more of these types of statements, for exactly that.
Their in the rough now!
@Brian James Moss: better than the trough lol
I think the chap is missing the point but it would be nice to understand the funding underpinning these societies, what criteria needs to be met to become a member of such societies etc. I mean if Philo, Briano and Seanie can attend, can we all not get on this gravy train? It seems to be open to anyone, even those flying in from European countries like Belgium that are struggling to control a virus in a global pandemic and those that then spend time in counties that are locked down due to said virus. Let’s all get our application forms in and get on this choo choo.
@GrumpyAulFella: commoners need not apply . Outsiders are only in on invitation of the members . Members are current and former members of the Oireachtas as staff. It’s self financed
Interesting that none of these were afraid of Covid making them sick given the political system has been telling us we are all going to die unless we obey their guidance. Clearly they know what some of us have been saying all along that the virus is only a threat to a vulnerable few.
@Syl Farrell: “we” as in commoners . They ain’t commoners
I’m sure the winding up of a golf socitey will be a relief to Martin and Varadkar. That’s all the three ring circus of a government problems solved. Only problem is the next minister for agriculture…If Martin does not like you ..Well that job is the kiss of death. Christ you couldn’t make this up. A shambolic government led by a man who sold his soul for the position of part time Taoiseach and is clearly not up to the job.
FF/FG/GP CARTEL lookin after their m8′s as usual, sure we’ll be Grand we’ve a High Court Judge here, mean while the Shinners sit back & keep the Powder Dry ;-)
@Joe: be far more concerned about the exclusive club many SF members are associated with . Said club seems so clouded in mystery that it’s former leader route only denies being a member of it when everyone knows that he was
That horse has bolted. Having a golf society isn’t an issue. Flouting the rules around the pandemic they way they did is the issue. All of them should be held accountable, especially Phil Hogan. If there’s truth to his traveling from Kildare to Galway, that should be the end of his handy number, as useful as her may well be to the top brass. It’s matter of principle.
I used to laugh at John Waters and think he was a conspiracy theorist. I know see that I was an idiot for not listening to him. He was right all along. ‘visible signs of terror’
@BeyondRoom313: no, you were still right to laugh at him
@BeyondRoom313: hahahahaha!!!!!! If you’re agreeing with Jihn Waters then you urgently need a sanity check!!!
The Oireachtas brand is priceless within our country, and nothing as trivial as a Golf Society for washed up old establishment codgers – many of whom played some part in effing up our great country over the years – should be associated with that brand.
Hats off to C.C. Sean O’ Fearghail this evening for taking out a 40 ft barge poll in protecting a precious sovereign intangible!
@Rory J Leonard: are you for real, the only reason he wants it rebranded and fast is he’s afraid somebody will investigate it and find that golf is only a front for the establishment to get close and make cosy cartel type deals with bankers , judiciary , big business , and wouldn’t surprise me if the insurance industry have had their days and nights at this society. We may be one of the smallest countries in Europe but we are right up there top of the league when it comes to corruption.
@Gerard Cummins: what ? You seem to think and expect that all important meetings with big business etc and industry should be held in the board room or a stuffy office
You clearly know nothing about business or making decisions
Parliament , when making decisions have to that in to account many different groups such as banks , building industry, farmers associations and even trade unions … you know the groups that actually keep this country moving . Not every group in society matters nor should be heeded
Lobbying is permitted ya know . When Anto goes to his local TD , rather than his local councillor or the HSE itself for medical card etc that’s lobbying . Rarely hear the commoners whinge about that
Gas thing,just shows how cosy FF &FG are , in normal course of events
Really. Why now.
Punch and Judy show unveiled. Tv presenters , judges , politicians from different parties..
Is that a wind up?
I don’t think they should have to wind it up it’s fairly normal thing in normal times.
But all must account for themselves and pay the piper for the decision to go during these restrictions – spat in the normal member of societies face.
Head of the Irish banking federation Brian Hayes sitting beside the former attorney general and now Supreme Court judge, this needs real clarification.
Didn’t the same man as AG say it would be unconstitutional to continue a rent freeze during covid ?
@Richie: why ? It’s a small country , they could easily bump into each other at mass , the races or in a pub . A Supreme Court midge doesn’t make judgments alone but with other colleagues in open court and their reasoning is put on paper for the the world to scrutinise . Each judge often has their own different view on what’s Constitutional or not . Hayes is also a former member of the Dail . The judge is a former AG . The golf club is open to such folk
I don’t trust the Intentions of Sean Ó Fearghail. He is one of the gang. He always reminds me of a well fed p..let sitting on his throne
Sets of golf clubs for sale. No reasonable offer refused. Several careful owners.
Yeah, this’ll keep those plebs happy until we find something else to distract them
Ah that’s gonna solve all the problems
Maybe winding up the vulture funds might be more appropriated at this stage rather than winding up a corrupt golfing society ~ and why are they doing that ~ Is there more than corruption ~ Is there something darker within ~ They are running ~ So what’s there is it financial or is it even darker ?
I think that it would be more useful to have something else wind up by the electorate. Ah well, it’s anyway forgotten until the next election
There are many social and sporting recreation clubs in operation funded by taxpayers money which are created for retired politicans civil servants and public services employees. The funding that is provided each year by the government for these activities must be made public knowledge now.
Phil hogan has a great job in Europe there is going to be knock on effect for Ireland , it would be a disaster if he. Had to go
@Paddy Dunne: How De foc do you make that out, it would be a disaster if he stays. He is just a big smelly bully.
@Paddy Dunne: Do you still have a terrible empty feeling– in your skull?
@Paddy Dunne: Phil Hogan only cares for himself, I doubt he does anything of substance for Ireland so no. Great loss
@Paddy Dunne: Taps will run at a trickle if you do not pay water charges… When people took to the streets Kenny knew it would be stopped. Hogan sent to Europe…If the arrogant paracite resigned he will be no loss to Ireland or Europe.
@Donal Desmond: hey donal where I come from we pay for water , otherwise we won’t have it , and this there is loads of people paying for their water as well , count yourself lucky that you don’t have to pay , the big problem in this country is services and value for money,if you ask me these people were foolish and that hotel’s was well out of order , at the end of the day they were the ones who knew the numbers and fudged they issue with their two room strategy, that’s what’s wrong with knee jerk laws they are not thought properly and some people try to take advantage of that , with regard to calleary I applaud what he did after his boo boo , hopefully we will see more of that in politics, with regard to hogan I’d forgive this one not the next if there is a next
Regards
Arrest Donnie Cassidy…..
The key word in his quote is “named”, they’ll just rename it as something else and carry on as normal.
Who won the outing ? What score and playing off what handicap??
Balls…
@Tom Kennedy: yeah they have a society for those as well.
OTT & ridiculous. Jumping on bandwagon & not measured.
They’re just a bouquet of pink chubby animals that make oinking noises
Reactionary nonsense ,
Open the pubs
just open up the pubs and other businesses and let us get on with our lives …stop telling us what we can cannot do…it will all be grand. We are all fed up now. And if this was really serious and I mean as serious as they were making it out to be…these politicians would have run for the hills in fear of catching it. They have inside information after all. This is a sign that its not that bad after all. I bet they were giggling and laughing while ordering bottles of Corona.
Who paid for this meal and accommodation
Who paid for the Golfgate meal and accommodation for any of the attendees that stayed over?
have your say