Government parties falling apart!

[mike65]

Okay a small exaggeration but its all happening, a FFer Joe Behan has resigned from the party Jim McDaid is waivering and talk of two Greens possibly following.

Mike

[snubbleste]

I heard Joe Behan on the radio and he said it was not just about the medical cards issue in the budget but FF moving away from its ethos in the last few years.

I hope he remains independent and does not revert to vote with FF in the Dáil

[jmayo]

Originally Posted by mike65

Okay a small exaggeration but its all happening, a FFer Joe Behan has resigned from the party Jim McDaid is waivering and talk of two Greens possibly following.

Mike

Why does the term "Rats and sinking ships" come to mind.
How come he didn't have this crisis of believe back in 2006 or 2007 !
FF should remain in power, they should not be left off the hook by slinging off now that they left us in the sh***.
They were around for the good times and were great at self congratulating themselves for them. Now of course they have nothing to do with anything.
Now lets see what they are made of and for once they should be around to clean up the mess they and their buddies helped create.

[Lil' Smiler]

Originally Posted by snubbleste

I heard Joe Behan on the radio and he said it was not just about the medical cards issue in the budget but FF moving away from its ethos in the last few years.

I hope he remains independent and does not revert to vote with FF in the Dáil

True. I agree, hes a good man to be honest. I hope he stays Independent.

[podge79]

he'll probably become one of these independent FF'ers you see every so often and vote accordingly. But I admire his stand - others will just shrug shoulders and murmur "what can I do"

[Lil' Smiler]

Yeah I hope others follow him.
He's my local TD aswell as Dick(head) Roche. Joe has tried his best for our area and fair play to him for doing this but I don't know how much it'd convince or encourage others to follow.

Apparently a former Minister for FF also said to the TV3 politics lady Ursula, that it "took 80 years to build Fianna Fail but maybe only 1 budget to take it back down".. I think she said budget anyway

[sovtek]

Originally Posted by jmayo

Now of course they have nothing to do with anything.
Now lets see what they are made of and for once they should be around to clean up the mess they and their buddies helped create.

Maybe you're right but from what I can see they will just make things worse. Rather lets get people in that can do the job right and then sort out who needs to be dragged out into the street.

[dresden8]

Has this ever happened before in FF?

I see Mary Coughlan got a mention, in a bad way.

[Stephen]

There's a huge thread about this over on politics.ie at the moment, currently at 15 pages. The usual FF mouthpieces are being mysteriously quiet over there this evening.

http://www.politics.ie/fianna-fail/3...ard-issue.html

[is_that_so]

If they had a very small majority we might have seen a vote of no confidence within the next week but they have more than enough to cope with a few "bleeding heart" resignations or defections. Age Action will be outside the Dail next week and that'll give it more fuel.

The Greens will carry on with their "see no evil" approach until they have to be beaten from Govt. and even Finian and the Independents can be counted on for a while longer, until their own pet projects are at risk of being canned or reduced.

What I think is likely to happen is a complete pasting at local and EU elections next year for the Greens and FF. Cowen may not survive that. With worsening finances we can also expect them to come up with a few more imaginative measures that will upset the faithful and the rest of us. I also reckon that well have a new Minister for Finance by the time the next budget arrives. Whatever talents Lenihan has, he doesn't seem to grasp that serious times need serious people.

Think the pressure will be on, this time next year. If they can get into 2010 without having to call an election they may survive but that's a big "if" given how completely clueless and spineless they are showing themselves to be.

[Mr.Micro]

Nah its just a bit of posturing IMO. Make a few noises and hope the electorate will forget by the next election. The Greens are drunk with power and nothing will make them give it up. They will make a few noises squeak squeak. First time in years poor old FF have to do the dirty to the public as all the surplus has been squandered and who do they pick on the old people. An own goal that will come back to haunt them I will bet. Clueless.

[JJJJNR]

I have to say that took some amount balls to do that. He's just shown he IS made of something and not afraid to make a stand.

Well done.

[Lil' Smiler]

Resignation letter....



http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1017/behanj.html

A Thaoisigh,


It is with regret that I tender my resignation as a member of the Fianna Fáil Party today.

