Maman Poulet

Yesterday as news spread on twitter about George Lee’s resignation from public office many turned to Senator Paschal Donohue for comment, he is the most followed and active FG rep using the medium.  And Paschal usually replies back to those who ask questions – it’s called conversation – something others using twitter might take note of.

It took a little while (meetings about crime in the constituency had to be attended to!) but Paschal came back and replied to comments and said the show went on.  He also let the world know he talks to Enda and Richard a lot and can get his ideas across.

And then at 1.11 am this morning after a long day on the Radio came a tweet from Lucinda Creighton TD

No word from FG front benchers including Fergus O’Dowd.  I bet in the days ahead Twittering blueshirts may get a few more followers.  Will head office send texts to them all asking for pre approval like the text HQ sent to TD’s yesterday asking for co-operation and advanced knowledge in relation to radio interviews?

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No news yet from the Court of Arbitration in Vancouver on the appeal by the Australian Olympic Council seeking a place for their bobsleigh team in place of the Irish women’s team.

Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland has been giving interviews and predicting civil unrest or something. No word yet from Martin Cullen.

The president of Ireland’s Olympic Council says Ireland “would go into a riot” if its women’s bobsled team is removed from competition at the 2010 Olympics by an Australian appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“It would be outrageous if those girls were stripped of their accreditation and sent back home to Ireland,” said Patrick Hickey to the Olympic publication, Around the Rings.

“We’re already suffering from the football (situation) of (France’s) Thierry Henry scoring a goal with his hand and eliminating us from the World Cup finals. And if something like this happened it would be catastrophe altogether.”

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No use spending ages talking about himself. Thanks to Caricatures Ireland for the best thing that sums it up! (And any rumour that my thoughts turned to by-elections and coverage is probably very true. But I know I’m not alone there.)

I was going to post this week about the move over 10 days ago by Enda Kenny to email all party members every Friday updating them about his weeks work. Helpful FG members have been sending me copies! Last Friday’s was all about trips to Brussels for meetings and to visit windmills and talking about emigration.

Now the urgent rush to email make a lot more sense since Enda knew that the resignation was coming for a while. On top of the reported apologies over his recent media performances Enda needs all the friends he can get.

Only this morning before George’s departure, Fine Gael’s media team were uploading a new video of Enda talking to them about his plans for 2010. We are in the second week in February.

Do you think the plans have changed?  He’s lying low in Mayo today.

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Lots of searches here yesterday for Sarah Palin and Ireland. I don’t know if they were looking for this story which is nearly 18 months old. Some searches on twitter showed people planning to move to Ireland if Palin gets elected in 2012. Now if could be people exploring her roots. More on that bit soon!

Following her speech on Saturday night to the Tea Bag Convention, Sarah spoke in her role of analyst on Fox News Sunday. I’d use the word analyst very very loosely. As does the interviewer. (Paddy Power took bets last month on Sarah’s first gaffe in her new role) Speaking of gaffes Sarah had written notes on her hand for the very tame questions and answers session at the end of her speech.

We learn from the interview yesterday that Sarah will run in 2012 if it’s right and she’s getting briefings from advisers each day on domestic and foreign affairs.

Here’s a clip of the interview and some of the transcript below.

WALLACE: You talk about rising to the top. There’s a new poll out this week of Republican voters across the country and it shows someone named Sarah Palin leading the 2012 race by five points over Mitt Romney. Aren’t you the front-runner for the nomination?

PALIN: Nope. Don’t know who conducted that poll and I know that polls are fickle and heck, after this interview, Chris, we may see a plummeting in the poll numbers. Who knows. These are fickle. I can’t comment on what the poll numbers mean today.

WALLACE: Why wouldn’t you run for president?

PALIN: I would. I would if I believe that that is the right thing to do for our country and for the Palin family. Certainly, I would do so.

WALLACE: And how do you make that decision over the next three years?

PALIN: It’s going to be thankfully a lot of time to be able to make such a decision. Right now, I’m looking at, as I say, other potential candidates out there who are strong. They’re in a position of having the luxury of having more information at their fingertips right now. So that the current events that we’re talking about today, they –

WALLACE: Wait, wait, wait. Because — you’re basically saying you will consider it.

PALIN: I think that it would be absurd to not consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country. I don’t know if it’s going to be every seeking a title though. It may be just doing a darn good job as a reporter or covering some of the current events.

