The government will have to consider how much the views of campaigning NGOs “reflect” those of wider society in the aftermath of Friday’s crushing referendum defeat, a Fine Gael Minister has said.
The comments were made on Saturday by Fine Gael Minister of State Peter Burke, as the results were being counted for the rejected Care referendum (which was ultimately defeated by 73.9%) and the Family referendum (which was defeated by 67.7%).
Speaking on RTÉ’s Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin show, Burke noted the large number of NGOs that had campaigned strongly for a now-rejected ‘Yes’ vote.
“I do think, if you look at the roster of ‘Yes’ campaigners, and those advocates from political parties to NGOs, it’s been quite significant and quite large,” Burke said, adding: “It is a strong blow to the body politic.”
He further stated that the government would need to “look at” how much the views of such campaigning NGOs were “reflective” of wider Irish society.
“I think we need to look and see, in terms of how much some NGOs are reflective of the communities that we live in, because there had been very strong support in some quarters,” he said.
“…the reality is the electorate made a clear and informed decision, and we in government have to listen to that decision.”
State-funded NGOs in receipt of taxpayer money were heavily involved in the ‘Yes’/’Yes’ campaign, including, most prominently, the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI), which receives over 96% of its staffing costs from the government annually. Over the past 10 years, the NWCI has received €7.4 million from either government or publicly-funded entities, including €3.4 million from the Department of Justice alone.
GARY KAVANAGH conducts a forensic examination of the finances of the NWCI and finds that 96% of its staff costs over the past 3 years have been paid for directly by grants from government departments and other publicly funded entities such as the HSE.https://t.co/JZqcRut56f
— gript (@griptmedia) February 8, 2024
Other heavily State-funded NGOs who campaigned for a ‘Yes’ result include LGBT Ireland, SpunOut, the Transgender Equality Network of Ireland (TENI), Outhouse, the Migrant Rights Centre, and many more.
https://twitter.com/NWCI/status/1765766781908471825
On the day of the results, Gript asked Equality Minister Roderic O’Gorman, whose Department funds many of these groups, if it was credible to say that groups like the NWCI were representative of society at large given their position in the referendum being so comprehensively defeated.
“We had two proposals put to the people yesterday, and the people have rejected those two specific proposals – that’s something that we respect,” he replied.
“I don’t think it’s indicative of any larger rejection of either these organisations, or indeed all the political parties who advocated for a ‘Yes’/’Yes’ vote.”
Minister Roderic O'Gorman says the public's rejection of #Referendum2024 was not a rejection of the political parties who advocated for a 'Yes'/'Yes' vote, or a rejection of State-funded campaigning NGOs like the National Women's Council.
Question by @Ben_Scallan. pic.twitter.com/DwXjsJ4bJj
— gript (@griptmedia) March 9, 2024
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Defund all the NGO’s. They are profoundly undemocratic.
We need to defund these unelected religious zealots as a matter of urgency to protect our democracy. And the citizens assembly with them. Worth noting the assembly is controlled by a bunch of social science academics who live in the same echo chamber as the NGOs. I’m sick to death of these people dictating government policy.
Out of curiosity.
Does anyone know how citizens assembly members are selected?
Does anyone know any members of any of the citizens assemblies that have been constituted?
I don’t !
You can almost they are hand picked from the NGO sector and will be biased on whatever they are reviewing
It is a pity the good politicians in the main parties (not a lot) don’t break away and run as independents. Get out from under the dictatorship
The NGO are a fifth column. They are basically a shadow Government and very few politicians have the courage to challenge them.
The NGOs don’t elect them. The sooner they realised that the better for all of us.
Clearly Simon Burke or his handlers reads Gript and is coming out with this soundbite in an attempt to resonate with the majority NO voters. Expect more of the same vacuous words from FF, FG and SF politicians going forward but never forget that they will be saying these things without meaning or conviction just to get our votes.
I disagree. What he says is definitely breaking protocol. We need to hear much more of this. He will be on the Woke blacklist now.
