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E-voting machines sold for €70,000

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Comments

  • #2
    galwayrush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,815 ✭✭✭✭galwayrush


    Guess we 'took a hit on them '


  • #3
    mikemac1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,395 ✭✭✭✭mikemac1


    Shame to recycle them

    Put them in Irish pubs around the world, a real symbol of a certain time


  • #4
    christmas2012
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,827 ✭✭✭christmas2012


    the people who came up with the idea should have to foot the bill to the taxpayers - anyway good riddance to bad rubbish,its a pity it didnt work out as e voting could have been something if it was implemented properly..


  • #5
    admiralofthefleet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15,515 ✭✭✭✭admiralofthefleet


    mikemac1 wrote: »
    Shame to recycle them

    Put them in Irish pubs around the world, a real symbol of a certain time

    yeah turn them into fruitys


  • #6
    BEASTERLY
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,789 ✭✭✭BEASTERLY


    Shame considering nothing was wrong with them. The teachers and county council workers who kicked up about not getting their easy money for counting votes are to blame! Never mind the €55m lost on the machines, how much money has been payed in wages for vote counters since the scheme was scrapped?


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  • #7
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,972 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    There will be a bunch of warehouse owners crying into their beer tonight


  • #8
    GetWithIt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,081 ✭✭✭GetWithIt


    mike65 wrote: »
    There will be a bunch of warehouse owners crying into their beer tonight
    Unlikely. Many were on 25 year contracts which would still have to be honored. They've just got their man sheds back and will still be paid. Result.

    Also, the machines had fundamental flaws. Good riddance.


  • #9
    telekon
    Registered Users Posts: 4,425 ✭✭✭telekon


    Fianna Fail's greatest success sadly comes to an end...:(


  • #10
    admiralofthefleet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15,515 ✭✭✭✭admiralofthefleet


    telekon wrote: »
    Fianna Fail's greatest success sadly comes to an end...:(

    id say martin cullen choked on his swan tonight


  • #11
    shopaholic01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,916 ✭✭✭shopaholic01


    galwayrush wrote: »
    Guess we 'took a hit on them '

    More of a 'soft landing' surely?


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  • #12
    gerryo777
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,216 ✭✭✭gerryo777


    admiralofthefleet wrote: »
    id say martin cullen choked on his swan tonight

    I'd say martin cullen couldn't give a flying ****.
    He lives in Florida now, spends his days playing golf and guess who's paying......:mad:


  • #13
    downwithpeace
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,259 ✭✭✭downwithpeace


    Great deal for a dictator, everyone can trust electronic voting.


  • #14
    byhookorbycrook
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 12,505 Mod ✭✭✭✭byhookorbycrook


    BEASTERLY wrote: »
    Shame considering nothing was wrong with them. The teachers and county council workers who kicked up about not getting their easy money for counting votes are to blame! Never mind the €55m lost on the machines, how much money has been payed in wages for vote counters since the scheme was scrapped?
    In early with the groundless public sector bashing, I see. But please, don't let facts get in the way.


  • #15
    senorwipesalot
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,458 ✭✭✭senorwipesalot


    downwithpeace wrote: »
    Great deal for a dictator, everyone can trust electronic voting.
    Good idea,surely they can find a buyer in Eastern Europe or the Middle East.


  • #16
    gerryo777
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,216 ✭✭✭gerryo777


    byhookorbycrook wrote: »
    In early with the groundless public sector bashing, I see. But please, don't let facts get in the way.

    It's all about the PS, isn't it.
    Persecuted ya's are, persecuted!


  • #17
    BEASTERLY
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,789 ✭✭✭BEASTERLY


    byhookorbycrook wrote: »
    In early with the groundless public sector bashing, I see. But please, don't let facts get in the way.

    What part of the public sector are you in? Do you feel guilty getting €700 of taxpayers money for one weekend of counting votes?


  • #18
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,972 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    Cullen of course was merely carrying on the policy of......Noel Dempsey whatever he is doing these days.


