Dear Mr Lezertua, and Mrs Marie-Rose,
I have read the GRECO report on corruption in the
Republic of Ireland (GRECO 7: 17-20/12/2001). Worthwhile though I believe this
report to be, it nevertheless appears to me that certain extremely important
forms of political and legal corruption may have escaped the notice of the team of
assessors: possibly because their stay in Ireland was too short, and/or the range of
people they spoke with was too restricted?
Through petitions, efforts have been made during recent months to bring some of
the "escaped" forms of corruption I refer to above to the attention of the
European Parliament, and one of the reasons I am writing to you now is to try to ensure
that the GRECO Group is made aware of them: for future GRECO assessments. The
two petitions I refer to have been given the following reference numbers by the
European Parliament: 809/2001, and 235/2002. Further
information connected with these two petitions can be found on the following www Internet
pages:
Petition 809/2001
http://homepage.eircom.net/~williamfinnerty/SATURNALIA/Dec_21st_2001.htm
In so far as I am aware, the Republic of Ireland
media have completely ignored the entire contents of the above mentioned
press release of March 4th 2002.
As you may know, there is a GENERAL ELECTION due to take place here in
the Republic of Ireland in May of this year (which is of course just a matter of some
weeks away now). Unless something is done about it soon, it looks as though all of
the May 2002 General Election voters who depend on traditional media outlets
for political news and information will be kept in complete ignorance regarding
the very disturbing facts that are connected with petitions 809/2001 and
235/2002.
Many of the corruption difficulties mentioned in petitions in 809/2001 and
235/2002 relate in one way or another to Article
28A of the Constitution of the Republic of Ireland (the section
which covers the crucially important social matters of LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, and LOCAL DEMOCRACY).
In general overall terms, my long standing (and growing) concern regarding
the Article 28A situation is that ordinary citizens (including myself) are being
systematically deprived of MAJOR protections and benefits that have been embedded
for us in the Constitution (which is of course the core legal document for
ALL citizens of this State). There seems to be no good reason
whatsoever for this. As long ago as December 2000, the editors of two
local newspapers (The Connacht Tribune, and The Galway
Advertiser) were made aware of the unhealthy - and so far completely
unexplained - disregard that senior politicians and State lawyers were then
demonstrating for the factual presence of Article 28A. Please see the
copies of the registered-letter receipts at the bottom of the following www page: http://homepage.eircom.net/~williamfinnerty/chaplefinnerty/letters3/dec-29-00.htm
As far as I know, the media in the Republic of Ireland have NEVER to
date specifically mentioned - let alone examined - ANY of the core difficulties connected
with Article 28A which I have tried to bring to their attention on numerous
occasions. (Evidence of my several attempts to attract the attention of the media to
the various problems can be seen on a number of the Internet pages I have
produced.)
Among other things, and as a result of what I see as high-level political and legal
corruption, a Waste Management Bill involving super dumps passed
into law in 2001: even though it clearly conflicted very badly with
Article 28A. The combination of political and legal actions involved in the lengthy
journey of bringing this law to fruition appears to have the tacit approval and
support of the media throughout the long crawl through all of the legal
technicalities discussed in the Senate and elsewhere: with the core issue
of Article 28A never once specifically drawn to the attention of the public by the
media (as far as I know). Most amazing of all (as I see it), it appears that President
Mary McAleese (herself a lawyer) had no qualms at all about signing the necessary
papers which enabled the Waste Management Bill to become Law.
This "super dump" situation appears to me to be unusually bad:
partly because of all the negative reports in circulation regarding the serious
health hazards for people (especially pregnant women) living close to such establishments.
The reports I refer to include the very reputable Eurohazcon Report (of 1998) on landfill sites.
Mindful of all the justified concern that there appears to be regarding the rights of
unborn children in this State, and of all the time that the media, the lawyers, and
the politicians have spent discussing this subject in public during the past
several years, they appear (until very recently) - and for reasons best known to
themselves - to have almost completely ignored information of the kind contained
in the Eurohazcon Report: which has been available since 1998 ???
If the European Union has any group within its organisation which polices (in
"real-time") the kind of ongoing "political / legal /
media" type of corruption referred to in this communication, it would
be much appreciated if you could forward a copy of this e-mail to them as soon as possible
please for their attention.
As I do not know if any EU group of the kind referred to in the paragraph
immediately above actually exists, I am copying this e-mail to a number of other EU
personnel outside of your GRECO Group: in the hope that one or more of them
might be able to help (in some way or another) with what I regard as a very
unhealthy social and political situation: which is happening RIGHT NOW here
in the Republic of Ireland IN THE RUN-UP TO A GENERAL ELECTION.
I feel I should stress that I believe it would be infinitely
better to have a team of anti-corruption investigators look into this matter now:
rather than AFTER the May 2002 General Election.
As I think you will know possibly, we already have a number of TRIBUNALS
in progress here that are investigating large-scale corruption (involving
senior politicians) which took place in recent years; and, I for one would prefer not
to see any additions to the present number of these tribunals: if this could possibly be
avoided through effective European Union anti-corruption policing carried out in the
"here-and-now" of this "live" situation.
Later today I intend to send a printed (and signed) copy of this e-mail through the
registered post to the Directorate General of Legal Affairs (Council of Europe). It
would be much appreciated if the recipient could let me have written acknowledgement of
receipt for it within the coming 14 days please. I also intend to place a copy
of this e-mail (accompanied with translation facilities) at the following www page address
later today:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~williamfinnerty/GRECO.htm
Sincerely,
Mr. William Finnerty.
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E-MAIL: wfinnerty@eircom.net
WEB SITE: http://homepage.eircom.net/~williamfinnerty/
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