Common Currency

by Domhain Sceadaman - The Plain People of Ireland Sun Mar 30, 2008 18:20

Now that we are aware that the tribunal is looking at more than €400,000 of “old money” payments into accounts (the ones that they are aware of) that were linked to our glorious leader, is it time for him to throw in the towel?

We know, from TV3, that Mr Gerard Hutch is tax compliant but we have a leader who would not be able to put in a bid for the cleaning of the public toilets in our state of the ark health service as he cannot, I believe, show a proper tax clearance cert.

Perhaps it is time for persons with knowledge of the dealings surrounding the 92/93 devaluation situation to start digging deeper

It is also with great sadness that I have to report the death of HS, two weeks before he was due to be questioned about the role of AIB in Bertiegate (chapter one)

Domhain Sceadaman

by Domhain Sceadaman - The Plain People of Ireland Thu Nov 29, 2007 11:24

Kevin Walsh has raised a very interesting point in his last posting:-

"I had a call from Nick Leeson tonight. He informed me he had a call from Bertie's financial advisor, Paddy the Plasterer. Nick's words were - I am worried about my friend Bertie's deposit account, in the AIB in the Aran Islands - Bertie has a phobia about Brinks and he worries that his wages in transit get to the Island in safety. I wonder what Domhnach Sceadaman's view is on this.......he ought to have view given the Muchrobbed.inc yarns."

The answer for Paddy may have been "very worried" if we had been talking about Germany. Germany you say!

Last year Heros, the largest "cash in transit" company in Germany ran into difficulties. the following quotation was posted at that time:-

"Before it filed for bankruptcy Heros Unternemengsgruppe was the largest armored transport firm in Germany. The company was active in 7 European countries and with 5,000 employees and 800 armored trucks a major player in Europe. Heros has grown from a small regional German firm to a large multinational by offering their clients very cheap money transports. None of its competitors where able to match their prices and many went bankrupt or sold their bussiness at a loss to Heros.

The company never made any profit so how did they do it?

Very simple:

Heros collect over 600 million Euros daily from its customers in Germany. The cash was transported to the Heros moneyrooms where it was counted and placed on a holding bankaccount before it was transferred to the customers bankaccounts. They held the money on their own account for several days and used it to keep the bussiness running. The customers never complained because they received a 9% bonus for the late payment. Heros simply payed this fine with the cash the collected from those same customers over the next days.

Several managers where payed large sums of money to keep silent. This went on for several years and Heros was well on its way to become Europe's largest provider of money transports.

Heros CEO Karl-Heinz Weis and three of his managers where arrested and have admitted all charges. Between 350 and 500 million Euros are still missing."

It is unclear if this practice happens in Ireland. Someone should write to the Central Bank and enquire

Slan

Domhain Sceadaman

by Kevin T. Walsh - Social Justice and Ethics Wed Nov 28, 2007 01:11

Did any one see Prime Time tonight........

How angry do people feel about a profession that is allowed to self-regulate; a profession that through its establishment of learning is supposed to imbibe its graduate with a sense of Honour Bound.

Trust is about mutuality and honesty. Ireland has become a cowboy society within certain echelons of money grabbing cohorts that the Plain People of Ireland, the majority of people in Ireland have been cast aside as widgets to work for, serve, facilitate these narcissists and their all consuming greed.

I have a heightened sense of distain for these 'Johnnie Jumped Up's or Mary Jumped Ups'. They can spend and spend they do but often it is money that ought to be spent on others in need - the 58 homeless who died on our streets over the last 18 months, the poverty stricken people who are casualties of illegal drugs and excessive alcohol. The new elite have a doctrine and that is priority self preservation at all costs.....especially the pundits who have little to give to the Swell Society of the Celtic Tiger.

Why do I say this? Tonight I watched Prime Time. I had tried over the last month or so to be understanding to the two solicitors who are heading for investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Fraud Squad in Lynn's case. I wondered why the High Court dawdled with the Fraud aspect but now I realise that we witness two young solicitors who knowingly tested the Trust in the Law to enable them to engage is massive dirty laundry exercises. To see a family sell a house in a modest area; to see the deeds virtually thrown in the air, with just the say so and trust, and the banks to grant debt not once but maybe twice or three times and more and more, no doubt. Lynn is reported at one stage to have received a Euros 10.5 million loan from 5 different banking institutions on a property worth Euros 500,000.

To make it worse, some of these properties are let out to people who may be made homeless shortly - before Christmas. These people were first notified in the change of landlord by post when certain banks sent out a request form to pay rent to the bank instead of the lessee (who as it happened had nothing to do with property at all!!!)

What a mess? To date there are 13 banks/building societies waiting to find out how much, if anything, will be granted by Judgement to them.

Mr. Long, solicitor spoke of the promissory notes and trust of the Solcitors word and the Banks. Byrne and Lynn and no doubt more, have shattered this Trust tonight. The Plain People of Ireland now should worry and check their title deeds, their deposit accounts and make a check on their solicitors transactions on their behalf - particularly where property exchange is involved.

I had a call from Nick Leeson tonight. He informed me he had a call from Bertie's financial advisor, Paddy the Plasterer. Nick's words were - I am worried about my friend Bertie's deposit account, in the AIB in the Aran Islands - Bertie has a phobia about Brinks and he worries that his wages in transit get to the Island in safety. I wonder what Domhnach Sceadaman's view is on this.......he ought to have view given the Muchrobbed.inc yarns.

As the saying goes - who framed Roger Rabbit - I don't mean Pat - I mean the idiots..........Irish Tax payers.

The awful irony is that the monies will have to be repaid by somebody, those properties abroad and the lost deposits - who knows, the couple who this morning found out that they had to leave their home, exposed to the harsh winds of scurrilous greed. Day to day, they will await the judgement of the High Court, many years down the road, to know if they are entitled to any restitution. How many more people are in the same situation? Can we do something to help these people - a Ball, a Fund, Bertie's salary increase and bonus? One point we can be assured of and that is the Revenue Commissioners will be first in line for payback.

