So Michael D IS running again!

Capt'n Midnight

Sam Russell wrote: »

One possible current role that could be used to provide a President would be a retired supreme court judge, preferably the Chief Justice.

As for salary,

"As for salary" , that's another can of worms.

During the last Presidential election there was a referendum about Judges pay.
See Article 35 of the Constitution.

One of the reasons we have a written constitution is so the Dáil doesn't have control of the Judiciary or the President and certainly not by tightening the purse strings.


Besides the council of state has the Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal, the President of the High Court and the Attorney General. And three former Chief Justices. So the Judiciary is well represented.

pixelburp

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Eh, no.

It never was an appealing role for ambitious politicians, instead it was a retirement home for has-been politicians.

Only with the election of Mary Robinson did it come to life.

Don't disagree with that but in the absence of a Mary Robinson every 7 years, the role seems reduced to, well, Sean Gallagher and pals. And as much as I like Higgins the man, hard not to look at his tenure as a retirement gig.

It's probably just that Higgins factor that has made serious contenders reluctant to throw their hat in the ring, but 2011 was a poor enough batch too and I'm feeling pretty deflated about the standard it attracts. Scarcely an inspiration

Royal Legend

i have a gripe with Michael D on his comment regards €3000/night hotels, that it is not him but the department that picks them, but surely if you are sitting in an opulent room or surroundings, and you have not paid for it, that you would ask the question yourself how much is this costing? especialy seeing as the tax payer is footing the bill.
Personally I think he has turned into a champagne socialist, full of his own importance.

Cork Boy 53

Sam Russell wrote: »

One possible current role that could be used to provide a President would be a retired supreme court judge, preferably the Chief Justice.

Already been down that route.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cearbhall_%C3%93_D%C3%A1laigh

Didn`t end well.

L1011

Pussyhands wrote: »

So Duffy hasn't drawn down the loan on his house yet? Where's he getting the money? Also i think he said it wasn't a loan. Anyone know exactly what it is?

It wasn't on his house anyway. Implying its on the family house / risk of losing it if he fails could tug on the odd heartstring when that is clearly never going to be the case.

Royal Legend wrote: »

i have a gripe with Michael D on his comment regards €3000/night hotels, that it is not him but the department that picks them, but surely if you are sitting in an opulent room or surroundings, and you have not paid for it, that you would ask the question yourself how much is this costing?

The most expensive hotel room I have ever booked was a dump. The best hotel room, actually a suite, I have ever stayed in was quite reasonably priced.

I've stayed in Switzerland a few times, a few times more than I should have really. A 3k room in Switzerland could be really, really poor; let alone in a security cleared hotel at a high demand time.

Sam Russell

Cork Boy 53 wrote: »

Already been down that route.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cearbhall_%C3%93_D%C3%A1laigh

Didn`t end well.

That was a thundering disgrace. No wonder it ended badly.

Larbre34

Peter Casey is coming across terribly on TonightVMT. He is struggling to articulate any point, with the result that it appears he has little concept for what the Presidency actually is, and also why has he decided to run for it.

His campaign seems to based on a) Ireland joining fully into NATO (not one iota of the President's business and b) hosting some sort of jamboree / intern programme for overseas kids of Irish heritage. Bizarre.

Annasopra

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

The Dragons are not politicians at all, they are rank amateurs at this stuff. They haven't a snowball's chance in hell unless Higgins self destructs somehow.

I will vote:

1. Higgins
2. Freeman (despite her possible ultracatholic links)
3. Ni Riada (despite her thinking SF is a good idea)
4. Casey (marketing droid)
5. Duffy (Hunting? Seriously?)
6. Gallagher (back under your rock, bagman).

I am only voting
No 1 Michael D

Freeman - trying to hide Iona etc links
Ni Riada - Nah its just a Shinner pr excercise
Casey - Definitely wont support anyone who advocates Irexit
Duffy - Meh - A bit too FG Rich farmer type for my liking
Gallagher - Too slimy and close to the FF Brown envelope culture

Hotblack Desiato

Royal Legend wrote: »

i have a gripe with Michael D on his comment regards €3000/night hotels, that it is not him but the department that picks them, but surely if you are sitting in an opulent room or surroundings, and you have not paid for it, that you would ask the question yourself how much is this costing? especialy seeing as the tax payer is footing the bill.

In some cases the hosts pay the bill.

spurshero

Micheal d must have 3 or 4 mill earned at this stage from political and president life . But he does it all for the people of course . This is the same Micheal d that stated in 2011 he was running once and once only but greed is a killer and at 77 he wants another 7 years of the gravy train . He will get elected without a doubt but it won’t be with my vote .

Capt'n Midnight

Larbre34 wrote: »

Peter Casey is coming across terribly on TonightVMT. He is struggling to articulate any point, with the result that it appears he has little concept for what the Presidency actually is, and also why has he decided to run for it.

His campaign seems to based on a) Ireland joining fully into NATO (not one iota of the President's business and b) hosting some sort of jamboree / intern programme for overseas kids of Irish heritage. Bizarre.

Ireland join NATO ?

Our defence budget is €1.005Bn , mostly on wages and pensions.

