The Planning Tribunals were a waste of money

[junketman]

Not surprising that all the main political parties were in favour of planning tribunals, since all the main political parties were up to their necks when it came to planning corruption.

Once more the main political parties have stitched up the taxpayer and left us to carry the can while they exit stage left with their jobs in Europe, directorships and massive pensions, again all at our expense.

Again money was no object when it came to proposing the Tribunals, sure the taxpayer was paying so it was 'free'. And no-one could be sent to prison or arrested by the gardai at the end of the Tribunal, and no state pensions could be taken away, sure Ray Burke still enjoys a huge pension at our expense.

Tribunals were a great solution all round for the politicans from all parties, no-one to blame at the end, even if you were found guilty of doing wrong, the state still paid your legal costs, great stuff!

Where will the billion for the Mahon Tribunal be found I wonder? Close down a few hospitals maybe. Fire a couple hundred more teachers including special needs teachers. Don't hire much needed nurses. It certainly won't come out of politicians pensions or the fat cat salaries in the public sector.

Yep, the tribunals were great. And in the end no-one is to blame, see no evil hear no evil, the culture of Omerta continues. Who was it said they made the mafia seem like monks?

After 12 years and the uncovering of much criminal activity, and 1 billion p*ssed down the drain we are all back to square one, with no serious punishment for anyone.

A complete and utter waste of time and money for all concerned, no wonder the politicians were in favour of it. Can you imagine a bank robber getting to choose the way his trial is conducted?

[markeys]

Not surprising that all the main political parties were in favour of planning tribunals, since all the main political parties were up to their necks when it came to planning corruption.

Once more the main political parties have stitched up the taxpayer and left us to carry the can while they exit stage left with their jobs in Europe, directorships and massive pensions, again all at our expense.

Again money was no object when it came to proposing the Tribunals, sure the taxpayer was paying so it was 'free'. And no-one could be sent to prison or arrested by the gardai at the end of the Tribunal, and no state pensions could be taken away, sure Ray Burke still enjoys a huge pension at our expense.

Tribunals were a great solution all round for the politicans from all parties, no-one to blame at the end, even if you were found guilty of doing wrong, the state still paid your legal costs, great stuff!

Where will the billion for the Mahon Tribunal be found I wonder? Close down a few hospitals maybe. Fire a couple hundred more teachers including special needs teachers. Don't hire much needed nurses. It certainly won't come out of politicians pensions or the fat cat salaries in the public sector.

Yep, the tribunals were great. And in the end no-one is to blame, see no evil hear no evil, the culture of Omerta continues. Who was it said they made the mafia seem like monks?

After 12 years and the uncovering of much criminal activity, and 1 billion p*ssed down the drain we are all back to square one, with no serious punishment for anyone.

A complete and utter waste of time and money for all concerned, no wonder the politicians were in favour of it. Can you imagine a bank robber getting to choose the way his trial is conducted?

I'd have to disagree. Yes, the cost was excessive, but a necessary one. You mention where the money is to come from. Might I suggest, that had the corruption etc. gone on, we'd be missing far more money in the future? Imagine roads being built in the wrong places, lands being zoned that there was no need for, or being zoned in the wrong place - how much would that cost the state in the future?
I'd agree their should be more punishment for those involved - If they've been invoved in corruption then they have essentially stolen from the taxpayers of this country. But to suggest that the Mahon tribunal was a waste of time, I'd have to disagree with - its done the state some service.

[toxic avenger]

Not surprising that all the main political parties were in favour of planning tribunals, since all the main political parties were up to their necks when it came to planning corruption.

Once more the main political parties have stitched up the taxpayer and left us to carry the can while they exit stage left with their jobs in Europe, directorships and massive pensions, again all at our expense.

Again money was no object when it came to proposing the Tribunals, sure the taxpayer was paying so it was 'free'. And no-one could be sent to prison or arrested by the gardai at the end of the Tribunal, and no state pensions could be taken away, sure Ray Burke still enjoys a huge pension at our expense.

Tribunals were a great solution all round for the politicans from all parties, no-one to blame at the end, even if you were found guilty of doing wrong, the state still paid your legal costs, great stuff!

