Castro steps down.

[Purple]

Knock yourself out

 

[z103]

Thanks for the link.

It would take me some time to read through the whole act, and interpret what is says. However, if the following also applies to organisations,

4.—(1) Where in any proceedings against a person referred to in subsection (5)(b) of section 1 (inserted by section 2 of this Act) of the Act of 1906 for an offence under the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act, 1889, as amended, or the Act of 1906, as amended, it is proved that—

(a) any gift, consideration or advantage has been given to or received by a person,

(b) the person who gave the gift, consideration or advantage or on whose behalf the gift, consideration or advantage was given had an interest in the discharge by the person of any of the functions specified in this section,

the gift or consideration or advantage shall be deemed to have been given and received corruptly as an inducement to or reward for the person performing or omitting to perform any of the functions aforesaid unless the contrary is proved.

then It is my opinion that the IDA is acting contrary to this act, and offering such bribes is indeed illegal. However, I'm not a legal expert.

 

[Purple]

Thanks for the link.

No problem.

It would take me some time to read through the whole act, and interpret what is says. However, if the following also applies to organisations,
then It is my opinion that the IDA is acting contrary to this act, and offering such bribes is indeed illegal. However, I'm not a legal expert.

You may be right but you may not be. At the moment you are making anonymous accusations on a website which provides a free public service. The owner of this website will be liable if you are wrong and those you accused take umbrage. I suggest you take this into account when posting, that's all.

 

[z103]

I can only speak from personal experience over the last 10 years dealing with customers in the USA, Europe, the UK, Asia and Ireland but I have found Americans to be efficient and technically knowledgeable but the thing that really differentiates them from us is their clarity of thought and ability to make decisions quickly. They are also far more honourable in their dealing than Irish people and well stick to their word.
Basically they can make clear business focused decisions faster and better than their Irish counterparts.
They also have a far better technical and commercial understanding of what they are doing. In my experience the only other country that is at their level is Holland.

You can't see any problem with the above? You're basing judgement on nationality. My post was about one organisation, backed up by proof, which you found questionable. Your post was about every single company with Irish employees! I strongly disagree with your comments, and believe it presents my own business in a negative light. Your comments are particulary damaging since we compete with American and Dutch companies. Should I take Brendan to court?

Maybe you should consider such ramifications before posting on a public forum etc, etc...

 

[Purple]

You can't see any problem with the above? You're basing judgement on nationality. My post was about one organisation, backed up by proof, which you found questionable. Your post was about every single company with Irish employees! I strongly disagree with your comments, and believe it presents my own business in a negative light. Your comments are particulary damaging since we compete with American and Dutch companies. Should I take Brendan to court?

Maybe you should consider such ramifications before posting on a public forum etc, etc...

I offered personal opinion and did not accuse anybody of illegal activities. If you cannot see the distinction then you should read back over the thread.

 

[z103]

I offered personal opinion and did not accuse anybody of illegal activities. If you cannot see the distinction then you should read back over the thread.

Your published, personal opinion;
- Irish people are 'less honourable' than American people.
- Americans can make clear business focused decisions faster and better than their Irish counterparts.
- Americans have a far better technical and commercial understanding of what they are doing.

(Which are simply outrageous comments to make.)

I would like to draw your attention to section 19 of the defamation act, 1961
http://tinyurl.com/3ajjzz

 

[Purple]

Your published, personal opinion;
- Irish people are 'less honourable' than American people.
- Americans can make clear business focused decisions faster and better than their Irish counterparts.
- Americans have a far better technical and commercial understanding of what they are doing.

(Which are simply outrageous comments to make.)

No, I related personal experience of doing business with both American and Irish people. I did not defame anyone or accuse them of illegal activity.

 

[room305]

I would like to draw your attention to section 19 of the defamation act, 1961

You're talking out of your cakehole. The defamation act can only apply to an individual or specific entities. You could no more take a defamation case against AAM for a generalisation made about the Irish people, than an An Post worker could sue me personally because I frequently accuse them of providing a shoddy service.

Ever had a rant about the inefficient public sector? The poor health service? Poor transport? Bad planning? Heavy traffic? Overpriced goods? Looks like you'll be spending an awful long time in court. Best not complain about the legal system though, lest some judge takes umbrage and brings yet another defamation case against you.

 

[z103]

No, I related personal experience of doing business with both American and Irish people. I did not defame anyone or accuse them of illegal activity.

Can you not see that you have defamed all Irish people?

From dictionary.com (source you used earlier)

Defame To damage the reputation, character, or good name of by slander or libel.

Your sweeping comments certainly damage the reputation, character and good name of all Irish people. Furthermore, you're discriminating solely based on Nationality.

 

[z103]

The defamation act can only apply to an individual or specific entities.

Would you be able to interpret the act that Purple posted earlier and see if I was breaking any laws by this comment;

The Americans are here because of tax reasons (or sometimes IDA bribes), not for charity.

 

[Purple]

Can you not see that you have defamed all Irish people?

