Feb 18 2008
So Telling The Truth Is ‘Politically Motivated’? Sorry Caitríona, That’s Democracy
Today's Irish News published details of how highly sensitive information on school pupils and their families was found lying about in Camlough, Co. Armagh. The revelation was made by SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Dominic Bradley, who had been passed the information.
The highly sensitive material contained information on 120 people who were pupils quite a few years ago and included details about threadbare clothing on unwashed children and derogatory descriptions of parents. The files included details of of doctors' examinations, information on admissions to a psychiatric institution and prosecutions for non-attendance at school.
One parent was described as a 'n'er do well'. Nice.
However, rather than accept Mr Bradley's right as a democratically elected politician- nay, a citizen- to publicise this massive faux pas, Sinn Féin Education Minister Caitríona Ruane described his decision to highlight it as "politically motivated".
What exactly is wrong with him putting this in the public domain? This is an extremely serious issue and I think the public has a right to know. Is Ruane suggesting that Mr Bradley should have kept this quiet? That's not exactly the hallmark of open government. Methinks she's just slightly unhappy at the authorities being embarrassed by a security breach of the highest order. Apart from that, it's both irrelevant and none of her business what Dominic Bradley's motivation was- the fact is that he highlighted a serious mistake by the authorities, and that's all that matters. I really can't see what political gain he stands to acquire as a result of this.
However, to be fair to Ruane, she did add: "I accept that there is a problem."
Understatement of the year.
Dominic Bradley insisted that he had acted in the public interest and told the Ruane not to shoot the messenger. The Assembly was informed by the Education Minister that a full investigation had begun, with Ruane adding that she wanted: "...to say to the adults who were children then we are going to be contacting them and we will totally protect their confidentiality and their identity." I'm sure they'll be reassured by that...
The highly sensitive material contained information on 120 people who were pupils quite a few years ago and included details about threadbare clothing on unwashed children and derogatory descriptions of parents. The files included details of of doctors' examinations, information on admissions to a psychiatric institution and prosecutions for non-attendance at school.
One parent was described as a 'n'er do well'. Nice.
However, rather than accept Mr Bradley's right as a democratically elected politician- nay, a citizen- to publicise this massive faux pas, Sinn Féin Education Minister Caitríona Ruane described his decision to highlight it as "politically motivated".
What exactly is wrong with him putting this in the public domain? This is an extremely serious issue and I think the public has a right to know. Is Ruane suggesting that Mr Bradley should have kept this quiet? That's not exactly the hallmark of open government. Methinks she's just slightly unhappy at the authorities being embarrassed by a security breach of the highest order. Apart from that, it's both irrelevant and none of her business what Dominic Bradley's motivation was- the fact is that he highlighted a serious mistake by the authorities, and that's all that matters. I really can't see what political gain he stands to acquire as a result of this.
However, to be fair to Ruane, she did add: "I accept that there is a problem."
Understatement of the year.
Dominic Bradley insisted that he had acted in the public interest and told the Ruane not to shoot the messenger. The Assembly was informed by the Education Minister that a full investigation had begun, with Ruane adding that she wanted: "...to say to the adults who were children then we are going to be contacting them and we will totally protect their confidentiality and their identity." I'm sure they'll be reassured by that...
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