Further resignations: Ahern, Dempsey & Killeen

hotmail.com · 19-01-2011 11:08PM #1

All three cabinet ministers have resigned this evening - RTE and TV3 News.

Slideshowbob · 19-01-2011 11:08PM

Ahern, Dempsey and Kileen

So will government fall now?

Some re-arranging Cowen has to do now!!

CorkMan · 19-01-2011 11:09PM

I really do hope so.

Pearse Doherty is the man!

Funkfield · 19-01-2011 11:10PM

eh.......?

galwayrush · 19-01-2011 11:10PM

Don't think we'll notice their absence in any way.:rolleyes:

CoalBucket · 19-01-2011 11:11PM

knew the weren't running again, where did you hear they resigned?

CorkMan · 19-01-2011 11:13PM

galwayrush wrote: »

Don't think we'll notice their absence in any way.:rolleyes:

Depends how good/bad they were doing. I'm more inclined to think they were on the bad scale.

RandolphEsq · 19-01-2011 11:14PM

I just heard this as well, got a text from a friend. No health, defence, transport, foreign affairs and justice ministers going in to work tomorrow. Brilliant! Rats from a sinking ship

CoalBucket · 19-01-2011 11:17PM

On V Brown too

charlemont · 19-01-2011 11:19PM

Great news.. The more the merrier.

spillit67 · 19-01-2011 11:21PM

Co-ordinated so Cowen can do a reshuffle. ****ing joke.

Avns1s · 19-01-2011 11:25PM

One would expect that they would have the manners to serve out the remaining few weeks of their term before looking to draw down their pensions.

In the event that they were asked by Cowen to resign, it's a cynical exercise aimed at giving hope to a few, yet to be named, who will otherwise have weak prospects of hanging on to their seats.

In fact, on mature reflection, it's a cynical exercise in any case!!

gandalf · 19-01-2011 11:26PM

Seriously how can they continue with any credibility at all. Call the Election NOW!

F-Stop · 19-01-2011 11:26PM

It really does seem that the only thing the government has done since the new year has been to orchestrate the downfall of their party, our government, and our country, where the only benefit is self preservation and self gain. It is truly disgusting, though at this stage hardly surprising. Perhaps it doesn't fit the legal definition, but to my mind it amounts to treason. I'm going to throw up now, I hope I don't get any on the dog.

aido 1976 · 19-01-2011 11:28PM

5 ministers in 24 hrs. Can Cowen not get the hint, his ministers are getting out while the going is good, time for him to follow suit. Time for Cowen to realise his cock ups and grow some balls and call a general election.

The goverment / country is in free fall.

Pherekydes · 19-01-2011 11:28PM

gandalf wrote: »

Seriously how can they continue with any credibility at all. Call the Election NOW!

Ah no. This is just starting to look like fun.

F-Stop · 19-01-2011 11:32PM

Pherekydes wrote: »

Ah no. This is just starting to look like fun.

I know, these are the guys who are responsible for the IMF bail out, so why the hell are they bailing out now? Surely they'd stick around for their open top bus parade. Disgusting display of cynicism.

Fo Real · 19-01-2011 11:33PM

Could this be an orchestrated act to create vacancies in the cabinet for the Greens? Or even worse, the Independents! Minister Healy-Rae anyone?! Keep them sweet and prolong the life of the government.

gandalf · 19-01-2011 11:34PM

It is obvious that this is an election delay tactic by FF. They do not care one iota about passing the Finance bill they only care about extending their failed Government.

Godge · 19-01-2011 11:34PM

Out of Cowen's first cabinet, he has lost O'Dea, Cullen, Martin, Harney, Dempsey and Ahern. He should fire Hanafin which would mean 7 out of the 12 non-Greens he picked are gone.

Unbelieveable that they are still there. A complete shambles.

NewHillel · 19-01-2011 11:35PM

gandalf wrote: »

Seriously how can they continue with any credibility at all. Call the Election NOW!

No they can't, they should be gone. Looks like they're trying to force Brian's hand.

Pherekydes · 19-01-2011 11:36PM

Fo Real wrote: »

Could this be an orchestrated act to create vacancies in the cabinet for the Greens? Or even worse, the Independents! Minister Healy-Rae anyone?! Keep them sweet and prolong the life of the government.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, could you imagine Healy-Rae at Foreign Affairs?