  • #19
    the groutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,096 ✭✭✭✭the groutch


    admiralofthefleet wrote: »
    yeah turn them into fruitys

    yeah, Dr Quirkey would have paid at least double what they got


  • #20
    CarrickMcJoe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,379 ✭✭✭CarrickMcJoe


    So thats it, €55 million worth of machines sold for 70k all at the stroke of a peann luaidhe.


  • #21
    gerryo777
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,216 ✭✭✭gerryo777


    CarrickMcJoe wrote: »
    So thats it, €55 million worth of machines sold for 70k all at the stroke of a peann luaidhe.

    Eh, I think we're paying €70k to have them scrapped.....


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  • #22
    byhookorbycrook
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 12,505 Mod ✭✭✭✭byhookorbycrook


    BEASTERLY wrote: »
    What part of the public sector are you in? Do you feel guilty getting €700 of taxpayers money for one weekend of counting votes?
    I don't count votes, perhaps you could apply to do so?
    How do you make out the it was the vote counters that objected to the scrappage of the discredited machines-as I said, don't let facts get in your blinkered way.



    "The government agreed to buy the machines for €50 million nine years ago after they were piloted in a number of constituencies in the 2002 general election and in the Nice referendum.

    Since then the bill to taxpayers for the machines has risen to €54.7 million in purchase and storage costs.

    Plans to use them nationally in the 2004 European and local elections were abandoned amid controversy over the system’s transparency and whether it was open to manipulation."

    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1229/1224309592118.html

    No mention of public secector employees. Back your statement up.


  • #23
    donalg1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,513 ✭✭✭donalg1


    BEASTERLY wrote: »
    byhookorbycrook wrote: »
    In early with the groundless public sector bashing, I see. But please, don't let facts get in the way.

    What part of the public sector are you in? Do you feel guilty getting €700 of taxpayers money for one weekend of counting votes?

    Why didnt you do the count? Last I heard people on social welfare are given preference over the employed when applying for counts...


  • #24
    bop1977
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,065 ✭✭✭bop1977


    Thankfully we got 70k for these. Big phil hogan ( w**ker) expected to have to pay somebody to recycle them. So it's really a cost saving everyone.


  • #25
    squod
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    bop1977 wrote: »
    Thankfully we got 70k for these. Big phil hogan ( w**ker) expected to have to pay somebody to recycle them. So it's really a cost saving everyone.

    He could have cut the plugs and leads off them and got nearly the same for the scrap copper AFAIK. That lads an epic fruit loop.


  • #26
    donegal_road
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,281 ✭✭✭donegal_road


    mike65 wrote: »
    There will be a bunch of warehouse owners crying into their beer tonight

    in Mallorca


  • #27
    RUCKING FETARD
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,455 ✭✭✭RUCKING FETARD


    mike65 wrote: »
    There will be a bunch of warehouse owners crying into their beer tonight
    http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/2011/06/15/00282.asp


  • #28
    retroactive
    Registered Users Posts: 292 ✭✭retroactive


    never forget how a Fianna Fail led government lead us from a Celtic Tiger economy into a property bubble founded on corruption and eventually brought this nation to its knees. Its an affront to sensibility and justice that these people have pensions and are not rotting in prison. . . €55 Million.. I hope Martin Cullen gets struck by lightning while on his precious Florida golf course.


  • #29
    Borderfox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,263 ✭✭✭✭Borderfox


    I would be happy enough to help the lightning on its way by acosting him with a 5 iron first. Hate to think he would only be injured. :-)
    retroactive wrote: »
    never forget how a Fianna Fail led government lead us from a Celtic Tiger economy into a property bubble founded on corruption and eventually brought this nation to its knees. Its an affront to sensibility and justice that these people have pensions and are not rotting in prison. . . €55 Million.. I hope Martin Cullen gets struck by lightning while on his precious Florida golf course.


