Keith Ellis's Blog

Probe after local council puts planning applicants’ private information online

Keith — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:34:05 +0000

By Edel Kennedy

Saturday July 16 2011

A MAJOR investigation has been launched after a county council uploaded personal information online, including birth certificates, bank account details and drivers’ licences.

The Data Protection Commissioner is investigating the breach by Meath County Council, who only removed the sensitive data when it was notified by a member of the public.

However, last night the council told the Irish Independent they had “no way of knowing” how many people’s personal details were uploaded onto the internet — or whether the personal data had been left in planning files which were available for viewing in their offices.

It was also unable to indicate when the planning applications dated from.

Last night, a spokeswoman said the planning process was public and “every document submitted was part of the public record”.

She could not clarify if bank details, birth certs and other sensitive documentation were available for viewing in their office but said staff had been advised to remove this information when giving a file for inspection “until the data protection issues are clarified by Data Protection Commissioner”.

Rebecca Meade, whose birth certificate, driver’s licence, bank account number, car insurance certificate and vehicle registration certificate were among the items uploaded, said she was “shocked” at the breach.

Neighbours

Ms Meade, of Castletown, Co Meath, sought planning permission in January for a one-off house.

Meath County Council has a Rural Housing Policy that meant applicants must prove they are from the area, or had been living there for some time.

“I had to prove that it was our family’s land that I wanted to build on, that’s why I had to submit the documentation,” said Ms Meade.

“I would have expected that it would all have been kept private. It’s just plain stupid to put all that stuff online.”

Meanwhile, another planning permission applicant who did not wish to be named, said he was able to view the details of many of his neighbours in Meath before the information was removed.

He also said the publication of the details explained why he had so many builders and tradesmen contacting him last year.

“I got an awful lot of calls from tradesmen after I got the commencement notice,” he said.

“I couldn’t understand where they got my number from and I asked one of them.

“And he told me ‘sure you can get all that stuff in the council office’.

“I had my home address on the application as well and a few builders called to the house and spoke to my mother, asking if I needed work done.”

In 2010, 1,203 planning applications were received by Meath County Council, and 1,478 in 2009.

Last night, the council said it received a complaint “regarding a possible breach of data protection on its online planning facility”, which went live last Monday.

It said the facility was disabled and a review of data management launched.

However, no internal investigation is taking place.

A spokeswoman said they would contact all those whose personal information had been uploaded.

But she could not confirm whether the sensitive data had been available in paper planning files that anybody could view in their offices. She also said that they were allowed to make mobile phone numbers available as part of the public planning system — but a spokeswoman for the Data Commissioner’s Office said that no contact details could be made public.

In 2006, a new application form was published with a detachable page “to ensure that these personal details could be removed prior to the publishing of planning applications on the planning authority’s website”.

A spokeswoman for the Data Protection Commissioner confirmed that they had received a data-breach report from the council that they were now investigating, as well a complaint from a member of the public.

- Edel Kennedy

Irish Independent

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Keith — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:45:54 +0000

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Meath County Council can’t even get the date right

Keith — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:43:50 +0000

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Welcome to the Water Notices & Information section. Please find the latest notices below. Additional information can be found at the following links:

Advice on Burst Pipes

Advice on Frozen Pipes

Water Conservation in Severe Weather Conditions

Water Notices

Thursday 30th November – 11.00am

General

The level of demand continues to cause major problems for all schemes. Householders, business key holders and farmers are urgently requested to check unoccupied premises for leaks and have them repaired or turn off the supply.

At this stage we are supplying as much treated water as we can produce but the demand is more than double normal levels in some cases and this is now the main source of difficulty for continued supplies.

The policy of reducing pressure overnight in some areas (Navan and East Meath) has resulted in some recovery of reservoirs in those areas and this will result in some improvement to areas served by those schemes.

There is still a lingering issue of frozen underground service pipes and although many of these should have thawed by now some problems persist. Householders should check if their neighbours have a supply, if so the problem is likely to be a still frozen service pipe or stopcock.

Navan Town & Area.

Overnight restrictions on supply from the Proudstown reservoir have resulted in some improvement in supply. Navan Town and area is generally being maintained but with some areas experiencing low pressure. Outlying areas served by the town supply are currently without water or have intermittent or restricted supply. These include: Dunderry, Boyerstown, Commons Road, Robinstown, Oristown, Rosmeen, Fyanstown and Curraghtown. Some of these areas are unlikely to show any improvement in the short term and may be without water for some days.