I have served the public as a Fianna Fáil public representative continuously since 1985 and I considered it a great honour to be selected as a Fianna Fáil Dáil candidate in 2006 and elected as a Fianna Fáil T.D. in 2007.

Since my election as a T.D., I have supported the party in every Dáil vote and voted for the various financial resolutions arising from this week's Budget. My vote today in support of the Bank Guarantee Scheme will be my final vote as a Fianna Fáil T.D.

I am appalled at the Government's decision to end the principle of universality of medical card provision for people over 70 yrs of age. I am equally appalled at indications from Government Ministers that the principle of universality of provision of other payments eg, Child Benefit is also under threat.

I regret very much that members of the Parliamentary Party were not consulted in any way in relation to this year's Budget. It is clear that the views of backbench T.D.'s are not taken seriously regarding this and other issues.

I understand the need for party discipline and I have supported the Government line on a number of issues pertaining to my constituency, against my better judgement. They include the Labour Party Private Members Motion on the need for an independent investigation into the tragic deaths of two firemen from Bray and the need for a full time fire service in Nth.Wicklow and the Fine Gael Private Members Motion regarding the provision of A.B.A. Schools for children with autism. I have yesterday defended the indefensible refusal yet again by the Government to fund the construction of the Rathnew to Arklow section of the N 11 which has seen many tragic and fatal accidents in recent years.

I have now regrettably come to the conclusion that enough is enough. I see a number of proposals arising from this week's Budget and Departmental Spending Programmes which will result in pain and distress being inflicted on the most elderly in our society and in the case of increased pupil teacher ratios in our schools - a worsening of the standard of education our pupils will receive. Put simply, the youngest and the oldest in our society are being asked to pay the price for the present financial and budgetary situation.

This is unacceptable to me but I sincerely believe it is also unacceptable to the vast majority of members and public representatives in Fianna Fáil. It is clear to me that you as Taoiseach and your Cabinet colleagues made choices in the Budget which have resulted in deep concern and upset throughout the nation. Regrettably, many fine Fianna Fáil public representatives, locally and nationally, will be asked to pay the electoral price for your choices.

In coming to my decision, I was particularly conscious of the attempt by the Tánaiste yesterday to warn Parliamentary Party members not to criticise publicly Budget measures in your absence as it would be judged as "disrespectful" to you. I found that warning to be insulting in the extreme. However, mindful of the fact that you are travelling to China next week I wanted to ensure you received this letter today.

I intend to adopt an independent stance on each and every issue which comes before the Dáil from now on. I confirm to you today that I will oppose with every fibre of my being the Government decision to withdraw medical cards from people over 70 yrs. I will also oppose the proposal by the Department of Education to increase class sizes. Regarding all other issues - where I believe the public interest is being served, I will support the Government, where I believe the public interest is not being served, I will oppose.

On a personal level I have enormous respect for your integrity, ability and patriotism. I know you have a heavy burden on your shoulders and my action today does not lighten that burden. But I believe that the first duty of any person is to be true to themselves and hence my decision today.

I wish you well.

Mise le meas,

Joe Behan T.D.

[irish_bob]

let me ask a question , do people want across the board (regardless of wealth status ) access to a medical card for the over seventies , surely it is immoral let alone a huge waste of tax payers money to be funding a former judge or hospital consultants monthly check up with his or her GP

help me out here , are you asking for the income threshold to be raised or the status quo to remain in place , all i hear is hysteria

[jhegarty]

Originally Posted by irish_bob

let me ask a question , do people want across the board (regardless of wealth status ) access to a medical card for the over seventies , surely it is immoral let alone a huge waste of tax payers money to be funding a former judge or hospital consultants monthly check up with his or her GP

help me out here , are you asking for the income threshold to be raised or the status quo to remain in place , all i hear is hysteria

if the limit cutting off people like that I don't think there would be uproar , but they are cutting off people who worked all their lives, paid high taxes and put away a very small pension....


Well done Joe, good to see a politician with a backbone...