Burke is jumping on our bandwagon….the faaaaar right bandwagon don’t forget, (vradcur “a no vote is a backward step!!) We, the far right have been calling out these ngo parasites for years and we vilified. No Burke, you can’t join our faaaaaar right club now because we are winning.
NGO,s are described as none government organisations that function independently from any government. How can any NGO clam to function independently from a government when there being financed by that government.
The NGO’s represent a Utopian view of reality. They espouse what they aspire to rather than the practical normality of everyday Irish men and women.
If you want to call 1984 a utopia?
I was thinking more of St Thomas Moore’s book of the same title.
The NGOs view of Utopia is akin to comparing Belsen with Butlins. in each case it’s hell on earth.
It is wrong for the government to state that they lost because they did not get their message out. The NWCI, government ministers and feminists brazenly kept up their message to the end, despite being told it is a black lie to claim that the Constitution states a woman’s place is in the home. The NGOs are massively overfunded, single issue lobbyists. They must be defunded. The government message was everywhere and because of media bias, the NO voice was often absent. The money being spent on NGOs should be put into the badly neglected area of care instead. The care area needs a massive injection of money and not a change to the Constitution. Despite the result, Mary Lou McDonald says SF will re-run the referendums if the party gets into power, because she wants ‘sexist language’ removed. The radical feminists and the wokes never learn. That’s another 23 million down the drain that should be given to care. Shows how SF will recklessly waste money, if we give them the chance.
Sinn Fein are now saying they will not rerun the referendum. Another u-turn from the flip flop party. How can anyone support a party that changes their policies every time the wind changes direction.
As Gary Kavanagh and Michael Dwyer said so categorically on their latest Podcast… If the Government, and more directly related to this article, Minister Roderic O’Gorman, lied about something (this referenda) that they don’t care about.
How then are we, the hairy-back hoi polloi, supposed to believe them about anything.
I have of course paraphrased.
The last thing these people care about is the welfare of the Irish people. The problem is that the Irish people have ceded these politicians too much power by removing the articles from the constitution which protected their property, lives of their children and self govern ship of their offspring to the state in referendums ostensibly defined as choices.
The government should not give any money to NGOs but allow taxpayers to decide.
The NGOs should be able to make their case to the public and get individuals to contribute.
This may create a problem for 95% of them but make real charities far more attractive.
Surely the results of the vote will give the grassroots in Fine Fail & Fine Gael the justification & drive to oust the rot at the top . Varadkar , Martin , Mc Entee , Coveney & Donnelly MUST go. I’ve noticed that Coveney has been savvy & clever enough to keep a low profile over the last few months but the game is up for him too. O’Gorman needs to be prosecuted & locked up for deliberately lying to the people. The greens need to be ran out of town full stop along with the NGO’s. All NGO’s & media state funding must STOP.
If the grassroots do take back Fine Gael & fine Fáil , this still won’t be enough . We must see action. The country has no faith or trust in the government. We must enforce our existing laws & protect our borders & our people . Fast track asylum applications & quickly Physically carry out mass deportations.
Burn the hate speech laws & WHO treaty. Protect our children & don’t touch sex education at primary school level.
The NCCA are now lowering the age for sex education, because children are reaching puberty sooner. It does not matter to a child who believes in Santa, when puberty is reached. This is a big scam to intensify an existing programme of sexualising children and normalising the LGBTQ ideology. The feminists, the wokes and the NGOs are pushing this bullology. This is a secular programme that opposes Christian teaching, pushed by those with no religious conviction, who make up their own version of right and wrong. This indoctination is already there but now they want more of it. They and their programme should be fired out the door, never to be heard of again. It continues in libraries, where drag queens get their jollies from reading to children. Parents who try to remove sex ideology books from the children’s section, are called ‘far right’ who are spreading hate. Children are not sexualised. It is perversion to immerse them in this thrash. Let a child be a child.
Well said. The grass roots must be given a chance. In this toxic environment the worst elements rise to the top. There will be some decent skins at base, & they can make their presence felt if enough of them can unite.
NGOs at one point in time were run by decent principled individuals who did a huge amount of work for the causes they championed.
