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MORE THAN TWENTY community groups and organisations have penned an open letter calling for politicians to ensure “ill-informed, divisive and hugely damaging language” is avoided during election campaigns.
Some 29 groups including Amnesty International Ireland, the Immigrant Council of Ireland, and the Irish Refugee Council published a letter today pointing to the “real consequences” of hate speech during election campaigns.
“Candidates may attempt to win votes by hurting people and dividing communities; it’s up to all of us, including the media and political parties, to ensure this is not a successful strategy,” it states.
“In a general election voters are looking for vision, progress and solutions which involve them. We are all part of a more connected world.
“The Irish State has enjoyed the economic benefits this has brought from a business perspective, but is often slow when it comes to sharing the economic benefits to everyone in our diverse and multicultural society.”
The letter claims that some politicians have been using hate speech to target minority groups.
It said the United Nations Human Rights Committee recognised the damage this can cause during election periods.
“In recent months several high-profile political figures have employed ill-informed, divisive and hugely damaging language regarding minority communities in Ireland, including Travellers, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
“Scapegoating ethnic and religious minority groups only builds divisions and stokes tension in Irish society. Too often, it dominates political discussion, distorting reality, stoking discord and stealing oxygen from more relevant issues.
“It entrenches discrimination, reinforces barriers within Irish communities instead of creating opportunities for inclusion and understanding.
“We call on candidates to fully represent their constituencies, in all their glorious and rich diversity,” it concluded, calling for them to focus on uniting communities, recognising the cultural benefits, offering solutions to inequality, and promoting access to education, healthcare, and housing.
Other groups who signed off on the letter include the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the National Traveller Women’s Forum, and the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland.
Politicians have been campaigning for votes for almost two weeks now after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that 8 February is the day the country will be going to the polls.
So far, issues such as housing, healthcare and drugs have dominated the debate. Tonight the leaders of seven political parties will take part in an election debate, all vying for the public’s support.
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He’ll Roux the day he took that job.
I saw what you did there, Sammy.
I thought he would be german, but I bet he can speak German so he translate the emails on how to run the country
With a grin like that I wonder has he busted his pants open with such a cushy job….
How is it a cushy job to be financial regulator?
The bar been set so low it should be impossible to fail.
Ha Ha that is so clever ..well done
Good to see another “outsider” appointed to the post. I seem to remember some Fianna Fail politicians not being too happy when the last “outsider” was appointed.
I also saw lots of people here moaning about Matthew Elderfield especially over the Quinn Insurance issue.
That is because they know that they can’t get away with doing things wrong now. I am hoping this man is going to be 100% impartial to the politicians and senior bankers as too many were friends in the past.
The censorship monkey is working today keeping the story tone positive, isn’t that right Paul.
Yes, Brain,
We’re still at the “love-story” stage on this one… The honeymoon phase.
Better watch out Brain – Paul is a Harry Potter fan, he will turn you into an owl or something stupid liker that..
I wish Cyril Roux the best of luck with his new role. I pray he can withstand our dysfunctional systems long enough to initiate and follow through on actions that will affect Ireland positively.
And kudos to the search team for looking outside of Ireland to affect change.
What difference does it make where they look Marlon (inside or outside of Ireland)? It could be an Irishman in Ireland, a foreigner in Ireland or any other number of possible candidates that are capable or not of affecting change. Your comment makes no sense whatsoever.
Wayne. . It makes a lot of sense when you consider the incestuous boys for the job of ď4… thru d16 Dublin political and business culture
Irish jobs for Irish people… red thumb away sucka’s
I own a shop and will only hire foreign workers.
Wanna know why? Because they are the only ones that apply.
Irish jobs for people that want to work.
Now, put down the joypad, open up your mams laptop and look for a job.
Please can you emigrate and a clever one comes back? A straight swap.
Enough below minimum wage shops out there maybe you shouldn’t be in business
I know what you mean Marcus but my point is that it doesn’t matter where the person is from as long as (s)he can do the job.
Marlon is always making little barbed comments about Irish society so he needs to be kept in check. A rational individual will wait to see if the person actually affects change before giving kudos to them or the people who sought them out.
