Politics Corruption in Ireland

1 politics

1.1 pre-partition
1.2 1900–1940
1.3 1940–1960
1.4 1960–1980
1.5 1980–2000
1.6 2000–

1.6.1 bertie ahern

politics
pre-partition

the acts of union (1800), saw kingdom of ireland become part of united kingdom of great britain , ireland, marked bribery on scale not seen before in ireland. members of parliament of ireland induced favours of titles , land vote out of existence.

local politics in 19th century ireland came dominated either irish nationalist or unionist local councils. both known corruption, surpassed in britain.

1900–1940

the irish free state established as, in name, independent state in 1922. in 1920s, politicians expected reimburse cost of meals, , slept in offices due gunfire outside.

one major case of corruption in ireland happened in county wicklow; dubbed wicklow gold inquiry, involved distribution of mining licenses in 1935. minister industry , commerce @ time, seán lemass, granted mining licence politicians michael comyn , bob briscoe. these licenses covered area of 2,982 acres in wicklow. both leased land british mining company in exchange £12,000 , royalties on gold found. inquiry launched due patrick mcgilligan of cumann na ngaedheal accusing lemass of favouring members of fianna fáil political party. inquiry cleared lemass of wrongdoing due fact did not benefit financially.

1940–1960

another tribunal set in 1943 after allegations advance information made available selectively when great southern railway , dublin united transport company merged , nationalized form córas iompair Éireann, allowing shareholders make massive profits. revealed in tribunal several people tipped off of plan before went public, in known insider trading. organisations , people aware of upcoming merger included bank of ireland, representative body of church of ireland , archbishop of dublin, john charles mcquaid. tribunal found made financial gain activity, yet no action taken against of lawbreakers. shows how power catholic church had in ireland in days, organisations of few ones chosen told.

the next major political scandal happened in 1946 when dr. francis ward, prominent politician monaghan , holder of pig producing licence seán lemass s department, had following allegations put forward against him constituency rival, dr patrick mccarvill;

sacking dr patrick mccarvill s son meat factory , replacing him own son,
embezzling £12,000 company s account,
he still being paid local doctor though had been replaced,
that ward had used public money erect fianna fáil hall on own land.

when inquiry established found allegations against him false, found him guilty of tax evasion. when made public, ward resigned , became first politician in state resign on personal mistakes.

the last major corruption case in 1940s occurred in 1947 when tribunal called sale of locke s distillery in kilbeggan, co. meath. sale attracted lot of attention @ time due worldwide shortage of whiskey, , extensive stocks, several foreign syndicates interested. politician laois, oliver j. flanagan, accused taoiseach @ time Éamon de valera, seán lemass , justice minister gerald boland of political favouritism , abuse of power in relation sale. tribunal sat 18 days, of deciphering mountains of allegations flanagan made. when allegations dropped, became inquiry credibility of flanagan concluded flanagan had deliberately lied in evidence inquiry.

1960–1980

before 1960s relatively easy planning permission, changed in year 1963 when highly restrictive planning act passed. placed exceptional powers in hands of newly appointed officials. since act introduced has been blamed principal factor of upswing of irish political corruption in years after. proved in following few years when charlie haughey, minister finance , liam lawlor, td lucan area, both received planning permission huge housing estates on land in owned.

the kenny report of 1974 attempted bring effective end land speculation nationalizing building land, putting capital gains tax on profit made disposal of land , placing high stamp duty rate on transfer of land suitable building fianna fáil, government @ time, refused accept of these, or 9 other, recommendations made in report, against best interests.

another corruption tribunal brought court in 1975, 1 involving labour td co. meath, james tully. mr. tully, minister local government @ time, subject of suspicion regarding several planning decisions made in name. these decisions given name “tully permissions” , went against rules regarding proper planning. year before, tully accused of “tullymandering”, take off of gerrymandering, involves rearranging electoral boundaries benefit particular political party. tribunal brought being investigate these matters , apparent improper relationship building contractor, bobby farrelly, , when trial over, cleared of wrongdoing.