WALLACE: But you’re going to consider, you’re go to go through the process of thinking –

PALIN: I won’t close the door that perhaps could be open for me in the future. I don’t want any American to ever close the door in their personal or their professional lives and put themselves in a box and say, heck, yes I’m going to do that. Or, no way I’m not going to do that, when we don’t know what the future holds.

WALLACE: There’s a report this weekend that you are now getting daily e-mail briefings on domestic and foreign policy issues from a group of top advisors in Washington, D.C.
How come?

PALIN: Ever since our PAC was formed, we have had good people contributing. Some — many volunteers, I guess you would call them advisors, yes, firing away e-mails to me every morning saying, this is what’s happened in Washington overnight. You need to be aware of this. Good. It’s great. It’s helpful.

WALLACE: Do you — isn’t that the move of somebody who is thinking about running for president?

PALIN: You mean, conventionally how someone would — I have no idea how conventionally people do this. How they try to open a door that’s cracked, if it’s even open. And if that involves having a group of advisors send them e-mails every morning. I don’t know how any of that stuff works. I don’t know, I’m just appreciative of having some good information at my fingertips right now.

WALLACE: Would you say that you’re more knowledgeable about domestic and foreign affairs now than you were two years ago?
PALIN: Well, I would hope so. Yes, I am.

Two years ago my engagement was on the state of Alaska. Largest, most diverse state in the union. Twenty percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy coming from our state, desiring to and working towards rampage up that domestic energy production. That was my focus.

Now, of course, my focus has been enlarged. So, I sure as heck better be more astute on these current events, national issues than I was two years ago.

Scared yet?

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I was intrigued but not surprised on Saturday night to read Cllr Dermot Looney’s blog about wanting to bring Dublin Pride to Tallaght.

I have long had difficulties with the Dublin Pride March and it’s lack of message and meaningless ending in a scuttle down the back of of Wood Quay hidden from everyone. South Dublin City Council have supported initiatives to increase lesbian and gay visibility in their library and through measures promoting social inclusion.  Cllr. Looney wants to go one better and bring the march to Tallaght and is bringing a motion seeking support to the council’s monthly meeting tomorrow night.

This Council congratulates the success of Dublin Pride in raising awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in Dublin for more than 25 years and offers its support for the 2010 event. This Council will contact Dublin LGBTQ Pride Limited to offer support and assistance, with a view to holding events in the South Dublin area in this and future Pride festivals.

The issues facing lgbt’s in Ireland are local issues as well as national. Throughout this city people face discrimination and violence in their homes and continue to struggle for acceptance in their workplaces and amongst their families. This applies in Tallaght, Clondalkin and other parts of the city as well as between the canals. I mentioned during last years local and European elections that there were lots of issues beyond recognition of relationships that need to be addressed by elected and unelected officials and it’s very encouraging to see someone who is not gay taking on the issues unprompted and realising the importance of diversity and inclusion throughout the city and county.

I’ve been to North West Pride in Sligo for the past four years and the visibility, friendliness and involvement of other groups and support of local councillors all make the event extremely enjoyable and important for lgbt visibility.

If the Dublin Pride directors (who are in charge of a healthy bank balance according to the accounts sent to all members recently) have any liathroidi they’ll be responding to Cllr. Looney and taking him up on the offer. The one thing about Tallaght is that there is space out there to have a party afterwards – a football stadium for a concert even! South Dublin County Council aren’t bad at all on disability access either which might solve another problem that Dublin Pride has had with it’s activities.

Or are they too deferential to the commercial interests in town, some of whom are not so keen on the idea?

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The Australian Olympics Committee are taking a case against the International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation (FIBT) at the Court of Arbitration. The Court has set up an office in Vancouver ahead of the Winter Olympics which starts next Friday.

The outcome of the case affects the Irish Women’s Bobsleigh team who thought they had qualified and were getting settled in. Yes we have a team – Aoife Hoey and Claire Bergin qualified in 19th place. However the Australian women’s team, who were slower than the Irish, are saying that there should be a place for them in the Olympics due to an understanding about the participation of a team from Oceania. Japan is already in there in 20th place (yup Ireland were also quicker than the Japanese!)

The Australian Olympic Committee have dispatched a lawyer from Sydney to help out.

In a situation that brings to mind the movie Cool Runnings, based on a true story about an underdog bobsled team from Jamaica, the team say they are being shut out of the opportunity to represent Australia.

Loch-Wilkinson and McIntosh had expected they would automatically be awarded a berth in the event as the top-ranked representatives of Oceania under the rules of International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation.

