Mick Wallace shaking things up in the Dail

[busbi]

Mick Wallace wants Dáil summer break to move – so TDs can watch Euro 2012

OPPOSITION TD MICK Wallace has asked the government to move the Dáil summer break next year so that TDs can fully enjoy the European Championships.
The Wexford TD raised the issue in the Dáil this morning but was shot down by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.
Wallace suggested that as there will “probably” be a six week break for TDs next summer it could be moved to coincide with the football tournament.
“It (Euro 2012) will be a great break for the people who are suffering from the austerity measures”, he told the Dáil. “Given that there will probably be a six week recess at some stage next summer, would the Tánaiste consider arranging two weeks of it to coincide with the first two weeks of the soccer?”
His request was met with bemusement from Gilmore, who told the Dáil: “It shows how much times have changed around here”.
The Tánaiste noted that it was unusual to have a TD ask to move the summer break:
“There used to be a time when opposition Deputies were complaining about the length of the summer recess”, he said. ” This is certainly a first in that we have got a request not only to extend it but to have it in June. Unwittingly, Deputy Wallace might have stumbled on an issue which will find considerable support on the Government side.
“The Government will make a considerable effort to keep its nose to the grindstone and deal with the issues of the people. We will have to watch the games on the television”.
Wallace emphasised that he was asking for the time off to be “reorganised” rather than extended. He also took to Twitter to explain this:

Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett ended the discussion, telling the Dáil chamber, “Deputy Wallace had his run,” before moving on to other business.
Speaking on Liveline on RTE Radio 1 this afternoon, Wallace said that productivity would be down if the Dáil were to sit during the European Championships
“If you try to tell me that productivity will be as high as normal (in the Dáil) during the football, that will not be the case,” he said. ”People will be very much focused on the football anyway”.
He proposed that the Dáil instead take a four week break in August and a two week break in June for the football.
The Dáil broke for recess this year on 21 July and resumed on 14 September. The European Championships will run from 8 June until 1 July 2012.

[Grandpasimpson]

Oh God I despair

[Arthur Guinness]

If some of those banks he owes so much to make him bankrupt his problem is solved.

[busbi]

I'm not too bothered about them all wearing a suit and tie, but for a guy to go into the National Parliament looking like that is insulting the nation.

[Grandpasimpson]

If some of those banks he owes so much to make him bankrupt his problem is solved.

Yup, he'll have plenty of time on his hands then! The (all but) bankrupt TD wants to go dossing to watch soccer , good to see where his priorities lay.

[RED 49]

we are being taken for a ride by our politicians , why dont they take a two week ( if u are lucky enough) like the rest of the country , this summer recess lark is a joke as is the practice of td,s getting pensions before retirement age .

[Hugged Rugger]

sure while they are at it they should make a bank holiday of every day theres an irish game on so everyone can enjoy it. and the day after for the hangover if we can afford to drink (some free drink vouchers for the gaes perhaps?). and sure we should be supporting our friendly benefactors in england and other countries so bank holidays on their match days too

[Benny]

Ridiculous misuse of valuable Dáil time talking about such matters. It's not as if there's nothing slightly more important which needs to be talked about there at this time.

[the stag]

This is my first post in a long time. I'm urged to comment on this because when I saw a clip on six1 news, i thought i had switched over to a reality show on the A&E dept. Mick's appearance and attitude was downright disgraceful. How in the name of all that's holy did he think it was appropriate to attend the country's parliament in such a state? He didn't even shave ffs!!
Now, I'm all on for personal choice in terms of what people decide to wear in the Dail, but come on!! Someone needs to pull him aside (even if it's by his sore arm) and tell him what's what...

[Stanley]

This is my first post in a long time. I'm urged to comment on this because when I saw a clip on six1 news, i thought i had switched over to a reality show on the A&E dept. Mick's appearance and attitude was downright disgraceful. How in the name of all that's holy did he think it was appropriate to attend the country's parliament in such a state? He didn't even shave ffs!!
Now, I'm all on for personal choice in terms of what people decide to wear in the Dail, but come on!! Someone needs to pull him aside (even if it's by his sore arm) and tell him what's what...