The reason I personally would be slightly skeptical of a decision to not hire domestically (Irish or foreign national btw) for such an important role is that it is easier for an outside influence to have an impact on some decisions that this person makes for our economy and it is easier for our so called regulator to sail into the sunset when said decisions are made.
If people think a little French man with a PhD from Harvard is going to solve the mess that is our economy they need their heads examined. We owe 168 billion euros!!!
Wayne Kerr…. My comment was positive. I applauded the steps taken on by the search team and I welcomed the new hire. How is this a barbed comment?
The truth of the matter is this…. Ireland is a small country. Years of collusion, corruption, lawlessness, intimidation,and lack of integrity has paid a toll on this country. The culture, as it stands, is to vote and hire of the same and hope for the best. This isn’t good enough.
In sociology, there is a theory regarding intergenerational dependency and influence. And this… Is what Ireland political government suffers from…. In essence… It doesn’t matter who you may seek for governmental or public sector roles…. The possibility of the Ireland’s past history and individual familial, social and professional relationships influencing the way of working is high.
This isn’t a barb or outrageous criticism… This is fact… The past history of Irish political parties as a consortium has delved in questionable practices… If these same practices were committed in other countries, the perpetrators would have been disgraced, unseated and jailed. However, people like Haughey are treated as a saint. Ahern and Cowen are able to walk away with huge pensions and untouched regardless of how they left the country.
Face it Wayne… Ireland is no longer a insular country… Globalization has affected this country. And the people of Ireland have affected the world.
Please accept that the Ireland and the world is changing and move on!
Why are we discussing Syria on the page about the Financial regulator !
Is there a misplaced link here? These comments on syria are in the wrong place.
Hi guys,
There was a problem with our CMS causing a double post. I’m going to remove the comments about Syria from this, but the article is back up here; http://www.thejournal.ie/syrian-regime-denies-using-chemical-weapons-on-its-own-people-1046943-Aug2013/ if you’d like to resume the discussion.
All the best,
Paul
If all else fails he could always open up a restaurant with that name
:)
“The Central Bank”. I can see that as the name of a restaurant. Or “The Central Tank” if he decides to become a publican.
It should read, it is probably appropriate because Ireland is in the red.
Another hand picked puppet no doubt.
Sent in to protect the interests of elite bondholders and gamblers.
Any relation of Danny LeRoux from Cork.
The Cork LeRouxs were very good at pretending to be one ting and being another ting Entirely.
The original Langers.
Good job monsieur
Are foreigners really coming over and stealing our jobs? Or are they just taking the jobs we’ve neglected? :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
Neither. They’re taking the jobs we’ve shown ourselves to be incapable of doing properly ;)
Brian, for a second I thought your avatar was a picture of Mick Wallace!
That worries me, because my avatar is supposed to be a picture of me, but sometimes comes up as Thor from the Marvel Comics (my old avatar). For the love of all that is good, tell me it’s the Thor pic you’re seeing!! :-)
I see Thor but before I actually read the comments and examined your avatar i thought it was Mick Wallace too.
Is it registered at Gravatar?
I see Thor too…
Thee Thor Marjorie Dor?
Thor is on his way back ; his followers have awoken in Denmark !
6 Months Honeymoon, 6 Months Reality Check, 18 Months Getting out.
‘….will take over from outgoing regulator Matthew Elderfield in October.’
I met Matthew Elderfield a few times: hardly outgoing – said about three words!
It’s you Charles, not him…
I welcome Mr. Roux, he seems to have the competence required. I hope he is given the tools and freedom needed to enforce the regulations.
Correct the Central Bank is full of tools !
Note:
An insurance background. Not banking.
I still laugh when I see how the outgoing regulator mismanaged the Quinn business.
Wait. They’re going to start regulating Ireland’s financial sector?
He may be qualified for the job but will the government let him do his job…..lets hope so!
#BonneChance et #BonCourage
Roux or is it Roo, when you get up in the morning and are trimming that beard in the mirror repeat this principle ‘All bankers are w*nkers and sc*m’. that will be a good start to the day. Treat every banker you meet with contempt and assume all information received is a lie. Any data your reviewing will be messaged so just bin it and get your own figures independently. Remember you work for the consumer the ordinary joe in the street who wants his country bank system to work for him and not some ego banker on the make. Familiarise yourself with the term ‘picked it out of my arse’ and if heard go in for the kill
Agree with you Miller you have it in a few sentences…how quickly we forget in Ireland so keep reminding us.
