Republic of Ireland Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly
Ombudsman Dr Emily O'Reilly,
United Nations Aarhus Convention Agreement, William Finnerty ...
E-mail text begins immediately below:
![]() | |
billyfinnerty1945@hotmail.com | |
| |
From : | William Finnerty <wfinnerty@eircom.net> |
Sent : | Wednesday, October 6, 2004 1:06 PM |
To : | "Republic of Ireland Ombudsman (Ms Emily O'Reilly)" <ombudsman@ombudsman.irlgov.ie> |
CC : | "Minister for Justice (Mr. Michael McDowell)" <pagemaster@justice.irlgov.ie>, "Prime Minister Bertie Ahern" <taoiseach@taoiseach.irlgov.ie>, "President Mary McAleese" <webmaster@aras.irlgov.ie>, "New Inn Anti-Dump Chairman (Vincent Costello)" <repsvc@indigo.ie>, "Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group Secretary (Annette Gilchrist)" <kilconnellantidumpsecretary@yahoo.co.uk>, <GreenNWF@yahoogroups.com>, "An Taisce (Yahoo Discussion Group)" <atdiscussion@yahoogroups.com>, "Gearoid Geraghty (Lawyer, Fair Murtagh, Ballinasloe)" <gearoidgeraghty@fair-murtagh.ie>, "Martin Egan (Principal Lawyer, Fair Murtagh Law Firm)" <martinegan@fair-murtagh.ie>, "Law Society (Republic of Ireland)" <H.Mountaine@LawSociety.ie>, "Ann Marie Kelly Discussion Group" <annmariekelly@yahoogroups.com>, "CelticParty(Yahoo)" <TheCelticParty@yahoogroups.com>, "Green Party Ireland (Yahoo Group)" <greenireland@yahoogroups.com>, "Kilconnell Anti-Dump Internet Group" <KilconnellAntiDump@groups.msn.com>, "Nature Ireland" <natureireland@yahoogroups.com>, "New Inn AntiDump Internet Group" <NewInnAntiDump@groups.msn.com>, "Siobhan Nevin's Yahoo Group" <siobhannevin2004@yahoogroups.com>, "Tara / Skreen Group" <taraskreen@yahoogroups.com>, "Woodlawn House Preservation Society" <WoodlawnHousePreservationSociety@groups.msn.com>, "Press Complaints Commission" <pcc@pcc.org.uk>, "Sir Anthony O'Reilly" <content@unison.ie>, "Jose Manuel Barroso (President of EU Commission)" <press-web@cec.eu.int>, "Margot Wallstrom (Vice President of EU Commission)" <Margot.Wallstrom@cec.eu.int>, "Stavros Dimas (EU Commissioner for Environment & Social Affairs)" <empl-info@cec.eu.int> |
Subject : | Press Complaints Commission |
|
MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: from mail05.svc.cra.dublin.eircom.net ([159.134.118.21]) by mc8-f8.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(5.0.2195.6824); Wed, 6 Oct 2004 06:06:50 -0700 Received: (qmail 529 messnum 401401 invoked from network[159.134.204.239/159-134-204-239.as1.rsl.athlone.eircom.net]); 6 Oct 2004 13:06:29 -0000 Received: from 159-134-204-239.as1.rsl.athlone.eircom.net (HELO default) (159.134.204.239) by mail05.svc.cra.dublin.eircom.net (qp 529) with SMTP; 6 Oct 2004 13:06:29 -0000 X-Message-Info: JGTYoYF78jEmCvpTqXS8mCE/5+Yhra3l Message-ID: <004b01c4aba5$493f3850$efcc869f@default> X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1437 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1441 Return-Path: wfinnerty@eircom.net X-OriginalArrivalTime: 06 Oct 2004 13:06:51.0272 (UTC) FILETIME=[584EA880:01C4ABA5] |
Dear
Ms O'Reilly,
As you can see below, I have tried to contact
the Press Complaints Commission regarding a recent
newspaper article which I found very disturbing.
