John Gormley Appoints Mc Dowell's Wife to the DDDA

by Fred Johnston Sat Apr 11, 2009 12:46

It feels sometimes that we are a state within a state, still deeply feudal, with the 'ruling' élite determined at all costs to keep power in the family and the rest of us, wallowing on sink estates and in hospital corridors or on dole queues and hypnotised by our perceived lack of power, do nothing. I have seen in a small Irish town how power in local politics and even in the arts is simply shifted from one privileged participant to another - as democratic as any fascist state, really, with no pretence at democracy. The absence of shame is remarkable.

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics: Dignity Fri Apr 10, 2009 13:39

Lads

It is the week of forgiveness. Yes Niamh Brennan is appointed as Chairperson the DDDA.......

Gormley and McDowell must have made up - we all recall the row at the Pole....over a year ago....re the poster in Ranelagh.

Gormley has come a long way from the anorak and the fuzzy hair. I saw him on TV during the week - he looked remarkably well.....even the Sopranos are envious of his choice of clothes now.

But Fred you forgot one more shortlist as to who is to replace Roddy (Flier) Molloy, head of FAS.

The Irish Times during the week and the Independent and the Examiner mentioned Mary O'Connor is on the shortlist for the position. Now boys, Mary O'Connor is the sister of the Irish Banking legend Sean Fitzpatrick and what really baffles me is that Turlough from IBEC said, there is no such thing as cronyism in Ireland.

Michelle Clarke

by Fred Johnston Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:46

And we were expecting . . . .what, exactly?

by the man Fri Apr 10, 2009 00:13

Gormless the poodle wasent long on getting into the old school of thought, cronyisim he is moving up the ladder,to appoint the enemys wife to this position does question his motives. Now that the greens are just about every colour other that the one they shoulld be no big surprises there, dream on john.

by Galway Tent Blog - Galway Tent Blog Tue Mar 31, 2009 17:17

"Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile"

http://galwaytent.blogspot.com/2009/03/ddda-governance-....html

Allegedly (Sunday Tribune, Irish Independent) the DDDA's new chairman:

* Is a director of the Ulster Bank which finances private risk-taking property developers within DDDA's autocratic-planning-permission territory. Ulster Bank's parent just declared the largest loss in British history, in excess of £20 Billion. Ulster Bank has provided funding for Fabrizia Developments -- the company behind the Gasworks apartments in Ringsend and a site near the foreshore of Sandymount Strand at Poolbeg under control of the DDDA. A potential resignation does not remove the conflicts of interest.
* Owns a holding company which in turn owns a share in a risk-taking property company hoping to profit from the U2 tower inside the DDDA no-appeal planning territory in Ringsend. Anglo Irish Bank is one of the bankers for the property company (according to Anglo's credible stock market disclosures?). The Professor did not return calls to the newspaper.
* Is the wife of the former leader of the PD party, promotors of Poolbeg property development. The PD party strongly supports the PD's steamy dream of a Manhattan in Poolbeg - within DDDA's autocratic planning empire. This leader failed to gain enough votes in Ringsend-Irishtown-Sandymount and lost his Dail seat. The latest fired/resigned former DDDA chairman was apparently also a failed PD politician. The boyo before that had a day job at Anglo and a night job at DDDA, and vice versa for his buddy.

Last month, a Dail committee raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest in the DDDA. In Dáil Éireann on Friday (March 27) the FF-Green government stated words to the effect that the DDDA governs itself and is doing a mighty fine job. [http://galwaytent.blogspot.com/2009/03/ddda-autocracy-i....html] Another Fine Mess?

DDDA Developer's Autocracy

by Jessie Mon Mar 30, 2009 13:11

Ms Brennan has a professors salary from UCD which presumably is close to €100,000 pa.

She also gets €17,500 pa fees from being on the HSE board.

Now she is to get fees from this latest appointment.

She is on the Ulster Bank board too I understand.

Meetings take place in normal working hours. UCD is cash strapped and President Brady wants college fees brought back.

Surely all fees paid to UCD staff for being on boards should be paid directly to UCD as they cannot be doing both jobs at the same time.

by Lana Sat Mar 28, 2009 19:28

Frau McDowell

Und

Gross Fuhrer McDowell, M3 (October 9th 2006):
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Gross+Fuhrer+McDow...earch

Agus

Minister Gormley, M3, Book of Rights (June 25th 2007):
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Minister+Gormley%2...earch

And

Last, but by no means least, and just 9 days after June 25th 2007, Baronstown:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83306

by Nimby Sat Mar 28, 2009 12:23

Professor Brennan has been busily signing consultants cheques and doing all the other dirty work
that the Minister has disavowed in favour of working completely in screwing the Irish Health Service
(including the suppression of Oireachtas Committee reports undertaken 2006-2008 on wasteage
and overspend at http://www.dohc.ie).

She will now Chair the Board of the DDDA and has not (as yet ,confirmed) if she will be accepting
payment from both DOHC (Under the aegis of HSE and appointed by Harney) and DDDA
(under the aegis of http://www.environ.ie and appointed by Gormley).

In the meantime John Gormley has twice defended Ms Harney's health policy in the Dail,
In relation to the Breast Cancer debacles and the 2008 health budget which is subject
of overspend and wasteage, two investigations and OECD critique, so it's only
natural that he would appoint a lackey intimately involved in that overspend.

People should really let him know at the next EU/Locals that the Slime sticks.

http://www.environ.ie