Water tankers are in place in Robinstown and Dunderry, Rosmeen, Fyanstown, Oristown, and Curraghtown and will be replenished as necessary.

Problems are persisting in Coill Foireann and Spire View estates and parts of Johnstown – tankers have been provided in Coill Foireann and in Johnstown village and Spire View.

In order to allow further recovery of the reservoirs there will be further restrictions on supply from 9.00pm tonight to 8.00am tomorrow and all areas served by the Navan supply will have reduced pressure.

Dunshaughlin Area

Supply is generally being maintained across this area but there are some persistent local problems on high ground in Ashbourne, Dunboyne and Dunshaughlin. Supply to Ratoath is being maintained.

In Ashbourne, some parts of Race Hill, Rath Lodge and Brindley Park and other elevated estates may continue to experience water loss and/or reduced pressure.

In Dunshaughlin, an additional water source is being brought on line today and this should improve supply to all areas of the village.

Most areas of Dunboyne have supply this morning. Tankers have been deployed to a number of estates and will be replenished as necessary. The recurring Dunboyne problems are being caused primarily because supply cannot consistently keep pace with current high demand and this is exacerbated by the ongoing problems in the general Dublin area.

Some parts of Kilcloon may still be experiencing water loss and some pressure problems.

Slane / East Meath Area

Supply to the coastal area is being maintained and the general situation has improved following overnight restrictions.

Stamullen – water is being tankered to the reservoir and supply is being maintained.

It may be necessary to reduce pressure to Stamullen / Ardcath / Davidstown area again tonight to allow pressure to build up in the reservoir.

Slane village – demand from this scheme remains high but supply to the village is being maintained.

Supply to Beauparc is being maintained but low pressure may be experienced.

Trim Area

Supply is being maintained to Trim Town and immediate areas.

Longwood – demand is in excess of normal levels and some areas may experience reduced pressure.

Supply to Kildalkey village has been maintained up to now other than some persistent local problems with frozen services. Tankers have been placed in the village centre.

There is an ongoing problem with supply to Ballivor village and water is being tankered to the reservoir to help maintain supply to the area.

Supply to Enfield is being maintained.

Kells Area

Supply is being maintained to Kells Town and immediate area although demand has increased significantly on this scheme.

Athboy supply is experiencing very high demand but supply is being maintained.

Nobber & Kilmainhamwood & Drumconrath – demand is high in these areas but no major problems reported at the moment.

No major problems reported on Moynalty scheme this morning.

Oldcastle – no major problems reported.

A tanker has been provided in the Ballinaclose Housing Scheme (near Kingscourt)

Next update – after 4.30pm approximately.

The Council main switchboard 046 9097000 is open until 5.00pm and is taking emergency calls.

Please click on following link for full details of available tankers in your area:

List of Water Tankers Available 30.12.2010

Wednesday 29^th December – 8.30pm

The situation has deteriorated since our previous update at 6.00pm.

A number of estates/areas in Dunboyne are without water at present. Tankers have been sent to the following areas tonight:

Millfarm Estate
Luttrell Hall
Plunkett Hall
Sadlier Hall
Garnett Hall

Further tankers will be deployed to other affected areas tomorrow morning if necessary.

The following areas have a supply at present but the Council cautions that this could change later tonight and tomorrow morning:

Larchfield
Old Fair Green
Castleview
Beechdale

Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.

Wednesday 29th December – 6.00pm

General

Supplies are generally being maintained to all major centres but demand continues to well in excess of normal with more than double normal levels in some areas.

There continues to be problems areas in outlying parts or elevated sections of schemes (e.g. Navan, Dunshaughlin and Ashbourne). Water tankers are being deployed as necessary.

The Council is continuing to appeal to people to conserve supply and also to check unoccupied houses and business premises for leaks. Businesses are particularly requested to check their connections and their premises as we encountering a lot of burst pipes in closed premises in the past couple of days. Farmers are asked to check field drinking troughs and turn off the supply if found to be leaking.

The public is also reminded that while we have had a thaw since Sunday many frozen pipes have yet to thaw out and may still be causing problems. In particular sheltered corners of estates many still be experiencing pipe problems.

