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Subject: should o murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: The Sandman Date: 13 Feb 09 - 01:27 PM this is a question,to see what peoples opinions are. |
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Subject: RE: should o murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: GUEST,Denzil Date: 13 Feb 09 - 01:48 PM Who is 'o murchu' and why should he resign? |
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Subject: RE: should o murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Joe Offer Date: 13 Feb 09 - 02:37 PM Say, Dick - as Denzil says, I think maybe you should give a little more description of what the issue is. Wikipedia tells me Labhrás Ó Murchú is the Director-General of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, an organisation which exists to promote Irish traditional music and culture. He is also a Senator. But why should he resign? -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Jim Carroll Date: 13 Feb 09 - 02:53 PM Yes - but he won't The whole sorry saga is revealed in the Battle of Clontarf/Comhaltas interruptus thread, from which I understand there is to be a Government enquiry. Jim Carroll |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Joe Offer Date: 13 Feb 09 - 02:58 PM But Jim, that thread is 556 messages. I read most of them, and it's an interesting issue. Can you or Dick explain briefly what's the situation? -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: GUEST,Diarmaid Date: 13 Feb 09 - 05:38 PM Should he go? Definitely! Ó Murchú has made a very good living from Traditional Music - not from playing it but from manipulating it to his own ends. In my opinion, he is a parasite sucking the life-blood from the fantastic organisation that is Comhaltas. He believes he can do whatever he wants and crush anyone that stands in his way. To date, he has managed to. I saw a TV program a month or two ago about Stalin and how he operated and, although Labhrás is sometimes referred to as Chairman Lao, I think he is a dead-ringer for Stalin in his modus operandi. With regard to Clontarf, I have no doubt that he used the branch to get what he wanted, that is, he encouraged them for many years to work for nothing to make the dream that was Clasac a reality. Once it was within grasp, he dissolved the branch and took control. Of course, this isn't the first time this happened. The West London branch was expelled from Comhaltas by Labhrás in 1979 (for refusing to fundraise for his political interests). They are, I understand, more vibrant than most extant Comhaltas branches and are glad to be free from Ó Murchú's clutches. All going well, if there isn't a cover-up, the current Departmental enquiry will show how ruthlessly self-serving this man is. Is it any wonder that most traditional musicians will have nothing to do with him. For Comhaltas' sake, I hope he goes soon. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Barry Finn Date: 13 Feb 09 - 06:51 PM Resign, for sure, shot, that might be taking it a little to far Barry, member of the Boston (Hanafin-Cooley) Branch Comhaltas |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: katlaughing Date: 13 Feb 09 - 06:54 PM No brief explanations then, huh? I thought this was a personal vendetta type thread when I first opened it. We don't all keep up with the longer threads, but we are interested. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: The Sandman Date: 13 Feb 09 - 08:25 PM no, its not a personal vendetta ,I am a member of comhaltas,but not the Clontarf branch. I have not expressed my opinion on this thread,but am asking opinions . in the last five hours I have been out playing music,and am now off to bed.good night . |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: katlaughing Date: 13 Feb 09 - 11:25 PM I understand that, CB, but it is not clear from what has been posted previously in this thread. No one has answered Joe's request and I seconded it. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Barry Finn Date: 14 Feb 09 - 01:00 AM see the thread that Jim linked to above. You'll get the drift after the 1st bunch of posts Barry |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Jim Carroll Date: 14 Feb 09 - 03:55 AM Hi Here are the facts from nearly a year ago - what little progress has taken place regarding the original incident can be followed in full on the other thread, one of the main ones being that there has been a clamp-down within the organisation on any discussion of the matter and there is to be a departmental inquiry into how the grant money was spent. The old branch continues to operate and do good work outside the organisation, but the building remains firmly in the hands of the leadership (O Murchu). As Diarmaid has pointed out, this is a repeat performance of what happened in London when the West London Branch was expelled (then for politics, this time for cash). It perhaps should be made clear that the leadership of CCE, Ireland's (once) leading traditional music organisation is a political appointment and there is no democratic structure enabling members to vote on such issues as these. I am a little surprised that The Cap'n raised the question as it has been debated in full on the thread Joe indicated, but for me, it remains an example of one of the most outrageous and blatant abuse of a