We need to start thinking?

I ask tonight where is McGeehan in the Star, the great Sherlock Holmes Gerry O'Carroll in the Evening Herald (global criminologist), I ask tonight where are all the freelance journalists - if the hunger exists for real journalism, they will chase the history of Byrne and Lynn and others and try and make sense of the chaos. Ask how were they allowed by the banks and the Law Society, and Justice Equality and Law Reform, to create such chaos. Any ideas tonight boys on this site!

I will by saying that Ireland Inc, Tara, the Corrib were far from their interests.....theirs were solely self engrandisement.....

I have chosen this because I believe the Law will judge these men, who have broken the Trust of their Professions, harshly......

Quotation - Flying High Henrik Ibsen Norwegian Playwright
'A forest bird never wants a cage'

Kevin T. Walsh.

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Sat Nov 17, 2007 21:14

Domhain

I was thinking about the word Common Currency: Common, I suppose is about sharing.

Then I look at your comment about the arrest of an alleged former Quarter Master...of the IRA. He hasn't submitted his tax returns.....but he lives North of the Border surely and it is ARA ...... that deal with his affairs.

Then since the Peace Process and Stormont anew and the sharing up there
Common is the word that applies. In other words, who gets in with charge of failure to pay tax.....wins the day. How come it is South of the Border.

Then I look at currency and I remember Sterling.......a secure currency if one travels the world........The Pound is and was always sound i.e. like the Dollar. Here we have common factor of two countries with their own currencies being sound.......strong......military backed power. Now Stormont sits and plans ahead but still, it is determined by the commonality with Sterling.

The Euro - we the Europeans i.e. except those who are not quite confident about the potential of the Euro......They use other currencies and commonalities.

I see today in the Financial times that the Yen is the speculative order of the day i.e. if you are one of those who earn enough; have contacts enough and are willing to take risks........

Maybe, we down South, decided to charge Slab, because we want to make sure that if Slab is as the rumour mill states, we ill have trapped in our tax net.......making the chance of better common currency (weighted) between North and South, with his tax base firmly entrenched in the South i.e. Euro not Stg or Dollar.

Madness - yes no doubt. However, I note on Indymedia an article about IRLA and indications of a miltaristic view and mention of a PSNI person shot in the North.

Why is there such rancour building up slowly and steadily. On a day, that Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hilary are being wined and dined by the influential people of Ireland on Raglan Road, Dublin 4, a road where the famous Irish writer Patrick Kavanagh once lived, can we not recall the importance of Peace in the Unity of Ireland. The pilgrim path has been long........let there be no blips......we need Constancy....

Michelle Clarke

'Works of Love are always works of Peace'
Mother Teresa

Cardinal Basil Hume
'Genuine love of God and humanity is learnt in the DESERT. Learn it there and you will have something to sell in the market place.

Yiddish saying
'To a worm in horseradish, the whole world is horseradish'

by Domhain Sceadaman - The Plain People of Ireland Sat Nov 10, 2007 17:55

I saw with interest that the (alleged) IRA Quartermaster, Mr Thomas Murphy was taken to hospital during his recent court appearance for (allegedly) not filling in tax returns.

Why was his confidential hospital visit brodcast to the nation, and beyond, with the so called doctors who hipocratically (sic) told all in sundry that he was feigning illness.

There are two sets of double standards here.

First Mr Murphy may not have filled in all his paperwork, tell me about a farmer who has, but he did not fiddle a tax cert like a certain Finda Fiddle TD

Second Mr Murphy was due the same duty of care in relation to his feeling unwell as any other citizen. Details of his health should have remained between him and his doctors.

As these doctors, or consultants, may have earned even more than Bertie (according to him), does that make them above "the oath"?
Is thier "duty of care" to thier paymaster "Mata Harney" or thier patient.

Oh and bye the way when are CAB going to visit the Hookey family who live in palatial splendour on "unexplained" cash. I'm sure someone from AIB can Follow the Money for us.

Heres me bus

Slan

Domhain Sceadaman

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Thu Nov 08, 2007 20:49

A game

We are back at school.......eager young children!

The nun/Christian Brother/Teacher reads out your question and gives us all the option of A or B

The benovolent child conjures the idea of compassion, help, assistance and chooses A (this represents the majority of children who are givers and low middle range earners)

but then there are those nurtured with a hungry greed to own and control and they say........strange the Govt. is pleased to pay them the 20 m......whereas the police and social workers and 2 m. is the necessary token cost.

Where does the 20 m. go..........yes, follow this money.....it has a better chance of grabbing more.....

Michelle

For the A group
Quotation Mother Teresa
'Resolve to feed just one person if you cannot feed a million'

by Domhain Sceadaman - The Plain People of Ireland Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:33

A question for you all

A situation has developed in Limrick whereby less than 50 families have terrorised 2 housing estates.
Do we:-
A) Spend 2m euro on extra policing and social services
B) Spend 200m euro demolishing 1000 houses and re-building them

Answers on the back of a (brown) envelope to:-
Bob the Builder
The Finda Fiddle Tent
Galway Racecorse
Out of the West
Bertieland

here's me bus

Slan
DS

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Wed Nov 07, 2007 20:57

Blood 4 sale

Yes you have a good point. There is a shortage in the supply of blood and I wonder why our overly privatised minded Department of Health, have not looked at this option.

A little money for blood might demystify the system more and stop crisis management for blood in times of need.

Michelle.

Recommendation: Dr. Maurice Neligan has written a frank, intelligent, article in the Irish Times today......for people interested in medicine and who value to expertise of a Cardiac Surgeon with many decades of experience, it is worth reading.

Does anyone know how to access article and post it as a related link.

