The Legacy of Mary Harney and Others

international | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis Saturday September 09, 2006 10:56 by Kevin T. Walsh - Social Justice and Ethics

The Mystery journey of the PD;s

The Legacy of Mary Harney and Others

Yesterday everning before the announcement of Runaway Bride of Fianna Fail, Minister for Health, Mary Harney's resignation (well planned from within - don't be fooled, all you simple souls out there).

Back to yesterday, I sadly heard of the 13% VAT increase on the Carer's Allowance, in relation to the elderly and most vulnerable in Irish society. Have we not learnt from the Prime Time Report on Leas Cross sometime ago.

I listened with respect at one time to Mary Harney on a Prime Time programme approx. 2 years ago, when she said Home Care is the only way forward and I willl give my utmost to provide the incentive within the Government to make this a reality. As Minister for Health, I class her as a liar and sadly to runaway after the report of Mr. Walsh's death (Monaghan Hospita!). I beg to understand why a 2.5% mandate can lead the Dog Fianna Fail, up the corporate path of uncaring and as McDowell said, now the future leader of the PD's said that poverty is essential in an expanding economy.

I never hear tabbycat or any genius to the media comment about this. In basic terms, it means a carer on an average euros 200 a session, will give back euros 47 to the state. Now I would even ask Castro what kind of a State we have. I heard a mother in Tallaght in tears on the radio and saying where is Mary Harney's promise of helping carers in relation to the elderly. We all know about the trolleys, the corridors, the infections in the hospitals and Irish elderly citizens dying of neglect, in a wealthy Celtic Tiger of a society.

Again to all Indymedia readers out there - Why have we lost our sense of outrage?

Then I heard on the radio, we have 800 new mortgages a day i.e. approximately 200,000 a year. A first borrower on average borrows Euros 225,000. This means they must provide and find another Euros 85,000 to get the mortgage. This comes from parents or other banks. I don't want to seem arrogant but are we blind to what is coming up the road.

Let me give you all a basic maths equation: The construction industry is keeping the economy here going at the moment. Inflation is showing its ugly head and interest rates are moving upwards. We also have a 34%increase in gas from October plus 20% increase in electricity from January - now I ask everyone of you out there tonight, with half a brain out there, do not let Cowen's Budget fool you for one minute.

If any of you have read the constitution - you will have read about the right to own the land. To expand that, the right to protect our property and your dignity. For 800 years we have done that but this Government have told Shell Oil it is okay, they are our sheep and they will do as we say. But these sheep have got balls and they will protest and I hope every decent Irish man and woman will stand behind them.

Tonight I am hearing that McDowell is the front runner for the Progressive Corporate private law and co. party. This is the man who said I will give you 2,000 extra Gardai - where are they? Oh, i forgot, he has given us the Reserve Irish Boy scouts association. McDowell was once the Attorney General who tried to stop the inquiry of the Morris Tribunal in Donegal in relation to Garda corruption and we all know what happened!!

McDowell was the expert in law, he told us from the High Ground. His arrogance in handling the Statute rape case sometime ago, resulted in some Fianna Fail ministers having to step in to sort it out. Don't get me wrong, I am not Fianna Fail either.

Again anybody should know Bertie. Haughey said 'Bertie was the most devious of them all'. In relation to McDowell, Haughey said 'this is the nastiest piece of work that ever entered Dail Eireann....Check up on Eoin MacNeill, his grandfather, and get the facts, for Christ's sake.

McDowell then again had the notion of cafe bars and licences for same and the FF back benchers said 'Go away little private school boy but Michael is not going away. He is going to be Tanaiste next week, under Bertie. Now McDowell's view on Bertie is very interesting. Some years ago, the Nation was aghast in conversation for a Superbowl stadium catering for all sports in Ireland. It was called the Bertie Bowl. In the pre-election, McDowell stood on a platform in Ranelagh and he shouts Bertie reminds me of Ceaucescu.

Now this is going to be interesting reading. McDowell leaks reports in relation to Frank Connolly and his famous saying 'I know what I know'. Michael, you are like Puff the Magic Dragon, living by your vanity. Can somebody tell me did McDowell ever sit in Croke Park to watch a football or hurling match. I asked my Jack Russell and he said no he never got the scent.

In relation to crime in Ireland, McDowell instigated severe prison cutbacks which resulted in a young man being severely kicked to death in a cell in Mountjoy recently. McDowell once said of Gangland crime last year, it was the last sting of a dying wasp. Minister, how many gangland killings have we had this year.

Now this the leader of the PD's from next week. Any views out there?

So let's push the button forward to next May, Bertie and Adams are sharing the one bed. Bertie says 'What can I bleedin do for you Gerry? and Gerry replies 'I would like a facelift from your ex-girlfriend Cecelia and Bertie says 'Are you getting bleedin smart you Belfast bastard? and Adams replies, if a cobbler from Castleknock could wipe your eye, what about a Belfast lad like me fro Ballymurphy and now Minister for Social Welfare and Sinn Fein Reform (Finance). And by the way Bertie, I will tell you across the cabinet table - McDowell was the greatest gobshite that ever entered this Dail and you used him as a Boot boy against the Provos and my friends in haysheds all over Ireland. And one more thing across the Cabinet table, Bertie, Cecelia is crazy about Gerry Kelly, so take a valium (knowing your temper) and get over it.

Now Sinn Fein in May join with FF and the first question across the Table is - An Taoiseach, how the f.....do we legalise smuggling? And the answer will be give us a few weeks and let me phone my friends, the Sopranos, in Donegal!!!

Let's get serious again. This economy eventually is heading for a downturn and maybe in some ways its good. May we will regain our morals; manners; our respect for the elderly; our respect and listening abilities for people with depression - suicide has become an epidemic in our growing Tiger - so can anyone say we have succeeded? And if so, how and where?

Before I go just one little last story. Two members of the Travelling Community are sitting in their caravan on the Naas dual carriage way. They are watching Morning Ireland. Two new Beetle cars pass by and 7.00 a.m. The same cars pass the caravan at 7.30 p.m. that evening - one traveller turns to the other and says - this so called society has the neck to call us travellers.....

I hope I am not boring you out there. A famous Irish Barrister and Judge, Michael Comyn, KC saved the lives of 42 IRA prisoners in 1921. It was called the Clifford and O'Sullivan case during the Black and Tan war. Michael Comyn later became vice Chairman of the Senate (1928) and Judge of Circuit Court. When he retired he went into phosphate mining in Co. Clare. In the 1940's, 85,000 tons of phosphate were mined in Clare. De Valera's Government fearing a lack of imports during WW2 compulsorily acquired the two main mines. Michael Comyn took on De Valera head to head; he was taking on a most devious man who had to invent his own passport. After 41 days of a court case in 1949, it was triumph all the way for retired Judge Michael Comyn. He received over 20,000 pounds with interest. De Valera being the devious bastard he was arranged to have the money claimed back in tax arrears but he still lost the case.

I have often wondered why this famous man who saved the lives of 42 old IRA men in 1921 has been subtlely erased from Irish history. Michael Comyn was born in the 1870's and led a life of intrigue.

I will close - I hope I haven't bored you all tonight in relation to Mary Harney's legacy, McDowell's manic ego and Bertie's coalition !! with Gerry from Ballymurphy. I dread what kind of minister (Hello Mary Lou) might make.

Kevin T. Walsh

Quotation
'God grants wealth to those coarse asses to whom he gives nothing else'
Martin Luther - 1483 to 1546 (German Rebel Theologian)