Hilary Quinlan

KevIRL · 30-09-2014 10:11am #1

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2014/09/30/right-hand-man/

Oh dear, some lovely quotes there from Hilary.

longshanks · 30-09-2014 12:43pm

Jobs for the boys, yet again. The attitude of entitlement stinks.

Deise67 · 30-09-2014 1:36pm

unfortunately for the voter it doesn't seem you make any difference who you vote for ! its just jobs for the boys mentality again !

hardybuck · 30-09-2014 1:39pm

Deise67 wrote: »

unfortunately for the voter it doesn't seem you make any difference who you vote for ! its just jobs for the boys mentality again !

It's not confined to politics, it's how business is done in many walks of life in Ireland.

wellboytoo · 30-09-2014 1:47pm

If you heard of a job going where you worked and had a kid at home not working, would you try get him the job?
It's how we all work get over it.
Also from Paudie Coffey's point of view I would rather a known and trusted person listening to my phone conversations in the back of the car than a stranger who could have any political or otherwise agenda!

hardybuck · 30-09-2014 2:02pm

I also note that Labour appointed three members to the board of UCD in recent years, and a Labour counciller has recently been appointed to the board of the Irish Aviation Authority.

Sinn Fein have nominated a number of members to the boards of All Ireland Implementation bodies under the Good Friday Agreement. Their recent MEP Lynn Boylan was on the board of Safefood despite apparently having no qualifications or background relevant to food safety issues.

I suppose you will always have a certain amount of crossover as people who are interested in politics and public life will always be drawn to both the parties and these board positions.

In relation to is given the drivers job - normally I thought they were ex-Gardai. I don't know how the process works, but I assume you can give the job to anyone you want in the same way that you would appoint constituency staff.

seanaway · 30-09-2014 2:52pm

It's time ALL jobs paid out of taxpayers' money were recruited for by independent recruiters. I'm SICK to death of this 'jobs for the boys' mentality.

Supervisory roles for TUS schemes, CE Schemes etc... ALL need to be outsourced so that the best person for the job gets it.

Wonder why Hilary Quinlan couldn't have been an internship driver? After all, it supposed to be a great experience!

DeiseforLiam · 30-09-2014 2:59pm

I've no huge problem with him getting the driving gig but he should have stepped down from the board of IW (should have done this when he lost his seat really).

KevIRL · 30-09-2014 4:35pm

He has now stepped down from IW

seanaway · 30-09-2014 5:03pm

KevIRL wrote: »

He has now stepped down from IW

Great to hear.

Wonder if that job will be posted on fas.ie.

MRnotlob606 · 30-09-2014 5:07pm

Ireland can be so un-meritocratic sometimes compared to other western countries.

hardybuck · 30-09-2014 5:23pm

All such future posts will be publicly advertised on www.stateboards.ie

seanaway · 30-09-2014 5:52pm

hardybuck wrote: »

All such future posts will be publicly advertised on www.stateboards.ie

Advertsing is one thing.

Selection is the problem.

taytobreath · 30-09-2014 6:49pm

jesus h christ whats the problem with driving himself

its engrained in politics this culture of cronyism, it stinks to high heaven

7upfree · 30-09-2014 7:30pm

wellboytoo wrote: »

If you heard of a job going where you worked and had a kid at home not working, would you try get him the job?
It's how we all work get over it.
Also from Paudie Coffey's point of view I would rather a known and trusted person listening to my phone conversations in the back of the car than a stranger who could have any political or otherwise agenda!

No excuse for it. Ever. Doesn't matter who it is or who's in power. Utter disgrace really.

Sully · 30-09-2014 9:31pm

What's normal in the private sector isn't accepted in the public sector. Promotion from within in the HSE sparked outrage. Lots of private companies promote from within in the majority of cases. A post comes up and a colleague or senior staff member puts forward a candidate for the roll. You own a business and a friend of yours is in need of a job, so you give him a post. But not in the public sector.

The issue here mainly stems from who he hired, rather than hiring a driver in the first place. For a Minister within the Department of Environment to hire someone from within a role that is under the remit of his department is a conflict of interest and was inappropriate and poorly thought out. Ill-judged.

Hilary Quinlan wasn't flavour of the month in Waterford purely because of his roll in Irish Water to begin with. The media storm is focusing on this, not because he has a driver which isn't an issue. I also don't have any problem with a Minister hiring a close friend for such a position - of course he is going to want someone he knows and trusts with him while on official department business and discussing sensitive matters on the phone or having sensitive state documents in his company instead of a random individual who he doesn't know.

Anyway, Quinlan has resigned from Irish Water so will be purely the driver for Paudie now.

