Mary Lou McDonald: the most annoying person in Irish politics

Sully

Joey the lips wrote: »

Thats a very poor answer and just confirms the ranks of this thread. I done with it I shall leave it to the trolls,

Well, I asssume your a SF supporter, so why not do what the rest of the political supporters do and try defend them? By ignoring it, you have confirmed what has been said about SF candidates.

Dyr

Scofflaw wrote: »

Given he's one of only a handful of MEPs who publish their expenses online, the answer is probably "less than some people".

cordially,
Scofflaw

They got into the habit of "publishing" their expenses back in the gardner street HQ days :pac:

Souljacker

Maybe not the most annoying (I think Martin Mansergh win's that title hands down) but she's definitely up there.

SF are the masters of smoke and mirrors, they all take average industrial wages yet Gerry Adams purchased a 1million euro holiday hone in Donegal. SF is pro Europe yet they've opposed every single referendum since 1972 including the one about us joining the EEC!!! They're nothing more than a party of protest who have nothing to add to Irish politics. Mary Lou is good at what she does, it's just a shame what she does ain't politics.

It was very nice to see her get her ass handed to her on Saturday by Gay and I look forward to seeing her lose her second election in a row next month.

dlofnep

Souljacker wrote: »

Maybe not the most annoying (I think Martin Mansergh win's that title hands down) but she's definitely up there.

SF are the masters of smoke and mirrors, they all take average industrial wages yet Gerry Adams purchased a 1million euro holiday hone in Donegal. SF is pro Europe yet they've opposed every single referendum since 1972 including the one about us joining the EEC!!! They're nothing more than a party of protest who have nothing to add to Irish politics. Mary Lou is good at what she does, it's just a shame what she does ain't politics.

It was very nice to see her get her ass handed to her on Saturday by Gay and I look forward to seeing her lose her second election in a row next month.

SF politicians do earn an average industrial wage. It's not myth. In regards to Gerry Adam's he has published a number of books, is paid like many other high profile politicians for speaking. Gerry's wealth is no big secret. It doesn't change the fact that the average SF politician gives up a great deal of money every year towards to party - which for me shows that they are not in it for money, but for their personal beliefs. SF has and always will be a grassroots lead movement.

Show me where any other politician in any other party in Ireland works off an industrial wage. I'll be impressed if you find one.

conchubhar1

dlofnep wrote: »

Show me where any other politician in any other party in Ireland works off an industrial wage. I'll be impressed if you find one.

to the contrary jackie healie rae was on ridiculus wages after all his bonuses and allowences - and thats only one example

Souljacker

dlofnep wrote: »

SF politicians do earn an average industrial wage. It's not myth. In regards to Gerry Adam's he has published a number of books, is paid like many other high profile politicians for speaking. Gerry's wealth is no big secret. It doesn't change the fact that the average SF politician gives up a great deal of money every year towards to party - which for me shows that they are not in it for money, but for their personal beliefs. SF has and always will be a grassroots lead movement.

Show me where any other politician in any other party in Ireland works off an industrial wage. I'll be impressed if you find one.

Joe Higgins there's a politician who can truly be said to not be in politics for the money. You're easily impressed.


My family comes from south Armagh and from what I see there from the mercs, beamers and mansions they're doing a hell of a lot more than drawing an industrial wage. But I suppose given your logic money gained from smuggling diesel doesn't count. Forgive me but the fact that the leader of SF, Adams is very wealthy and SF pride themselves in being socialists are the very definition of smoke and mirrors.

dlofnep

Souljacker wrote: »

Joe Higgins there's a politician who can truly be said to not be in politics for the money. You're easily impressed.

Joe Higgins is one in a million.

Souljacker wrote: »

My family comes from south Armagh and from what I see there from the mercs, beamers and mansions they're doing a hell of a lot more than drawing an industrial wage.

Who is "they"? I'd like to see these SF politicians in South Armagh with Mercs and Mansions. Where I live, SF Politicians are not living these lavish lifestyle's that seemingly exist in South Armagh, but not anywhere else.

