€5335 for the Dept. of Social protection annual retired staff get together

Odysseus · 17-12-2012 1:01am

aujopimur wrote: »

I paid tax and PRSI for 45 years, and I was'nt invited to the party.

Did you work there?

Madam_X · 17-12-2012 1:03am

Rabble-rousing central. Bet the OP rubs their hands together with glee whenever non stories like this pop up in hateful rags like the Fail and the Spindo. They love it really.

therealgirl · 17-12-2012 1:06am

Madam_X wrote: »

Rabble-rousing central. Bet the OP rubs their hands together with glee whenever non stories like this pop up in hateful rags like the Fail and the Spindo. They love it really.

Are you saying 5k wasn't actually spent on unnecessary parties?

Boombastic · 17-12-2012 1:08am

Madam_X wrote: »

Rabble-rousing central. Bet the OP rubs their hands together with glee whenever non stories like this pop up in hateful rags like the Fail and the Spindo. They love it really.

Why is it an non-story? It is indicative of the culture that still exists within some government departments.

How many staff were taken from their regular duties to organise this party? There is a growing backlog in the department, but sure lots of time to plan parties. What is the purpose or benefit of this party?

I not sure how you know what I love?

melekalikimaka · 17-12-2012 1:35am

work parties are needed these days, p.s. get an awful hard deal. a wee party that seems quite cheap imo, at christmas is more than acceptable us of my taxes

Max Power · 17-12-2012 1:38am

melekalikimaka wrote: »

work parties are needed these days, p.s. get an awful hard deal. a wee party that seems quite cheap imo, at christmas is more than acceptable us of my taxes

Awww the poor PS, how do they manage to get by at all. They go whinging to their unions anytime the Croke Park Agreement is mentioned yet they're happy to take freebies from the very people they are whinging about. Fickleness at its best.

17-12-2012 1:39am

melekalikimaka wrote: »

work parties are needed these days, p.s. get an awful hard deal. a wee party that seems quite cheap imo, at christmas is more than acceptable us of my taxes

It was a party for retired staff.

People saying the small cost makes it acceptable forget that there may very well be 500 other parties across the various departments at a similiar cost each. While we are being told that costs must be curbed and people are suffering as a result the government should not be using tax payers money for such an unnecessary expense as staff parties

melekalikimaka · 17-12-2012 1:43am

Deleted User wrote: »

It was a party for retired staff.

People saying the small cost makes it acceptable forget that there may very well be 500 other parties across the various departments at a similiar cost each. While we are being told that costs must be curbed and people are suffering as a result the government should not be using tax payers money for such an unnecessary expense as staff parties

good thing you dont dictate the budgets so, scrooge

Boombastic · 17-12-2012 1:46am

melekalikimaka wrote: »

good thing you dont dictate the budgets so, scrooge

:pac::pac::pac::pac:

:rolleyes:

17-12-2012 2:03am

melekalikimaka wrote: »

good thing you dont dictate the budgets so, scrooge

Very few private companies pay for their staff Christmas party so why should the government pay for parties for those in it's departments.

Would be interesting to see how much is spent on staff parites in government departments this year. With the way the government hs gone after low income earners, carers, etc you would think that they would be saying "lets put a stop to this waste so we can at least look like we are doing our part".

TheRealPONeil · 17-12-2012 2:05am

Boombastic wrote: »

T.... Trays of Guinness cans and Heineken were also laid out....

Holy **** I hope they weren't laying out the old 3 for €24 deal because I'd be really as pissed off as everyone else here if the drink could also be subject to a VAT re-claim !! which I hope didn't amount to more than €5,000.

token101 · 17-12-2012 2:07am

emo72 wrote: »

its crazy, its mental. there is no defending this. nero playing the violin while rome burns.

Jesus. Nero? Was he there? And he brought the fiddle? Well there's the entertainment sorted then :pac:

emo72 wrote: »

they shouldnt be wasting money like that.

shock and disgust and rage. i dont have your power to laugh it off. but fair play to you.

****ing hell, more hyperbole. Shock, disgust and rage would describe someone's reaction to a massacre like at the school in the States. Get a grip FFS. And you know what? I'd rather see them have it and drink it, than some of the people that I know on the dole have it. At least the public servants worked for their booze. There's a good whack of people on the dole who haven't worked a day in their lives, and they've cost a lot more than 5 grand apiece this year. That's where your ire should lie. Not with a party for people who've worked all their lives.

