As controversies regarding our Presidential candidates continue to spill across the National Headlines, the most notable controversies arising this week are that of ‘former’ Fianna Fáil man Seán Gallagher.
In a democracy, the media’s investigations of each candidates backgrounds is vital- we need to know who these people really are.
Thanks to hard working reporters and investigators, we now know what kind of man Sean Gallagher really is.
So far we’ve learnt this much about Seán Gallagher:
- Former member of the Fianna Fáil executive- only resigned this year according to the Irish Independent.
- Made donations in what many regard as the centre of corruption during the Celtic Tiger years- the Fianna Fáil Galway races tent.
- Organised a €5’000 per head fundraising dinner for former Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
- Only lived up to two of his investments on Dragon’s Den. (The rest were cancelled when the cameras stopped rolling).
- Charged €500 for failed and ‘useless’ business advice according to the Irish Independent. More can be read on this here.
So from these facts we can now plainly see that Gallagher is an outright liar. He said he was just an ‘ordinary grassroots member’ of Fianna Fáil, and from the points above, we can see that was quite the contrary.
How dare he think that we, the Irish people, are stupid enough to believe him. His attempts to distance himself from Fianna Fáil policies are now a pathetic attempt to climb the polls. If Gallagher only left the main ruling body of Fianna Fáil this year, it means he had direct access to our Taoiseach through his involvement in the party and was trusted enough to be involved in fundraising.
This means he can be easily linked to Fianna Fáil’s failed policies and cuts to our most vital services such as health, education and community development- as bankers continued on with their bonuses.
Did Sean Gallagher voice his concern? Did he protest against these attacks against the young people he so often says he will help to ‘get back into employment’? I don’t think so, considering he refused to condemn Fianna Fáil’s time in government on RTÉ.
He is disconnected from ordinary people. On the Late Late Show’s Presidential debate, when asked about gay people and adoption- he said ‘he didn’t know enough about them’.
People are people regardless of their orientation; they’re not another species that we need to Google for more information. Whether you are gay, straight or bisexual everyone is human, and saying that you don’t know enough about people with certain sexuality is both ignorant and plain stupid.
Is this man suitable to be our President? I wonder if, while he sits at his €5’000 dinner events does he realise the struggle and hurt that many families are going through thanks to his Fianna Fáil buddies who have left behind little or no hope for the younger generations.
Words Of War 