It’s fair to say that is still the case.
It’s pretty apparent that money and access to the ear of government officials has attracted ideologues who are controlling the direction these NGOs take and in turn that can benefit both the ideologues aims and the government’s.
A faustian pact.
More to the point.
How much money do NGOS get from the public?
Organisations like Soros open society.
And ultimately how much of the monies received goes to the peoples supposedly in receipt of that NGOS funds.?
Are there any audits of the 5 billion odd in funds?
An enormous amount from the public purse.
What exactly is the staffing levels for these groups.
What do they do.?
Five billion is an enormous amount.
And the economic party is going to come to a shuddering halt pretty soon.
Lots of these NGOs were set up by seed capital from Atlantic philanthropy. An American lefty organisation set up by Irish American Chick Feeney. They got the Irish lefty ding bats going with seed money. The government immediately took over their funding. They have very few if any fee paying members. The whole thing is one almighty scam. Corrupt as hell.
Thank you for adding to the point’s I was making.
Appreciate the information you added.
“It’s fair to say that is still the case.”
Your case, that NGO’s are currently run by decent principled altruistic individuals, should be examined on a case by case basis, audited to determine what civic value they bring, evidence is required at this point not blanket statements.
The NWCI who led the yes campaign, state on their webpage that they represent women. They do not. They represent radical feminists only, which is a minority, often extremist view, that often defies rational opinion but is amplified by the media. The media, because of their bias, give an uncritical yes to their views, as if they were the only views. Many in the media are radical feminists and wokes themselves, and it has become an insider’s circle, with a complete lack of impartiality, promoting their propaganda. Those with opposing views are treated as the enemy. Opposing views are labelled by them as the ‘far right’. With other views suppressed, the radical feminists and wokes of the NGOs have become a domineering mafia. One often wondered if there was a NO voice at all during the campaign. Given that their position was massively defeated in the referendum, the NWCI and other NGOs should be defunded. The NGOs have destroyed public debate in Ireland. They are single issue lobbyists who are often the only voice heard. They are an advertisement for themselves only, but pose as the one and only truth. They are given massive government funding and publicity for their cause, in order to promote that cause. We do not want the NWCI. They do not represent women and they must go. Defund them now. The NGOs and the media have become a one-trick operation, to fool the people of Ireland.
Also consider the fact that not even all of them are biological women,men in skirts making decisions for natural born women,when will the lunacy stop
Fully justified requirement given the billions involved!
Philanthropy has been made a dirty word by Gates and Soros etc. They usually use it to make far more money than they donate!
Philanthropy with ideological strings attached that must be obeyed!
Great post.
The whole concept of unelected bodies, been driven by the money of the government just doesn’t work in any democratic state! Basta! The opposite case, when a government is paid by the NGO, leads to a corporate fascism. One can say the original reason for the NGO involvement is always only a temporary case, but how many NGOs then die? The just find another reason for their existence. This neal´rly always leads to corruption!
There was me thinking Refugees and soul searching irish people funded the Irish Refugee Council. All along it was anti illegal immigrant me,go figure
Another guy thinking of moving on?
The corrosive effects of an inscrutable ideology born from a debased mind are profound and far-reaching, with the potential of permeating every aspect of society if not cut off at the root.
When an individual with a distorted worldview, rises to a position of national leadership, and formulates an ideology, it often lacks rationality, empathy, and coherence. Such ideologies can lead to division, violence, and the erosion of fundamental human values.
One of the primary consequences of such ideologies is the polarization of society. Instead of fostering understanding and cooperation, inscrutable ideologies exacerbate differences and breed hostility between individuals and groups. This polarization can manifest in various forms, from political extremism to social fragmentation, hindering progress and destabilizing communities.
Moreover, inscrutable ideologies often serve as justifications for oppressive and discriminatory practices.
The monstrous intentional hijacking of the Irish Legal system by individuals who adhere to these ideologies may view those who do not share their beliefs as inferior or even subhuman. This mindset will lead to discrimination, persecution, and violence against groups who do not readily embrace their debased ideologies, further exacerbating societal tensions, encouraging division, hostility, and injustices.