Deise67 · 30-09-2014 10:11pm

difference between private & public is the taxpayer doesn't pay your wages in the private sector , therefore standards should be higher and more transparent ! FG could could teach FF a thing or two about cronyism and lack of ethics !

Brick Session · 30-09-2014 11:23pm

I also don't have any problem with a Minister hiring a close friend for such a position - of course he is going to want someone he knows and trusts with him while on official department business and discussing sensitive matters on the phone or having sensitive state documents in his company instead of a random individual who he doesn't know.

Anyway, Quinlan has resigned from Irish Water so will be purely the driver for Paudie now.[/quote]

Sully would you have said the same if the shoe was on the FF foot?

DeiseforLiam · 01-10-2014 12:12am

"Anyway, Quinlan has resigned from Irish Water so will be purely the driver for Paudie now."

That's grand so. Nothing to see here.

Deise67 · 01-10-2014 6:58am

ah its refreshing nothing like a bit of impartiality !

Sully · 01-10-2014 7:35am

Deise67 wrote: »

difference between private & public is the taxpayer doesn't pay your wages in the private sector , therefore standards should be higher and more transparent ! FG could could teach FF a thing or two about cronyism and lack of ethics !

Well you see it's that very attitude that turns so many people off politics and it's why you don't see the call for change taken up by people. Nor do serious business people generally get into politics. The private sector is often a good example how to run an organisation.

Brick Session wrote: »

Sully would you have said the same if the shoe was on the FF foot?

Yeah, there has been lots of bits and bobs that opposition parties have either done in opposition or in government that caused fury but I didn't see much of an issue with it.

Matters like state boards and some internal positions should go out to the public and we shouldn't see the continuation of appointing friends and colleagues to state boards without them going through an application process like everyone else and proving they have the ability, expertise and knowledge to do what there being appointed at.

Deise67 wrote: »

ah its refreshing nothing like a bit of impartiality !

Picking and choosing what suits to throw out the impartiality line doesn't give your point any justice!

dzilla · 01-10-2014 8:41am

in fairness Paudie would need a driver down from Dublin after all the feeding and watering he gets up in the dail bar

Hoffmans · 01-10-2014 11:20am

Surely he needs a psv or spsv licence to operate in this job???

Hoffmans · 01-10-2014 11:27am

Teebor15 · 01-10-2014 12:10pm

"Ah Sully, Sully, Sully..*shakes head*..what are we going to do with you at all"

hardybuck · 01-10-2014 1:00pm

I would like to see a full list of all the individuals who sit on the various state boards, and their political background, if any.

All of the main political parties will have involvement in this, obviously those who are in Government have far more capacity to do so.

Regarding staff who are chosen as constituency staff, civilian drivers etc., I've no real interest in that at all. Most politicans rely on their friends and family to work the unsociable hours that are involved in such roles.

Regarding why Ministers have drivers, traditionally they were provided with Ministerial cars (normally Mercedes) and a Garda driver. Moreover, all ex-Taoiseagh used to have access to a Garda driver and car 24/7 for the rest of their lives. This was partly for security reasons - particularly when the IRA were on the rampage.

The current Government did away with the above for everyone except the Taoiseach, Tanaiste, Minister for Justice and the President, again largely for security reasons. While a Minister can hire a driver, he/she must use their own car. This has saved the taxpayer approx. €2 million per annum.

Benimar · 01-10-2014 1:08pm

So, a Director of Irish Water, which comes under the remit of the Department of the Environment, was acting as a chauffeur for the Junior Minister in that Department...and people try to somehow 'justify' it???

The only thing I can't understand is how Paudie Coffey hasn't resigned, given that he hired said ex-Director!

It is really worrying that neither Coffey nor Quinlan realised that such a blatant conflict of interest existed, or if they did, they just ignored it.

jmcc · 01-10-2014 1:15pm

hardybuck wrote: »

Regarding why Ministers have drivers, traditionally they were provided with Ministerial cars (normally Mercedes) and a Garda driver. Moreover, all ex-Taoiseagh used to have access to a Garda driver and car 24/7 for the rest of their lives. This was partly for security reasons - particularly when the IRA were on the rampage.

Is this another random FGer thinking that their representatives were members of the British government?

The real reason why ministers had drivers was because more than a few of them were borderline (and in some cases not so borderline) alcoholics. Others, the gombeen class, thought it made them look important.

Regards...jmcc

Cabaal · 01-10-2014 1:19pm

jmcc wrote: »

Is this another random FGer thinking that their representatives were members of the British government? The real reason why ministers had drivers was because more than a few of them were borderline (and in some cases not so borderline) alcoholics. Others, the gombeen class, thought it made them look important.

Regards...jmcc

Even if they aren't borderline, they can't make use of the work bar if they have to drive themselves.