It is not possible to defame an entire nation of people. You are being ridiculous. There are plenty of posters on AAM that I disagree with and have entertaining and colourful discussions with, (Rainyday, aircobra19 etc ) but I still respect their opinion and have a high opinion of them.

This is not one of those threads.

 

[Purple]

The Americans are here because of tax reasons (or sometimes IDA bribes), not for charity.

The IDA is a state body. It interacts with corporations, and individuals within those corporations, in order to secure investment in this country. You made the assertion that the IDA used bribes to secure that investment. This is an illegal act. You then read the statute on Bribery and again made the claim that the IDA did indeed use bribes while conducting its business.

We are going around in circles here.

 

[z103]

It is not possible to defame an entire nation of people. You are being ridiculous.

Really? - read the first two lines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defame

There are plenty of posters on AAM that I disagree with and have entertaining and colourful discussions with, (Rainyday, aircobra19 etc ) but I still respect their opinion and have a high opinion of them.
This is not one of those threads.

Of what relevance is this?

The IDA is a state body. It interacts with corporations, and individuals within those corporations, in order to secure investment in this country. You made the assertion that the IDA used bribes to secure that investment. This is an illegal act. You then read the statute on Bribery and again made the claim that the IDA did indeed use bribes while conducting its business.

We haven't determined whether the IDA is acting illegally by bribing companies.

 

[room305]

Would you be able to interpret the act that Purple posted earlier and see if I was breaking any laws by this comment;
The Americans are here because of tax reasons (or sometimes IDA bribes), not for charity.

I don't know if you're breaking any laws per se, I'm an engineer not a lawyer. However, I do know that accusing the IDA of bribing American companies pointlessly exposes the site to at least the possibility of a libel action.

You seem to be getting bogged down in semantics of what is and isn't a bribe. I'd imagine that most people reading the site would interpret such an accusation as involving bundles of taxpayer cash transferred to the accounts of senior US executives, rather than say - reduced ground rent in return for employing people from an impoverished area or some such.

I once received a research grant from the government which was designed to encourage people to perform high level academic research in Ireland rather than doing so abroad. I'd find it a little strange if someone were to suggest I was bribed not to leave the country, unless they intended it to be derogatory.

As to what a judge will say? Who knows, but why bother taking that chance unless you genuinely did intend people to interpret the IDA's actions as being somewhat sinister.

 

[room305]

Really? - read the first two lines.

This would imply that only the government (acting on behalf of the Irish people) could bring such a defamation case against Purple.

 

[z103]

This would imply that only the government (acting on behalf of the Irish people) could bring such a defamation case against Purple.

So it would seem that in your opinion, Purple is pointlessly exposing the site to at least the possibility of a libel action.

(Note, the IDA is an Irish Government Agency)

The main difference between what I've posted and what Purple has posted, is that the IDA is actually giving financial assistance for companies to locate in Ireland. Purple, on the other hand has nothing to back up his comments about Irish people, apart from it being his personal opinion.

 

[room305]

So it would seem that in your opinion, Purple is pointlessly exposing the site to at least the possibility of a libel action.

*sigh* You think the government could really launch a libel action against a website for defamation of the Irish people? Might AAM and/or Purple not be entitled to ask why the Irish people feel so aggrieved about his comments (despite his prefacing them with the statement that they his own personal opinion) when sites like go unchallenged? Do you think the government that did this would last very long?

(Note, the IDA is an Irish Government Agency)

Which is very distinct from an entire nation of people.

(The main difference between what I've posted and what Purple has posted, is that the IDA is actually giving financial assistance for companies to locate in Ireland.

Yes, financial assistance not bribes. If you have a very deep desire to argue the relative differences between the two in front of a judge I might suggest doing so on your own site.

(Purple, on the other hand has nothing to back up his comments about Irish people, apart from it being his personal opinion.

Which is his defence also. If I stated that I'd only ever encountered ugly Bulgarian women in my lifetime, could I be sued by an aggrieved Bulgarian? What kind of bizarre fantasy land world do you live in? Seriously, grow up.

 

[z103]

What kind of bizarre fantasy land world do you live in? Seriously, grow up.

Please lay off the personal attacks.

*sigh* You think the government could really launch a libel action against a website for defamation of the Irish people?

It's as likely as the IDA launching legal action against AAM for my comments. If you read back through the thread, it was Purple that first mentioned legal action.

 

[Purple]

Room305, thanks for the laugh.
Leghorn, you're not worth the effort. You refuse to see the distinction between accusing people in a state agency of breaking the law and an opinion expressed about business experiences.

 

[z103]

Purple, you really believe that these comments are acceptable?
- Irish people are 'less honourable' than American people.
- Americans can make clear business focused decisions faster and better than their Irish counterparts.
- Americans have a far better technical and commercial understanding of what they are doing.

If you don't understand what is wrong with them, try replacing 'Irish' with 'Black', or 'Jew' etc.

I don't think it's a laughing matter either.

accusing people in a state agency of breaking the law

You know this for a fact now, do you?