Miss Lockhart · 17-12-2012 2:11am

Deleted User wrote: »

Very few private companies pay for their staff Christmas party so why should the government pay for parties for those in it's departments.

Really? I don't believe this for a second. Every private sector company I've worked for (including my own business) at the very least contributed to the staff Christmas party. Every single person I know with a private sector job has a subsidised or paid for Christmas party.

emo72 · 17-12-2012 2:11am

seen so many places close down. so many friends lose jobs. so many close family and friends have to leave the country.

go and do one.

Max Power · 17-12-2012 2:12am

token101 wrote: »

Jesus. Nero? Was he there? And he brought the fiddle? Well there's the entertainment sorted then :pac:

****ing hell, more hyperbole. Shock, disgust and rage would describe someone's reaction to a massacre like at the school in the States. Get a grip FFS. And you know what? I'd rather see them have it and drink it, than some of the people that I know on the dole have it. At least the public servants worked for their booze. There's a good whack of people on the dole who haven't worked a day in their lives, and they've cost a lot more than 5 grand apiece this year. That's where your ire should lie. Not with a party for people who've worked all their lives.

Indeed

17-12-2012 2:15am

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

Really? I don't believe this for a second. Every private sector company I've worked for (including my own business) at the very least contributed to the staff Christmas party. Every single person I know with a private sector job has a subsidised or paid for Christmas party.

Not a single company I have ever worked for contributed to the staff party. At most you might get a box of beer but nothing more. My house-mate works in a rather large multi national and it was his Christmas staff party last night, cost to attend was 30 euro per head. Three friends have had staff parties over the past week, none of which were covered by the company. Some companies will throw a party or pay some of the cost but in this day and age it's a very small number.

Miss Lockhart · 17-12-2012 2:17am

Deleted User wrote: »

Not a single company I have ever worked for contributed to the staff party. At most you might get a box of beer but nothing more. My house-mate works in a rather large multi national and it was his Christmas staff party last night, cost to attend was 30 euro per head. Three friends have had staff parties over the past week, none of which were covered by the company. Some companies will throw a party or pay some of the cost but in this day and age it's a very small number.

Well, my experience says different. So I guess that just shows the dangers of relying on personal anecdotes.

Boombastic · 17-12-2012 2:19am

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

Well, my experience says different. So I guess that just shows the dangers of relying on personal anecdotes.

Teachers get their parties paid for too do they? How much does that cost the department?

Miss Lockhart · 17-12-2012 2:20am

Boombastic wrote: »

Teachers get their parties paid for too do they? How much does that cost the department?

They most certainly don't!

17-12-2012 2:21am

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

Well, my experience says different. So I guess that just shows the dangers of relying on personal anecdotes.

I'd be willing to be that the vast majority of boardies who attend a staff Christmas party this year pay for it themselves or at the very least contribute the majority of the cost.

Miss Lockhart · 17-12-2012 2:24am

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd be willing to be that the vast majority of boardies who attend a staff Christmas party this year pay for it themselves or at the very least contribute the majority of the cost.

And I'd be willing to bet that many of them wouldn't admit the truth if it didn't suit whatever agenda is being pushed at the time. But go right ahead. I'd rather see some actual stats and ignore the personal anecdotes.

TheRealPONeil · 17-12-2012 2:25am

Deleted User wrote: »

Not a single company I have ever worked for contributed to the staff party...

Coincidently here's my Christmas Party survey from a get-together on Friday evening ...

- 1 semi-state - paid for
- 1 construction company - paid for
- 1 IT consultant - paid for + taxis
- 1 local authority - paid for themselves in the pub.

Anyone else with anecdotes ??

Boombastic · 17-12-2012 2:29am

It wasn't a christmas party

TheRealPONeil · 17-12-2012 2:32am

Boombastic wrote: »

It wasn't a christmas party

Thats irrelevant. My post suits my agenda, like all of the previous posts + your own.

Boombastic · 17-12-2012 2:35am

TheRealPONeil wrote: »

Thats irrelevant. My post suits my agenda, like all of the previous posts + your own.

So what do you think of €5335 being spent for a party for ex-employees using the resources of current employees to organise it in a department that's cutting back and has a massive backlog?

