Katherine Zappone Envoy Gig

McMurphy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117706958#Comment_117706958

Try to convince all you like seamus, twiddle and twirl your wee moustache too (if you have one) but this wasn't some cunning plan by those within govt circles.

They were caught with their pants down once again, they think the public are mugs, and refuse to adapt and change with the times. It's 2021, this is the age of social media, were the public get their news from alternative sources, and were unfavorable news can't be buried the way it used to

Took a while for Zappone to fall on her sword as more and more stuff emerged, don't be surprised if more follow.

Rather than some cunning plan, I think we truly are witnessing the most incompetent and bumbling hobbled together government this state has ever had to endure. Greatest parcel of swivel eyed gombeens as we have ever seen.

I'm not sure if you're trying to convince yourself or others with the above tbh.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707109#Comment_117707109

He's constructing I nice little cunning overlords fantasy as I said earlier. Might as well try to get something out of the omnishambles. The other members of FG defence forces are insisting on trying to ignore it all or deflect from it with 'squirrel!' stuff about homopobhia and the Shinners 😁

TefalBrain

We must have the most corrupt government in the western world. Nothing surprises me with them.

SEPT 23 1989

Some people have lost family but all of us have lost valuable time with older family members we cannot ever get back

this story and what’s going to unfold from it makes me sick

I have no time for Sinn Fein

iamwhoiam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707240#Comment_117707240

We have also lost time with younger members of family and grandchildren . This story makes me sick to my stomach too . I haven’t seen my daughter in the UK for 18 months because both she and we did everything by the book . More fool us

Shebean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117706080#Comment_117706080

Don't you see the connection? These people set up a crony appointment she created herself and tried to brass it out, until the hotel get together just pushed it over the edge. You don't think having these characters who show a complete disregard for the public, in charge of all these issues you raise isn't a problem? Do you think it might be why they favour private solutions which actually make public problems worse?

The man under criminal investigation regarding leaking a confidential government document was at a knees up for the crony who created her own job he supported. C'mon, it's not rocket science ffs.

Dempo1

I see Eamonn Ryan now explaining his attendance at a seperate gathering after the recent by election organised by the defeated candidate. I'm just amazed he stayed awake long enough to attend anything.

Part of D"examiner article reads.....

The invite to the Green Party event, seen by the Irish Examiner, was sent to 3,500 members who were encouraged to "share in your local groups".

Photographs from the event show Ms Byrne with a number of guests, with many people out of their seats.

Ms Byrne said "no more than 50 people were in attendance at any one time".

A spokesperson for Mr Ryan said he attended "to thank those who campaigned in the recent by-election" but stressed the event did not breach Covid guidelines. 

3500 members sent invites?? Could kd you imagine them all turning up.

Markus Antonius

Katherine Zappone has potentially, single-handedly brought down the entire government!

All I can say is:

(although in all likelihood it will be the socialists sinn fein who will take over so really we're the only losers here)

robbiezero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117706460#Comment_117706460

Grave danger of what?

mariab21

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707340#Comment_117707340

A large rise in Covid cases among unvaccinanted vulnreable teenagers and the over 20% of the adult population who are not vaccinated yet.

The Govt and there mates have been partying away as us mugs have not been told we were actually allowed do the same. My uncle owns a pub and he says not 1 pub owner he knew, knew events could be booked for upto 200 people. Even the hospitality reps are saying it.

seamus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707192#Comment_117707192

I don't really care if you incorrectly think I'm on the side of FG.

But you can't deny the facts; the cronyism angle is all but dead and buried. The baying mobs are no longer asking, "What other dodgy appointments have this govt made?", Now they're asking, "Who else has been to outdoor parties?".

The Green Party reveal is unexpected but either way it's had the same effect; the opposition are now toothless. We now have the Three Musketeers in govt and nobody to pull the rug.

One way or another, someone in FG HQ is going to sleep a lot more soundly tonight.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707360#Comment_117707360

PAC will still examine this issue. It ain't over and the damage it has done is massive.

I have no doubt FG leaders will sleep soundly, they don't give a toss what anyone thinks. Doesn't mean they are in control of this for a sec.

Tell me how

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707220#Comment_117707220

While I know you specifically said 'the Western world', Even a cursory glance would tell you this is not the case. The current UK Government has probably had ten stories over the last year that would blow even Charlie Haughey out of the water in terms of displaying self serving attitudes and corruption.

A current members of congress in the US actively campaigned against government handouts while their restaurant received 300K in support payments during the Pandemic and several other members of congress have published promotional literature for their districts on how they have helped bring government funding and initiatives to the area even as they voted against the Bill that produced those funds.

Still in the US, several members of congress refused to entertain the idea of investigating the insurrection on the 6th of January because they know it may show that they knew it was going to happen, or were instrumental in it doing so. Many of the same people refused to hold the person accountable for instigating it, even after they blamed him on the record for doing so.

