Is Mary Harney thinking straight?

[Phaedrus]

There are strong indications that Mary Harney is negotiating a new programme for government with Bertie Ahern. How can she possibly go back into government with FF in the light of new information from the tribunals which was read out four days after the election?

During the election campaign, McDowell received information that there were suspicions regarding Ahern's explanations for the £30,000 sterling payment from Michael Wall. Leaks from the tribunal seemed to suggest that the monies lodged in Ahern's accounts equated to a $45,000 payment. Ahern vigorously denied this to McDowell and provided a detailed statement about his finances. McDowell accepted his explanation and the PD's continued in government.

Now, four days after the election the tribunal stated that it was not possible for £30,000 sterling to be lodged in Ahern's account on the day in question. Specifically, the tribunal has the top sheet which totals the foreign exchange transactions for that day. This top sheet clearly indicates that less than £2000 sterling was lodged into the bank that day. This directly conflicts with Ahern's public statement about his finances during the election - an explanation accepted by the PD's as being true.

Furthermore, Ahern had an opportunity through his counsel, Colm Maguire, to respond to this discrepancy. Maguire talked about everything other that this crucial point.

So how can Harney lead the PD's into government with Ahern until this glaring discrepancy in Ahern's explanations about his finances is cleared up?

[DSCH]

As they say, they'll cross that Bridge when it comes.

If Ahern is forced to resign, he will be replaced by Biffo and it will be business as usual.

[KeithM]

Non-issue. The people have spoken. If Ahern can be proven to have misbehaved that's another day's work. The country cannot be run on speculation and leaks.

[merle haggard]

it all depends on what Bertie can put on the table during negotitions



yum yum

[Phaedrus]

Keith M wrote:

If Ahern can be proven to have misbehaved that's another day's work. The country cannot be run on speculation and leaks.

When will people get it into their heads that we are not talking about speculation and leaks. This information was included in the opening statement of the Quarryvale II part of the tribunal. Colm Maguire decided to turn up the opportunity to respond to it. Whether the people who voted for FF in the election want to ignore it, then so be it. However, PD supporters appear not to have ignored its significance. PD supporters expect high standards in office. If Harney wants to rebuild PD support, then the last action on earth she can take is to go back in with FF.

[Halibut]

Ah jaysus!

[morrissey]

Harney at this stage knows that the game is up for the PDs. Left wing Government , No Thanks was the PDs motto. Well that is exactly what she is about to get. The influence of the PDs in a three party coalition will be negligable. From now to the end of this dollymixture of a Government the objective for the PDs is pensions for the boys. The cabinet posts are not the objective, senate seats are the holy grail. In the Dail the PDs will be sidelined, treated with contempt. The potential three senate seats are the main prize. Parlon, Minihan and O Malley (Fiona) will view these as their last hope to build the pension. For th PDs that is the end result. Having swallowed what came out of the Tribunal last Monday in relation to Ahernes bank lodgements one thing is for sure Harney will never stand by the Republic, The words of Des O Malley when he spoke in the dail at the hight of the corrupt Haughey F.F. government of the 1980s are now dead and buried. Simply put the PDs are over.

[Phaedrus]

DSCH wrote:

As they say, they'll cross that Bridge when it comes.

If Ahern is forced to resign, he will be replaced by Biffo and it will be business as usual.

I don't think it is going to be that easy. The PD's will be stuck in the middle of a scenario which they knew was going to happen. Their credibilty will be in shreds. This will be no way to rebuild.

[DSCH]

DSCH wrote:

As they say, they'll cross that Bridge when it comes.

If Ahern is forced to resign, he will be replaced by Biffo and it will be business as usual.

I don't think it is going to be that easy. The PD's will be stuck in the middle of a scenario which they knew was going to happen. Their credibilty will be in shreds. This will be no way to rebuild.

The PDs were wiped out at the last election, so there is no rebuiling process. Mary is going to enjoy one last spell in govt.

Anyway your beloved alternative just didn't get the numbers. There's no use in trying to overturn the verdict of the electorate.

[Phaedrus]

The alternative got one seat less than FF. Nobody, is trying to overturn the verdict of the electorate. The electorate vote for TD's and it is up to the party leaders to put together a government based on this.
Nobody replying to my original post has concerned themselves with the details about Ahern's finances that I have highlighted.