F-Stop · 19-01-2011 11:37PM

NewHillel wrote: »

No they can't, they should be gone. Looks like they're trying to force Brian's hand.

Wasn't the super secret no confidence ballot an opportunity for that?

Fo Real · 19-01-2011 11:40PM

Pherekydes wrote: »

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, could you imagine Healy-Rae at Foreign Affairs?

It's not beyond the realms of possibility which is truly terrifying. Biffo needs to fill these vacancies. He may choose some talentless gombeens from the FF backbenches to get them some exposure before the upcoming general election. Or he will appoint some Green TDs to the posts to appease them so they cooperate in government for a little longer.

Newaglish · 19-01-2011 11:42PM

If he appoints new ministers before the election, do they become entitled to ministerial pensions, drivers, etc.?

eigrod · 19-01-2011 11:46PM

gandalf wrote: »

It is obvious that this is an election delay tactic by FF. They do not care one iota about passing the Finance bill they only care about extending their failed Government.

That, and they want to elevate a few young backbenchers to some high profile positions between now and the election. Come election time, it'll be, hey look at us, the brand new sqeuaky clean Fianna Fail......nothing to do with us what happened the last 15 years !

And you know what ? there are plenty out there who will buy it.

darragh16 · 19-01-2011 11:51PM

Hanafin is going to be thrown to the backbenches.

Either reshuffle or dissolve the government.

hotmail.com · 19-01-2011 11:51PM

Newaglish wrote: »

If he appoints new ministers before the election, do they become entitled to ministerial pensions, drivers, etc.?

They get the cars, not sure about the pensions. If they do get them and it's publicly known that they will, FF will only drop further in the polls.

Cowen would be better off leaving the positions unfilled.

ceon · 19-01-2011 11:55PM

hotmail.com wrote: »

They get the cars, not sure about the pensions. If they do get them and it's publicly known that they will, FF will only drop further in the polls.

Cowen would be better off leaving the positions unfilled.

Cowen would be better off calling an election! (amongst other things I'd rather not say Cowen would be better off doing!)

Corsendonk · 19-01-2011 11:59PM

eigrod wrote: »

That, and they want to elevate a few young backbenchers to some high profile positions between now and the election. Come election time, it'll be, hey look at us, the brand new sqeuaky clean Fianna Fail......nothing to do with us what happened the last 15 years !

And you know what ? there are plenty out there who will buy it.

Jim Glennon predicted this after 10 on TV3, he said the tactic would be to promote young candidates from constituencies were they had two Tds and favour the Cowan loyalist. The Higher profile and ministerial job might help them at the election or in the next election after. So Darragh O'Brien, Barry Andrews etc

Ahern is in hospital anyway and Dempsey has to take over as FF director of elections ASAP.

F-Stop · 20-01-2011 12:01AM

aido 1976 wrote: »

5 ministers in 24 hrs. Time for Cowen to realise his cock ups...

I think he realised that years ago, that's how he was able to screw us for so many years.

hotmail.com · 20-01-2011 12:02AM

VB suggesting that the real reason for these resignations is to promote junior ministers to boost their chances of holding onto their seats.

Probably a factor in all of this.

Corsendonk · 20-01-2011 12:03AM

hotmail.com wrote: »

They get the cars, not sure about the pensions. If they do get them and it's publicly known that they will, FF will only drop further in the polls.

Cowen would be better off leaving the positions unfilled.

Conor Lenihen today said they had to serve 2.5 years before they get the pension.

Its survival tactics now for the coming elections. They have to have some candidates 3 elections away that had ministerial experience even it was only for 10 days.

steelcityblues · 20-01-2011 12:06AM

hotmail.com wrote: »

VB suggesting that the real reason for these resignations is to promote junior ministers to boost their chances of holding onto their seats.

Probably a factor in all of this.

