Shatter insists Wallace has no credibility on penalty points

Weevil

donegal11 wrote: »

Wasn't she driving unusual
aswell

She took a wrong turn at a badly sign-posted junction.

hatrickpatrick

In my opinion it's not only Shatter who's wrong here. The information should never have reached the Garda commissioner, unless it's somehow implies (highly unlikely to virtually impossible) that he is told about every single random incident in which someone is pulled over and not cited.

The fact that this information reached him proves if nothing else that citizens are not all treated equally, and that in and of itself is a problem. Had Wallace not been in public life the commissioner would probably never have even heard of the incident. If I was pulled over and then let go I highly doubt he'd hear about it. All citizens should be treated in the exact same manner regardless of their social position in society, and that includes what happens to information about them after it is received.

This entire situation absolutely reeks, and raises a lot of very uncomfortable question about how our country is being run. The mere fact that Shatter wouldn't have heard about this if it was some random office worker from Kerry is an example of evidence that we do not live in an egalitarian democracy, and I for one find that appalling.

mikehammer67

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

In my opinion it's not only Shatter who's wrong here. The information should never have reached the Garda commissioner, unless it's somehow implies (highly unlikely to virtually impossible) that he is told about every single random incident in which someone is pulled over and not cited.

The fact that this information reached him proves if nothing else that citizens are not all treated equally, and that in and of itself is a problem. Had Wallace not been in public life the commissioner would probably never have even heard of the incident. If I was pulled over and then let go I highly doubt he'd hear about it. All citizens should be treated in the exact same manner regardless of their social position in society, and that includes what happens to information about them after it is received.

This entire situation absolutely reeks, and raises a lot of very uncomfortable question about how our country is being run. The mere fact that Shatter wouldn't have heard about this if it was some random office worker from Kerry is an example of evidence that we do not live in an egalitarian democracy, and I for one find that appalling.

haven't you heard like................................................................

or you just found out today about the way things work in this country?

Ash.J.Williams

I'd say it's open season on shatter in our world class Sunday newspapers tomorrow

tipptom

Does Callanan not have questions to answer on why he needed to talk to the minister about an incident that ocurred at traffic lights,window to window or is deemed as important than threats of terrorism cell units,violent roving gangs touring the country without fear of apprehension,Gardai being murdered and attacked on the street,Gardai morale gone out the window etc etc.

I would just like to know how this conversation came about and fully explained by the commisioner what the reason was for it?

hatrickpatrick

mikehammer67 wrote: »

haven't you heard like................................................................

or you just found out today about the way things work in this country?

I already know how it works, it's just handy to have such an obvious example of it to prove the point. It absolutely shouldn't be this way, and this is a perfect opportunity to try and force a little bit of change.

hatrickpatrick

tipptom wrote: »

Does Callanan not have questions to answer on why he needed to talk to the minister about an incident that ocurred at traffic lights,window to window or is deemed as important than threats of terrorism cell units,violent roving gangs touring the country without fear of apprehension,Gardai being murdered and attacked on the street,Gardai morale gone out the window etc etc.

I would just like to know how this conversation came about and fully explained by the commisioner what the reason was for it?

Of course he has questions to answer. And who's responsible for asking him? The minister for justice.
This is where the whole concept of separation of power completely falls apart in Ireland. It simply doesn't exist, and if it does, it doesn't exist to nearly the extent that it should

The Garda Ombudsman can't even get involved in this case. Why? Because although this incident would be a breach of discipline for any rank and file Garda, the Garda Commissioner is exempt from following the rules the rest of the force has to follow, and is therefore immune to disciplinary action from the ombudsman in anything less than a potential crime, which this obviously isn't. Absolutely glaring gap in our system of oversight right there. Who's responsible for designing that system? Yep, you guessed it - the Minister for Justice.

Etc etc etc. The entire thing is absolutely ring fenced to prevent anyone doing anything about it. :mad:

Happyman42

The possible consequences of this sorry shambles is that because the file/report is 'missing' the Gardai or the Commissioner now potentially has the Minister by the short and curlies, if they so wanted.
Not having a culture of accountability in governance here is a serious compromiser of proper politics.
Once such an important minister has been compromised in any way he/she has to go.