FF/FG/Green Government - Part 3 - Threadbanned User List in OP

It's not easy to get focus Francie 😂

You are spot on though. The piece of legislation that would have enabled independent inquiries was passed over 20 years ago but has never been enacted. Why??

...

Minister Darragh O’Brien would bring the report to Government “in due course”.

More lies. 5 years to publish a report??

Simple question - do you understand the difference between elected councillors and full time council staff/officials? This week's RTE Investigates program was about the latter.

If a 'party' is in the middle of it then they need to be called out.

You are now pointing over there to deflect from a government responsibility. Pathetic really. The absence of anyone else here to defend government failure tells it's own tale.

Maybe they were Republican dissidents? After all the Provos killed ex Irish politicians..

Was Simon's phone hacked during the incident? 😉

Because it is indefensible. Simple really.

Why? Do you think that is the answer? Perhaps you could explain exactly how that Bill will fix things.

Huh? That is a stupid question. Did you watch the program? How do you expect the government to reform an area if they don't bring in reform legislation? It was FG who created the bill ffs!

What's your solution? Ask the bad people nicely to behave? The program highlighted many council investigations around malpractice that never end or go absolutely nowhere with no repercussions. Is that ok with you? Zero accountability?

Finance Committee to discuss Public Sector Standards Bill 2015 and its implications for public officials – 21 Nov 2017, 09.58 – Houses of the Oireachtas

Committee Chairman, John McGuinness TD, says, “If enacted, this piece of draft legislation would represent a significant change to the ethical environment in public officials operate. Many of the Bill’s provisions reflect recommendations made by the Mahon Tribunal. Proposed measures include that SIPO would be replaced by a Public Sector Standards Commission with expanded powers and a separate, independent investigatory function. A new complaints and investigation procedure would also be established. The Bill proposes to widen the legal obligations of all public officials to disclose actual and potential conflicts of interest."

Key reforms

The repeal of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and Part 15 of the Local Government Act 2001 which governs the identification and management of conflicts of interest for public officials at both national and local level.

Replacing the Standards in Public Office Commission with a Public Sector Standards Commissioner. – The establishment of a set of over-arching integrity principles that will apply to all public officials. The principles will provide a framework for the revision, updating and improvement of codes of standard and behaviour for different categories of public officials.

Head 19 of the proposed Bill provides for the development of a model code of conduct and the prevention of conflicts through education, training and research. It is proposed that all public officials must comply with the code in the performance of their duties and that public bodies may issue their own codes to meet particular requirements, based on the model code. The Commissioner may review such codes and advise on amendments where necessary. In any proceedings envisaged under the proposed Act, a Court may have regard to the code of conduct in place for that particular body.

Establishing a more effective, streamlined and efficient process for the submission of periodic statements of interests. The statements will have to be reviewed every four months but no declaration (or nil statement) will be required unless there has been a significant change. The periodic statement of interests will significantly extend the personal and material scope of disclosures for public officials. Declarable interests will include political donations and there will be greater consistency and certainty on the rules governing limits on the receipt of gifts and travel benefits by public officials.

Statutory prohibitions on the use of insider information, on the seeking or acceptance by public officials of benefits (including gifts and favours) to further their private interests, and on local elected representatives from dealing professionally with land in certain circumstances.

The establishment of a new statutory board to address potential conflicts of interest as public officials take up roles in the private sector. 

Still no answer / avoiding the questions.. I guess it doesn't matter the topic. You'll bounce in, tell everyone it's faux outrage, get asked a question, ifgnore it, address something else in a post, and wait to jump in again with more nonsense and repeat the phrase 'faux outrage' for good effect.

Lame response. To be expected. Ostrich stuff. I itemised the major reforms, you tried to bring SF into it for some stupid reason.

Ok back to basics.

Q1. Did you watch the RTE Investigates program? Did you notice a trend in the council investigations and the frustration from affected citizens?

Q2. Do you contend that the fraud, corruption, waste of public money, mismanagement, lack of oversight/accountability is unfixable?

Q3. Have you heard of the Mahon Tribunal?

Q4. Why did your party promise to reform local government in 2011 and subsequently draft the 2015 Public Sector Standards Bill?

Q5. Why haven't many of the investigation reports been published e.g. Mulcahy?

Here is one element of the bill which will force transparency and accountability. A word your lot might not be comfortable with.

Investigative power

The proposed Bill provides for an increase in the Commissioner’s powers of investigation and available sanctions. In respect of a breach or contravention of the proposed legislative provisions, the Commissioner may request the Deputy Commissioner to carry out an investigation where a complaint has been made.

Following a preliminary inquiry, the Commissioner may dismiss the matter; provide advice or guidance to the public official; refer the matter to the relevant body; initiate a prosecution, or refer the matter to the Deputy Commissioner for further investigation.

The Bill will provide for the power to:

– interview and compel the production of documents

– hold hearings if necessary (including outside the State), along with the power to summon witnesses and receive evidence both orally and by affidavit

– take sworn statements and to apply to the Courts to have the investigators directions complied with

– apply for a search and seizure warrant from the District Court (private papers of members of the Oireachtas or confidential papers of the Oireachtas are excluded), if required in exceptional circumstances.

At the conclusion of an investigation, the Commissioner will produce a report setting out his or her findings and recommended sanctions and send it to the person who is the subject of the investigation. Such reports will be published, and will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas where they relate to members.

A very good example of a lemmings over a cliff scenario, following this man. It seems like yesterday that his stooges on here were posting about the demise of FF and how Irelands landscape would look without them.. Now it looks like it won't be long before FF jumps back over them. FG down to the 10%-11% by Christmas?

Leo leads FG back to below their GE performance.

Will he be Taoiseach again?