political appointment I have come across. It would have done traditional music enormous damage had CCE commanded the respect they once did, but it is behaviour such as this which has lost them that respect, and will continue to do so while the matter drags on Jim Carroll The Clontarf members raised a phenomenal sum to build a music centre, mainly from Arts Council grants. When the work was completed they were told that, as they were registered as a charity, they were entitled to tax rebates of an unspecified, but very large sum, which they applied for and received. There was some doubt raised regarding the validity of the rebate so, to be on the safe side (in the present climate of fraud investigation tribunals etc here in Ireland), they returned the cheque until the matter could be clarified. President Labhrás ó Murchú, (known affectionately here as 'Larry-The Lab Rat') ballisticated, claiming that ALL money raised by branches which was not needed for local organisation, automatically belonged to Head Office. He (his decision alone - that's the way Comhaltas democracy works apparently) has expelled the branch and turned them out of the premises they built. The building, technically, now belongs to CCE and those who built it have no access to it; nor do they have anywhere to hold planned events for tomorrows St Pats Day. The first we heard of it was a very long radio phone-in programme on Wednesday (on which CCE head office refused to produce a spokesman). That, as far as I know, is how things stand at present. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: The Sandman Date: 14 Feb 09 - 04:57 AM I raised the matter,because I thought it needed to be discussed . I was hoping[as I know that there are often two sides to an argument],that some one might come forward explaining 1. the positive sides to O Murchus leadership 2.the CCE leadership position on their actions,re Clontarf. as a CCE member I believe that CCE members,should have a vote on this. we should also be allowed to discuss this,on this forum ,providing we do so in a civilised/polite manner,there is no point insulting O Murchu[however , unerstandably aggrieved , people feel] ., all that will achieve is the closing of the thread |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Bonnie Shaljean Date: 14 Feb 09 - 07:16 AM There is NO WAY it's a personal vendetta. Just concern for fairness. The long thread is a perfectly good one - people are dismissing it without bothering to actually read it. Why re-hash everything here, when it's already been said there? It's not that hard to digest. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Bonnie Shaljean Date: 14 Feb 09 - 07:17 AM |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Bonnie Shaljean Date: 14 Feb 09 - 07:18 AM Wooops sorry. To answer the OP, yes he should step down as head of Comhaltas. But he won't, and there's no way to make him. There should be. But there isn't. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: The Sandman Date: 14 Feb 09 - 07:45 AM every CCE member should have a right to vote on this matter . I do not know O Murchu ,so I do not understand how it can be personal. I would like to show support for the dissolved branch . |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Bonnie Shaljean Date: 14 Feb 09 - 08:01 AM He has been in power since the late 60's or early 70's. That's forty years. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: GUEST,Denzil Date: 14 Feb 09 - 11:56 AM Thanks for the explanations about O Murchu - seems like a really nice chap! |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Ptarmigan Date: 14 Feb 09 - 01:20 PM I know a local branch who, I believe, had the same Chairperson running things for donkeys years! Why are there no rules within the CCE machine, to ensure that committee members MUST step aside after a maximum of say three years, to let others take a turn? Surely this rule should be in place throughout the organisation, otherwise all you get are a load of stodgy, stuck in their ways, OLD FARTS in charge of things? I glanced at a CCE magazine recently, for the first time in many, many years & all I saw were the same tired old faces looking out at me from so many of the photographs. The Dinosaur needs a facelift! Cheers Dick |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Jim Carroll Date: 15 Feb 09 - 03:44 AM This is the relevant part of the entry in Fintan Vallely's excellent 'Companion to Irish Traditional Music'. Comhaltas once did a wonderful job in keeping Irish music alive when, it appeared, nobody else cared. Nowadays, as somebody described, they are an organisation with "a great future behind it". One of their organisers told me recently, "Comhaltas is going to have to run very fast to keep up with what's going on in Irish music. Jim Carroll ENTRY The organisation has a full-time director general (appointed, not elected - since 1968 this position has been held by Labhrás ÓMurchú) and for many years has had several other key staff: The position of director general is permanent and is not explained or rule-bound in CCE's constitution. The incumbent may also stand for an elected office. Incomes were initially covered by state development funding begun in 1967; since then variously by organisational revenue generated from membership levies, fleadh cheoil and tours proceeds, promotions, grant-aid and fund-raising. CCE's 