Navan Town & Area.

Supply to Navan Town and area is generally being maintained but with some areas experiencing low pressure. Some outlying areas served by the town supply are currently without water or have intermittent or restricted supply. These include: Dunderry, Boyerstown, Commons Road, Robinstown, Oristown, Rosmeen, Fyanstown.

Water tankers are in place in Robinstown and Dunderry. (Church). Rosmeen / Fyanstown.

Problems are continuing in Coill Foireann and Spire View estates Johnstown – tankers have been provided in Coill Foireann and in Johnstown village and a tanker will be provided in Spire View if the problem there persists in the morning.

In order to allow the reservoirs to recover there will be restrictions on supply from 9.00pm tonight to 8.00am tomorrow and all areas served by the Navan supply will have reduced pressure.

Dunshaughlin Area

Supply is generally being maintained across this area but there are some local problems in Ashbourne, Dunboyne and Dunshaughlin. Supply to Ratoath is being maintained although there are reports of low pressure in some estates.

In Ashbourne, some parts of Race Hill, Rath Lodge and Brindley Park and other elevated estates are experiencing water loss and/or reduced pressure. Civil Defence assisted with provision of water to these areas today.

In Dunshaughlin, some parts of Maeldun and Ardlea are experiencing water loss and/or low pressure.

Intermittent supply and reduced pressure continues to be a problem in Dunboyne. Most areas appear to have supply but some estates do not. This is still being investigated with Fingal County Council. Tankers will be sent to affected estates if this persists into tomorrow morning.

Some parts of Kilcloon may still be experiencing water loss and some pressure problems.

Slane / East Meath Area

Supply to most of the coastal area is being maintained.

Problems are being experienced in Stamullen and water is being tankered to the reservoir to try to maintain supply. It will be necessary to reduce pressure to Stamullen / Ardcath / Davidstown area overnight to allow pressure to build up in the reservoir.

Slane village – demand from this scheme remains high and while supply to the village is being maintained some pressure problems are being experienced in outlying areas. Supply to Beauparc is being maintained but low pressure may be experienced.

Trim Area

Supply is being maintained to Trim Town and immediate areas.

Longwood – demand is way in excess of normal levels. Majority will have water but with reduced pressure.

Supply to Kildalkey village has been maintained up to now other than some local problems with frozen services. A tanker has been placed in the village centre for the affected houses.

There is a continuing problem with supply to Ballivor village and water is being tankered to the reservoir to help maintain some supply to the area.

Supply to Enfield is being maintained but we have reports of some individual local problems.

Kells Area

Supply is being maintained to Kells Town and immediate area although demand has increased significantly on this scheme.

Athboy supply is under pressure as demand is well in excess of normal. This may have knock on effects in Kildalkey and Rathcairn.

Nobber & Kilmainhamwood & Drumconrath – demand is high in these areas but no major problems reported at the moment.

The supply to Moynalty is being monitored and some parts of that scheme may be experiencing low pressure.

Individual problems in Oldcastle and Drumconrath have now been repaired.

A tanker has been provided in the Ballinaclose Housing Scheme (near Kingscourt)

Next update – Unless there is a major development later this evening the next update will be tomorrow morning at 10.00 approx.

The Council Emergency Number 1890 445335 will continue to operate overnight but please be patient – with the volume of calls it can take some time to get through. Please use this for emergency calls only.

The Council main switchboard 046 9097000 will reopen at 9.30am in the morning.

Wednesday 29th December – 1.00pm

General

Supplies are generally being maintained to all major centres but demand is well in excess of normal levels and supply is struggling to meet demand in some areas. Some individual problem areas are emerging in particular on elevated or outlying parts of schemes (e.g. Navan, Dunshaughlin and Ashbourne). Water tankers are being deployed as necessary.

The Council is continuing to appeal to people to conserve supply and also to check unoccupied houses and business premises for leaks.

Navan Town & Area.

Water tankers are in place in Robinstown and Dunderry. (Church).

Reports of loss of supply in Coill Foireann estate Johnstown are now being investigated and a tanker will be placed in that estate this afternoon.

Dunshaughlin Area

Supply is generally being maintained across this area but there are some local problems in Ashbourne, Dunboyne and Dunshaughlin. Supply to Ratoath is being maintained.