How a workplace is allowed to have a bar in it is beyond me, it should be shut down

jmcc · 01-10-2014 1:22pm

Sully wrote: »

Well you see it's that very attitude that turns so many people off politics and it's why you don't see the call for change taken up by people. Nor do serious business people generally get into politics.

Well it is so much cheaper to buy a corrupt politician.

Matters like state boards and some internal positions should go out to the public and we shouldn't see the continuation of appointing friends and colleagues to state boards without them going through an application process like everyone else and proving they have the ability, expertise and knowledge to do what there being appointed at.

Seems that there's a story developing that Kenny appointed some FG hack from Castlebar to the board of Solas and said hack was a signatory on Kenny's nomination papers. Gombeens the lot of them! This is a damned good argument for term limits.

If Coffey can't see what he has done wrong, then he should not occupy the office.

Regards...jmcc

hardybuck · 01-10-2014 1:52pm

jmcc wrote: »

Is this another random FGer thinking that their representatives were members of the British government? The real reason why ministers had drivers was because more than a few of them were borderline (and in some cases not so borderline) alcoholics. Others, the gombeen class, thought it made them look important.

Regards...jmcc

I don't get your comment about the British? The positions which have retained the Garda driver have largely done so for security purposes.

7upfree · 01-10-2014 1:55pm

Sully wrote: »

Picking and choosing what suits to throw out the impartiality line doesn't give your point any justice!

:D:D:D:D

hardybuck · 01-10-2014 1:56pm

Benimar wrote: »

So, a Director of Irish Water, which comes under the remit of the Department of the Environment, was acting as a chauffeur for the Junior Minister in that Department...and people try to somehow 'justify' it???

The only thing I can't understand is how Paudie Coffey hasn't resigned, given that he hired said ex-Director!

It is really worrying that neither Coffey nor Quinlan realised that such a blatant conflict of interest existed, or if they did, they just ignored it.

Quinlan should have resigned as a director when he lost his position as a counciller, as he was recommended for this position as being President of the City and County Councillers Association. When he was no longer a counciller he should have stepped down, which would have been the end of it.

For info, board positions normally require you to attend 10 meetings or so a year. Most people do them in addition to their normal job.

hardybuck · 01-10-2014 2:04pm

Cabaal wrote: »

Even if they aren't borderline, they can't make use of the work bar if they have to drive themselves.

How a workplace is allowed to have a bar in it is beyond me, it should be shut down

I think 27 or so TDs will have access to a driver. There are 166 TDs and 59 senators who can use it plus their guests - I wonder how they get home?

Whether it should be left open or not? Up for debate.

dzilla · 01-10-2014 2:19pm

Paudie and Hilary out Spinning

Benimar · 01-10-2014 2:23pm

hardybuck wrote: »

Quinlan should have resigned as a director when he lost his position as a counciller, as he was recommended for this position as being President of the City and County Councillers Association. When he was no longer a counciller he should have stepped down, which would have been the end of it.

For info, board positions normally require you to attend 10 meetings or so a year. Most people do them in addition to their normal job.

Thats all fine and well but his position with Irish Water pre-dated his appointment as a driver. It was at that point the conflict arose, not when he became a Director.

Essentially, Coffey knew Quinlan was a Director of Irish Water when he hired him, so he should resign too.

hardybuck · 01-10-2014 2:41pm

Benimar wrote: »

Thats all fine and well but his position with Irish Water pre-dated his appointment as a driver. It was at that point the conflict arose, not when he became a Director.

Essentially, Coffey knew Quinlan was a Director of Irish Water when he hired him, so he should resign too.

To be honest, I think it would be overkill. I think he made a mistake, but I don't think it's that serious as a sackable offence. People will get their chance to have their say in the election.

Ciara Conway didn't resign when when she decided to appear on a midday chatshow for two days instead of attending work.

John Deasy didn't resign when he was caught smoking in a bar after the smoking ban.

Is Halligan scandal free?

Being in public life really does put everything you do under the microscope.

BlaasForRafa · 01-10-2014 6:02pm

hardybuck wrote: »

Is Halligan scandal free?

Aside from that moustache I think so yeah.

Coffey should never have been allowed appoint one of his cronies to the position of driver, the position should have been advertised and filled like any other job in the civil service. All this blather about him needing someone who can keep a secret is complete hogwash, an NDA can take care of that, pretty much everyone in the public service needs to sign confidentiality agreements of one sort or another.

It's jobs for the boys and FG have shown themselves to be as shameless as FF at doing it. What makes it even more irksome is all the talk of "a new form of politics" when they took office, it's like they slipped right into FF's old mohair suits.

hardybuck · 01-10-2014 6:09pm

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

Aside from that moustache I think so yeah.

