Lenihan re. Burton: "The deputy has now accused me of corruption.... How dare she!"

[Utopian Hermit Monk]

full exchange:

Deputy Brian Lenihan: Deputy Burton wished to talk out of the side of her mouth about bail-outs and such matters and what she would not agree to do-----

Deputy Joan Burton: It was the worst decision made by a Government.

Deputy Brian Lenihan: -----unlike the Fine Gael Party which took a very responsible attitude on that occasion. She decided to play politics with the Irish banking system. Her voice resonates around the world-----

Deputy Michael D. Higgins: We did not sign a blank cheque.

Deputy Brian Lenihan: -----but I can tell her she does nothing but damage with the comments she has just made.

Deputy Joan Burton: The Minister is still busy trying to bail out his friends, the bankers-----

Deputy Brian Lenihan: There is no bail-out of the banks. The Deputy has now accused me of corruption on the floor of the House. How dare she? Let her repeat it outside the House.

(Interruptions).

Deputy Brian Lenihan: Nothing I have ever done in public life characterises that kind of comment.

Deputy Joan Burton: It is crony capitalism. Crony capitalism will not-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Please, Deputy Burton. I will ask the Deputy to leave the House.



My impression is that Joan Burton has made that very same accusation on numerous occasions, both inside and outside the Dáil. I'm sure she has spoken of 'crony capitalism' and bailing out of friends on national TV.
So, what will Brian Lenihan do about it?

[He3]

The man is entirely out of his depth.

[Catalpa]

He's played out IMO...

Obviously Burton will goad him all she can.

Lenny needs a couple o weeks in Benidorm or Santa Ponza to chill out

- then he will be back fit tanned and refreshed and Joan's dulcet tones only a distant memory in his ears.

or maybe he will awake in his 14th story bedroom in a chilly sweat on a hot night hearing

crony capitalism

crony capitalism

crony capitalism

as she stings his eardrums with accusations....

[Question R24U]

The man is entirely out of his depth.

Yawn. One does not need to be an economist holding bank shares to be a good minister for finance. Although it helps a myth. He should, however, keep his foot away from his mouth, but I don't see why he should allow a constituency rival accuse him of 'bailing out his friends the bankers' ie corruption.

[feet first]

Has Brian Lenihan pointed out specifically where Joan Burton is incorrect.?????????

Lenihan has rowed back considerably on the call for Fingletons resignation.

He has backed the Financial Regulator up to the hilt , including the 600k + payout.

Publically he has spoken eloquently about the banks dodgy practises but, he has not backed up his words , with convictions regarding action.

As regards being minister for finance , he is a bigger chancer than the bankers.

[draiocht23]

Panto season in the Dáil again then -

Lenihan: "Oh no I didn't..."
Bruton: "Oh yes you did..."

Repeat ad nauseam for, oh, infinity...

[hiding behind a poster]

Joan's dulcet tones only a distant memory in his ears.

Joan's tones are many things - but dulcet they ain't.

[Utopian Hermit Monk]

Of course, there is a whiff of corruption surrounding the whole rotten mess. The problem is that it seldom seems to focus on particular, demonstrable instances.
With clouds of fog surrounding the findings of the various Tribunals, shockingly few people ended up being prosecuted. Dáil Committees rant and rave about cases like the FAS debacle, but Molloy still walks away with a huge golden handshake (and even a luxury car!). There is a general impression of huge amounts of taxpayers' money being squandered by bodies like the HSE on inflated salaries, 'consultants' reports', advertising, etc., but there is near-zero accountability. The former Regulator is shown to have been grossly incompetent, or worse, but is given €600,000 as a reward. etc., etc.

[draiocht23]

Of course, there is a whiff of corruption surrounding the whole rotten mess. The problem is that it seldom seems to focus on particular, demonstrable instances.
In spite of the clouds of fog surrounding the various Tribunals, shockingly few people ended up being prosecuted. Dáil Committees rant and rave about cases like the FAS debacle, but Molloy still walks away with a huge golden handshake (and even a luxury car!). There is a general impression of huge amounts of taxpayers' money being squandered by bodies like the HSE on inflated salaries, 'consultants' reports', advertising, etc., but there is near-zero accountability. The former Regulator is shown to have been grossly incompetent, or worse, but is given €600,000 as a reward. etc., etc.

Er, was anyone prosecuted?

[JCSkinner]

Burton is proving one of the very few politicians in the Dail with the bravery and the ability to call things as they actually are.
Lenihan should have quit long ago. He's not merely out of his depth. He's arrogant, lost and hasn't a clue and is causing this nation irreparable damage.