The article in question, reproduced below, is
in fact just one of several such articles in recent weeks which I believe
have played an insidious (and eventually lethal) role in the
string of fiascos connected with the failed attempts of the
many citizens of this State who would have liked to have
had a presidential election.
Unfortunately, I have not received any reply
from the Press Complaints Commission. (Though I realise the Press
Commission I wrote to yesterday is based in London, I believed
nonetheless that they might have been able to help in some
way. This does not now seem to me to be the case.)
Please note that I found the following
statement yesterday on their web site (at http://www.pcc.org.uk/press/detail.asp?id=115 ):
"At present, not
only is Ireland operating under the most out-dated libel/defamation laws
in Europe, it is also one of the few countries in Europe without a press
council."
Under the circumstances, I am wondering if
you could deal with my complaint regarding the newspaper articles in
question? If not, perhaps you would be good enough to forward this
e-mail to whoever is responsible for dealing with such complaints in
the Republic of Ireland? Alternatively, perhaps you could advise me
as to who I should approach myself?
I
wish to stress that I personally am not only concerned about the fact
there is not going to be a presidential election. I am now much more
concerned that, if nothing is done about it, the way is entirely
clear for yet more legislation (signed by President Mary
McAleese) which violates Bunreacht na hEireann
(i.e. the Primary Law of the Republic of
Ireland). Further information regarding this extremely serious
set of problems can be found by following the last Internet link I have
provided below - which will take you to the text of my
September 15th 2004 e-mail to the Oireachtas
Members.
I look forward to hearing from you regarding
the above at your earliest convenience please.
Yours sincerely,
William Finnerty.
++++++++++++++++++
----- Original Message -----
From: William
Finnerty
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 8:24 AM
Subject: Fw: Problem with e-mail to Justice Minister Michael
McDowell TD <<< re "Mary's humility won't be
tested">>> Dear Sir or Madam, I am not sure if you deal with complaints
relating to Republic of Ireland newspapers, or not.
If you do, I would be grateful if you could
please consider the complaint I made in the e-mail below to
Sir Anthony O'Reilly (Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004 10:08
AM.).
If you do not deal with complaints relating
to Republic of Ireland newspapers, it would be much appreciated if
you could advise me as to where I should lodge my complaint.
Yours sincerely,
William Finnerty.
PS: An MSN copy of the e-mail below, together
with MSN message identification and tracking information, can also be
seen at the following Internet address:
http://www.finnachta.com/Hotmail3Oct2004/JusticeMinisterMcDowell.htm ++++++++++++++++++
----- Original Message -----
From: William
Finnerty
Cc: Finian McGrath TD ; Deputy Bernard J. Durkan
TD ; Minister Tim O'Malley
(Health) ; 01 Eir ; 02
Yah ; 03 Hot ; 04 Hot
; 05
Yah ; Ann Marie Kelly
(Yahoo) ; Brendan Kelly (Yahoo
Address) ; Ciaran Hughes ; Greene Family (Ballinasloe)
Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004 12:19 PM
Subject: Problem with e-mail to Justice Minister Michael
McDowell TD <<< re "Mary's humility won't be
tested">>> +++++++++++++++ Different e-mail address being tried for
Justice Minister Michael McDowell TD.
Original e-mail (Sent:
Sunday, October 03, 2004 11:42 AM) to Minister McDowell reproduced
below.
+++++++++++++++
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mail Delivery Subsystem" <MAILER-DAEMON@cwint.vpn.gov.ie>
To: <wfinnerty@eircom.net>
Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004 11:43 AM
Subject: Returned mail: see transcript for details > The original message was received at Sun, 3 Oct 2004 11:43:32
+0100
> from cwext [62.77.181.66] > > ----- The following addresses had permanent
fatal errors -----
> <pagemaster@justice.irlgov.ie> > (reason: 501 ) +++++++++++++++
----- Original Message -----
From: William
Finnerty
To: Gearoid Geraghty (Lawyer,
Fair Murtagh, Ballinasloe) ; Martin Egan (Principal Lawyer,
Fair Murtagh Law Firm) ; Law Society (Republic of
Ireland)
Cc: Minister for Justice (Mr.