Michelle Clarke

2001 Fintan O'Toole - Book by Maev Ann Wren..........Yet chaos persists: Why do we tolerate it?

'The scandalous state of the public health service is one of the crucial issues facing our society and Maev-Ann Wren's brilliant book is essential reading for any CONCERNED CITIZEN. Authoritative but accessive, analytical but ANGRY, she explains as no one has done before how we got into the mess of gross inequality and HOW WE CAN GET OUT OF IT. This book will set the AGENDA for the next decade on an issue that affects every family in Ireland'

And it sure has affected to many people in Ireland. We have had an election and how is it that we tolerate a system of health that is riddled with flaws and imperfections.

Shame

Michelle

by blood 4 Sale Wed Nov 07, 2007 20:01

Hi,
Gibvn that our govrnmebt & Health boards are private now, Why then sshould we not charge for our Blood? How much would a pint cost?(good quality high class new dONER )

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Wed Nov 07, 2007 17:48

Widgets represented nothing but invoked a kind of 'passive recipient' to the whole economic equation.

Well, given the mess with our Health Service (or more apt our ineffective Two Tier provision of health cover), we the patients, the service users, the sick, the ill, the dying, are but widgets ..........

Today's Liveline had doctors spouting out how practice is a business....the need is a business plan......arriving at costs/charges that ensure adequate profit....

I ask why such confusion? The flu jab caused the latest chaos. Certain practices charged Euros 40, others charged 70 and upwards. People attending to get the injection they need because of health conditions like asthma were left in the embarrassing situation of having to pay an amount ...... it being merited by an aside question/proposition you might as well have the flu jab along with your prescription.

One woman was positively courageous. She felt duped into paying for the flu jab so she simply said I want to meet the doctor again and I want a full examination included. Yes, blood pressure taken, urine, same, a stetoscope examination, and say a prescription.......Note: years ago, this was standard when a patient met a doctor, it was a learned procedure on their behalf......but now, there are practice managers and it is probable that it is similar to England where the Doctor works to a 5 minute count and the nurse to say a 10 minute count.

Follow the Money...................

Well, the patient going for the flu jab.......is he private?

or is she public with a medical card

or is there a specified condition that grants the medical card irrespective

In the case of the Flu Jab.......the HSE have lacked the objective clarity that would convey a message that they pay for the cost of flu jab, and the practice determines the rest.

One man had bought the flu jab at the Chemist and administered the drug itself.

After all this, I can only say, we are not people to be treated by a health service but we are widgets on a hit and miss analysis sheet with too many variables in the equation.

Does the above not scare people? It sure scares me and I have spent years entwined with health problems - in fact so much so, that the last phobia I had - was to leave the apartment, attend the doctor, and go to hospital. I have right to be scared.....based on evidence and experience that I have personally endured and now particularly the Plain People of Ireland are enduring and the truth is that they too have become scared, as said by Joan Burton, today in the Dail.

If you go Public, you must go to a GP, who in turn refers you to a Consultant, who in turn recommends you to hospital but you might have to wait a year. As the widget in the system, there is no real incentive to for the Consultant or the GP, to keep fighting your case. You see, they have a split position......they can accept cash from private patients and refer effectively and efficiently to the number of private hospitals in Ireland - nice and clearcut or they can just blame the public system........the bureaucracy, the consultants, the waiting lists.....the compassionate side has been metamorphised by pure greed for money.

To be fair, it is a difficult position to be in - to work as a Consultant in a leading public hospital and at the same time have private hours for private fees in an airy well staffed, multi-disciplinary team service in the like of the Beacon Clinic.

You have Public Consultant/Doctor and Private select grouping......

2 incomes, power over the cartel that determines high incomes and restricted entries to the professions employed.

We know that Charles Haughey as Minister for Health fostered the social democracy values in Ireland but masked in economic chestnuts that would pay for 'The Plain People' of Ireland or back then the ordinary punters, the voters, the supporters.

What is wrong in 2007? Can we not piggy back? Can we not decide what route to follow:

What about the universal insurance way? In the 1980's we had the monopoly VHI but then it was only a small group of privileged people who accessed the private system of health.

Then we had Bupa, indicating competition due to the potential growth in the private market.........now we have 4 others including Quinn Director for a country with 4 million in population......What does this say? It is obvious.......rather than social decocracy it tends to say PPP partnerships - yes......get more people to pay, without them knowing.....

If this is the case, why the mess?

There are people presently going to Europe via Ryanair for specific treatments and dental treatment, at a fraction of the cost. The service is far more efficient.

Well what does this say ? It says that if you follow the money, it is going to Europe, or is it? or do we know or care? Then add to this the opportunity to the medical profession lost through this equation.

The medical profession must take accountability for what is an ethical, transparent and fair wage for the work they do. Management may be overpaid based on the 11 health board units. In Manchester with the same population as Ireland, they have the equivalent 1 health board!!!

Science is to learn surely

by Kevin T. Walsh - Social Justice and Ethics Mon Nov 05, 2007 21:43

The swell in egotism appears to have created mammoth potentially civil law candidates and the question is how and why?..........Thankfully, Mr. Justice Peter Kelly at least had the common sense to refer the Lynn papers to the Fraud Investigative Bureau.. If this Lynn case was not so serious, one would laugh at the Disney Land these professionals live in - detached from the Plain People of Ireland. O we as Plain People use common currency, but these create their own. Lynn was an unknown in the legal profession, up to the last few weeks but yet it seems he was well known within legal circles to be high risk. He appeared with Byrne on the Stubbs Gazette and no bank paid heed to Stubbs Gazette which is beyond credibility. To the plain people of Ireland, one would for a Euros 10,000 have to swear their soul away to the bank - you see it is like public health, if you can't afford to borrow millions, just stay away! But now it the Banks must dance to a different tune, they cannot afford to let these two Debtors, run away, as in Lynn's Mayo terms, before he burns all the hay.

Another health fiasco......blame, blame, blame - another loss of life or of many more.......losses that need never occur. These shocks concern cancer of the breast but I ask about the silent people, the hidden and stigmatised people. Who really questions are Mental Health System in Ireland - we have media snippets about Suicide, Bulimia, young people with mental health problems and no beds or facilitities. We have a Mental Health Commission but when and how do these bodies interact with the likes of me......yes, the case who history, who takes the time and effort to write, to call in.....no the bureaucracy and the entertainment side consume their interests. They are not inspirational like Professor Anthony Clare, sadly deceased.

