Unacceptable behaviour from a civil servant

[thebarfly1]

I was out canvassing for a No vote (volunteering for Libertas) yesterday in the midlands, when a lady approached me, asked me about some of the points on the leaflet, and proof to these issues. I took out my consolidated lisbon treaty text and showed the lady the relevent text associated with each point.

At this point the lady decided not to engage in further debate, but started to tell me that i was "a disgrace" and should be ashamed of myself, before saying something onto "god help you and your family with the organisation you're handing out information for are investigated"... etc etc, implying that in some way i'm some sort of crook or criminal.

I of course, informed the lady that i had every right to do with MY TIME, as an unpaid volunteer, what i wish and that it was my democratic right to freedom of speech to be informing the public of matters regarding the future of the country.

The lady then revealed to me who she was, and confirming my assumptions due to the aggressiveness of her verbal attack on me, turned out to be an aide of a politician in the dail who holds a seat of high power. (i am not going to reveal to which td this lady is associated, because i do not believe that it is correct practice to launch personal attacks on a public forum)

Should people be expected to tolerate this kind of behaviour from our high-level civil servants?

Thankfully this behaviour isn't true from all in the Yes camp, as on saturday my group happened to be canvassing on the street alongside our local FF Td and some party members, who, despite having an opposing view to ours, willingly engaged in debate with us, conceded to certain arguments we made that they could not refute, and eventually shook hands with us when leaving and commended us for being active about our views on this issue.

I don't have any problems with people having opposing views to mine, but launching a scathing attack on a normal civilian in the manner that this lady did, on a public thoroughfare is simply not acceptable in my honest opinion.

What are people's views on this type of behaviour in the course of this referendum campaign and has anybody else been subject to the same treatment, from either side of the debate, while out canvassing their views on the matter?

[rockofcashel]

She may not be a Civil servant. People who are employed directly by TD's, secetaries and so forth, aren't Civil Servants.

Why didn't you tell her where to get off if she was being abusive ?

[retep]

Aaah g'wan name and shame!!!!

Probably best not to all the same in all seriousness.

I wonder though does being a political aide to a TD constitute being a Civil Servant? - Surely this woman is presumably employed by the party or directly by the specific TD in question. Either way I don't think an ordinary civilian should have to tolerate this form or arrogant abuse from a proported representative of any political party, but I suppose sadly that 11 years in the political limelight and power does that to some of the FF party faithful who develop that God complex that somehow they are better, more intelligent and alway more right than anyone else.

[fergalr]

She may not be a Civil servant. People who are employed directly by TD's, secetaries and so forth, aren't Civil Servants.

Why didn't you tell her where to get off if she was being abusive ?

Cheers, ROC. Aides to TDs are maybe unlikely to be civil servants, given the partisan nature that you'd imagine the job implies. ROC's suggestion is good too

[thebarfly1]

She may not be a Civil servant. People who are employed directly by TD's, secetaries and so forth, aren't Civil Servants.

Why didn't you tell her where to get off if she was being abusive ?

Cheers, ROC. Aides to TDs are maybe unlikely to be civil servants, given the partisan nature that you'd imagine the job implies. ROC's suggestion is good too

Fair enough, but going on some of the activities the lady claimed to be involved in, it would appear that she spends quite a lot of time in or around Dail Proceedings.

Oh and i wouldnt stoop to that level to tell tell her where to go, i merely tried to state that i was as entitled to my opinion as she was, and i wasn't going to get involved in throwing personal insults back at her. In fairness to her though, she abstained from using expletives, although she did say that she'd have a lot more to say to me if she didnt have her young children with her...

[fergalr]

Well she could be exasperated if she's very commited to a YES vote. And Libertas' jaunty attitude can be grating. To err is human and all that...

[Rich OC]

Unless the TD is also a Minister then the person in question is definitely not a Civil Servant.

That said not all Civil Servants are debarred from political activity, only those in the General Service at EO and above if my memory serves me. Also it does not apply at all to Technical grades.

[Universal_001]

Oh dear and yesterday we thought the Bilderbergers were just breeding terrifying tall musclular men in their undergound layer to attack canvissers...now their breeding agressive secretaries too.

[merle haggard]

What I want to know is was this girl wearing a blouse ? was it big ? was it seen in the vicinity of the GPO ?

[Universal_001]

What I want to know is was this girl wearing a blouse ? was it big ? was it seen in the vicinity of the GPO ?

The same monster in diffrent guises??

Maybe hes a superhero rescuing us from ourselves?
Perhaps he runs into a telephone box after each attack and changes outfit, blue Libertas bus driver polo shirt and cap, blouse etc...

It's finally all falling into place...