More desperation from the FF -love it!

the groutch · 20-01-2011 12:13AM

hotmail.com wrote: »

VB suggesting that the real reason for these resignations is to promote junior ministers to boost their chances of holding onto their seats.

here's number 1 in the queue

he needs all the help he can to hold his seat after last night

token56 · 20-01-2011 12:14AM

The 4 ministers who have resigned today were no longer planning on standing in the next general election so they loose nothing really by retiring a month or so early. However Cowen obviously thinks something can be gained from this whether it is giving this positions to other TD's to boost their chances in the election or even giving the Greens a position I dont know. But this all just seems like its something Cowen actually wanted or maybe asked for. He clearly has no intention of standing down as leader and he is trying to delay this GE for as long as possible it seems in the hope FF can gain some popularity and maybe he thinks doing this might have an effect. Maybe coming back with a "reinvigorated" cabinet and some people are probably going to believe him. I just get the feeling Cowen is doing everything he can is his power to try stop the inevitable.

Dannyboy83 · 20-01-2011 12:15AM

Godge wrote: »

Out of Cowen's first cabinet, he has lost O'Dea, Cullen, Martin, Harney, Dempsey and Ahern. He should fire Hanafin which would mean 7 out of the 12 non-Greens he picked are gone.

Unbelieveable that they are still there. A complete shambles.

And that's not even mentioning the fact that Bertie was ousted at the start of this tenure due to corruption:pac:

supersean1999 · 20-01-2011 12:20AM

token56 wrote: »

The 4 ministers who have resigned today were no longer planning on standing in the next general election so they loose nothing really by retiring a month or so early. However Cowen obviously thinks something can be gained from this whether it is giving this positions to other TD's to boost their chances in the election or even giving the Greens a position I dont know. But this all just seems like its something Cowen actually wanted or maybe asked for. He clearly has no intention of standing down as leader and he is trying to delay this GE for as long as possible it seems in the hope FF can gain some popularity and maybe he thinks doing this might have an effect. Maybe coming back with a "reinvigorated" cabinet and some people are probably going to believe him. I just get the feeling Cowen is doing everything he can is his power to try stop the inevitable.

think about it, mary votes against him so he will promote andrews, thats the way it will work, these promotions are linked to votes and promises , simple

youcrazyjesus! · 20-01-2011 12:21AM

This is a spectacular miscalculation by Cowen.

hotmail.com · 20-01-2011 12:26AM

youcrazyjesus! wrote: »

This is a spectacular miscalculation by Cowen.

He says this is more jobs for the boys on his twitter:

The country needs this charade like a hole in the head. The Finance Bill passing is what we urgently require, not jobs for the boys.

eoinbn · 20-01-2011 12:29AM

hotmail.com wrote: »

VB suggesting that the real reason for these resignations is to promote junior ministers to boost their chances of holding onto their seats.

Probably a factor in all of this.

A factor?! It's the sole reason for this. Not only will junior ministers be promoted but backbenchers will also be given ministerial positions, spend a few weeks learning the ropes and then an election will be called! If we assume that the best of FF are in the cabinet then how simple are the replacements going to be?
I am embarrassed to say this now but I thought Cowen was doing the right thing in standing up to Martin in the leadership battle, not because I have any fate in Cowen but because Martin's aim was purely to help the party and to hell with the country. He didn't seem to care that we would then have an impotent Taoiseach(if Cowen stayed on while Martin ran the party), or about the fact that the government was wasting time on party issues as the country is going down the tubes. Then BAM, next day Cowen turns around causes even more upheaval by changing many of the key minister positions...

raymon · 20-01-2011 12:29AM

I was disgusted to see Biffo's big gob, gobbing around the Dail this morning .

You are ill timed and ill judged - go back to your bog and fill yourself a bottle of tea .

Cavehill Red · 20-01-2011 12:37AM

They all need to be put on trial for treason, to be frank.

JonathanAnon · 20-01-2011 12:49AM

cant believe they are going to promote people to just make them Ministers just to boost their election chances... This is a cynical as packing the boards... I'm sick to death of the lot of them and their games..

dfbemt · 20-01-2011 12:51AM

hotmail.com wrote: »

Paul Gogarty - He says this is more jobs for the boys on his twitter:

WTF :eek::mad:

Did the Greens not have a deal where their ministers would step down mid term and give the post to the other Green TD's. What about their appointees (various Green Party activists / failed councillors) to various boards. Erm, pot, kettle, black springs to mind.

Bastrads the lot of them.

If I could afford a litre of petrol..............

gandalf · 20-01-2011 12:52AM

Paul Gogarty has just posted this on his website.

January 20 2011 by Paul Gogarty TD
Ministerial resignations threaten to turn Government into a farce at crucial time

It has come as something of a shock to read that Noel Dempsey, Dermot Ahern and Tony Killeen have joined Mary Harney in resigning from Cabinet.