Brazil, France, Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Thailand, India, Ukraine, Italy are just some of the countries that have seen former Presidents/PM's jailed either because of their own corruption, or because of the corruption of those that came after them who wanted to keep them out of the way.

Activists from Belarus, Hungary, Russia, Malta have all seen murders of journalists/activists with more than plausible evidence of Government involvement.

Ireland could certainly send a team to the corruption Olympics, but they'd be far from guaranteed a medal.

Signore Fancy Pants

I'm apolitical, I just think they are all w.ankers.

Here's a sat view of the Merrion Hotel. Seems to be 8 x tables of 4 out the back.

The public has carte blanche now at this stage as these wally's have undermined the nuances with restrictions.

dudley72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707457#Comment_117707457

what date was that satellite pic taken?

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707457#Comment_117707457

We're you flying over 😂

https://mobile.twitter.com/obrien_jonathan/status/1422976686547689478

To paraphrase eamonn dunphy: a shambles

0ph0rce0

Isn't it mad that out of about 5 Million people in the country we can't find 50 odd people or whatever it is to lead a government that actually have experience in running sectors like finance, infrastructure, healthcare etc... People who know what they are actually doing. I think it's mad you can just run for election and if you get enough votes you're in. Fair enough that's how it works but no experience of anything needed.

There should be some sort of minimum criteria.

I know it's a tough job but surely there are people who would actually work, go in and do a days graft and head off home at the end of the day without either robbing us or making us all look like plebs.

It's all family of family and most likely ingrained in every generation to just look after no.1 and **** the public.

Any fuckery like today or fiddling of expenses and giving jobs to the boys you should be shown the door that day.

Half the **** become millionaires riding off the state too. Never held accountable for anything and swan off with massive pensions.

It's actually mental 😂

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707109#Comment_117707109

Want this story broken by regular journalists using bog standard cabinet leaks?

Signore Fancy Pants

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707482#Comment_117707482

Not sure, standard Google map search from tonight.

The pic is more to see the space available rather than the current unknown set up.

McMurphy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707582#Comment_117707582

Fhe initial story was yes, but things have evolved and moved on since that, they hoped to kill the story by "smothering it" but as already stated, more and more people aren't relying on traditional news sources for their news.

This story was kept to the fore via social media, in years gone by this would have been over and forgotten about by now, I'm not sure how the story about #MerrionGate made its way to the journalists who broke it, but you can bet your last cent, social media player s part in it in some shape or form.

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707663#Comment_117707663

That's one take on it but I don't agree. It's been kept to the fore not by social media but strategic leaking to the press and story management by journalists and editors. Do you really think that the media didn't know about the Zappone party until today? It's likely that they were at it too.

There absolutely was a long game being played here, the spinning and holding out the details of the party were the classic second strike as the story was waning.

I think it's forgotten sometimes but Irish Twitter is not that influential and the population of active Irish users is quite small.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707698#Comment_117707698

Aye,has slimey simon harris hands all over it.......the man whom has been embroiled in some batshit weird controversies,and absolute toxic carryon on social media,that would lead to a ban here......but escapes relatively scotfree,while varadkar is effectively holed below waterline as a leader....

Harris is the devious of them all,this controversy could in normal times envelop a government,started off with spotlight on him for leaking,and has morphed into the AG being called into disrepute and the effective ending of covid restrictions on parties,all to save attendees at zappones wee party

Would make a great,if poisionous leader for em

Tippman24

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117692219#Comment_117692219

I always felt that he viewed the rest of the people on the planet as being beneath him.

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707743#Comment_117707743

If you look at the whole strategy in the round, one of the key elements was to confuse what was law and what were guidelines. The law has always been a lot less onerous than what the guidelines have recommended. I think this was because there was a fear of a law getting struck down or that it was difficult to legislate effectively and consistently. The media has played it's part in this too, by not explaining the difference effectively.

It's telling that the SI the AG refers to was published on 4th July, but it's contents and implications are only being reported on in detail now.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707698#Comment_117707698

Every second post is about this issue tonight. Never seen that on twitter with any of the chaos heretofore.

I don't think Zappone would have gone if there hadn't been Twitter. All of them haven't twigged we are in a new age of accountability but the slowest learners seem to be our government parties.

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707848#Comment_117707848

All of what, a few thousand posts out of an active userbase of something like 30k. The importance of Twitter in Irish discourse is hugely exaggerated, theres a Twitter story every day and the ones that don't get picked up by the media die away with no consequences.

Zappone was toast when the second strike landed today, which had nothing to do with twitter.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707879#Comment_117707879

I think you'll find that it was picked up because of the discourse on Twitter.

They brought this in on the last day of the Dáil sitting for a reason, they hoped any controversy would die off over the summer recess. Not anymore and that is down solely to Twitter/social media IMO, the public can answer back and lead their own campaign...scares the f* out of TD's and some posters here, hence the Twitterhate.

Zappone's position was toast before today IMO.

expectationlost

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117707457#Comment_117707457

your missing the bit to the right

RobTheLad

https://twitter.com/hughescraig90/status/1423058290544717832

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