NATO recommends 2% of GDP. That's an additional €4.87 Bn a year mostly on lucrative defence industry contracts with foreign companies many of whom have a record of bribery.

€34Bn over a seven year term.

Capt'n Midnight

spurshero wrote: »

This is the same Micheal d that stated in 2011 he was running once

That's one of those irregular verbs isn't it ?

I have reconsidered the matter,
you have changed your mind,
he has gone back on his word.

Larbre34

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Ireland join NATO ?

Our defence budget is €1.005Bn , mostly on wages and pensions.

NATO recommends 2% of GDP. That's an additional €4.87 Bn a year mostly on lucrative defence industry contracts with foreign companies many of whom have a record of bribery.

€34Bn over a seven year term.

He said we should be spending 2% and when asked why it would be necessary he said, 'if someone invades Britain, they would probably invade Ireland too.'

Ding ding, all aboard, last stop Crazytown.

ezra_

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

That's one of those irregular verbs isn't it ?

I have reconsidered the matter,
you have changed your mind,
he has gone back on his word.

Just as long as no-one is being charged under section 2A of the Official Secrets Act

Hurrache

So the company that donated to Joan Freeman that she wouldn't name yesterday is apparently the fine upstanding Herbalife.

B0jangles

Is that the company that definitely isn't a pyramid scheme?

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jul/15/herbalife-ftc-fine-200-million-pyramid-scheme-label

Hurrache

That's the one, it definitely doesn't have shady business practices.

As it's a 'loan' from them, I wonder does she recruit others in order to pay it back for her.

seamus

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

I'm not sure who his voter base is on his platform of being anti-RTÉ; this seems to be his only issue in his Presidential bid.

Right-wingers; Fianna Fail voters and people who consume Denis O'Brien's media.

They're the ones who've been trying their damndest to make a big deal out of this expenses thing. Socialist-leaning politicians are not favourable to Denis O'Brien so he uses Communicorp to try and push his message.

Hurrache wrote: »

So the company that donated to Joan Freeman that she wouldn't name yesterday is apparently the fine upstanding Herbalife.

Right, so she's a complete crackpot.

Which means there is literally nobody else of substance in the race but Michael D.

What a waste of money.

Hurrache

I probably should clarify, the loan is from the executive VP of the company, rather than likely the company itself.

marieholmfan

On Joan Freeman:

seamus wrote: »

Right, so she's a complete crackpot.

She isn't though: she founded Pieta house. She isn't advocating Herbalife she is just taking money from an Irishman who scammed a load of stupid Americans (is there any other kind?).

Sam Russell

marieholmfan wrote: »

On Joan Freeman:
She isn't though: she founded Pieta house. She isn't advocating Herbalife she is just taking money from an Irishman who scammed a load of stupid Americans (is there any other kind?).

Actually, it was not just Americans who were scammed but many poor Africans who fell for the guff of buying into a better life by paying large sums of money upfront, a bit like people who buy Lotto tickets.

blackwhite

Hurrache wrote: »

So the company that donated to Joan Freeman that she wouldn't name yesterday is apparently the fine upstanding Herbalife.

I’ve been very disappointed in Freeman. Given her good work woth Pieta House I was open to hearing what she had to say and give her a chance, but her inability to give straight answers around her personal beliefs, and about the various groups backing her has really put me off

FrancieBrady

marieholmfan wrote: »

On Joan Freeman:
She isn't though: she founded Pieta house. She isn't advocating Herbalife she is just taking money from an Irishman who scammed a load of stupid Americans (is there any other kind?).

You need to realise why people donate to politicians.

seamus

marieholmfan wrote: »

On Joan Freeman:
She isn't though: she founded Pieta house.

And Steve Jobs saved Apple, despite being a crackpot.
I applaud the great work she's done with PH. I've fundraised for them.

But that doesn't erase the quackery that's emerging. Miracle cures from Knock. Donations from shady businessmen.

And then, "I never heard of Iona before". Despite her niece being one of the top people in it, and despite a clearly deep religious ideology.

GLaDOS

I've no particular loyalty to MDH, but the hardest choice for me in this election will be deciding preferences 2-6

FreudianSlippers

Sam Russell wrote: »

Actually, it was not just Americans who were scammed but many poor Africans who fell for the guff of buying into a better life by paying large sums of money upfront, a bit like people who buy Lotto tickets.

At least Lottery tickets allegedly partially fund "good causes"

richiepurgas

Hurrache wrote: »

I probably should clarify, the loan is from the executive VP of the company, rather than likely the company itself.

At 9% ?

FreudianSlippers

richiepurgas wrote: »

At 9% ?

Sounds like extension of a credit facility at a small profit to the EVP.

Hotblack Desiato

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

At least Lottery tickets allegedly partially fund "good causes"ministers' pet causes

fyp

Hurrache

richiepurgas wrote: »

At 9% ?

It's odd isn't it. Firstly, why would that particular business man loan her money? Secondly, if he was a friend or had an interest in her becoming president, why charge an interest rate of 9%? 9% is around the APR of an unsecured business loan from a bank. Maybe she had exhausted, or didn't try, the avenue of bank loans or remortgages.