John’s blog: 2nd October 2006
We managed to get in a substantial submission on the EIS for the Poolbeg incinerator today - ‘we’ because a lot of credit has to go to my assistant, Ryan Meade, who spent a considerable amount of time and energy on it. You can read it below.
It’s been a busy day between the submission and continuing fallout from the Bertie issue. Trevor’s going on Questions and Answers this evening and Eamon Ryan and I had a briefing session with him this afternoon to prepare him. Bertie could survive tomorrow but, realistically, for how long? I remember when Ray Burke came before the Dáil and gave a ‘full account’ of his activities. Afterwards he claimed a line had been drawn in the sand, and Mary Harney even expressed her full confidence in him. Well, we know what happened there. Bertie has been damaged undoubtedly, but the real losers are the PDs. Far from keeping an eye on the lads, they have become indistinguishable from them.
I hope that at the very least there will be renewed focus now on the way politics is funded in this country. Parties are still under an obligation to big business and wealthy individuals who sponsor parties and candidates. ‘No favours sought or given’ has become a meaningless cliché. The Green Party proposes putting stricter limits on donations, banning corporate donations, limiting spending between and at elections, having a register of lobbyists.