”If any continent is not represented in the top 20 rankings, it was always an understanding that they would get a spot,” Loch-Wilkinson told The Sun-Herald from Canada.

But the team, which just missed out on a top 20 ranking, found out 10 days ago there would be no berth for Oceania as part of an International Olympic Committee attempt at tightening athlete numbers.

The Court of Arbitration have announced that they will hear the case tomorrow – they were due to hear it yesterday. There are snippets about this in the Sunday Independent and Irish Times but no radio call ins, national gnashing of teeth etc ala Henry’s handball….yet

Update:

The Olympic Council of Ireland have released a statement on the matter. (Thanks to SG for the email)

The Olympic Council of Ireland is making strong legal representations to CAS regarding the proven rights of qualification of the Irish Women’s bobsleigh team via the standard qualification process, and are highlighting the fact that the team has passed all verification standards for participation in the Winter Olympic Games, including full clearance and accreditation by the International Olympic Committee.

The Olympic Council of Ireland and the women’s bobsleigh athletes are very disappointed at the Australian Olympic Committee’s approach and are determined to fight for their rightful and well earned position in the Olympic Bobsleigh competition which starts on Tuesday, February 23rd.

“The Irish team is now currently based in the Olympic Village in Whistler, Vancouver, having passed all relevant accreditation registration. It is training at the nearby Olympic bobsleigh track alongside all the other national teams that have qualified for the Games. Nevertheless, CAS is an independent legal entity and may well decide that the Australian Olympic Committee has a case against the FIBT regarding qualification issues that they have raised.

The Australian Olympic Committee has presented a very lengthy legal submission to CAS outlining their request that the Irish team be replaced by the Australian team – a very technical submission based on Australia’s interpretation of the rules governing qualification. The Irish team, which now is in 19th position on the qualification table, has fully qualified by all international interpretations.

Japan is in 20th place and completes the quota in the view of the International Olympic Committee and the FIBT. Australia’s case is that, being on the continent of Oceania entitles them automatically, despite much weaker performances than Ireland, to a guaranteed place in the final line-up. This is the issue that CAS has to address.”

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Someone’s been getting a bit of flack for his comments last week, but is Leo blaming it on the reporting or the reading of the reporting or misreading? Note the last line – all his own work!

From today’s Irish Times

Madam, – Last week I spoke in the Dáil on the Civil Partnership Bill during which I addressed tax implications that may arise from the introduction of civil partnership. I drew attention to the fact that the tax system can require a single person to pay considerably more tax than a married couple that earns more, despite the high cost of living alone.

I pointed out that this tax advantage is also given to married couples with no dependent children and even married people who do not live together. The major beneficiaries of this anomaly are wealthy couples with no dependants.

I said this was unjust and that extending the tax benefits of marriage to civil partners would result in further disadvantageous treatment for singles. This aspect of my speech was picked up in an article on Page 6 (January 28th).

I went on to argue that the State should instead, give the tax benefit to the “family unit” to recognise the cost of raising children and the social good of family life. In fact, the tax system barely recognises families at all and only does so through a special tax credit for families headed by a single parent and a small credit for the stay-at-home spouse. This was picked up on Page 8 by another reporter.

Unfortunately, some stay-at-home parents read the article on Page 6 but not on Page 8 and got the wrong end of the stick, totally. I wish to have the matter clarified and to restate my support for favourable treatment for families. I do not, however, believe that single people should be treated less favourably than married couples or civil partners where there are no dependent children involved. These views are my own. – Yours, etc,

LEO VARADKAR TD,

Leinster House,

Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Update

Thanks to Joe in the comments for showing us this letter in the Independent. I think Jedward and Vanilla Ice’s soon to be number 1 maybe rather apt here.

I AM not sexist and I fully appreciate that being a mother is a full-time job. Jane Dignam (Letters, January 30) has got the wrong end of the stick.

Clearly, she neither heard nor read my speech. Nor did she bother to contact me to check the facts. Rather, her letter is a reaction to an article in another paper, which has since been clarified.

I wish to re-state my support for the favourable treatment of stay-at-home spouses with dependent children.

However, I do not believe that single people should be treated less favourably than married couples where there are no dependent children involved — a situation which will be exacerbated if the taxation advantages of marriage are extended to civil partners.

Civil partnership was the topic of debate. These views are my own.

I sincerely hope that Ms Dignam raises her children to be more dispassionate and discerning than she is.