Additionally, inscrutable ideologies can impede critical thinking and rational discourse. When individuals blindly follow a debased ideology, they become closed off to alternative perspectives and resistant to evidence that contradicts their beliefs. This intellectual stagnation stifles innovation, creativity, and progress, hindering society’s ability to address complex challenges and adapt to changing circumstances. The sacrifice of truth, logic and reason are justified for the achievement of the new “common good”, defined by the enlightened few who hold the reins of power.
Furthermore, the corrosive effects of such ideologies extend beyond immediate social and political ramifications. They can also undermine trust in institutions, erode the rule of law, and weaken the foundations of democracy. When individuals prioritize loyalty to an inscrutable ideology over ethical principles and democratic norms, they contribute to the erosion of democratic values and institutions.
In conclusion, the corrosive effects of an inscrutable ideology born from a debased mind are manifold and destructive. They fuel polarization, oppression, and intellectual stagnation, undermining social cohesion, human rights, and democratic principles. Addressing these corrosive effects requires a concerted effort to promote critical thinking, empathy, through respect for truth, morality, integrity, reason, and logic, while challenging and dismantling harmful ideologies.
Be alert and aware that this loathsome government will seek to punish the Irish Nation who stood up for what is right to protect our constitution in the face of tyranny.
Be very aware of the greeks when they come bearing gifts, better to burn the DEI Trojan horse outside the city gates before it is too late.
Minister mcgrath, stop funding ngo”s with my extremely hard earned taxes.
“It’s a strong blow to the body politic”, Burke…….REALLY?? It is victory for the people, our democracy, OUR Bun. na hEireann, and good for the body politic as it gave Burke and his fellow cronies (rtpeee, Wimmin’s Council, sham fein etc) a bloody nose !!
When do we see the minutes from the meetings ? What was being hidden from us?
Editorial: Fool around with Constitution at your peril, voters have said (msn.com)
My God, the Irish Independent agrees with us.
But you can be sure of one thing, the woke Irish Times never will.
People like Fintan o’Toole should maybe get a real job, these poseurs have been milking & patronising us for years. To go further, the arrogance of opinion-piece journalists in general is an astonishing thing. So many intelligent people here for example, whose views can never reach beyond their nearest & dearest, & yet there are these establishment journalists (in every society it seems) who get to tell everyone how many Weetabix they have had this morning, each week posting to millions, shamelessly.
“To go further, the arrogance of opinion-piece journalists in general is an astonishing thing.”
Excellent observation.
Then you are dealing with a very small ideological pond where dissenting opinions get you canceled.
That famous Upton Sinclare quote sums their situation up.
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it”
25 billion of Irish tax payers funds in 4 years to this sector, to promote the liberal woke agenda of a globalist captured political class hell bent on destroying the social and cultural fabric of Ireland. Thousands of Irish people homeless and being denied health care because of lack of funding and a functional public service yet billions to a sector that is a stain on Irish society ………….its time for real change.
“I think we need to look and see, in terms of how much some NGOs are reflective of the communities that we live in, because there had been very strong support in some quarters,” he said.
Wiki might say; demographic citation required.
A community of drag queens whose only intent is to read to children in libraries? You think they should have representation? According to your argument, yes – any cult, should have its representation because it has support in the community, madly supported by NGOs. You are not taking into account that they may originate from a twisted ideology. Allowing them this public performance is exactly what they crave, it’s fertiliser that makes them grow. This is exactly what is happening.
Hitler was elected.
Relating to the interview with this his Roderick person – he won’t even answer the question. I mean WTF – are we spposed to be mentally retarded? Well done Ben.
If he needs to ask that, then he is out of touch with society. The answer is clearly yes.
It would be funny if it wasn’t so serious. The NWCI trying to pretend that they care about men and two pro-feminist men’s groups listed on their poster.
Looking at that NWCI poster, it’s great to see so many useless, self serving NGOS being rejected by the people.