They sure have followed the money........but they have forgotten or even have become negligent about the Plain People of Ireland (they fail to recall we happen to be their bread and butter if the equation was right). Some psychiatrists here court the media obsessively now in modern Ireland. They love to be seen as some sort of brilliant doctors who have all the answers in their highly paid newspapers. Sadly why is suicide on the increase in Ireland? Again, psychiatry is not focused on the Plain People of Ireland, the patient in the public service of health. Just look some day at the once renowned Baggot Street hospital (psychiatry is in need of Inspiration, Commitment and funds...).

So much has been written about Health and I will end with a comment by Maev-Ann Wren (Fintan O'Toole endorsed her work with the comment 'This brilliant book is essential reading for any concerned citizen'......this was 2001.

Title: Unhealthy State - Anatomy of a Sick Society.

Unhealthy State 2001 NOW: November 2007.........and worse
'Why has Ireland tolerated a health care system thta discriminates between patients on the basis of income, NOT NEED?

Why do Irish men and women die younger that the average European?

Why, in Short, is Ireland and Unhealthy State?

What about corruption charges? What about criminal sentences, in fact what about in relation to the medical profession and their bureaucracy?

One more point for consideration about our Health Service.....if serious errors of judgment continue to be made, surely we need to consider a form of Corporate Manslaughter......charges relating to professionals?

A couple of years ago - please recall the plain bus driver of Ireland. He was charged with driving without due care causing the death of some people. He was found not guilty - it was Justice. Yet these doctors, consultants, management can get away with numerous deaths throughout our country of the Plain People of Ireland through Neglect. Shame on Mary Harney and our Government.

Michelle

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Fri Oct 26, 2007 20:13

Follow the Money......how, at what cost, what profession?.......

Let's start with Self Regulation and its effectiveness? For example, we only have to look at the Law Society, endorsed on the basis of honour and Trust, particularly of the fiduciary nature and what do we have? It is plain, to the plain people of Ireland, the Transparency, Ethics, Accountability, Checks and system protections between the clients i.e. the plain people of Ireland and the professional lawyers is most definitely not beyond scrutiny and most definites supports the need to endorse the 'Whistleblower' mindset to protect vulnerable people.

Add to this the role of the Banks, the lending agencies, their staff (now nearly 50 lawyers in the High Court representing two lawyers apparently 'out of control' in relation to clients money.

How do we follow monies to China say? It is understandable as China strides forth and has seen their local stocks increase by 6 times since 2003 - their Bull Run on the market, that property in China provides an attractive option for speculators.....and particularly property developers/Solicitors. What a bonus potential, particularly when the money belongs to others and ultimately they will lose out....on the speculation trail.

Domhain
I am amused with your 10 propositions.......

Can you imagine to socially decontruct the lying network established in Ireland? The Government, the semi state bodies, the health system, the TD's, RTE, communications, all would be stripped bare......to a skeleton system. Would be able to cope without these necessary social relationships that make the system work or being more profound, make life appear to work.......

However, we could work on coaxing people to obliterate venial sins, for a start.........

An example. Talking to someone today, they mentioned a visit to a consultant re. gastro-intestinal. You have an option in Ireland, you go either public or private, pay VHI, Bupa, Quinn-Direct, or go public. To ensure public irrespective of your financial circumstances, the route becomes Accident and Emergency and into a public hospital.

1970's saw forwarding thinking medical and other people, who had trained in the US and the UK, direct their attentions to private expert clinics of excellence, in the knowledge that people in Ireland were willing to pay for privileges in health care and that the VHI also endorsed these private clinics. The Mater Private and the Blackrock Clinic - have worked successfully. They have catered for an equilibrium in the market.

Now the public system is under stress, under funded, too many patients and too many elderly.........For those of us who await appointments with consultants, rehabilitation, alternative medical provisions, neurology, psychology, a fair and just public health service, we have to accept it when we are informed the consultant can first see us in 18 months time......but as a person said to me today, as you are given this option, you are also advised on the alternative that in 2 weeks/maybe even tomorrow, the same public consultant will see you at the private clinic e.g. Beacon ....... and the whole list of these tax break initiatives throughout the country. The irony is the consultant can be the same consultant........Equity is a hard task master to the medical profession also and its right to self regulate. I am sure we all know of Susie Long and her loss of life to cancer.....why was the public service so deficient in Susie's case..........Is it acceptable?

Michelle

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Fri Oct 26, 2007 19:40

Video.........worth watching

Follow the money is the theme

Plain people of Ireland posting by MC was supposed to be included to comment on the video on this site.........

Michelle

by We the People Mon Oct 22, 2007 13:39

May I suggest to all above ,to check out the link below and view the free Documentary by the late Aaron Russo, as it is an excellent source that explains the reasons for much of the state we are in now .The impending crash has been orchistrated by a few who control the most.

by Domhain Sceadaman - The Plain People of Ireland Sat Oct 20, 2007 15:17

This task has got me thinking. What laws of State or Morality have, over the past 30 years, been broken here. To answer that I thgought that I would post the Ten Commandments that should apply to a Minister of Finance.

One. Thou shalt not keep Offshore Bank Accounts
Two. Thou shalt not use inside information to benefit from Currency Movments
Three. Thou shalt not try to deposit dollars in a plain Punt current account.
Four. Thou shalt not have more money in thoust posession than is physically possible on a Ministers salary
Five. Thou shalt not buy landed estates from the proceeds of goodness knows what.
Six. Thou shalt not strike thy woman. It gives a bad impression.
Seven. Thou shalt not continually lie to the Plain People of Ireland
Eight. Thou shalt not keep offshore accounts at a bank whose branches in the state used to allow thee to go in and sign for untraceable cash where the withdrawal slip is mailed out of the state that night to keep it from the eyes of the Revenue Commissioners.
Nine. Thou shalt keep the lads above in the Branch and the good people at CAB in clover with great pay and pensions so that they do not bother you.