Our man in Havana

The reasons for that might be that the northern SF have had their snouts in the trough for longer.

dlofnep

Or that it's completely nonsense.

Souljacker

dlofnep wrote: »

Joe Higgins is one in a million.



Who is "they"? I'd like to see these SF politicians in South Armagh with Mercs and Mansions. Where I live, SF Politicians are not living these lavish lifestyle's that seemingly exist in South Armagh, but not anywhere else.

Members of SF. I can only give my lived experience and that is that members of SF in the IRA heartland of south Armagh have profited hugely during and after the troubles. Just look at the black bags full of money found at slab Murphy’s home.

However you seem to be side stepping my point which is that SF and Mary Lou are hypocrites.

How can she claim SF is pro EU when it didn't even want us to join the EEC?? How can SF claim to be socialists when they're lead by a man who paid out 1 million euro for a holiday home??

Joe Higgins is part of a party which truly believes in socialist principles. When Joe Higgins campaigns he does it on a shoe string do you really believe the same can be said of SF and Mary Lou.

Smoke and mirrors

A Dub in Glasgo

Souljacker wrote: »

Members of SF. I can only give my lived experience and that is that members of SF in the IRA heartland of south Armagh have profited hugely during and after the troubles. Just look at the black bags full of money found at slab Murphy’s home.

However you seem to be side stepping my point which is that SF and Mary Lou are hypocrites.

How can she claim SF is pro EU when it didn't even want us to join the EEC?? How can SF claim to be socialists when they're lead by a man who paid out 1 million euro for a holiday home??

Joe Higgins is part of a party which truly believes in socialist principles. When Joe Higgins campaigns he does it on a shoe string do you really believe the same can be said of SF and Mary Lou.

Smoke and mirrors

Would that be Gerry Adams the writer of many successful books as well as President of a political party and an MP?

Can you provide evidence that he paid €1m for his holiday home?

I paid £80k for my house and it is now worth £200k, does that mean I paid £200k?

turgon

Apparently dams continued to except second home expenses from Westminster even though he didnt have a second home because he was abstaining from his duties as PM. Sick.

Our man in Havana

Did they not maintain offices in Westminster?

Souljacker

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

Would that be Gerry Adams the writer of many successful books as well as President of a political party and an MP?

Can you provide evidence that he paid €1m for his holiday home?

I paid £80k for my house and it is now worth £200k, does that mean I paid £200k?

http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/DN/free/295358909829489.php

It’s common knowledge, up here at least but you seem to be dodging the point as well which is… the hypocrisy.

A Dub in Glasgo

turgon wrote: »

Apparently dams continued to except second home expenses from Westminster even though he didnt have a second home because he was abstaining from his duties as PM. Sick.

Sick? Sick that they used the money in lieu of salary and still maintained a presence in London even if they did not attend the chamber? Sick?

A Dub in Glasgo

Souljacker wrote: »

http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/DN/free/295358909829489.php

It’s common knowledge, up here at least but you seem to be dodging the point as well which is… the hypocrisy.

common knowledge up here = dog's in the street = very little evidence

From your article written by Jim Cusack 'local sources estimate that it is worth close to 1 million euro'

worth = paid for?

close to €1m = €1m?

Souljacker

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

common knowledge up here = dog's in the street = very little evidence

From your article written by Jim Cusack 'local sources estimate that it is worth close to 1 million euro'

worth = paid for?

close to €1m = €1m?

You're still avoiding the point but really what else would you expect from a SF supporter.

You said it yourself Adams is a very successful novelist an MP and an MLA, he made money and I’d like you to show me some proof that he only claims an industrial wage. I don’t know many people on industrial wages who can afford second homes.


Google Slab Murphy and see what he got up to. If you don't believe that SF were involved in acuminating huge quantities of money (both legitimately and illegitimately) you are extremely naive or else in denial. Do you think at all went on their campaign of terror?

And what do you have to say about Mary Lou claiming SF's a pro Europe party yet they didn't want Ireland to join the EEC???