Coffey should never have been allowed appoint one of his cronies to the position of driver, the position should have been advertised and filled like any other job in the civil service. All this blather about him needing someone who can keep a secret is complete hogwash, an NDA can take care of that, pretty much everyone in the public service needs to sign confidentiality agreements of one sort or another.

It's jobs for the boys and FG have shown themselves to be as shameless as FF at doing it. What makes it even more irksome is all the talk of "a new form of politics" when they took office, it's like they slipped right into FF's old mohair suits.

It isn't a Civil Service position though. Labour and whoever else who appoints a driver goes about the process in the same fashion.

jmcc · 01-10-2014 6:21pm

hardybuck wrote: »

I don't get your comment about the British?

Well PIRA were going around killing British politicians rather than Irish politicians. This is a matter of history. The whole idea of politicians being entitled to a car and a driver originates from a time when cars were relatively (compared to today) rare and having a car and driver was generally something restricted to the rich. The glorified county councillors elected to the Dail wanted their egos stroked.

Regards...jmcc

Sully · 01-10-2014 7:42pm

Benimar wrote: »

So, a Director of Irish Water, which comes under the remit of the Department of the Environment, was acting as a chauffeur for the Junior Minister in that Department...and people try to somehow 'justify' it???

The only thing I can't understand is how Paudie Coffey hasn't resigned, given that he hired said ex-Director!

It is really worrying that neither Coffey nor Quinlan realised that such a blatant conflict of interest existed, or if they did, they just ignored it.

It's certainly far from a sackable offence but hiring the Director of Irish Water for the driver of a Junior Minister of the Dept of Environment was ill-judged and highly inappropriate. There is no justifying it, close friend or not. The response to the whole affair in the immediate aftermath was badly handled.

Thankfully, the conflict of interest is no more and Paudie can have his driver without issue.

Cabaal wrote: »

Even if they aren't borderline, they can't make use of the work bar if they have to drive themselves.

How a workplace is allowed to have a bar in it is beyond me, it should be shut down

My first job in Dublin was with a company that had a couple of beers on taps. I didn't work out of their head office so I don't know when it was allowed be used. A good friend of mine in Canada, similar situation for him and he was amazed by it. Not sure where else uses it.

I remember saying on here that both the public and private sector have jobs where you get paid mileage plus additional expenses covered when using their personal car and people laughed saying I was lying. Some provide a car for you. But many think this shouldn't be allowed in the public sector.

eiresandra · 01-10-2014 11:00pm

Sully wrote: »

I remember saying on here that both the public and private sector have jobs where you get paid mileage plus additional expenses covered when using their personal car and people laughed saying I was lying. Some provide a car for you. But many think this shouldn't be allowed in the public sector.

Providing a car and paying fuel costs is a different matter to paying a guy 665 quid every week for working week on/week off to transport a glorified ribbon cutter around.

Sully · 02-10-2014 6:57am

eiresandra wrote: »

Providing a car and paying fuel costs is a different matter to paying a guy 665 quid every week for working week on/week off to transport a glorified ribbon cutter around.

Can't help but feel its overpaid tbh.

Cabaal · 02-10-2014 9:06am

Sully wrote: »

My first job in Dublin was with a company that had a couple of beers on taps. I didn't work out of their head office so I don't know when it was allowed be used. A good friend of mine in Canada, similar situation for him and he was amazed by it. Not sure where else uses it.

Very much an exception to the rule, the vast majority of company's (big or small) don't allow alcohol

in addition what a private company allows its employee's to do is totally up to the owners of the company and/or its share holders.

TD's should never be drinking on the job, they represent us the tax payers and we don't want them drinking on the job.

Drinking and deciding goverment policy, debating important issues or voting on legislation simply don't mix!

Drink was likely very much a a factor in this farce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCS6H2d6scE

It isn't the first time TD's have been drinking or drunk during important goverment decisions. - http://www.thejournal.ie/dail-bar-drinking-tds-drunk-abortion-vote-989988-Jul2013/

Very simply, no pub should exist in the Dáil...much less open to 5am when important legislation is being passed thus allowing TD's to drink all night.

dzilla · 02-10-2014 10:32am

I have a few paths need powerwashing and a Barna shed needs felt put on it, anyone have Hillary's number?

Brick Session · 02-10-2014 12:48pm

eiresandra wrote: »

Providing a car and paying fuel costs is a different matter to paying a guy 665 quid every week for working week on/week off to transport a glorified ribbon cutter around.

The men who work 45 hours a week plus in all weathers to collect your wheelie bins do not earn that much regardless of what company they work for. I am sure any of them would have jumped at the chance to apply for the job along with all the other men & women who are out of work.

waterford · 02-10-2014 3:31pm

Is he allowed to work on his week off
or would he be then accused of double jobbing

Hilary Quinlan

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