1999 grant aid of £210,000 came from the government's Irish language budget. Socio-political interventions. This democratic political structure has a strong centre whose full-time, waged staff may also be the elected executives of the organisation. Disagreements between these and the 'grass roots' on matters of a broader cultural/political nature have in the past led to internal dispute and resignations. This is no different to what prevails in political parties, but the flexibility of one of the points in CCE's constitution has precipitated political problems in the past: 'development of an environment conducive to the Aims and Objects of the organisation' (Bunreacht, introduction). While this covers the use of the various media, it is also interpreted broadly to include the social/political environment of 'Irish cultural ethos', this incorporating on occasions political ideals and opinions. Thus the organisation caused controversy when in 1971 it cancelled the All-Ireland fleadh as a protest against internment of nationalists in Northern Ireland, and again when it issued statements (and Treoir editorials) taking a stand in the national referendum on abortion in 1983. Director general, Labhras O Murchu, concurrent with his employment by CCE, is presently also a senator for the Fianna Fail political party, sharing with C&W promoter Paschal Mooney a portfolio of 'Spokesperson on Arts, Heritage, the Gaeltacht and the Islands'. Such a position is not felt by CCE to be compromising of its national cultural ideal-for under his directorship over almost thirty years, CCE has expanded its remit, successfully lobbying for state and other funding. The only major study of CCE is The Case for Ireland's Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann by Edward O'Henry {Ethnomusicology, vol. 35. no. 1, 1989). CCE's own (c. 1970) publication Comhaltas - CCE (Bliain-Iris, vol. 1, no. 2 gives historical background to personalities. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: The Sandman Date: 15 Feb 09 - 05:17 AM thanks Jim . as far as I am concerned Comhaltas should exist to promote Irish culture . Political statements and views on subjects such as abortion,should not be their remit. can you imagine EFDSS , Issuing statements about the Lisbon treaty . |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: GUEST,cowardly guest Date: 16 Feb 09 - 04:47 AM YES he should |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Zen Date: 16 Feb 09 - 05:03 AM I was a member of the West London Comhaltas back in 1979 so remember him well. Yes, he should resign for the future good of CCE. Zen |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: GUEST,a lover of trad Date: 16 Feb 09 - 07:01 AM Yes, he should resign. Is there anyone out there who can mediate or force CCE to talk to the Clontarf side? |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: GUEST,Bemused Date: 16 Feb 09 - 09:20 AM No, definitely not - he's done more for trad music down through the years than all of the begrudgers put together. As for Clontarf, the matter was raised at Annual Congress last May and in a unanimous vote all present supported Labhrás and the Comhaltas Ardchomhairle. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Bonnie Shaljean Date: 16 Feb 09 - 09:29 AM "All present" ? Therein lies the rub - |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: GUEST,Danno Date: 16 Feb 09 - 09:32 AM "Unanimous votes" tend to be the hallmark of totalitarian organisations. Was this a secret ballot or a show of hands? |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Zen Date: 16 Feb 09 - 09:34 AM he's done more for trad music down through the years than all of the begrudgers put together Er... no, I don't think so. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Bonnie Shaljean Date: 16 Feb 09 - 09:34 AM The ordinary membership didn't get to vote on this. So how meaningful is it? |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: GUEST,Bemused Date: 16 Feb 09 - 12:17 PM As far as I know every Comhaltas Branch is entitled to send delegates to Congress and, from the sizeable crowd there last year, I assume that they do. As for Bonnie's comment, they looked like "ordinary members" to me. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Ptarmigan Date: 16 Feb 09 - 01:00 PM "Was this a secret ballot or a show of hands?" Speaking of secret ballots, I get the impression that all, or at least most, of those folks on this forum who are in favour of 'Larry-The Lab Rat' staying on, prefer to remain anonymous, while those that think it's time he resigned, are quite happy to stand up & be counted by their peers. Hmmmmmmm interesting eh! Cheers Dick |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: The Sandman Date: 16 Feb 09 - 01:25 PM here is what should happen,every member of comhaltas should be contacted,they should then be able to have a private vote[anonymity guaranteed ] . |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: GUEST,Frank F Date: 16 Feb 09 - 03:03 PM Jim I wish to clarify something in your posting of the 14th. You stated that "There was some doubt raised regarding the validity of the rebate so, to be on the safe side (in the present climate of fraud investigation tribunals etc here in Ireland), they returned the cheque until the matter could be clarified." There was no doubt about the validity of the