Mary Harney one can understand, as she is not a member of a party. Micheal Martin has already taken what is an honourable decision in terms of the FF internal leadership discussion process.

However for three other Ministers to resign on the same day as Mary Harney smacks of an orchestrated plan that has little to do with the country’s interest and a lot to do with Fianna Fáil’s interests.

The Green Party stood back as Fianna Fáil sorted out their internal problems. Our focus remained on getting the necessary legislation passed, ie the Finance Bill, with the opportunity to pass other legislation in parallel. Our Party Leader John Gormley indicated our belief that the Finance Bill could be passed by the end of February with an election held in March.

Now we have the surreal situation of five vacant positions in a Government reaching its natural shelf life following our announcement on November 22nd last. You couldn’t invent this stuff.

One can only hope that the Taoiseach will refuse to accept these resignations and tell his colleagues to get on with the important business of State for the remaining few weeks. Or at the very least not to fill the positions and let Junior Ministers take over the roles without being handed the senior positions.

It would be inappropriate to ask the President to take any course of action, but one assumes she also has the right to refuse resignations if they are not in the national interest at a given time.

No matter what the motivations of the individuals concerned, appointing five new Ministers at this critical juncture would smack of jobs for the boys and cosmetic surgery for endangered candidates in need of a makeover. To do so would show a serious lack of political judgement, a lack of empathy for what the people of Ireland are going through and of course may have unintended consequences. It is the same line of argument that says that political parties should not take monies from vested interests because no matter how honourable the motivation, in doing so you leave yourself open to questioning.

The Taoiseach has yet to indicate a deadline for the holding of the election. He has yet to make any announcements regarding the appointment of replacements or indeed the acceptance of resignations.

In terms of a deadline for the election, a timeframe for completion of legislation and a sensible decision regarding ministerial resignations one can only hope that those with the power to make the ultimate decisions have the serenity to accept the things they cannot change, courage to change the things they can and, most importantly, the wisdom to know the difference.

http://www.paulgogarty.com/pg/index.php/pages/news-full/ministerial-resignations-threaten-to-turn-government-into-a-farce-at-crucia/

Have these resignations triggered the possibility of the Greens walking. It looks like they were not consulted or advised. It seems to FF they are an irrelevance. If they have any dignity there is only one course of action open to them.

So I reckon if Cowen doesn't refuse these resignations the Greens will walk.

Cavehill Red · 20-01-2011 01:01AM

That finance bill is the debt slavery of this country for generations to come. Here is one last and much welcome chance to reject it and the so-called bailout of Brussels, which is our bankrupt nation bailing out their billionaires.

This government has no authority any more, nor has it for many a long moon.

Any decision they make must be rescinded from here on in. It carries no weight and is not done in the interest or the name of the Irish people.

aidan24326 · 20-01-2011 01:03AM

token56 wrote: »

I just get the feeling Cowen is doing everything he can is his power to try stop the inevitable.

As is usually the case with FF, it's about trying to save the party first and foremost. FF have always been party first, country second.

How he can have the cheek to remain in government at this stage is galling. He is so brazen and bullish now after winning the confidence vote that I fear he and his zombie government will eventually have to be dragged out of Leinster House to force an election.

steelcityblues · 20-01-2011 01:05AM

Gogarty is only just talking the talk again most likely.

gandalf · 20-01-2011 01:09AM

steelcityblues wrote: »

Gogarty is only just talking the talk again most likely.

There is a good chance of that but I believe if they were not advised of these resignations then really they cannot continue in the Government as a partner. It appears to all that they are now acting as FF's bitch.

At least if they walk out now they will end their disastrous tenure on a high note.

steelcityblues · 20-01-2011 01:15AM

gandalf wrote: »

There is a good chance of that but I believe if they were not advised of these resignations then really they cannot continue in the Government as a partner. It appears to all that they are now acting as FF's bitch.

At least if they walk out now they will end their disastrous tenure on a high note.

Not hopeful. All they have appeared to be interested about since 2007 is getting through a few bills to satisify their poltical whims, while ignoring the big bullying brother who becomes more of a bully as time goes on.

Why oh why did I vote for this crowd back in 07?

Further resignations: Ahern, Dempsey & Killeen

Comments