1980–2000



dáil Éireann

in 1991 tribunal of inquiry beef industry established investigate tax evasion, malpractice , regulatory weaknesses in ireland’s beef industry. part of tribunal involved looking unhealthy relationship between taoiseach charlie haughey , leading beef magnate, larry goodman. government accused, labour td pat rabbitte, of providing export insurance him in respect of sale of beef in iraq , in effect, giving him favourable treatment. when results of tribunal published uncovered many serious malpractices in industry. report cleared taoiseach of wrongdoing , stated; “there no evidence suggest either taoiseach @ time or minister industry , commerce @ time close mr. goodman or mr. goodman had political associations either of them or party represented.”

the mccracken tribunal of 1997 investigated reports of secret payments ben dunne former taoiseach, charles haughey , former cabinet minister michael lowry. tribunal found haughey had given untrue evidence under oath , lowry knowingly assisted dunne in evading tax. when made public, tribunal attempted initiate criminal proceedings against both men, failed when judged haughey not fair trial due prejudicial comments tánaiste mary harney.

the moriarty tribunal of 1997 follow mccracken tribunal inquiry financial affairs of politicians charles haughey , michael lowry. tribunal lasted 14 years , concluded in march 2011, 5 years after charles haughey had died. in findings reported that;

mr. haughey stole sizeable proportion brian lenihan medical fund , took steps conceal actions.
charles haughey accepted cash in return favours throughout political career.
confirmation of facts regarding payments dunne haughey , lowry.

after these reported, tribunal stated sums paid former taoiseach worth €45m in today s money. in return these secret payments, tribunal declared mr haughey did number of favours wealthy businessmen.

the last major tribunal before new millennium mahon tribunal. inquiry investigate allegations of corrupt payments politicians regarding political decisions. tribunal ran november 1997 march 2012 , longest running , expensive public inquiry ever held in republic of ireland. investigated planning permissions , land rezoning issues in 1990s in dublin county council area. despite steep costs, tribunal has yielded benefits, €50 million collected revenue commissioners , criminal assets bureau in light of information has garnered. result of tribunal george redmond, devised system if new planning application made without assistance, service charges , levies fixed @ least 100% more help, , ray burke, opened , maintained offshore bank accounts in isle of man purpose of receiving , concealing corrupt payments, have served prison sentences tax evasion , liam lawlor has served 3 prison sentences non-co-operation inquiry.

2000–

in june 2012, first ever corruption , bribery law reforms brought approval minister justice , equality, alan shatter. of proposed laws include; prison terms of 10 years , unlimited fines on member of government, or civil servant, commits act of corruption.

bertie ahern



interview

ahern criticised moriarty tribunal signing blank cheques taoiseach charles haughey, without asking cheques for. in september 2006 irish times printed claims allegedly leaked mahon tribunal ahern had received money millionaire businessman while minister finance in 1993, response these allegations quoted right.

on 3 october 2006 ahern made 15-minute statement in dáil Éireann defending actions in taking loans totalling ir£39,000 (€50,000) friends in ireland , £8,000 (€11,800) gift businessmen in manchester in 1993 , 1994.

when further questions raised ir£50,000 (€63,300) had lodged bank account in 1994, mr. ahern claimed money had saved on substantial period of time when had had no active bank account. during period minister labour , subsequently minister finance. asked pat rabbitte whether, in absence of bank account, had kept money in sock in hot-press , joe higgins if had kept money in shoe-box . ahern replied had kept money in own possession . in may 2007, emerged ahern s partner, celia larkin, received £30,000 businessman micheál wall contribute towards refurbishment of house ahern buy later. when appeared @ mahon tribunal in 2007, tribunal chairman judge alan mahon said there significant gaps in money trail provided mr ahern have made impossible tribunal follow trail