  • #30
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 92,532 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    BEASTERLY wrote: »
    Shame considering nothing was wrong with them.
    Oh boy.

    anyone with physical access can reprogram them
    anyone with a scanner and computer can probably detect remotely which way a vote was cast


    when you remember that the government of the day can set the ground rules for tribunals into corruption the temptation to nudge key marginals may be too much


    "They have now been put up for sale and tender over the last few months and we have reached agreement with a company called KMK Metals Recycling Ltd Co. Offaly, for the purchase of those machines for recycling and reuse to the value of €70,000".
    reuse, so maybe they will be appearing in a dictatorship Arab spring country near you soon


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  • #31
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 92,532 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    GetWithIt wrote: »
    Unlikely. Many were on 25 year contracts which would still have to be honored.
    Please tell me you are joking :eek:


  • #32
    ArtSmart
    Registered Users Posts: 5,614 ✭✭✭ArtSmart


    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »
    Oh boy.

    anyone with physical access can reprogram them
    anyone with a scanner and computer can probably detect remotely which way a vote was cast


    when you remember that the government of the day can set the ground rules for tribunals into corruption the temptation to nudge key marginals may be too much



    reuse, so maybe they will be appearing in a dictatorship Arab spring country near you soon
    What was scary was how close it came to being a reality. Ah Bertie and those damned stupid old fashioned pencils


  • #33
    nice_very
    Registered Users Posts: 1,723 ✭✭✭nice_very


    could they not have been reprogrammed (many years ago) to, lets say, be tourist information points in our towns and cities, a fas related job network ( with the existing fas machines)

    70 grand from a 50+million expense, and "big" phil on the news smiling like it was a great coup..

    the company that are "paying for their removal and recycling" are paying less than 1000E for each machine, how much will they make on the scrap metal/gold etc? they even said they are going to keep a few back for nostalgic purposes.

    1 of them should be placed in the middle of the floor in the dail for any house votes, to be a reminder of the WASTE of money in this country.

    while Im ranting: another waste of money is that we will have another referendum in the autumn, and possibly another euro referendum not long after, then local elections, and (hopefully) a general election before not too long.... are they TRYING to throw away money we dont have?


  • #34
    Jesus Wept
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,243 ✭✭✭✭Jesus Wept


    nice_very wrote: »
    could they not have been reprogrammed (many years ago) to, lets say, be tourist information points in our towns and cities, a fas related job network ( with the existing fas machines)

    70 grand from a 50+million expense, and "big" phil on the news smiling like it was a great coup..

    It'd cost €55m to have them reprogramed. Then they wouldn't work. And if they did, they'd be ****.
    :pac:


  • #35
    nice_very
    Registered Users Posts: 1,723 ✭✭✭nice_very


    Andy Carroll wrote: »
    It'd cost €55m to have them reprogramed. Then they wouldn't work. And if they did, they'd be ****.
    :pac:

    ffs u joking? twice the cost??? better off making a dam around Corcaigh with them :D


  • #36
    Jesus Wept
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,243 ✭✭✭✭Jesus Wept


    Jesus, they were 100 quid a piece. I'd have bought one for €150 for the laff.


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  • #37
    Jesus Wept
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,243 ✭✭✭✭Jesus Wept


    Jesus, they actually went for €9.30 each, I had a decimal point wrong.
    wrote:
    THE Government has sold the infamous €54m e-voting machines for scrap -- for €9.30 each.

    A huge fleet of trucks will begin removing the 7,500 machines from 14 locations on Monday.

    They will be taken to a Co Offaly recycling company, KMK Metals Recycling Ltd in Tullamore, where they will be stripped down and shredded.

    Ironically, the owner of the firm, Kurt Kyck, cast his vote on one of the machines in the 2002 elections. He has now paid €70,000 for the lot.

    Scrapping the machines brings to an end the embarrassing e-voting debacle which has cost the taxpayer more than €54m since it emerged the expensive equipment was faulty.

    They could not be guaranteed to be safe from tampering. And they could not produce a printout so that votes/results could be double-checked.

    But last night the man who first proposed using them washed his hands of the affair.

    Former Fianna Fail minister Noel Dempsey suggested e-voting in 1999 but the machines were purchased by Martin Cullen three years later.

    - Paul Melia and Luke Byrne

    Who is paying for the 14 trucks...