Michael McDowell) ; tmannion@cllr.galwaycoco.ie
; connie.nifhatharta@cllr.galwaycoco.ie
; jconneely@cllr.galwaycoco.ie
; jcuddy@cllr.galwaycoco.ie ; jjoyce@cllr.galwaycoco.ie ; jmcdonagh@cllr.galwaycoco.ie
; mconnolly@cllr.galwaycoco.ie
; mfahy@cllr.galwaycoco.ie ; mhoade@cllr.galwaycoco.ie ; mmullins@cllr.galwaycoco.ie
; mregan@cllr.galwaycoco.ie ; phynes@cllr.galwaycoco.ie ; sbreathnach@cllr.galwaycoco.ie
; sconnaughton@cllr.galwaycoco.ie
; tmchugh@cllr.galwaycoco.ie ;
twalsh@cllr.galwaycoco.ie ; Paul Connaughton
TD ; Joe Callanan TD ; Paddy McHugh TD ; Padraic.McCormack T.D. ;
Noel Grealish T.D. ; Minister Noel Treacy TD ;
Minister Frank Fahey T.D. ; Michael D Higgins
T.D. ; Minister
Éamon Ó Cuív T.D. ; 05 Yah ; 04 Hot
; 03 Hot ; 02
Yah ; 01 Eir ; mleahy@cllr.galwaycity.ie ; tcostello@cllr.galwaycity.ie
; jmullholland@cllr.galwaycity.ie
; dlyons@cllr.galwaycity.ie ; dmcdonnell@cllr.galwaycity.ie
; toflaherty@cllr.galwaycity.ie
; Sean O'Neachtain (MEP) ; Marian Harkin (MEP) ; Jim.Higgins (MEP) ; Rosemary Scallon
(Eircom) ; Vincent Salafia (Lawyer, Tara/Skreen
Group)
Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004 11:42 AM
Subject: Fw: "Mary's humility won't be tested" ----- Original Message -----
From: William
Finnerty
Cc: Stavros Dimas (EU Commissioner for
Environment & Social Affairs) ; Jose Manuel Barroso (President of EU
Commission) ; Woodlawn
House Preservation Society ; Tara / Skreen Group ; Siobhan Nevin's Yahoo
Group ; New Inn AntiDump Internet
Group ; Nature Ireland ; Kilconnell Anti-Dump
Internet Group ; Green Party Ireland (Yahoo
Group) ; CelticParty(Yahoo) ; Ann Marie Kelly Discussion
Group ; An Taisce (Yahoo Discussion
Group) ; GreenNWF@yahoogroups.com ; Kilconnell Anti-Dump
Group Secretary (Annette Gilchrist) ; New Inn Anti-Dump Chairman (Vincent
Costello) ; Sunday World Newspaper ;
Margot Wallstrom (Vice President
of EU Commission) ; Minister Dick Roche TD (Environment
& Local Government) ; Prime Minister Bertie
Ahern ; President Mary McAleese ; Assistant Police
Commissioner (Galway area) ; Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy (Chief
Commissioner of Police, Republic of Ireland) ; Environment Protection Agency ; An Taisce ; An Bord Pleanala
; The Democracy Commission
(Ireland) ; Associated
Press ; BBC NEWS ; CNN ; Reuters ; TV3 (Republic of Ireland) ; Tuam
Herald ; The Irish Times ; TG4 (Irish Language
Station, Republic of Ireland) ; Sunday Business Post ; RTE (Irish National TV
Station) ; Keith Finnegan at Galway Bay FM (local
radio) ; Irish
Independent Newspapers (Unison Group) ; Irish Examiner Newspaper ; Irish Emigrant
Newspaper ; Ireland On Sunday ; Galway Independent
Newspaper ; Galway Advertiser Editor (Mr.