Spin it whatever way you want but SF will always look after SF first and foremost (as they've done up here for years) and the only way they could be described as socialists is in the vein of the soviet union.

As others have mentioned Gerry and co didn’t have any problem squandering my tax money which I pay up here paying 3 times over the going rate to rent a house in London and keep a parking space. 5 SF ministers needed to spend half a million pounds in expenses to be near a parliament they refuse to sit in??

That's more than comparible to the waste of FF.

Fratton Fred

turgon wrote: »

Apparently dams continued to except second home expenses from Westminster even though he didnt have a second home because he was abstaining from his duties as PM. Sick.

Did Mary lou answer questions on this in the interview? I heard an interview advertised where she was supposed to have been asked about it.

Bond-007 wrote: »

Did they not maintain offices in Westminster?

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

Sick? Sick that they used the money in lieu of salary and still maintained a presence in London even if they did not attend the chamber? Sick?

Why would they maintain an office or even a presence in London? if they are not attending parliament then what business do they have in London?

£100,000 in expenses they claimed last year...from her Majesty

Nodin

Souljacker wrote: »

Google Slab Murphy and see what he got up to..

Why? Is he a member of PSF?

Souljacker wrote: »

If you don't believe that SF were involved in acuminating huge quantities of money (both legitimately and illegitimately)..

Why haven't they been audited and exposed if that allegation is true?

Souljacker wrote: »

As others have mentioned Gerry and co didn’t have any problem squandering my tax money which I pay up here paying 3 times over the going rate to rent a house in London and keep a parking space.
That's more than comparible to the waste of FF.

Considering that NI is run as part of the UK, surely it makes sense to maintain offices etc over there for various face to face meetings with the relevant Westminister departments?

Our man in Havana

Considering that NI is run as part of the UK, surely it makes sense to maintain offices etc over there for various face to face meetings with the relevant Westminister departments?

If they choose to abstain from Westminster and thus deprive their constituents of representation they should forego all the trappings of said office. Otherwise they are a bunch of hypocrites.

Fratton Fred

Nodin wrote: »

Considering that NI is run as part of the UK, surely it makes sense to maintain offices etc over there for various face to face meetings with the relevant Westminister departments?

paid for by British tax payers, who they desperately want to distance themselves from?

i would suggest it is either a very nice little pad for weekend shopping trips, or used for their fundraising trips to Kilburn.

Sleazus

I really, really fear that some day Sinn Fein might find themselves as a minority party in government, without ever having to utter an apology (not that they'd accept the obvious link that definitely existed) nor condemnation of the gratuitous acts of violence conducted in the North.

That really, really scares me. The fact that they can lie and cheat and strong arm the support of the disadvantaged communities in Dublin.

Can I ask why people would vote for them as opposed to the Socialists (as much as they can be considered a party)?

walrusgumble

Souljacker wrote: »

You're still avoiding the point but really what else would you expect from a SF supporter.

You said it yourself Adams is a very successful novelist an MP and an MLA, he made money and I’d like you to show me some proof that he only claims an industrial wage. I don’t know many people on industrial wages who can afford second homes.


Google Slab Murphy and see what he got up to. If you don't believe that SF were involved in acuminating huge quantities of money (both legitimately and illegitimately) you are extremely naive or else in denial. Do you think at all went on their campaign of terror?

And what do you have to say about Mary Lou claiming SF's a pro Europe party yet they didn't want Ireland to join the EEC???

Spin it whatever way you want but SF will always look after SF first and foremost (as they've done up here for years) and the only way they could be described as socialists is in the vein of the soviet union.

As others have mentioned Gerry and co didn’t have any problem squandering my tax money which I pay up here paying 3 times over the going rate to rent a house in London and keep a parking space. 5 SF ministers needed to spend half a million pounds in expenses to be near a parliament they refuse to sit in??

That's more than comparible to the waste of FF.

1. you are aware that the compostition of sinn fein has greatly changed from that of 1769-1975 to present in relation to Europe. i hope one does not forget certain respectable parties down here who voted or urge people to vote against the single european act in the 1980's. it was not so long ago when the greens and labour (a long time ago) were hostile to europe.