  • #38
    Captain Darling
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,542 ✭✭✭Captain Darling


    mike65 wrote: »
    There will be a bunch of warehouse owners crying into their beer krystal tonight

    FYP. :D


  • #39
    SEPT 23 1989
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 43,028 ✭✭✭✭SEPT 23 1989


    Is it beyond the capabilities of the public service to arrange for those machines to be transported to a scrap dealers themselves and take whatever they get for them which i am sure will be more than 70,000


  • #40
    Sam Kade
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,313 ✭✭✭✭Sam Kade


    Phil Hogan said on the news that they were a waste of taxpayers money. 10 out of 10 Phil for stating the obvious :rolleyes:


  • #41
    seamus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »
    Is it beyond the capabilities of the public service to arrange for those machines to be transported to a scrap dealers themselves and take whatever they get for them which i am sure will be more than 70,000
    Probably. Nobody in the public sector would be "qualified" to transport the machines. Not in their job description.

    There is a bit of work in scrapping the machines to be fair. The computer unit on each one has to be removed and stripped down and properly destroyed and recycled. There's no way that an intact unit could be sent onto a pub or onto another country or whatever, since a small number of the machines had been used for actual ballots. So you can't risk that information being released into the public domain.

    Once that's done though, the rest is fairly easy. The owner of the company was on the radio this morning saying he'd already been contacted by a few people looking to get their hands on one. They'd only be given a unit without the computer inside it, but I imagine he'd still be able to sell the empty shells for €50 a pop.


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  • #42
    gerryo777
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,216 ✭✭✭gerryo777


    Sam Kade wrote: »
    Phil Hogan said on the news that they were a waste of taxpayers money. 10 out of 10 Phil for stating the obvious :rolleyes:

    He'd know all about that, isn't he just back from a junket to Rio after staying in an €850 per night hotel room.....


  • #43
    Macca07
    Registered Users Posts: 1,223 ✭✭✭Macca07


    Kurt Kyck was on Today FM this morning talking about them.

    He said the majority would be scrapped, but there was a small amount being sold to other people, I'm guessing ones who wanted them as ornaments.

    It's a pity no one told the government what a stupid idea it was to introduce e-voting!


  • #44
    Lister1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 726 ✭✭✭Lister1


    gerryo777 wrote: »
    Eh, I think we're paying €70k to have them scrapped.....

    Was also my take on it when I read the story on the RTE website. That it was costing us 70k to have them recycled rather then us receiving 70k.


  • #45
    the purple tin
    Registered Users Posts: 10,943 ✭✭✭✭the purple tin


    gerryo777 wrote: »
    He'd know all about that, isn't he just back from a junket to Rio after staying in an €850 per night hotel room.....
    I bet the food/bar bill for Hulk and his gang ran into thousands for that trip.


  • #46
    GetWithIt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,081 ✭✭✭GetWithIt


    GetWithIt wrote: »
    Many were on 25 year contracts which would still have to be honored.
    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »
    Please tell me you are joking :eek:
    http://www.independent.ie/national-news/were-stuck-with-25year-evoting-storage-deal-2150896.html
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055659361

    Unfortunately this 70K, whilst buttons in the greater scheme of things, is the best that could be achieved. Anyone who thinks they could have made more should have placed a bid.

    Sometimes you got to cut your losses and move on.


  • #47
    Jester252
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,533 ✭✭✭Jester252


    And that is why we're broke. It buy low sell high not the other way around


  • #48
    DoesNotCompute
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,375 ✭✭✭DoesNotCompute


    senorwipesalot wrote: »
    Good idea,surely they can find a buyer in Eastern Europe or the Middle East.

    I hear Mugabe's in the market for some e-voting machines...


  • #49
    Dr.Strange
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 181 ✭✭Dr.Strange


    That Martin Cullen character had to be one of the biggest clowns ever.

    Him and Noel Dempsey.


  • #50
    FizzleSticks
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,172 ✭✭✭FizzleSticks


    This post has been deleted.


  • #51
    Squiggle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,256 ✭✭✭Squiggle


    Don't rub salt in our wounds by having that sneering bollíx Phil Hogan trying to justify/explain things. Smug príck :mad:


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