And Finally

Ten. Thou shalt be nice , at all times, to even the lowliest staff member in thy own branch, and not be a high handed gobshite, even if thee is in a hurry to go to a meeting, lest they spill the beans on you.

Slan

Domhain Sceadaman

by Domhain Sceadaman - The Plain People of Ireland Fri Oct 19, 2007 19:23

Interesting Kevin.

We should always Follow the Money.

I will post a piece over the weekend and show CAB the roadmap. Lets see if they follow?

Slan

Domhain Sceadaman

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Fri Oct 19, 2007 18:27

Then no poverty, no depression, no suicide!!!! This puts money/currency as the nucleus of the equation.

I happen to think that money can often be over valued.

Example:

The Health System

A person aged 70, a member of the medical profession, a pension, private health care, proximity to the hospital, all ingredients for successful health treatment.......

But does life work this way........often illness is by surprise.......there may be rehabilitate work to be done.......(which is no matter what anyone says, is way behind European standards).

The onset of vulnerability through physical weakness and disturbed mental state........the need for that long promised person-centred service as referred to in psychology and Health Minister Harney.......

In the public health system, it is the public health nurse who tirelessly tries to provide for the patient released from hospital.......

Here is where we ought to think of values.....those social values of old.....provided by voluntary groups, the Church, the nuns, those who motivated families to draw up alternatives for the patient.......to provide the set of hands that can empower the patient to set up coping strategies in their newly weakened state of health.

Martha and Mary in the Bible outlines the significance of Hands. Hands are in short supply these days as the Minimalist Culture of involvement with people of non profit driven status takes over......

VHI had a monopoly in private health care for decades but now Competition rules the day and Bupa, Vivas, Quinn Health swell the coffers.......

Yet private cover will not provide me with the 'Hands' I need as a person with multiple disabilities to operate my day in a paced and beneficial way, assessing if there is anything I can do that might earn me some money to add to Invalidity benefit.

What has happened to mobility? Years ago, Doctors went out on calls and if anyone knows something of the Cuba Health System, you will know the importance they put on visiting a patients home at least 3 times a year. There ought to be a service possibly called 'Hands' who can work in situ at the home, with the computer, and effectively set up a situation of efficient and effective health management and life management skills.

Question: Common Currency as suggested circa 1990's indicates a difference between the Bureaucracy and those who had access to cash and knew they could gain profits by gambling in currencies and predicting when devaluations would occur.

This gives rise to the blackmarket which itself feeds of the plight of the unemployed and their vulnerability. The Captains of Industry command and socialise, theorise, drink their drink, play their golf, have their holidays, snuff their coke with the safety net that protects them........wage increases for the masses, migrants come in and do the work often in service industries and mainly below the minimum wage......

The tribunals say a lot, but history has more to tell.

In my pre-accident life, I was a horror for finding the cheapest price. I would travel to England if I thought I could get a better price for say China at Harrods but not now, I live on minimalist income, I have two cups of coffee in Baggot Street if I have the cash, and it will not be price that determines what I eat, it will be effectively what I can lay my hands on....at Tesco. It is years since I have had holidays but the value of nature, along the Canal, the autumn leaves, the ducks the swans the people........who now truly enhance the Value of my life together with my partner Kevin and my Dog Jack........Herein is the value I have that the state fails to provide for others........who are defined by lack of money......

Common currency.......I was there once but now it is a dream and a piece of life experience that I value........

The consultants at ground level state that A & E is in crisis. Figures can always portray different answers but recalling my childhood in a Dispensary House, were the patients who came often walking, in vast numbers to Tara.........Action.....Action.....Referral to Hospital or Consultants.......I will find the quote by CS Lewis and upload it because we really need to get to grips with work versus massage.

Michelle Clarke

Quotation
Racial Discrimination - Zora Neale Thurston, contemporary African American writer and activist.

'Sometimes, I feel discriminated against, but it does not make me ANGry, it merely astonishes me. How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company? IT IS BEYOND ME.....

by Interesting Thu Oct 18, 2007 23:44

Very interesting indeed Michelle. Just thinking, after reading your article, there would be no such thing as Poverty if those paid up what they owe. Then no poverty no depression or suicide.

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Thu Oct 18, 2007 21:52

The Plain People of Ireland.......do we really know who we are or perhaps there is an elite who assumed the vestiges of the Anglo Irish who left.....taking with them the paltry values placed on their lands and estates.....

How long does it take for a new State to assume the vestiges (as is only too apparent when we watch programmes like Hidden History and observe De Valera's handling of Partition, Churchill, Hitler, Neutrality of the Ports.

It was a slow climb in terms of one hundred years.

Are there costs as we hear that the Tribunals have cost the State Euros23 million.

What is the purpose of the Tribunals? Surely, we are looking bare face corruption and possible criminal charges and prison for anyone who flouts the law. ExampleMr. Ray Burke (tax evasion). It is amazing just like Al Capone.

Land is Land, who owns it raises issues of inheritance, purchase and if it happens to be approximate to Dublin City and other Cities, say Dunshaughlin, Ratoath, Swords, Ashbourne..........then we must accept that those subject to the 7 Deadly Sins are candidates to the crime of inequitable practices. Approaches and brown envelopes are the order of the day. The weak councillors are identifiable and a personality trait of weakness to greed determines from top to bottom Corruption. The method is simple - what was agricultural land with a nominal value is bid upwards by cash and greed to housing. Once the chain of events happens, it continues to flow until values inflate and houses that once cost 35,000 pounds in the 1980s are today quivering of the bring of down-turn but the price is more like Euros 500,000.......

The question is if we the people of Ireland can accept the findings of the Tribunals......yes, that quite obvious corrupt practices occurred from the 1970's, to the 1980's to the 1990's and into 2,000. Can we accept that the corruption was perhaps needed and people in power made the decisions to facilitate corrupt practices for the greater good of Ireland.