Yakult · 17-12-2012 3:32am

Its money being pumped backed into the economy

B.A._Baracus · 17-12-2012 4:18am

Yakult wrote: »

Its money being pumped backed into the economy

One could say the same for:

- rent allowances scams.
- unmarried mother scams.
- working whilst on the social welfare scams.

Money earned from those scams goes back into the economy. No one lives for free after all.

Guy:Incognito · 17-12-2012 4:49am

I don't see what the relevance of private companies spending money on parties is. If a private company wants to bankrupt themselves buying drink for their employees, that's their choice. Public money is a entirely different kettle of fish altogether.

Hippies! · 17-12-2012 7:12am

Great to see the usual public servant suspects out in force defending this, blind

token101 · 17-12-2012 7:51am

FionnMcCool87 wrote: »

Indeed

Insightful. Well you've convinced me, grab me a pitchfork and a torch.

Deleted User wrote: »

Not a single company I have ever worked for contributed to the staff party. At most you might get a box of beer but nothing more. My house-mate works in a rather large multi national and it was his Christmas staff party last night, cost to attend was 30 euro per head. Three friends have had staff parties over the past week, none of which were covered by the company. Some companies will throw a party or pay some of the cost but in this day and age it's a very small number.

Maybe you need to find better companies to work for then? That's not being smart, but even when I was underage working in shops we got free stuff for Christmas. I've never worked anywhere where management haven't given something. And generally it's a lot more than 5 grand.

whatdoicare · 17-12-2012 8:25am

We're not getting a party,never have but the good people in management thought a week before Christmas was a perfect time to let four staff go with no warning whatsoever, let them come into work and clock in before sending them on their way

I guess keeping my job is the best party ever!

Having a party for retired employees is an unnecessary waste of money at a time when we're all facing austerity and are worried every day for our job security. It's a huge slap in the face to read stories like this.

sparksfly · 17-12-2012 9:03am

Of course its a "non story".
Reporting public sector waste is like reporting that it rained today, hardly something new.

AskMyChocolate · 17-12-2012 10:30am

melekalikimaka wrote: »

lot of spite here, shameful really

therealgirl wrote: »

?

Confab wrote: »

FYP, smugness will get you nowhere.

Don't feed the troll.

Anita Blow · 17-12-2012 10:44am

I'm sorry but anybody defending a government department spending thousands on a Christmas party for ex-staff in a time of austerity must have a vested interest because there is absolutely no way it can be defended. It is nothing but waste and it represents how out of touch those using taxpayers money are.
I completely understand Christmas parties for current staff, it's important to keep morale high and one party a year as a token of your employer's thanks is fair enough I think. Plenty of Private companies do it.

Sir Oxman · 17-12-2012 10:46am

Of course it is wasteful - the recipients of the bonhomie don't even work there ffs.

therealgirl · 17-12-2012 10:48am

As I said before I have no faith in this country actually righting itself...no faith in the government caring about anything but the big boys lined pockets...and the amount of people here who think its ok for them to spend on a party for the retired (not a retirement party) at such a significant time (Christmas...getting ****tier for lots of people every year, and cutting funds to respite...low), reiterates it for me & makes me ashamed to be Irish

AskMyChocolate · 17-12-2012 11:23am

Going to find myself on both sides (or neither side) of the argument here. On one hand, I think it's both politically stupid and incredibly insensitive of the department to do this. On the other hand, I don't see anything wrong with throwing a modest party for ex-employees who may have done excellent work in the service of the department.

The only thing that really annoys me is I'll bet, (and I'll apologise unreservedly if I'm wrong), that the current members of staff who hold these people's positions weren't at the party. There will be €100,000 pissed away on "consultancy" fees next week for "advice" that I'd guarantee you these people would have given to their successors for free.

It could have been €5,000 very prudently and wisely spent. There's nothing retired people like more than telling the next generation where they're going wrong over a few beers.:pac:

But, instead, it will cost a fortune for the same advice, more than likely for the same people to give it, to be done in working hours.

I'll tell ya. The next time Joan Burton wants to smugly condescend to people who are about to lose their back-to-school allowance and tell them "they need to shop around", she needs the same puck in the jaw, that unfortunately, that cnut Harney never got but so richly deserved.:mad:

Okay,

\rant over,

Happy Christmas AHers,:)

Choco

vicwatson · 17-12-2012 11:31am

Ok Ok, let's all have a good F***ing whinge and whine about it but hey let's do NOTHING to change it eh.