2. you would be ridiculously mistaken if you think elected sf westminister mps went to london for a holiday. you do recall the secret meetings in london, derry and dublin during the 1980's? i would be concerned though of the quality of the places, surely any auld gaff would do for these socialists

3. you also conveniently forget that it was the people who voted for them that gave them the mandate to act they way they do. they (people of west belfast) knew full well that sf would not enter westminster. you also seem to forget that MP's in westminster are notorious in abusing their powers when it comes to expenses (that does not make this issue alright of course)

walrusgumble

Sleazus wrote: »

I really, really fear that some day Sinn Fein might find themselves as a minority party in government, without ever having to utter an apology (not that they'd accept the obvious link that definitely existed) nor condemnation of the gratuitous acts of violence conducted in the North.

That really, really scares me. The fact that they can lie and cheat and strong arm the support of the disadvantaged communities in Dublin.

Can I ask why people would vote for them as opposed to the Socialists (as much as they can be considered a party)?

who many unionists have said sorry? will paisley finally stand up and accept that he has to take some blame for the crap that has gone on?

lie, cheat and strong arm? bloody hell didn't we not once have a Taoiseach from Kinselly who did that?

Nodin

Bond-007 wrote: »

If they choose to abstain from Westminster and thus deprive their constituents of representation they should forego all the trappings of said office. Otherwise they are a bunch of hypocrites.

They're members of the NI administration. Therefore they need on occassion contact with the various powers that be in London. Why shouldn't they maintain offices in that fashion for that purpose?

Fratton Fred wrote:

paid for by British tax payers, who they desperately want to distance themselves from?.

Yet they are part of the Northern legislature, and thus would require similar accommodatiom and facilities regardless.

Fratton Fred wrote:

or used for their fundraising trips to Kilburn.

They aren't entitled to raise funds now?

kmick

On Saturday on the radio Mary Lou said it was untrue that she attended a EU vote regarding the publishing of MEP expenses but had not voted. P. DeRossa claimed she did not vote Mary Lou claimed she did. Someone was lying. Can supporters of Mary Lou confirm for me if she voted. If she did she has my vote. If not she does not have my vote. Also she claimed her expenses would be on the website by today. Can anyone link me to those. I am on the fence about her. She is either one of the smartest and most agile politicians I have ever heard or she is an out and out liar. I am reserving judgement - I am hoping it is the former and not the latter.

LordSutch

kmick wrote: »

Can supporters of Mary Lou confirm for me if she voted. If she did she has my vote. If not she does not have my vote. Also she claimed her expenses would be on the website by today. I am on the fence about her. She is either one of the smartest and most agile politicians I have ever heard or she is an out and out liar. I am reserving judgement - I am hoping it is the former and not the latter.

You say that you are on the fence about her, but what of all the SF baggage that comes with her??? if you press her hard enough on bombings & shootings she will excuse all & every IRA atrocity ever committed in the last 35 years > personally I wouldn't vote for her or Sinn Fein on principle, full stop. (expenses or no expenses)!

She's full of soundbites anyway, very little content & all bluster!

oscarBravo

General note: this thread is about Mary Lou; not about SF in general and definitely not about NI history. No more warnings.

kmick

Camelot wrote: »

You say that you are on the fence about her, but what of all the SF baggage that comes with her??? if you press her hard enough on bombings & shootings she will excuse all & every IRA atrocity ever committed in the last 35 years > personally I wouldn't vote for her or Sinn Fein on principle, full stop. (expenses or no expenses)!
She's full of soundbites anyway, very little content & all bluster!

All I want to do is confirm in this one instance whether she is telling the truth or P. DeRossa is.

getcover

No strong feelings about her either way, but she always strikes me as evasive, hectoring and never really having any strong command of the subject she is "discussing".
I find her less annoying that Cullen, Noel O'Flynn, Martin Mansergh, Dermot Ahern & the bert though...