Sinn Féin finds further errors in 2020 election returns: 26th Jan 2023

Quite some number of changes being made.

You have to wonder how many more amended declarations are incoming?

Very, very stupid for SF to try pull at this thread too hard - indeed it would have been very stupid for any party to do so as I expect there's issues everywhere.

Pull too hard and volunteer canvassers will have to be accounted for as donations in kind.

If volunteer canvassers are held to account (and in a way they should be at minimum hourly rate and account for any expenses / meals paid for), then the sinn fein election returns would far exceed the maximum levels.

Bringing people in from other jurisdictions should also be accounted for in some manner. sinn fein always want a level playing field in the media, so why not on all aspects of an election?

6 Opposition groups wanted answers from Paschal.

The media led FG v SF narrative is very destructive. Of course it wasn't that, but that is what we are routinely fed and it has now being presented as a win for Donohue because another party failed to account, which is obscence really.

They are two separate, different levels of wrongdoing. And shouild be dealt with on their own terms. Expenses versus donations and possible cronyism.

'Sheep' is such an easy thing to say but harder to prove. The oppostion have no bother separating themselves on issues of importance to them. all 6 thought it important to ask questions here, from Roisin Shortall to Catherine Connolly.

oh come on. immediately the SF stuff broke the cry went up. Peak vindication for Donohue coming from Stephen Collins in the IT,

All that means now is that 5 opposition groups plus the 3 government parties want answers from Sinn Fein.

Every single day the list of Sinn Fein "mistakes" on election expenses gets longer and longer.

Here we go again. I wonder whether these unpaid expenses were declared by either candidates or the party in 2014!!

There needs to be a complete root and branch examination of Sinn Fein finances. After all the fuss made about two men and a van helping Paschal, the C&AG should be sent into Sinn Fein.

Like all bullies, they can dish it out, but when it comes back at them, they cry like babies.

"“So as far as the two faces of Sinn Fein are concerned - €320 isn’t good enough for the pensioner in Castleblayney but £140 pound is more than enough for the man from Crossmaglen,” she added."

That paragraph sums up the policy problem that Sinn Fein have, but their reaction tells a lot:

"A number of Sinn Féin TDs shouted at the minister when she finished her contribution.

During his contribution, Sinn Féin TD Sean Crowe accused the minister of “smirking” and “looking down on people”."

He later apologised but the remarks tell you a lot about the kind of person he is.

Isn't it now for those who claimed there was an investigation by SIPO underway to 'progress' this story?

The ineffective shambles that SIPO has become under successive FG or FF led governments should be wound up and replaced with a proactive regulation body that has teeth. Has Peter Burke been hoist by the petard of his own party's unwillingness to have effective regulation?

"Sinn Féin’s director of finance, who serves on the party’s ard comhairle, illegally converted an office into a "wholly substandard" apartment – in which his tenant is still living.

Louth-based landlord Des Mackin, who has been Sinn Féin’s finance director for more than two decades, owns at least 10 rental properties in the county – one of which is his own former council house.

When asked if it’s acceptable for a senior party official to provide tenants with illegal, substandard accommodation in the middle of a housing crisis, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said Mackin’s rental properties “are entirely a private matter for him”."

Wow, just wow. This makes TD landlords who have been in trouble look like angels in comparison. I mean, renting out his former council house, no wonder there is no social housing.

How much further have these stories about SF finances got to run? Someone needs to advise them how to get out early and get on top of bad news stories.

I am not naive enough not to see there is a ding dong battle going on between the vested interests in the media. The Times and Indo are flat out hitting back at negative government stories from the Ditch and The Village with stories about the Shinners and vice versa. It reached bizarre levels with the Indo's headline 'Relative Of A Sinn Féin TD Accused Of Raping Teenage Boy'. British tabloid style journaliam.

They have taken the story down, but the Indo knew well what it was doing. Prompted by a FG activist the IT ran the SF finances story and it remains to be seen if SIPO are even interested in it or will launch an investigation. Flimsy reporting again from a slant.

At least the Ditch back up what they say and put facts out there.

Unbiased was the wrong word probably. More focussed on government than opposition.

Some further revelations about Des Mackin in this article.

"He oversaw the establishment of Research Services Ireland which over 10 years, enabled 36 different Sinn Féin MLAs to claim about £700,000 through Stormont expenses to pay Research Services Ireland, with no evidence any work was ever carried out."

I had heard some stuff about RSI but I didn't realise the bould Des was behind it and the amount of State money filtered away amounted to £700,000.

Slugger is right, this one could get even more interesting.

Not sure you understand 'institutional and systemic'.

I am sure I am not alone in losing count of those in FF and FG who have transgressed.

The reality is, they all have 'different standards' when it comes to their own.

We require a regulatory body with teeth. We will never get one from FF and FG.

Did what?

There is a regulator.

Will they give them the appropriate powers? No idea, but they will lose support if they don't.

How many elections and which ones?

I think you'll find they are 'other issues' YOU have with SF.

I don't see Revenue, SIPO or The Gardai interested in these issues so I will await for that. They are the people vested with regulating them.

I don't think anyone here would be allowed claim any other party has issues without some sort of verified back-up.

I did answer your question BTW. Here it is again:

That is an 'opinion' and you are entitled to it.

My opinion is I don't know if they will give the appropriate powers.

If they don't they will lose support as they will be just as bad as the incumbents on the issue of accountability.

That's 3 Elections.

There are no outstanding questions (except from yourself) about Abu, from the regulators.

Here's your original claim. It's as usual, exaggerated and sensationalist. Go figure.

Do you still stand over the bolded bit?

P.S. In that final article, there seems to be contradictions, The headline says 'SF faces an investigation', then the journalist says that 'SIPO are investigating a complaint' while at the same time reporting SIPO as saying 'Sipo told The Irish Times that it could not comment on an individual case'.

Do we know if SIPO are actively investigating Sinn Fein? They claim there is no investigation:

In the same way we know they are investigating others, eg: A senior member of FG has recused himself because a SIPO investigation into him is underway.

I am nopt trying to deflect to the subject of the SIPO complaint above, I'm just asking you can you point to any evidence that there is a SIPO investigation ongoing into the things you have issue with?

Your article is dated 27th of Jan. 2023

Mary Lou claimed there was no SIPO investigation in Feb 2023.

Can you point to an ongoing investigation into the Abu database? I'm not aware of one.

Your opinion is your own, but isn't the back-up I am looking for here.

I agree completely. The Gospel of Mary-Lou is the one creed.

Even look at the article referenced. Complaint is made, SIPO write to SF, SF responds. At that particular point in time, there is no formal investigation per se. Mary-Lou can make the statement she made, and the credulous can swallow her words.

In reality, the matter is still under investigation until such time as SIPO make a decision there is no case to answer or launch a formal investigation.

A really clear example of politician speak at work.