rebate. It was applied for with the benefit of professional advice from a tax consultant. What was irregular about the whole affair was the directive that the rebate should be transferred to CCE HQ. The rebate was based on the premise that for tax purposes Clasac was a separate entity to CCE. Therefore to transfer the money to CCE would have undermined the basis of the rebate. Our advice was that this would have been illegal and could have exposed individual members of the branch to potentially large liabilities. However we were suspended with a threat of dissolution if we didn't comply with the directive. Caught between a rock and a hard place we returned the money to Revenue. It was a question of complying with the law rather than with an illegal directive from CCE. When we were ultimately dissolved the reasons given did not mention our failure to transfer the rebate. This might be read as an implicit acknowedgement of the legal status of the original directive! Having clarified that I wish to add a personal note on the whole affair. I worked as a volunteer in CCE for 11 years holding various positions in the organisation during that time. My motivation was purely to contribute something back to the community at large. Some people look after the scouts, others the local hurling team, etc. My contribution was the local branch of CCE. I expected nothing in return. I did not expect however to be flung unceremoniously out of the organisation with accusations of financial irregularities and child exploitation. I consider the actions of Mr Ó Murchú to be nothing less than an assault on the voluntary sector. Bertie Ahern when he was Taoiseach famously gave a speech lauding the contribution of the voluntary sector in Ireland and regreting its demise. Clearly not everyone in Fianna Fail was listening! ....and you were asking should he go! Frank Flynn (formerly of Cluain Tarbh CCE) |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Jim Carroll Date: 16 Feb 09 - 03:36 PM Thank you for that clarification Frank. The problem for those of us not involved is that the whole affair has been carried out in such an underhand manner that we have had to piece together the facts. I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing you the best of luck in your fight - I hope you have better luck than we had in West London. Best wishes, Jim Carroll |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Ptarmigan Date: 16 Feb 09 - 03:57 PM Sorry for your troubles Jim & Frank. How many more branches, I wonder, have to go, before 'Larry-The Lab Rat' is asked to clear out his desk? |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Bonnie Shaljean Date: 16 Feb 09 - 04:41 PM Being a little vague aren't you, Bemused? "As far as I know" and "I assume" and "They looked like" insinuate things without actually saying them. Was there or was there not a full, representative complement of elected branch delegates at this meeting? Or is there any way of actually knowing who voted? Like Captain B, I think the dues-paying (and hard-working) members should have some say in the matter. In any case it's always easier to gain approval when the opposition gets banished. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: GUEST,Frank F Date: 16 Feb 09 - 04:53 PM Thanks for the kind wishes, Jim. I know from the other blog that you have been a consistent supporter. Indeed we wouldn't have suvrvived without the groundswell of support that we received. The good news is that we are still here large as life, doing what we do do best. We have just had our first AGM as Ceoltóirí Chluain Tarbh. We have adopted an exciting programme of events for the year. We'll be posting details on our website http://www.cluaintarbh.net/ as things progress. Check it regularly for updates. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Fliss Date: 16 Feb 09 - 06:26 PM mmmm isnt his wife something to do with The Bru Boru Cultural Center ?? We had a fledgling Comhaltas Branch is Jackfield, Telford. (of which I was secretary for 3 years). Very few of us were Irish, just loved the music. We voted to come out of the association because of the high insurance levies. Also because most of the subs went to Head office. I put in a question at Province of Britain congress in about 2003 about the high insurance costs, was fobbed off with some glib reply by ya man. Was allowed to raise it at Congress in Monkstown, to get the same reply. We still have a wonderful Irish session at The Boat Inn in Jackfield. British branches traditionally pay more insurance per annum than Irish ones. We dont have property or employees and just needed simple 3rd party liability. Fliss |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Ptarmigan Date: 16 Feb 09 - 06:56 PM "We dont have property or employees and just needed simple 3rd party liability." Hey Fliss, I think it's the 1st 'party' that's actually proving to be the liability, not the third! ;-) |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Jim Carroll Date: 17 Feb 09 - 05:26 AM In the light of CCE's constant complaint that they should be getting the lion's share of Arts Council funding, perhaps this article from today's Irish Times puts this and the Clontarf affair into context, Jim Carroll TRADITIONAL MUSIC BODY ACCUSES FG OF VENDETTA' OVER FUNDING CLAIMS EOIN BURKE-KENNEDY and STEPHEN COLLINS COMHALTAS CEOLTOIRI Eireann (CCÉ), the