Another pointless John McGuinness crusade

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Bertie is 'open' to backbenchers new committee says Mc Guinness
Taoiseach asks John Mc Guinness to brief him on details in Kilkenny on Friday last
By Naoise O' Donovan Coogan

The Taoiseach asked local Fianna Fail TD Deputy John Mc Guinness to clarify the details of a new committee in a private meeting following his public engagements in Kilkenny on Friday last.

Mr Ahern answered several questions about his feelings on the new move instigated by the backbenchers, which he knew little about prior to the publication of the story in the Irish Times newspaper that morning.

He told the crowd gathered at the Parade Tower that he 'embraced the idea' and he would work to achieve what was required from the 14 members who had signed up to the initiative.

The group of Fianna Fail backbenchers who signed the letter requesting the establishment of the committee, which includes local Fianna Fail Deputy John Mc Guinness are due to meet this Wednesday to discuss strategy, agenda and officer positions such as chairperson.

Deputy Mc Guinness said that although there are only 14 signatures, there was much more interest in the committee from the remaining 35 backbenchers since it was made public.

"We hadn't time to get to everybody to determine if they were interested or not as the story was leaked to the papers before we got around to it, but it is clear to us now that there is a lot more interest in this committee than the 14 signatures we have on record," said Deputy Mc Guinness, who claimed also that he wasn't "all that interested" in chairing the committee' himself.

He also outlined what the members hoped to gain from the organisation of such a committee.

"What we really want out of this is a faster and more radical Ministerial response to community and society problems. We feel that Government response is too slow on many issues that we bring up and we want to do something that will make this system more efficient. We are unhappy with the way in which a number of issues have been dealt with in the recent past such as how the statutory rape issue was approached by Minister Mc Dowell, policy on cafe bars and also policy on ASBOs which was discussed in public before any opinion was sought from the party,' said Deputy Mc Guinness.

The committee came as a surprise to the party leader on Friday, sparking off rumours that there was a party split or vote of no confidence in the current Taoiseach. Deputy Mc Guinness refuted this opinion. "This move is not intended as a threat to the Taoiseach - it is a positive move that will hopefully allow us to deal with regional problems in a more efficient manner,' said Deputy Mc Guinness who was central to the establishment of the committee.

"We are in a way forcing the Taoiseach to listen to us and this has worked so far. Now we want him to follow through on this initiative. He said that he will meet with us this week following a meeting of the Parliamentary party so we expect that to be this evening (Wednesday) at this stage. We want a forum to deal with our problems, but of course the fundamental reason for the establishment of this committee is the fear of seat loss. We are not a crowd of dissidents but we do want our opinions to be heard so that we can do our best for our respective constituencies," said Deputy Mc Guinness.

"Efficiency is not good enough and we are not getting the delivery of projects as quickly as we should in Kilkenny. This is obvious from the fact that funds to the value of ™6.2 million are available for the up-grading of Purcellsinch water treatment plant and we still haven't seen the progress which is much-needed. There is also ™5.5 million euro sitting there for the new County Library which has still not been delivered. This is the type of inefficiency we are trying to combat with this new committee,' concluded Deputy Mc Guinness.

Hmm_Messiah

why u posting old news? from somewhere else that people could find if they were bothered?


Fainna Fail parliamentary party this week, bertie exerted pressure, 4 comms during summer to agree policy. the committee you pasted so much about was last weeks story, and is not going ahead.

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Hmm_Messiah wrote:

why u posting old news? from somewhere else that people could find if they were bothered?


Fainna Fail parliamentary party this week, bertie exerted pressure, 4 comms during summer to agree policy. the committee you pasted so much about was last weeks story, and is not going ahead.

I know it's old news now, just didnt get around to posting it up sooner.
Anything that makes John McGuinness look even more the fool is always newsworthy in my eyes!!

Hmm_Messiah

but I don't think this forum was intended as a platform for you to run a little campaign against your least favourite politician.

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Hmm_Messiah wrote:

but I don't think this forum was intended as a platform for you to run a little campaign against your least favourite politician.

Probably not my least favourite- Hitler, Mussolini and George Bush would pip him at the post...only just though!!