The Job's Crisis book published in 1993 makes sombre reading today in an Ireland that has had an ebullient and successful 20 years.

It was 1981, and Fianna Fail lost office in June. The Live Register started to climb to over 150,000 and by 1983 - it was through the 300,000 barrier.

Action was needed. There was an advantage of Structural Funds from the EU to kickstart progress (Pounds 8 Billion over a 100 years).

The Ireland of the 1980's can be summed up by people and emigration......partings and sadness.......and Feedback........

Kevin.
Could someone explain to me the functions of the CAB please and when is a criminal actually a criminal now?

It is like reading a story in a Columbian magazine, what I am about to tell you (as if you all did not know anyway).

Gerry Hutch (alias the Monk) some years ago was the main and chief suspect of numerous robberies in Dublin, one being the famous Brinks robbery at the Airport. Not with any proof against Mr. Hutch in relation to any of these crimes ....to be blunt the Gardai had nothing against Mr. Hutch in evidence.

The CAB sat down and presumed Mr. Hutch guilty and gave him a tax bill of Pounds 1.2 million that they said (CAB) he owed. Who divested such power to the Criminal Assets Bureau - they are not the Courts of the Land. Then like out of a crime comedy, Hutch walks into the High Court with numerous post bags containing 1.3 million Pounds. Paid in full he shouted and I want a receipt he shouted........What about the Rule of Law in Ireland and the Separation of Powers per the Constitution.

I suppose at least one can say - he paid his taxes!!!

Is there really a difference between the Monk and the former Fianna Fail TD Mr. Collins in Limerick. This man was also found guilty of tax evasion and let us add in Tom and Michael Bailey who paid Euros21,000 also in tax arrears. The only difference is the Bailey's Collins and Burke all sat in Bertie's tent and the Monk now sits in his Limousine providing a successful chauffeur service in Dublin. It is well known that he has acted as chauffeur for well known foreign diplomats visiting Aras an Uachtaran.

The coincidence: Both Bertie and the Monk are inner city. Their hobbies are similar - football, boxing, take no cheques and always deal in cash. The Monk now has a bank account so there is hope for the motivation of the underclass in Dublin to come forth with their hidden cash. Note that the source of the cash matters not it is 'dirty'.

I will close by asking 1 important question - the CAB investigated The Monk, Gilligan and Others but what about Flynn, Burke again, Collins and what about numerous lawyers involved in high corruption in Dublin - you cannot have a Selective Criminal Assets Bureau - you must ask who pulls the strings....?

Professor Conor Lenihan - Minister for Integration i.e. Chaos spent over 300,000 euros on a project last week that failed. Conor booked out the Herbert Park hotel but 500 from Finglas and Coolock to integrate with the people walking their pooches in Herbert Park, Dublin 4.......According to Southside news which I don't believe, the integration was a disaster. Finglas 4 west and D4 south. It is reported 27 dogs are missing - mainly poodles and chichis. Two retired famale Judges were thrown into the pond and one tall lanky D4 culchie was chased up Elgin Road with his two boxers --------- will integrate work......?

Back the point.

The plain people of Ireland and their share of the 'Family Silver'

Suggest article

Money Week - the Best of International Financial Media
Article: 'Is China, Africa's best hope'

by Domhain Sceadaman - The Plain People of Ireland Wed Oct 10, 2007 13:45

Thanks Kevin for your input.

What we have to remember was that at this time anyone, especally anyone with a non-irish accent could go into a branch of the AIB and open an account in any name. This was even advertised in the Aer Lingus magazine at the time. All persons with more than 25,000 Punts were advised to think about an offshore account to avoid DIRT.

If you had 100,000 punts in an account at the time you were contacted and offered to participate in special "deals" which were done thru IOM and could guarantee 50% return in 6 months. These inside bets against/for Punt/Sterling netted the bank, and individuals good returns but the real "inside set" were making thier money on "margin trades" knowing that they would be "tipped the wink" when the Punt was eventually devalued.

The real losers, again, were The Plain People of Ireland, who saw the Central Banks Reserves wasted. Bear in mind that this deceit was carried out in the name of defending "holey irelands" (sic) Punt. Look at what happened to the economy in 1993

Questions for you all

1/ Did anyone we know suddenly have, say, 50,000 that could not be accounted for?

2/ Did anyone we know suddenly have US$ to deposit/

3/ Were they any way connected with de dept. of Finance?

4/ Did any misterious group suddenly, without warning, rush up to them, say at dinner, and thrust "tribute" in thier paws?

5/ Were the members of this group worth 50 Million or more?

6/ How did the group suddenly get de loot?

Here's me bus

Must go

Domhain Sceadaman

by Kevin T. Walsh - Social Justice and Ethics Tue Oct 09, 2007 23:48

In the 1970's in Ireland, farmers were going through a very difficult period. The banks closed in on many a farmer, and there was many a suicide. One small of way of making a few extra bob each year was the headage grands. Neighbours would borrow a few sheep from each other, for inspection day. Morally, this was wrong but at least the money stayed in Ireland.

Some years ago, the Fianna Fail government got 'hard'. Helicopters were brought in with ultra laser cameras - they can count the stones in the field now and this was the end of the Farmers blackmarket.

I often wonder where the cameras were on the FF TD's in the 1970's and 1980's who received bags of cash (maybe even virtual transaction funds) for planning favours. Some of the farmers got cute and went to London and Manchester to make their fortunes. History now tells us that the Fianna Fail mafia made great contacts with 'Michael Stonewall' and all the FF sons from the west of Ireland who became Irish landlords in England - yes and Kilburn.

Now we have a spate of killings in Ireland again - this is the Year of the Gun. The double murder last Friday night in Walkinstown and the murder last night in Limerick in St. Mary's Park. This is a total of 14 gangland murders this year.

RTE and the media focus on Moyross, Finglas, Crumlin, and the inner city as being invested with drugs. How wrong can these people be?