agency that promotes traditional music, has accused Fine Gael of conducting "a vendetta" against it in claiming its State funding lacked transparency. The organisation's director general Senator Labhras Ó Murchú (FF) said he was astounded by suggestions from Fine Gael's arts spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell TD that secrecy surrounded the millions of euro given annually by the State to CCÉ. He said their accounts were externally audited and certified by the relevant government departments and he could not understand why Ms Mitchell was "politicising what is essentially a voluntary cultural movement". On Sunday, Ms Mitchell said it was astonishing no one in Government even seemed to know how much CCE was getting with one Minister stating it received €5 million in 2007 and his predecessor saying that that figure was €7 million. She welcomed the promised transparency for CCE accounts as they will soon have to be made publicly available, but called for equal clarity from the Government. "When the Charities Bill becomes law later this year, Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann, as an organisation that will enjoy charitable tax exemption under the terms of the Bill, will be obliged to publish its annual accounts." Ms Mitchell said she had long been seeking information on behalf of the public about how the considerable State money CCE received was actually spent but neither the organisation, nor the Minister dispensing the funds, had been willing to give any such information or to publish their accounts. "This kind of secrecy surrounding public money is unacceptable and particularly so when the organisation is headed up by an elected representative of the ruling political party. It is a pity that it takes a change in legislation to enforce the kind of transparency that is in everyone's interests," she said. But Mr Ó Murchú said the figures were published in the annual accounts which are made available to all 400 units of the organisation in the State. Copies of those accounts are sent to government departments and management reports were made to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on a quarterly basis, he said. He called on Ms Mitchell to withdraw the suggestion of secrecy and apologise to CCE members and to him personally. In her statement, Ms Mitchell said CCE branches throughout the country and abroad did important and vital work promoting Irish music and culture but that did not obviate the need for transparency in the use of public funds. "Last year the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism gave €6 million and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs gave €1.9 million."The Department of Foreign Affairs also funds some activities abroad and other public monies may also find its way to Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann but, without any publicised accounts, we simply don't know. In replies to my parliamentary questions, Minister [Martin] Cullen stated the 2007 funding was €5 million but his predecessor the late Séamus Brennan asserted he had given them €7 million," she said. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: GUEST,Peter Laban Date: 17 Feb 09 - 05:32 AM Even the above list of funding can give an understated impression, local branches receive grants of all sorts: the Co Clare headquarters were given 3 million last year for renovations, money from the National Lottery has gone to Bru Boru and the list is likely to go on. As it stands we indeed don't know. |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: GUEST,Kevin Boyle Date: 17 Feb 09 - 10:47 AM It sounds like you need an Act of Parliament to change aspects of the constitutional status of the President's position. The fact he is a 'political appointee' is in itself a bad thing. Members should have the decisive influence over who leads their organisation. The fact his appointment is 'for life' is OUTRAGEOUS. It should also be legally compulsory that CCE accounts be published and open for inspection by anyone. Lobby your TD's. Find some good fellow who will push legislation forward to change the things about CCE that are obviously intolerable. Hunt down this cute fox. KB (ex-member West London CCE) |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: The Sandman Date: 17 Feb 09 - 12:07 PM * * . Browsealoud You are here » Home » Breaking News » Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann gets millions… but nobody knows how much - Mitchell Latest News News Feed 16 Feb 2009 Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann gets millions… but nobody knows how much - Mitchell Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann gets millions… but nobody knows how much - Mitchell Fine Gael National Press Office Press Release .................................................................. Leinster House Contact: Olivia Mitchell TD Dublin 2 Mike Miley Arts, Sports & Tourism Ireland 01 6184254 Monday February 16th 2009 Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann gets millions... but nobody knows how much - Mitchell Nobody in Government knows how much Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann receives in funding from the State with one Minister stating that it received €5 million in 2007 and his predecessor saying that that figure was €7 million, Fine Gael Arts Spokesperson, Olivia