Thursday, February 18, 2010

Dysfunctional and incompetent Government should follow O Dea and resign


Willie O Dea’s resignation as Minister for Defence was an inevitability that took too long to happen. Telling lies about a political opponent is one thing but to cover it up and lie to a court is something else. Willie is a trained barrister. He knew the law. He knows right from wrong. He knew exactly what he was doing. And he was trying to do down a political opponent in the run up to the 2009 local election. Like so many political controversies it was not the original wrong that tripped him but the cover up and subsequent lies.

This blogger does not seek to dance on his grave. He has resigned and paid a price. But I confess that I have no sympathy for the man’s position. His demeanour in the Dáil as motions of no confidence were tabled was the personification of arrogance. The sight of the Minister sniggering and smiling was unseemly to say the least. The Green Party are now trying to claim credit for his departure. What rubbish. They rolled out, one after the other to defend the indefensible. It was a mix of political and public pressure which finally forced them to act.

Tonight I attended an important event in Waterford City Hall to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the local Council of Trade Unions. The plight of ordinary working people was well characterised by the speakers. Willie O Dea’s resignation is welcome but what we really need is for this dysfunctional and totally discredited Government to go. The 29,000 people out of work in Waterford deserve better. We are being badly served by this Government. Willie O Dea’s resignation might mean the Government limps along for a bit longer. If the Green Party had any backbone they would withdraw from Government, precipitate an election and let the people pass judgment on this incompetent, corrupt and out of touch Government.

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