Eddie Hobbs’ “resignation” from the NCA
Cards on the table first of all, I’m not a fan of the National Consumer Agency, and I’ve long ceased to be a fan of the work of Eddie Hobbs.
But since you’ve asked, I think the resignation of Eddie Hobbs from the NCA, as covered in the Irish Independent (in 3 stories no less) and on Morning Ireland and Newstalk this morning, is nothing more than a publicity stunt for Mr. Hobbs.
He’s pretty much said that there’s nothing to this resignation when it comes down to it. Mr. Hobbs gave his reasons for resigning as his unhappiness with the performance of the Minister in charge of the NCA, Mary Coughlan, and the refusal of Celia Larkin to resign because of the shame she was bringing upon the NCA as a result of her involvement with the Mahon Tribunal.
Yet on Morning Ireland this morning he said that if asked by the Minister, in whom he has no confidence, to return to the board, he would, and he wouldn’t make the removal of Ms. Larkin a condition of his return either.
That’d make for some interesting board meetings – Mr. Hobbs on one side seething that Ms. Larkin still on the board and also seething that the chairman has publically backed Ms. Larkin. And all the other board members seething at Mr. Hobbs for upsetting the apple cart.
And to crown it all off, a couple of people have to retire from the board anyway and put themselves up for reappointment. So effectively this is a non-event being hyped up by Mr. Hobbs.
To me, what we’re seeing is Mr. Hobbs taking advantage of the situation to drum up a bit of self-serving publicity for someone who has a book out at the moment and who’s magazine sales have been dropping consistently and who, in my opinion, since the debacle of Cape Verde and Brendan Investments is trying to cross back over the line to becoming a consumer advocate again rather than the “game keeper turned poacher” I referred to before.
8 Comments
Sounds like you’re the best, self-described as the only true consumer guy, dismissing NCA etc. As a frustrated ******************* it sounds awfully like a combination of jealousy and sour grapes. Accolades aren’t given to oneself they’re earned and given by the public. You’ve achieved nothing other than make yourself sound puffed up and bitter
@Anonymous – I’m very proud of my achievements through ValueIreland.com and, you’ll notice, I do put my name to everything that I say.
Have to say I find the reason for Eddie’s resignation a bit weak. Ms Larkin should never have been there in the first place – appointed to keep her sweet as she has a lot dirt on Bertie and co.
Why didn’t Eddie refuse to serve at the beginning, especially when the CAI of which he had been a director for years, did not get a nomination? Not sure whether he was still a director when NCA set up but surely he should have demanded CAI representation.
Now there is a vacancy on NCA but given the Irish Times story last year of you Value Ireland and colleagues resigning from CAI over representation fees kept personally and other issues,
I wouldn’t want a CAI person there – would be the same as celia – only there for the fees and expenses, not the consumer.
best to leave the place unfilled and save us taxpayers the money.
Interesting points. Someone on FearRua questions why it took him so long to resign if he had issues with Celia Larkin. It’s been weeks since the Irish Nationwide story broke and even longer since Celia was in the Tribunal.
http://www.anfearrua.com/db.asp?a=topicdisplay&tid=631163
why do they keep referring to eddie hobbs as an economist in the papers?
i didn’t think he was. then again, if he is, maybe he’s quitting to take george “celebrity candidate” lees job in RTE?
I see that Terry Prone isn’t too sure of Eddies reasons for resigning either.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article6257118.ece
Maybe some bit of big news is about to come out and that’s why hes quitting now?
Just seen big advert in Sunday business Post about big conference on pensions he is chairing headed by picture of Eddie..could this be the reason for the resignation – to raise his profile to get the bums on seats?
Funny how despite his attempt to perfectly time the Sunday papers news cycle with his announcement, nothing at all made it to any of the papers over the weekend.
PR fail from Eddie Hobbs there.
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