Declan Varley) ; Connacht Tribune Editor (Mr. John
Cunningham)
Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004 10:08 AM
Subject: "Mary's humility won't be tested" Dear Sir Anthony, Although I have a strong feeling that the time I am spending on this e-mail is likely to be a complete waste of my time, you may nevertheless wish to take account of the information in the "Guardian of the Constitution" e-mail at http://www.finnachta.com/Hotmail15Sept2004/OireachtasMembers.htm, and then re-consider the contents of your "Mary's humility won't be tested" article in today's Sunday Independent Newspaper - which I have reproduced below. As I see it, your newspaper article below is
just one of several HIGHLY misleading "Presidential
Election" articles which have appeared in your Republic of
Ireland newspapers in recent weeks.
I don't know about you, but I happen to
believe that democracy can only work well if the people who vote are
well informed. It is largely for this reason that I personally find
your newspaper articles of the kind reproduced below so
VERY disturbing.
Finally, I would like to point out to you the
fact that it is very clearly stated in Article 12, Section
10, of "Bunreacht na hEireann"
(the Primary Law of the Republic of Ireland) that: "The President
may be impeached for stated misbehaviour".
With this in mind, and with thoughts of legal matters connected
with public-servant type offences such as "neglect of
duty", and "dereliction of duty", I find myself
wondering how long President Mary McAleese will be
able to hold on to her present position?
Yours sincerely,
William Finnerty.
++++++++++++++++++
Mary's humility won't be tested JUST a few weeks back we argued in this very spot that not only did we not need a presidential election but that, in general, we don't actually need a President at all. We should have stuck in a sub-clause saying that if we do have to have a President we really should have an election. Not that there's anything wrong with Mary McAleese. After all, it's
hard to
be a bad President of Ireland when it comes down to it. It's just that we might have enjoyed having the illusion of choice. We also might have enjoyed seeing Mary McAleese argue why she thought
she
should be the President again. It would have been most unbecoming to see the President going around the place saying: "I think I should get to be the President for another seven years because I'm great altogether, so I am. I'm a great President, if I say so myself." This would have been incongruous because the Mary McAleese/Mary
Robinson
school of presidency is all about being humbled by everything, being humbled by the great people you meet who do great work in their communities; and being humbled by the sick and the destitute and, indeed, being humbled by the very honour of the office. It's a bit like entering a beauty contest. None of the contestants
can admit
that they want to win simply because they'd like to win. They all have to pretend they were forced into it by other people and that they aren't really worthy. The presidency in this country is a bit like forcing an aunt to sing
at a
wedding. She feigns reluctance and is 'mortified', but once you get her up on the stage there's no getting rid of her. Humbled. Although watching Mary McAleese on the Late Late the other night, 'humbled' wasn't really the word that sprung to mind. 'In her element' was the phrase that actually sprang to mind. It might have been nice, too, if someone challenged the notion that
we have
to have a law library middle-aged wan as President. For years we used the Aras as a resting home for old, retired and bewildered politicians. Then Robbo came along and there was a breath of fresh air and winds of change and a new big idea, a thrusting post-feminist woman in the Aras. So we swept away the old cliche in order to set in stone a new one. Like whales we only need a breath of fresh air very occasionally in
this
country. Ivana Bacik is already being talked about as the next President. Female? TCD? Reid professor? Come this way please. Anyway, there's no point in getting worked up about it. Mary McAleese
will
impinge very little in most of our daily lives over the next seven years. We'll notice her now and then when she wears the same coat as the mother of the bride or something. And apart from that we can just forget about her, like, well, like some retired politician rattling around in the Aras. As they nearly say across the water - the cliche is dead, long live the cliche. ++++++++++++++++++ |
The MSN e-mail text ends at the last line above.
Dr Emily O'Reilly (Republic
of Ireland Ombudsman) |
||
Checking and correcting unconstitutional legislation
(Republic of Ireland): Legislation and the role of the
President of the Republic of Ireland: Irish Legislation (BAILII): Irish Legal Information Initiative
(IRLII): |
||
|
|
|
PAGE HISTORY: |
Home Page >>> www.finnachta.com <<< Home Page |