In Ashbourne, some parts of Race Hill, Rath Lodge and Brindley Park and other elevated estates are experiencing water loss and/or reduced pressure.

In Dunshaughlin, some parts of Maeldun and Ardlea are experiencing water loss and/or low pressure.

Supply was restored to Dunboyne/Clonee/Kilcloon last night however we are receiving some reports of low pressure and water loss in Dunboyne again this morning and this is being investigated. Reports again at 12.15 of loss of supply to Dunboyne village.

Some parts of Kilcloon may still be experiencing water loss and some pressure problems.

Slane / East Meath Area

Supply to most of the coastal area is being maintained.

Problems are being experienced in Stamullen and water is being tankered to the reservoir to try to maintain supply

Slane village – demand from this scheme is very high and while supply to the village is being maintained problems are being experienced in outlying areas. Supply to Beauparc is being maintained but low pressure may be experienced.

Trim Area

Supply is being maintained to Trim Town and immediate areas. Clonard lost supply yesterday (Tuesday) but is now restored.

Longwood – demand is way in excess of normal levels. Majority will have water but with reduced pressure.

Supply to Kildalkey village has been maintained up to now other than some local problems with frozen services. A tanker has been placed in the village centre for the affected houses.

There is a continuing problem with supply to Ballivor village and water is being tankered to the reservoir to help maintain some supply to the area.

Supply to Enfield is being maintained but we have reports of some individual local problems.

Kells Area

Supply is being maintained to Kells Town and immediate area although demand has increased significantly on this scheme.

Athboy supply is under pressure as demand is well in excess of normal. This may have knock on effects in Kildalkey and Rathcairn.

Nobber & Kilmainhamwood – demand is high in these areas but no major problems reported at the moment.

The supply to Moynalty is being monitored and some parts of that scheme may be experiencing low pressure.

Next update – 5.00pm.

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Questions Meath County Council need to answer

Keith — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 23:21:21 +0000

Statement issued by Keith Ellis on Wednesday 29^th December 2010

Since Tuesday 22^nd December, my house has been without running water, no doubt because of the weather conditions we had all over the Country. The cold weather we had experienced was something I have never seen in my life. I was at work in Dublin & my wife rang me to say she had telephoned the Area Office in Trim of Meath County Council to find out information as to the water problem, the girl at the other end of the phone was less than polite & would not put her through to the engineer but said she would pass on my wife’s name, which she did and the engineer left a message on our house phone. I rang & asked to speak to the engineer & reluctantly, I was put on to him. He was very nice to me & explained that the ball cock outside my gate maybe frozen & to put luke warm water in the hole. I asked him jokingly where I would get the water as I had none in the house. He also told me that the local authority is only obligated to bring water to the gate of my house and after that it is my problem. But there was no water getting to my gate as the ball cock was frozen, so they were not carrying out their obligation, surely.

That evening, I sent a text message to Councillors Ray Butler, William Carey, Jimmy Fegan & Tracy McElhinney explaining the situation & that I wanted something done. I got their mobile numbers from the Meath County Council website under the section of my local area representatives. Within minutes I received a call from Tracy McElhinney & that she would look in to the situation & try to get some information for me. A little later I received a call from Ray Butler to say he had spoken with Tracy McElhinney & they would work together to get some answers. He also told me that the mobile number on the website listed for him was wrong & he gave me his number. I have received tremendous help from these two Councillors over the period & I am very grateful to them for all their help. I am still waiting to hear from Councillors’ Carey & Fegan.

The next morning an engineer from Athboy was outside my gate & said he was asked to have a look at the situation. He also told me the ball cock was frozen & the council were only obligated to get water to my gate. He also told me that a frost cover should have been placed in the stop cock hole to prevent frost. Also the depth of the stop cock was only four inches & was not to the depths laid down in building specifications. I told him I had a large water tank that I would like to fill & he told me he would get it filled for me so I had water for my tank in the attic, which he did.

The last update on Meath County Councils website in connection with water was on Friday 17^th December, the next update was at 1p.m. on Wednesday 29^th December, even on their Twitter feed there was no information. Why did it take so long to keep people updated & why was there such a delay?