Where is the Garda Intelligence Bureau? Everyone knows that tonight in Foxrock, Blackrock, Dalkey, Castleknock and Dublin 4 - the parties commence and the cocaine snorting begins, with their expensive bottle of Beaujolais Red. The question I ask is: Are these people not the gangsters also? The Barrister, the Businessman, Doctor, Dentist, TD, will have their snort but the blind eye is turned and I wonder why? Without these people, their money, there would be no drug trade.

There would be less murders on our streets and I ask tonight why aren't their drug raids in the homes of the privileged boys from the Colleges of Blackrock, Castleknock, Clongowes, and Belvedere. When you kill the funding, you kill the market and I ask tonight can Brian Lenihan not see and direct Conroy to do his job on both sides of the cultural divide.

I like the article on Common Currency. I can see where it is coming from and I would agree - there were an elite group, in the know, at that time, that made serious money on buying currencies. I note the positive point from Gameball that Exports increased......but what kind of payments were made!!!

Tonight as we speak, many people went to prison today, in our district courts especially, relating to petty crimes. Michael Collins, Former TD Fianna Fail, did not get prison today. Due to illhealth, Judge Carol Moran summed up by saying that 'Your reputation is destroyed, you betrayed the Trust of the Irish people'. Collins got not prison - he was fined a miserly Euros 25,000 and a suspended sentence for 1 year.

I cannot understand how tax evasion in Ireland, unlike other countries, is not as serious in the eyes of the Law as handbag snatching or failure to pay your TV licence. I believe they are making Beverly Flynn minister for TV licensing reform across Europe.....and she is having her own show for a month at Christmas in relation to improving Ethics and Accountability for the Good Will Season. This is her birthday gift to Bertie for his support, in believing all along that she was but an innocent victim of a possibly corrupt banking arm.........related to farmers investment avoidance.....They got done and she got promoted. What a paradox?

I do believe people made money through trading currencies but I would like to know a little more about it. I am a little naive in regard to currency 'swaps'.

When I phoned Dail Eireann today and asked a certain TD his views on the subject - Do you believe he answered in the Tooth Fairy? Well, he said - I do and banged the phone down. That say's all to me!!!!

The real Kings of Ireland now are the muck savages from the West of Ireland - they come in old coats and twine holding the pants up. After a few million made in gravel and cement, the wastage dumps and development of Dublin, they buy their suit in Louis Copeland and the young men you see walking on Baggot Street at 1 p.m. in the pin stripe suits and the young barristers with their wigs in the Law Library and women in high profile research jobs in Ireland and involved in charities are the sons and daughters of these muck savages

What about Rocky? We hear nothing about how he sniffs out the drugs in the prisons? We need Sniffer dogs to do effective work in public places where people are known to sniff cocaine.......There ought to be a dog, perhaps a Water Spaniel, at the Dail, to indicate dedication to getting hard drugs out of the country. Passing that exclusive Shelbourne hotel, I noticed four Government Mercedes parked outside with drivers waiting. I wonder if Rocky who wears the Captains Cap walked into the lobby - would cause havoc as there would be a run to the door with ministers jumping in head first to mercedes, chaste or chased by the water spaniel........(with a heavy dose of coke sniff). Does this not suggest why all dogs are barred from pubs in Dublin, inspite of their losses due to the smoking ban..

Quotation
Class
'While there is a lower class, I am in it.
While there is a criminal element I am of it.
While there is a soul in prison, I am not free'
Eugene Debs (1855-1926) US trade unionist and political leader, helped found the Socialist party of America

by Domhain Sceadaman - The Plain People of Ireland Tue Oct 09, 2007 08:39

I say once again, Gameball, the Punt had to drop, but a 12 week lag, in markets that move by the hour (or less)??

I welcome the comments of Michelle. The paralell with Africa is clear, especally the poor people of Zimbabwe. The "lag" drained the coffers of the Central Bank. The "Family Silver" of the Plain People of Ireland was expended to benefit a few (hundred). The people who suffered were the very farmers and other exporters who had to wait while Rome (The Central Bank's Reserves) burned while Nero's pals made money on inside information.

I respect your right, Gameball, to be inside "the tent" dribbling out, indeed both my grandfathers fought so that you could have that right, but they must be spinning in thier graves at what has become of the cause that they fought for.

I hope that the Tribunal call Mr Shaw. (oops)

Slan

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Mon Oct 08, 2007 19:01

Yes, buying money and taking the odds.

Gambling is often cited as the worst of all addictions but with the absence of Las Vegas/Sun City gambling halls in Ireland, I reckon we have to have other outlets.....why not buying currencies (contrivance required); gambling on horses (Ireland Jockey contingent in courts in London today....who knows the outcome!!!). Some people tell me that Ireland has plenty of places where gambling is carried out but it is 'underground'.

It takes me back to living in Harare, Zimbabwe in the 1990's. Gambling with buttons was popular for lunch hour as the gardeners sat outside the closed gate and used the manhole covers to play a form of draughts....others would watch on. No money just the thrill from winning. This is about having a little power!!!

There was a time in Ireland, long before the Celtic Tiger, when we would in similar way to our African brothers, would be said to be gamblers and would go so far as to back two flies going up a wall. In the West of Ireland and other areas, does anyone remember Pitch and Toss behind the handball alleys and at the crossroads?.....it is now the pitching of the Tent at the Galway Races and corruption that bonds the those of L'Esprit....

Intrinsic to gambling is the sense of 'control over or power'. When I arrived in Zimbabe in the early 1990's, we faced stringent Zimbabwe Banking rules i.e. paid only in Zimbabwean currency i.e. Zim Dollars on a fixed period contract and one trip out of the country per year. What we failed to understand was the real impact of inflation. It was long queues at the bank, bulk notes worth nought. Within 1 month of being there inflation moved our Stg1 from 8Zim$ to 12Zim$......you need only see now what has happened to a country that once was the Breadbasket of Europe. In one month you faced chaos with your income reduced from Zim$20,000 to $10,000 and falling. Petrol, food, and that loan in the UK negative equity were all ensuring that your meagre income had to be improved someway. There was the opportunity to take the risk and smuggle in currency either US% or Stg..........the deal was enticing, you could make more than you earned. However, Customs in Zimbabwe that time could smell out currency......in fact they could smell out Children's clothes that we had brought for one of the orphanages, Children who lost families to HIV and some of whom also were affected.