Mitchell TD said today (Sunday). Deputy Mitchell welcomed the promised transparency for Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann accounts as they will soon have to be made publicly available but called for equal clarity from Government. "When the Charities Bill becomes law later this year Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, as an organisation that will enjoy charitable tax exemption under the terms of the Bill, will be obliged to publish its annual accounts. "I have long sought information for the public about how the considerable State money it receives is actually spent. However, neither Comhaltas, nor the Minister dispensing the funds, have been willing to give any such information or to publish their accounts. "This kind of secrecy surrounding public money is unacceptable and particularly so when the organization is headed up by an elected representative of the ruling political party. It is a pity that it takes a change in legislation to enforce the kind of transparency that is in everyone's interests. "Comhaltas branches throughout the country and abroad do important, indeed vital, work promoting Irish music and culture but this does not obviate the need for transparency in the use of public funds. Last year the Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism gave €6 million and the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs gave €1.9 million. The Department of Foreign Affairs also funds some activities abroad and other public monies may also find its way to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann but, without any publicised accounts, we simply don't know. "In fact, even the Government seems uncertain just how much money it is distributing. In replies to my Parliamentary Questions, Minister Cullen stated the 2007 funding was €5 million but his predecessor the late Seamus Brennan asserted he had given them €7 million. This kind of contradiction and uncertainty does not inspire confidence that there is any supervision at all of how money is administered. seems like Fine Gael,are on to this at last . |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: Bonnie Shaljean Date: 17 Feb 09 - 09:08 PM > He will never resign. He will have to be pushed!! No one has the courage to do it! Guest, it's a matter of legal empowerment, not a lack of courage. What we need are fairer laws, and a less self-interested government. Hard to get one without the other. He has his Fianna Fáil pals to keep him safe. The Post: It doesn't matter what the electorate thinks or wants. Fianna Fáil backbenchers will not utter a cheep of opposition to the current party leadership, at least until a general election is looming. Then, they will do whatever they think is in their own self-interest. The national interest does not figure at all in their calculations. The Independent: One thing's for sure - there'll be no 'perp walk' of alleged financial wrongdoers at Leinster House. Not while the State's watchdog committees remain so comprehensively toothless and hamstrung as they are today. Irish Times: Criticising individuals and institutions whose greed, unethical behaviour and incompetence brought us to this point is not enough. Unless TDs and Senators are willing to lead by example and accept substantial cuts in their lavish expenses and allowances, public confidence in our democracy may be damaged... Fianna Fail's fall from grace has been more spectacular than any other government in this corner of the world, save for Iceland. The Herald: The Herald can today reveal the true extent of privileged working environment inside the hallowed halls of Leinster House and the waste of taxpayers' money that goes with it... If the cap fits . . . |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: GUEST,Northsider Date: 18 Feb 09 - 05:07 AM Labhras is quite right in his response to Deputy Mitchell ! Nobody should be "politicising what is essentially a voluntary cultural movement"! |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: The Sandman Date: 18 Feb 09 - 05:22 AM Deputy Mitchell welcomed the promised transparency for Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann accounts as they will soon have to be made publicly available but called for equal clarity from Government. a reasonable statement from Mitchell The comment of Labhras really takes the biscuit,considering this is what has happened in the past,under his leadership [re abortion referendum,and other examples mentioned earlier] |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: caitlin rua Date: 18 Feb 09 - 06:42 AM Yeah, I BET he says no one should look into "the voluntary sector". No telling what you might see. The minute public money - our taxes - is paid out, accountability is justified. Not only justified but necessary. It's not "politicising". Of course he's going to whine about it and try to put a spin on it. He would, wouldn't he? We're paying. We have the right to know. Why should it be exempt from due political process? What's he afraid of? |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: GUEST,Jim Martin Date: 18 Feb 09 - 11:25 AM Anarchy? |
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Subject: RE: Should O Murchu resign from Comhaltas? From: michaelr Date: 19 Feb 09 - 06:54 PM Question: How does one pronounce the man's name? |
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