On Christmas Eve I had made several trips to fill an 1100 litre water tank to bring to Kildalkey & I filled my attic tank, my next door neighbour’s house & two houses behind me. On Monday last, I filled my own tank again, my next door neighbours, the two houses behind me & three houses a little down the road, all of which had no water. The house three doors down had no water, nor the house on the other side of me, or the woman across the road from me, two houses further down from them or a house further again. Each house I filled knew of other people who lived in Kildalkey who did not have water either. Some of these houses have had water restored.

The response from Meath County Council has been, in my opinion, been an absolute disgrace & only for I contacted Drivetime on RTE Radio 1 & gave an interview with Philip Boucher Hayes, nothing would have been done & we would have been left here forgotten about. This evening, Kevin Stewart, Director of Services with Economic Development & Innovation with Meath County Council, gave an interview with Philip Boucher Hayes on the Drivetime show on RTE Radio 1 where he stated that only eight houses were without water in Kildalkey & that water was always provided to the village of Kildalkey at all times & that it was the householders problem who had frozen services.

If this is the case, here are a few questions for Mr. Stewart.

Why did it take for me to be on national radio to get any movement on the Meath County Council website & Twitter feeds?

Why is it that allegedly Minister Noel Dempsey rang Meath County Council & told them to get water to Kildalkey & that he did not want people marching on his house?

Why were three water tanks installed in Kildalkey this morning, one at the Church, one at the Community Hall & one at the old Londis shop if only 8 houses were without water? Why not just bring it to the eight houses?

Why was the Leak Detection Unit in Kildalkey checking the water outlets if only 8 houses were without water?

Why did the two men in this van say they were checking the lines from Athboy to Kildalkey?

Why did they ask me did I see someone from the Council checking for pressure in Kildalkey?

Councillor Ray Butler rang me at eight o’clock last night to say Meath County Council would bring three water tanks would be brought to Kildalkey today if only 8 houses had a problem?

Why was I told by an official from Meath County Council that the water plant in Athboy had frozen pipes & that the water could not get out of the plant & we had to wait until it thawed out?

These questions need to be answered by Meath County Council but unfortunately everyone knows that they will hide behind their wall of silence in County Hall & they are not accountable for anything or to anyone.

Another Useless Minister

Keith — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:54:18 +0000

Tonight on Today FM, the Last Word Show with Matt Cooper, Noel Dempsey told us to turn off our taps and not to let them drip – he is Minister for Transport not the Environment Department. Then Ciaran Cuffe TD for the Dún Laoghaire area, from the Green Party comes on and says to use common sense and let it drip for a few seconds if you need to. Is it the Greens and Fianna Fail that are in Government or have I missed something.

Also Minister Dempsey says his family are more important than the weather in this country and nothing was going to ruin his holiday – there is some kind of moral there somewhere – A Ministers family and his holiday are more important than the country but yet his Government have ruined many a families life with cutbacks left, right and centre. They have their priority’s right, look after themselves.

Credit Due to the Gritting Team in Co. Meath

Keith — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:10:57 +0000

I have to say that credit is due to the three gentlemen that I saw this morning in my little village in Co. Meath. They were gritting the footpath and it has made such a difference to the local people going to the local shop for supplies as the footpath over the last couple of days has been very slippery.

So I would like to thank Meath County Council and or Trim Town Council for not forgetting our little village, Thank You.

The Big Freeze & The Minister for Don’t Blame Me It’s Someone Else’s Fault

Keith — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:51:18 +0000

The inept Minister for Environment, Green Party Leader & all round useless muppet, Mr. John Gormley told six one news tonight that it is the responsibility of the local authorities to have the money and the salt to be put on the roads. Like the flooding a few weeks ago, he is putting the blame on someone else, it is never his problem. He also tells us that it is the Minister for Transport’s problem because Mr. Gormley has given the National Roads Authority the job to sort out getting more salt and grit delivered from Europe to Ireland. These people in the NRA come under the Department of Transport and the Minister, Mr. Noel Dempsey, we are told is on holidays and Mr. Gormley says on the national news that he does not know where he is. Does he not think that someone should find out where he is and that it’s time he come home and actually did something before this country comes to a standstill. That is provided the airport is not closed because of snow. Did anyone notice that a certain small road around the Trim area in Co. Meath has been gritted on a regular basis, was this because of who lives on that road or was it that his future son in law is on the local Town Council ? Answers on a postcard please before the postman can’t get to me. The NRA are going to see if they can get supplies delivered by the end of next week or the week after – Why not wait until the summer and look for supplies then. So here is my advice to the NRA, Get your finger out and get on the web or an aeroplane and get salt delivered by Monday or just go to any quarry in this Country and get grit – it’s very, very simple.