Bienvenue en Irlande Monsieur Roux – He WILL speak his mind.. That’s one thing I appreciate about the Gaules.. If the government won’t let him do his job I am sure he will tell them who is in charge and where to go !
Disgraceful, there’s lots of unemployed Irish Harvard graduates who are qualified for this post
Yes, that’s what we need in the job, a graduate.
@Cathal Murphy: Please list qualified Irish Harvard graduates with experience and knowledge that can do the job.
If there is they should of applied for the job.
There are lots of unemployed Irish graduates from many different universities. They were all free to apply for the job on exactly the same basis, and I am sure many of them did. This guy was simply the most suitable.
Who do you want in charge of the country’s financial system; the best we can possibly get, or the best we can get from one small island?
My comment was supposed to be sarcastic ffs
And there is Michael O’Leary !
Within 18 minutes, Cathal Murphy regretted posting the most idiotic comment of the day!
Harvard educated.
Well we know he’s taught to make money from money instead of making money from actually producing something of worth.
Yip
Financial crush…
He has some big shoes to fill. A vital role and hopefully he will serve us well.
I want to report 35 billion of tax payers money was used to refund professional investors for their losses. This is money not owed by the tax payers of Ireland, this is public money giving illegal state subsidies to a industry distorting fair competition in the EU. It would be nice if you can get it returned.
Sorry to rain on all of the posivity.
The Irish Banks are zombie banks and the damage has been well and truly done.
The only “strategy” the Government and the CBI has been able to devise is the implementation of the Troika inspired campaign of repossession of the homes of distressed mortgagors who were well and trily scammed by the banks.
Yes the zombie banks can now be subject to tight and hard regulation but the stable door is now being closed years after all the horses bolted.
Mr. Roux may be Harvard educated but the magnitude of the continuing bank crisis is way beyond the capacity of anybody in Irelan or in Europe.
Hope he brings the French way of doing things like telling the Germans to go ( ——-) !!!!!
Willie, I’ve been wondering what the blanks could mean. I’m thinking either, “straight to Paris” or “around the Maginot Line” or “and loot our banks” or “round up those pesky Jews.”
Cyril Roux is the French body building champion. So the bankers better not mess with him.
http://www.coachingsysteme.com/ils-ont-reussi/cyril-roux/
A lot of “heavy lifting” to be done before we turn the corner and see green shoots out of Bowe’s imagination !
I love it and love the golden shine off his body !!
Yeah all economists are hunky. Cough.
are you looking at his sach siobhan ?
Irish jobs are being handed out while so many people are emigrating. Everyday I here of Irish let go to make way for lower paid (minimum wage workers and the joke that’s called jobs bridge). I do understand the role was given to enable impartial decision but surely an Irish person could have done that. Most banks are now been run by outside people on extortionate Salaries flown in daily weekly and all expenses paid. Surely we have enough people on the dole to fill these position.
Ooh monsieur with this Roux-er you are really spoiling us.
Give it time, the internal cogs will grind this poor fella down to the Irish laws of economics to the point that he’ll go quietly with a chunky package(ie money) and never be seen again. Cest la vie Mon amie, merci mais non merci!!
How long before he goes on strike?
mmm! the focus should be on the issue of paper money and granting credit which is the province of the central bank. interest rates are in the provence of ecb. none of these activities are in the provence of the regulator, furthur both the central bank and ecb are owned by bis basle switzerland. who owns bis ?…take a guess..then you will know who controls the economic fortune of eire..thats the real issue !!
The French work well with ze Germans
If you are french do you get the golden ride when you leave ?.
He looks like Seneca from the hunger games.
I’d Trust this fella more than any Irishman.
Hopefully he’ll do better than the local yokels….no more a couple of pints and off to the Galway Races…let’s hope he’s a cold Protestant
Oh Mister Roux, what can you do?
We’ve got the shitehouse Irish bankers blues!
The only Harvard graduate in Ireland that I’ve heard of is your man Breffney Morgan from the apprentice. Although, he’s signed up with Celia Holman Lee ‘moggle agency’ in Limerick, so maybe he’s busy. The lovely french body bulider will do grand. Sure banking/insurance, isn’t it all the wan?
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