Niamh Walsh’s Manifesto
No defence for Troy...but Government tried anyway
THE Robert Troy saga is another scandalous footnote in this Government’s tawdry tenure. Micheál Martin and Leo Varadker’s defence of Troy despite a deluge of evidence of missteps is objectionable.
The two party leaders’ support conveyed a very clear message to the public that party and power supersedes principles and people.
But what is most egregious in the extreme is Troy’s attempts to deflect blame onto the media.
This tactic – adopting the Donald Trump doctrine of attacking the messenger – serves only to demean politics and further erode trust in all organisations.
Troy’s self-serving antics proved a catastrophic misfire and further damaged his credibility, sullying his own reputation.
It was abundantly obvious that the Westmeath postmaster-turnedpolitician was at best incompetent and at worst negligent in his Dáil declarations. But rather than act honourably, his resignation letter sought to absolve himself.
When he finally realised his gig was up, Troy issued a snippy statement which invoked Trump’s welltrotted out ‘fake news’ defence, saying: ‘While I accept my mistakes, I would like to state that the narrative being put forward by some media and some in the opposition that landlords are villains is simply wrong.’
That the media ever said that ‘landlords are villains’ is a gross distortion of the actual facts. They presented evidence that Troy was a bad faith actor in his dealings with the Dail, his properties and the laws of the land.
Another inconvenient truth that is lost on the Deputy Troy is that on the occasion when the media is wrong, it is not afforded the benefit of the doubt, nor opportunity to simply say sorry, correct the record, tick the right boxes and carry on regardless.
The draconian libel laws are such that when news organisations err they are penalised with exorbitant awards.
As a lawmaker, he should appreciate the inarguable facts that libel laws are so scripted to stymie the media, that injunctions and other legal loophole antics have been utilised to prevent the media from publishing information that is very much in the public interest.
Troy’s parting shot across the boughs is churlish in the extreme.
If this Government really does care about safeguarding the public, they should reaffirm that a free and untethered press is paramount to a fair and functioning democracy by reforming the libel laws.
Different rules in Ireland if you are loaded
FOR reasons unknown I have a capacity to retain what are, sometimes, the most-inane facts.
This week I was reminded of reading many years ago about a bicycle repair man who was named and shamed on the Tax Defaulters list as he owed the princely sum on €1,200.
I was prompted to remember this apparent ‘tax dodger’ this week as revenue released their latest ‘rogues gallery’ of people who underpaid their dues.
Topping this week’s hit list were some 20 individuals from who Revenue recovered the enormous sum of €1.052bn, or an average of around €52.6m each.
So far so good. The diligent people at Revenue HQ have been tirelessly toiling to recoup funds to bolster the state coffers.
But despite these whopping sums revenue shielded their identities behind a veil of legalese, citing concerns over ‘taxpayer confidentiality.’ The loaded lot were effectively allowed to buy the silence and protection of the state – when they were caught out they simply stumped up their dues and penalties and evaded scrutiny.
So, as is par for the course in this country, the mega-wealthy are afforded special status privilege.
The aforementioned bicycle businessman was evidently in such dire straits that he couldn’t even cobble together the sum of €1,200. His inclusion on the defaulters list remains in perpetuity. It reminded me of the old canard about owing thousands being your problem, but owing millions being the bank’s... or in this case the taxpayer’s.
No smoke without ire for Meghan
MEGHAN MARKLE broke cover from her Montecito mansion this week to lob another blistering broadside at her in-laws in London.
On an episode of her podcast Meghan told ‘dear friend’ Serena Williams another tale of woe. According to Meghan, a fire broke out in the nursery of the residence where her precious son Archie was being minded, while she f and Harry were doing their walkabout in Cape Town.
Upon being alerted to the ‘fire’ and ensuring her son was safe, Meghan blasted royal courtiers whom she slammed for cruelly making her put on that stiff upper lip and resume her royal duties despite her son’s almost near brush with death. Potentially traumatic if true. However, royal courtiers have a different recollection of Archie’s
absolutely nowhere near-death experience.
By their recollection, an unplugged heater had smoked in the nursery at a time when Archie was perfectly safe and being cared for by his nanny in a completely different part of the residence.
So no fire, no danger, no traumatised prince.
The relentless gripes against Buckingham Palace may yet see Queen Elizabeth finally reach the end of her tether with the petulant pair that are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and strip them of their royal titles.
Puppy farm scourge must be tackled
EVERY day is literally Groundhog Day for Irish puppies. Another day and yet another report of puppy farm dogs kept in deplorable conditions and used as cash machines by greedy cruel breeders.
It’s great that the 18 pitiful dogs confined in concrete blocks, living in their own filth, were discovered by Louth Council this week. But let no one think the system is working. For every puppy farm detected, hundreds more operate with impunity without fear of being caught. In cases where they are, prosecutions are even rarer and result in puny fines and no jail time.
Until our authorities find the will to operate strong inspection and enforcement regime backed up with the provision of proper penalties, this filthy trade will continue.