As Mr. John Gormleys Green Party colleague would say, F**K YOU Minister for the Environment, F**K YOU.

Claire Tully’s column is dropped by the Irish Sun

Keith — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:47:42 +0000

Claire Tully, the Irish page three model has had her weekly column with the Irish Sun dropped. The reason, well it’s a recession and the Irish Sun allegedly says it’s because of budget cutbacks. The outrage amongst the male readers of the Irish Sun has reached fever pitch with a group started on Facebbok.com to get the Irish Sun to change their mind to the email system at the Irish Sun being inundated with requests to get them to change their mind.

In case you don’t know who Clare Tully is well here are a few facts about our Irish girl. In 2003, she got 600 points in her leaving cert. She then went to study Biochemistry and Immunology in Trinity College, where she graduated with a first class honours degree in 2007. The following year she became the first Irish page three model to pose topless for the Irish Sun Newspaper.

Claire’s column in the Irish Sun was a light hearted view with everything from President Obama to violence against women to football, one of her favourite’s passions. Many readers bought the Irish Sun for Claire’s column in the Irish Sun and she will be missed very much by all her fans. Although the Irish Sun’s loss, it may be someone else’s gain as we are sure that another Irish newspaper will want to snap up our Claire and bring her loyal legion of fans with her. If you disagree with the Irish Sun dropping Claire’s column vote with your pocket and buy another newspaper.

This is the response we got from the Irish Sun today by email after we asked why Claire’s column was gone.

Dear Keith,

Blank Blank sent me your email. Thanks for taking the time to write to us and I really appreciate your loyalty to the Irish Sun and that you care enough to write in.

Claire Tully is still very much part of our team. We use her on p3 and she is heavily involved in promotional work and other photo shoot jobs. We pay close attention to feedback on all our columns and it showed hers was not what the majority of our readers wanted. However she does have a loyal army of fans – and she will keep on contributing. I can assure you Claire will continue in the Irish Sun – just not in a column.

We do have 11 Irish columnists already as it stands. These are: Ben Dunne, Xpose, Dustin the Turkey, David O’Leary, Joe Kinnear, Tony Cascarino, Mick O’Dwyer, Graham Geraghty, Babs Keating, Sinead Desmond, Dermot Keely,

It has been our aim to give our readers a much more local paper. And the sales and reader interaction with the Ben Dunne column has proved a great success. We aim to let our readers know this great new package we have over the coming months with a big TV, radio and billboard campaign.

I hope you continue to buy the Irish Sun and I thank you for caring about what we produce every day.

Paul Clarkson

Deputy Editor

Irish Sun

If you would like to help the campaign to bring back Claire Tully’s column in the Irish Sun, leave a comment below or visit the Groups section on www.facebook.com and search for ‘Bring Claire Tully’s column back to the Sun Newspaper’

Mullingar man stands up for his principles

Keith — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:46:07 +0000

A man has appeared at a special sitting of the district court in Mullingar today, charged with criminal damage at the office of Fianna Fail senator, Camillus Glynn. Andrew Clinton with an address at Farren, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath said he could not give an undertaking to stay away from the senator’s property because he had lost his Christmas bonus in social welfare payments and is down €8.50 in his weekly income. The Judge remanded him in custody to appear again on the 17^th December 2009.

Will Paul Gogarty list the use of bad language on his profile

Keith — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:00:42 +0000

On Friday 11th December 2009, Paul Gogarty TD, launched a foul mouthed rant at Deputy Emmet Stagg. Maybe he was feeling the pressure of Budget 2010 of which his party, the Green Party are a part of. Unfortunately he may have been better placed facing his leader and telling John Gormley to F**k off, for running this country as far as possible into the ground. But since the Budget was announced, I have not heard of any Green Party member on any media feed saying anything about the Budget. Is this because they are fearful of a backlash against them or do they think that if they say nothing, people will just think it was all the idea of Fianna Fail ?

People who are blind, did not ask to be blind but yet the money they lose is only the cost of a glass of whiskey in the K Club bar. But if we blindfolded some of our Government Ministers, they would surely reverse this decision.