Where will the billion for the Mahon Tribunal be found I wonder? Close down a few hospitals maybe. Fire a couple hundred more teachers including special needs teachers. Don't hire much needed nurses. It certainly won't come out of politicians pensions or the fat cat salaries in the public sector.

Yep, the tribunals were great. And in the end no-one is to blame, see no evil hear no evil, the culture of Omerta continues. Who was it said they made the mafia seem like monks?

After 12 years and the uncovering of much criminal activity, and 1 billion p*ssed down the drain we are all back to square one, with no serious punishment for anyone.

A complete and utter waste of time and money for all concerned, no wonder the politicians were in favour of it. Can you imagine a bank robber getting to choose the way his trial is conducted?

Tom Gilmartin said it, to their faces, in 1989. He subsequently went to the Guards, who apparently told him to f*ck off back to England. The Tribunal found this old Garda file, contacted Gilmartin in England, and the rest, including a Taoiseach brought down, an EU Commissioner brought down, a former FF Government Press Secretary and TV presenter about to go to prison, a corruption ring on Dublin County Council exposed, etc., is history as a direct result of Gilmartin's evidence. Well worth it...

[FrankSpeaks]

The tribunals cost far too much money and went on far too long. However the fact is that we needed them to root out the corruption but we need to come up with a cheaper and quicker mechanism to get the same results. Personally I thought the way to do it was an oireachtas enquiry like the one into the railways and the mini-ctc project.

[mccafferty cat]

The Mahon Tribunal has cost €300 million. It has turned Irish politics on its head, and probably put an end to widespread political corruption for a long time to come.

The Government has spent €300 million on PR in the last ten years.

FÁS has spent €300 million in the last 2 weeks.

So you seem to have an odd view of what a waste of money is.

[jpc]

The Mahon Tribunal has cost €300 million. It has turned Irish politics on its head, and probably put an end to widespread political corruption for a long time to come.

The Government has spent €300 million on PR in the last ten years.

FÁS has spent €300 million in the last 2 weeks.

So you seem to have an odd view of what a waste of money is.

Given the steady trickel of embarassing revelations.A substancial amount of that PR expertise was used to neutralise the Mahons tribunals effect on the public conciousness.
300 million ? How so?

[stanley]

The tribunals cost far too much money and went on far too long. However the fact is that we needed them to root out the corruption but we need to come up with a cheaper and quicker mechanism to get the same results. Personally I thought the way to do it was an oireachtas enquiry like the one into the railways and the mini-ctc project.

Was the Tribunal not set up by the Oireachtas ? it is a bit hairy as it is like the animals looking after the zoo., or the loonies taking over the madhouse.

With regard to the costs, no politician who has found to be in receipt of corrupt payments or benefited should have any pension or salary fron the State other than the basis OAP.

O'Callaghan Properties made a lot of money out of QV and still own part of it, it should be stripped from them as should any other properties/lands that have recd permissions as a result of corrupt payments.

[stanley]

The Mahon Tribunal has cost €300 million. It has turned Irish politics on its head, and probably put an end to widespread political corruption for a long time to come.

The Government has spent €300 million on PR in the last ten years.

FÁS has spent €300 million in the last 2 weeks.

So you seem to have an odd view of what a waste of money is.

Bertie's main henchmen, Joe Burke, Des Richardson and Tim Collins have been working with him now for about 25 years, they are in business on behalf of Bertie and interfere in deals where Govt influence can be brought to bear and look for a cut for themselves and their master.
These guys chattels should also be confiscated and Burke in particular, whose building/refurb company is in receivership was given a job as Chairman of Dublin Port, it is a joke he couldn't run a toilet.
There are probably several others floating around on the wealth of Bertie's corrupt influence.

[mccafferty cat]

These guys chattels should also be confiscated and Burke in particular, whose building/refurb company is in receivership was given a job as Chairman of Dublin Port, it is a joke he couldn't run a toilet

Someone has already confiscated his fancy-woman, it seems

[Akrasia]

I'd have to disagree. Yes, the cost was excessive, but a necessary one.

The problem is that it didn't change anything. Anyone who looks back at the appalling planning over the last 10 years would have to conclude that there were dodgy dealings all around the country. Corrupion is alive and well in Irelands planning system. mahon achieved nothing.