Agree with your points but the guy should never have been allowed in the door in the first place, someone (perhaps AG) should have had a transparent conversation with him about his growing indebtedness and the real implications bankruptcy would have on his career choices, everyone knew his finances were fupped but he was allowed to go forward, where did he think he was running for - Lourdes.

[upandout]

This is my first post in a long time. I'm urged to comment on this because when I saw a clip on six1 news, i thought i had switched over to a reality show on the A&E dept. Mick's appearance and attitude was downright disgraceful. How in the name of all that's holy did he think it was appropriate to attend the country's parliament in such a state? He didn't even shave ffs!!
Now, I'm all on for personal choice in terms of what people decide to wear in the Dail, but come on!! Someone needs to pull him aside (even if it's by his sore arm) and tell him what's what...

I don't really understand how the lack of tie or bit of stubble makes him any less effective in his job. Do you feel you perform better at life when clean shaven and wearing a tie?

[Hugged Rugger]

I dont have a massive problem with his image. thats what his constituents elected to represent them (top of poll with over 13k first choices)

wasting dail time on rubbish like this however is a joke

[Tobyglen]

I don't really understand how the lack of tie or bit of stubble makes him any less effective in his job. Do you feel you perform better at life when clean shaven and wearing a tie?

We're already a laughing stock so it doesn't do much good to have a builder that dresses like a tulip representing the country.

Maybe we should all go around looking like we just came from an orgy.

[99_oK?]

I don't really understand how the lack of tie or bit of stubble makes him any less effective in his job. Do you feel you perform better at life when clean shaven and wearing a tie?

I'll agree with that above; we have criminals in suits and ties who are still swanning about in luxury. Wallace was elected; he now realises he can do little to alter what our government does.


There are 2 real elephants in the room that the Dail doesn't even seem (want?) to see. First are the ridiculously large payouts to top politicians and civil servants; the second is the bank bailouts and the now emerging information of corruption, collusion and general ignoring of all regulation by those in the circle (look up Custom House Capital if you really want to be shocked). Either of these alone would bankrupt any country; that this government is still not acting on what is now obvious criminality will also leading to their demise (no wonder Michael D distanced himself from the Labour party that is now in government...). Why hasn't the former financial regulator been questioned as to why he was negligent (or worse) in his carrying out of his important duties, why haven't the various auditing firms who 'overlooked' the obvious been investigated? Why are we paying ridiculously large pensions to failed politicians years away from retirement age from a pot which has been in breach of EU regulations for years? Why are we recommending a promotion for a guy who repeatedly failed to spot/act on a €3.4B mistake? These are only instances; there are many more......


US, UK even Iceland prosecuted people for crimes that were less destructive than these. Are our governments now the benchmark for incompetence or corruption? It does seem so. The honeymoon is over Enda; gone past time to act.

[upandout]

I dont have a massive problem with his image. thats what his constituents elected to represent them (top of poll with over 13k first choices)

wasting dail time on rubbish like this however is a joke

I think there is a bit of overreaction to this whole thing. The video runs for just shy of two minutes, so Wallace was as you say 'wasting dail time on rubbish like this' for just shy of 2 minutes. I think it is acceptable for two minutes in a work day so be spent on a trivial and humorous matter. I mean if it was just not acceptable and just should not happen would every workplace not be a dark, hellish cauldron of sombre anonymity?

I mean who here can honestly say they are nothing but completely hard working and serious for every single minute of the hours they are paid for?

[Stanley]

I think there is a bit of overreaction to this whole thing. The video runs for just shy of two minutes, so Wallace was as you say 'wasting dail time on rubbish like this' for just shy of 2 minutes. I think it is acceptable for two minutes in a work day so be spent on a trivial and humorous matter. I mean if it was just not acceptable and just should not happen would every workplace not be a dark, hellish cauldron of sombre anonymity?

I mean who here can honestly say they are nothing but completely hard working and serious for every single minute of the hours they are paid for?

Not really about the " 2 minutes", should MW be there in the first place, effectively bankrupt before elected, surely he should be applying himself to the debts he ran up or is he lining his personal income in the Dail.