I highly recommend that she reads the Irish Independent, instead of the other paper.

Leo Varadkar TD

Dublin 2

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‘The Pefect Storm’

Remember last year where Cowen made his non state of the nation address and only Harry McGee was in the room? Well tonight An Taoiseach was back talking off the cuff tonight at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce AGM. (Sean Whelan in RTE reporting on the Nine O’Clock news said Cowen was speaking to an audience of business men.  I assume this is not true and that Dublin Chamber of Commerce is an equal opportunities organisation!)

This time Harry was not alone and the press room was buzzing after it – well the keyboards were. I wonder if anyone was singing Kumbayah or the like.

You can listen to his speech here. Think of him on a trailer in Clara battening down the tarps against the wind or something.

(Thanks to Dublin Chamber of Commerce for the Audio)

I’ll have a think about it and be back to you! Things are going to get worse a bit before then get better or something but we’re all still in it together.  Ah oh yes the Recession is to be known as The Perfect Storm

See Alexia for more on the film and the script or whatever you call the transcript of the off the cuffery!

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I was asked 3 times yesterday about gay people in the Irish Army and if they were allowed to serve. The hearings to examine the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) have commenced in the USA and Obama has promised to remove the bar on lesbians and gay men serving openly in the US Military.

It’s so long ago since there has been any public discourse in the Irish media on the matter.

The answer is yes – lesbians and gay men can openly serve in the defence forces, in fact there has been no preclusion but in 1993 when male homosexuality was decriminalised in Ireland there was a significant change to make sure that there was no discrimination in terms of policy. At the same time as equal age of consent was introduced the Irish Defence Forces calmly announced that they would be treating heterosexuals and homosexuals equally – no relationships between senior and junior officers. No harassment of gay officers and no asking questions about peoples sexuality was also confirmed by Ministers and Army chiefs.

From the Irish Independent May 1993

In a related development, the Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Noel Bergin, told the _Irish Independent_ on Tuesday that a report on the introduction of a code of conduct governing interpersonal relationships is being prepared. The decision to prepare a report follows a recent announcement by the Minister for Defence, Mr David Andrews, that military regulations would be modified to take account of any reform in the civil law on homosexuality. Mr Andrews is seen as a member of the liberal wing of the Fianna Fail party. Lt Gen Bergin pointed out that the Army does not ask potential recruits about their sexual orientation, and that they had few problems in the past in this area.

And a quote from the Dáil record in February 1993 from the then Minister for Defence David Andrews

51. Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Defence if there are regulations governing homosexuality for entrants to the Defence Forces; the current official position on the matter; if it is proposed to make any changes in the present regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Andrews): While the question of homosexuality is not specifically covered in Defence Force Regulations the provisions of section 169 of the Defence Act, 1954, provide that acts which are in breach of the criminal law of the State are also deemed to be offences against military law.

Information regarding sexual orientation is not sought from personnel wishing to enlist in the Defence Forces and it is not proposed to change this policy.

The Defence forces have a code on interpersonal relationships and guidelines in relation to discrimination – see Section 4 par 119.

I’m sure there is still discrimination faced by gay and lesbian members of the defence forces but the policy would indicate that there is no bar on lesbians and gay men working in this area. Other lgbt historians and folklorists may wish to add information to this post?

Maybe we could send current Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea to Washington to tell them all about it? It’s 17 years ago since the issue was dealt with here and 17 years since it was last debated in the Capitol Hill.

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Tonight in Trinity College Dublin a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution will take place to discuss electoral reform. It’s believed to be the first time that the committee will have met outside the Oireachtas to debate. Discussions at the meeting will include presentations by members of the public on electoral reform. (Yes I know the meeting is only down the road, but you never know what this may have started! The decentralisation of the Dáil and Seanad cannot be too far away!)

Tonights meeting will then be followed by a panel discussion chaired by John Bowman with participants including Noel Dempsey, Minister for Transport, Professor Ken Benoit, head of the Department of Political Science, Senator Ivana Bacik, Trinity Fellow, Sean Ardagh, Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee, Jim O’Keeffe, Vice Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee and The Hon. Mr. Justice Frank Clarke.

The event is hosted by TCD JS Irish Politics (3rd year) class and TCD Department of Political Science.

There will be a liveblog and webcast, more information can be found on TheStory.ie.  I’ll be liveblogging at some stage hopefully if the wifi goddesses oblige! So please join in and we’ll try and get some points across from the viewing public!

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