The money a Carer will lose is the price of a cigar to a property developer. But yet they do it for the love of a family member and it is a thankless job and the Government have really let you know how they feel about you. To me, I think you do a fantastic job and I say THANK YOU for being such a caring person.

The money a mother will lose on her Child Benefit is the cost of a lunch in the Leinster House bar.

But to that mother it is the cost of two loaves of bread and two containers of milk or maybe some money off her ESB bill that she has run into arrears with. Or money for school books or uniform or it maybe just a treat for kids because the downturn is not of her kids making.

“ITS NOT MY MAKING, THIS DOWNTURN”

Well this is what we hear from people all the time, trying to justify their uncalculated and afterthought policies that only effect the voiceless.

We let the boss of FAS to resign with a massive pay packet and an Audi car because he would have been entitled to it, had he taken them to court. Run along a few months to last week and the incoming boss of FAS will also be getting a new car and guess what type it is ? you got it, an Audi car. Now what was wrong with the old car, could it not have been kept as it was a FAS car after all.

Better still, why not just let him go and if he dared take FAS to Court, fight him all the way and take the chance.

But they are spineless creatures.

We all voted for the Lisbon Treaty, for or against does not matter but we voted. But yet the Government are not happy with the way the monkeys voted and they bring it back again to us to vote.

At the last local elections, a Fianna Fail councillor called to my day the night before the election. I told him he had some neck calling to my door with what has been going on. He replied that I had it good for ten years and what was wrong with me. I bid him farewell and told him that I hoped he and his colleagues lost their seats. He did lose his seat but soon after the Town Council he sat on gave him a nice juicy reward for doing so. This is wrong, the People spoke by not voting for him and yet he is rewarded by the local authority for losing his seat. Money that could be better spent on local issues not on rewarding the loser.

Some information on Paul Gogarty, if you have never heard of him before his outburst.

Profile of Paul Gogarty TD

First elected to Dáil Eireann in May 2002 and returned in May 2007. Paul Gogarty TD represents the constituency of Dublin Mid West

Paul first joined the Green Party in 1989 and since then he has been active on many issues locally including the promotion of school places, community facilities and public transport. He was elected to South Dublin County Council in 1999 (topping the poll in the Lucan, Palmerstown and Quarryvale area). During his time on the Council he fought tirelessly on behalf of local communities still suffering from the consequences of bad planning decisions made by other political parties.

Paul Gogarty TD represents the constituency of Dublin Mid West which includes the large population areas of Clondalkin and Lucan as well as towns and villages such as Brittas, Newcastle, Palmerstown, Rathcoole and Saggart. Paul is the Green Party’s Spokesperson on Education and Science; Sport; Dublin. He is Chair of the Education and Science Committee in the Oireachtas.

Paul Gogarty TD was instrumental in protecting some of the lands along the Liffey Valley from speculators and pushed far harder than other public representatives to ensure that the new town of Adamstown will be developed in a sustainable manner, with sufficient infrastructure and facilities provided in tandem with housing.

In line with the Green Party’s policy on double jobbing, he resigned his Council seat in 2002, co-opting Cllr Fintan McCarthy, who was subsequently elected in his own right in the 2004 local elections. He still continues to work on local issues throughout the constituency, liaising with Green Party local representatives and Council officials. His constituency office has built up a reputation for an effective and discreet response to issues of concern.

As a TD, Paul has supported community groups throughout the constituency on a range of local issues, including CE cutbacks, planning applications and the healthcare system. His motto is “Not Just at Election Time” and he regularly distributes newsletters in built up areas outlining his work on behalf of the community. Recent campaigns include protecting the Liffey Valley at St. Edmundsbury from housing development, seeking funding for urgent school roof refurbishments in North Clondalkin, the M50 widening scheme in Palmerstown, a school places campaign in Lucan and the retention of respiratory treatment facilities at Peamount Hospital, Newcastle. He has supported the work of groups such as Rally Round the Tower in Clondalkin, the combined Action Group in Palmerstown, LTQL and FIG in Lucan and the combined residents in Newcastle, Saggart and Rathcoole.

Thanks to Paul Gogarty’s website for text and photo and if you want to know more about Paul’s work log onto www.paulgogarty.com