[upandout]

Not really about the " 2 minutes", should MW be there in the first place, effectively bankrupt before elected, surely he should be applying himself to the debts he ran up or is he lining his personal income in the Dail.

Well the last shower of TDs who were up there didn't get us very far, should we really be complaining about people who break the mould?

[ustix]

We're already a laughing stock so it doesn't do much good to have a builder that dresses like a tulip representing the country.

Maybe we should all go around looking like we just came from an orgy.

You wot?

[leftwinger]

Does owing a shed load of money mean you cannot be a politician ? Surely its no worse than having a shed load of money procured by dubious means ??

[Stanley]

Does owing a shed load of money mean you cannot be a politician ? Surely its no worse than having a shed load of money procured by dubious means ??

Yes I think it debars you, the lack of personal judgment should prevent you from representing other people.

As to your second point this is Irl and a lot of politicians procure money by dubious means, Ahern, Haughey, Lawlor, Burke, it is also the done thing for people having money by dubious means to buy politicians to do their will.

[Old Dog]

Interesting - Claire Daly has just resigned from the SW Party.

http://socialistparty.net/component/...ocialist-party

But what has this got to do with Mick Wallace, I hear you say!

[busby]

That was a fairly stinging rebuttal by the Socialists too, does massive damage to her future credibility.

What a silly girl. There is no reason whatsoever to support Wallace other than personal. He's not exactly at James Connelly levels as a social visionary, and whatever about his private work, as a TD he does nothing productive for Wexford. At least the Healy Raes and Lowry justify their existence locally if nowhere else, Wallace is a horrific waste of public money compared to even them. Daly has really backed a losing horse in this one.

[MrsMcGahan]

"Busby!
yes it's you I'm talking to,
who d'ya think yere calling a horse?"

[Cathal]

As someone said on Planet Rugby...

Seems the workers revolution isn't as important as taking a length of Wexford rope.

[Hugh Jardon]

With Ming suffering the effects of early cannabis smoking the independents are a real joke shop.

[McCloud]

With Ming suffering the effects of early cannabis smoking the independents are a real joke shop.

Yup getting close to the standards of the mainstream parties at this stage.

[Old Dog]

With Ming suffering the effects of early cannabis smoking the independents are a real joke shop.

With the honourable exception of Stephen Donnelly and Shane Ross. And that Pringle fellow isn't a complete dunce.

[The Spoofer]

With the honourable exception of Stephen Donnelly and Shane Ross. And that Pringle fellow isn't a complete dunce.

Would that be Shane "Stella Artois" Ross?

[McCloud]

That was a fairly stinging rebuttal by the Socialists too, does massive damage to her future credibility.

What a silly girl. There is no reason whatsoever to support Wallace other than personal. He's not exactly at James Connelly levels as a social visionary, and whatever about his private work, as a TD he does nothing productive for Wexford. At least the Healy Raes and Lowry justify their existence locally if nowhere else, Wallace is a horrific waste of public money compared to even them. Daly has really backed a losing horse in this one.

Good man you have just put in lights all that is wrong with politics in Ireland.

[isola ciarrai]

Workmate showed me a column in todays Indo, by Ian O'Doherty, about Pink Mick, Clare Daly and the rest - man is usually a knob but this one is a gem. Esp the quote where Wallace accused Joe Higgins and co of never creating a job i.e. of not being capitalist enough - you could not make this stuff up.
Wallace and Ming are easily recognisable rural populist independents of a type thrown up here every generation or so - 'men of the people' who pander to their electorate, and in defiance of the classic principle enunciated by Burke 250 years ago, are not representatives of the people using their ability to do the right thing but mere delegates.
Pringle a leftist of some principle.
As Dan O'Brien wisely commented on the radio Sunday last, Sinn Fein are delighted at the silly and unnecessary implosion of the Socialist Party, and their silence on the entire issue is significant.
Higgins deflated, Daly traipsing around with Wallace like a lovelorn schoolgirl, Wallace finally exposed as what he is, a chancer who is making it up as he goes along (let's not forget his NAMA debts as well as his unpaid taxes, our liability now), Paul 'Who voted for me' Murphy like the teachers pet...............