People did take the chance but I was too much of a non gambler. But you must admit, what a temptation to take a chance and be a 'Winner'..

We are all presented with opportunities but at the end of the day, we have to apply our code of ethics, values, morals. We must look to the implications of gambing on the backs of others.

The point I want to make is relates to those who contrived the Game Plan back in the 1970's. Thinking back to the 1980's, I recall certain people talk of a Ireland being an excellent Tax Haven? If so, the unemployment problem of 38% at that time need to be rectified to ensure that funds temporarily removed abroad could be returned to a more secure tax haven country, with the bonus being an Island of Ireland.

Ultimately life is a gamble.

A FF TD, Mr. Michael Collins, Limerick man, was found guilty last week for accounts held overseas, in bogus names.. He gave a bogus tax clearance cert. to enter Dail Eireann too. Tomorrow he faces sentencing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

It will be interesting to see the Judgment.......

Michelle

Rewards
'The Salary of the Chief Executive of the large corporations is not a market reward for achievement.

It is frequently in the nature of a warm personal gesture by the individual to himself '

J.K. Galbraith (born 1908) Canadian born economist, author of the Affluent Society

But let us not forget Africa.......
The Question
'When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint.

When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist

by gameball Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:39

Yes, I agree with all that. Anyone could have done it, and rich insiders will speculate like that more than most. It's known as "buying money" by the bookies.

But the £sterling devaluation and exit from the ERM (or was it EMU?) came as a surprise to all, if I remember rightly. The Punt lagged, profits were taken (some may have lost out too), but the punt had to drop to help exports - and jobs.

by Domhain Sceadaman - The Plain People of Ireland Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:30

Gameball,

that would have been ok if the devaluation had thaken place immediatly following the UK devaluation. They were our largest trading partner, by far, at that time. But this was not allowed to happen.

Key persons "in the loop" were making too much money out of the currency instability. The made money by knowing that we were not going to devalue, in the short term, and were able to "sell short" and take various positions with that inside knowledge.

Bear in mind that you did not need to have money offshore to do this. Well connected persons were able to borrow the funds "offshore" to allow these bets to take place, against Irish assets from AIB. The proft on the deal remained "offshore" These persons, acting with the assistance of Mr D, Mr C1 and Mr C2 in AIB Isle of Man, made "euromillions" style jackpots, each, on a daily basis for weeks on end.

The knowledge about the timing of the eventual devaluation, in 1993, also enabled more cash windfalls.

This is not new news. The interesting thing is that there is a UK Commissioning Editor from a UK TV station who has been in Dublin for the past 3 weeks. They have the story. They have interesting information which has come out of Manchester. They have the names in the Irish banks offshore and over here.

This may get very hot for some people.

Slan

by gameball Sun Oct 07, 2007 09:16

The devaluation also helped Irish exports at a time of recession. Some speculators no doubt made their profit, but also thousands of workers' jobs in export industries may have been saved. Devaluation and inflation does rob savers with cash deposits, so don't save your money that way in times of inflation. Swings and roundabouts?

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Wed Oct 03, 2007 23:16

Two interesting articles on Ansbacher written 2002. It is a social history back in the 1970's and 1980's of the early speculators in currency.

I think Ireland broke with sterling in 1978 and although the Central Bank placed stringent criteria on purchasing funds to pay overseas accounts.....options always existed for those willing to take the risk.

Take for example Oil, Petrol, Diesel. The people selling such valuable product needed a safe currency hence US Dollars was the often chosen currency.

In the mid 1980's, oil would enter the Irish market by ship (etc.) The legal documents would be required and Central Bank stated the criteria of say 20 days that US$ could be bought. The objective for the purchasing company was to comply with paper work but more importantly to strike the best financial deal....i.e taking a risk. Sometimes you would gain and other times you would lose.

Currency rates varied and you phoned a selection of dealers from the main banks each day and there you are 'trading currency' either legally or illegally.

Currency fluctuation and chance meant considerable peaks and troughs....e.g time it was said Reagan had died!!!!!

Fill in the gaps and you can see how given the Economic shambles in the Ireland in the 1980's with near 20% unemployment that market instability created Irish entrepreneurs who thought laterally allowing them to switch funds offshore, trade currency to Yen, Marks, US, in the interests of further profit. Look at how 'stable' property prices were then, they were stable but basically maintained value from the lates 1970's to the late 1980's.........with a little unreported negative equity.

The Revenue hold an up-to-date list of all funds of recompense they gained 'from the found out'.....in the Ansbacher accounts and others. Having been found out - presumbably people brought their money to Ireland.....and yes no doubt others still can conceal theirs.

The objective lay in the plans of the founders of the IFSC project....Perhaps, it is this diaspora that David McWilliams speaks off. They are in fact here and are perfectly aware of the costs paid by those who orchestrated the Tiger.....

The Financial Services Centre sure has yielded results to date in Ireland......

Michelle Clarke

Quotation
'Truth Telling' George Orwell (1903-1950)
British Novelist, essayist and social commentator

'During times of universal deceit, tetling the truth becomes a Revolutionary Act'

And......Outcome

Winning
'First they ignore you. Then the laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.....' Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1950) Indian Independence Leader

by Mike - Judean Popular Peoples Front Wed Oct 03, 2007 19:10

Some of the speculators were working on behalf of the banks, investment and pension companies and even some state institutions. Any business directly involved in importing or exporting would certainly have had the opportunity to engage in low level currency speculation as well.

The decision to devalue the Irish pound effectively meant that the Central bank were acting as accessories in the theft by the speculators of 10% (or in some cases much more) of the money in the pockets and bank accounts of the Irish people