Good aul Ireland

omahaid · 17-12-2012 11:36am

vicwatson wrote: »

Ok Ok, let's all have a good F***ing whinge and whine about it but hey let's do NOTHING to change it eh.

Good aul Ireland

It did happen in the past...

SuperGrover · 17-12-2012 11:49am

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd be willing to be that the vast majority of boardies who attend a staff Christmas party this year pay for it themselves or at the very least contribute the majority of the cost.

Just reading along here but as you ask...

Our Christmas party is always a free event. food and drink and good raffle prizes etc. etc.

This year they even paid for most people to get taxis home on company account, where needed.

Private sector. 60 people.

2ndcoming · 17-12-2012 11:53am

Anita Blow wrote: »

I'm sorry but anybody defending a government department spending thousands on a Christmas party for ex-staff in a time of austerity must have a vested interest because there is absolutely no way it can be defended. It is nothing but waste and it represents how out of touch those using taxpayers money are.
I completely understand Christmas parties for current staff, it's important to keep morale high and one party a year as a token of your employer's thanks is fair enough I think. Plenty of Private companies do it.

State funds cannot be used to fund a party for current staff, they have to pay their way themselves. The numbers would obviously be far higher anyway as there are thousands of current staff as opposed to the 240 retired staff members who apparently turned up for this. These parties are held every year in most large depts, and are usually accompanied by a mass for colleagues who passed away that year.

Tbh, I would understand an uproar about a paid party for current staff, but a bunch of 80 year olds having a sandwich and a sherry.. really??

One fraudulent dole claim or one undeclared income or underdeclared tax return would add up to more. Seriously...

Sully · 17-12-2012 12:03pm

Boombastic wrote: »

€1,000 more spent this year than last year, in times of austerity, no it's not a non story

50 peoples house hold charge
15 carers cut at €325

Doesn't the household charge go to local services? Also, you cant just go and say "Arah, sure we have enough to spend on 15 carers. Screw the rest", so that argument goes out the window.

No your not, we are talking about a department, with a serious backlog and budget deficit shelling out money for ex-staff members to stick their noses int he through

Ex Staff who have paid a heck of a lot more tax than you have and got what, €20 maybe less towards a get together? Its more common in the public sector than you would think and again, I have no issues.

I think maybe you should read the article

Again read the article, until then I won't be reading the rest of your post

My points are still valid. I'm aware the article is saying its former staff but my point still stands.

awec · 17-12-2012 12:03pm

There is a huge difference between a private company doing this and the public sector. This was public money, they have no entitlement to this whatsoever. This is coming from taxes we are all forced to pay. I don't pay my taxes so that some public sector ex-workers can have a party ffs.

Even if every private company in Ireland did this for it's retired workers it still wouldn't mean that the public sector is entitled to it. You work in the public sector, you aren't the same as private sector workers. In exchange for work-funded parties and various other perks etc you get what seems to be an outrageous level of job security and an inflated salary.

listermint · 17-12-2012 12:04pm

2ndcoming wrote: »

State funds cannot be used to fund a party for current staff, they have to pay their way themselves. The numbers would obviously be far higher anyway as there are thousands of current staff as opposed to the 240 retired staff members who apparently turned up for this. These parties are held every year in most large depts, and are usually accompanied by a mass for colleagues who passed away that year.

Tbh, I would understand an uproar about a paid party for current staff, but a bunch of 80 year olds having a sandwich and a sherry.. really??

One fraudulent dole claim or one undeclared income or underdeclared tax return would add up to more. Seriously...

Do these people have the inability to organise / pay for this type of thing themselves ?

My mother was let go last week from a company she gave more than 20 years of her life to. Do you think there ex staff will get treated to yearly parties payed for just to say hi ?

When i read the article initially i though sure its a christmas party for hard pressed workers.

Retired staff!!! come on now its a piss take and not a funny one either.

Lyaiera · 17-12-2012 12:10pm

I'm not usually against this kind of stuff. I'm more than happy for someone retiring after 30 years work to get a bunch of flowers and their immediate department to have a glass of wine in the office/canteen/whatever. But if this was for people who hadn't just retired it's completely unnecessary.

Ush1 · 17-12-2012 12:20pm

Gas that people are defending it. Ex staff FFS.

sfwcork · 17-12-2012 12:29pm

was the paaaaarttttttyyyyyy held in a hotel or where?

HondaSami · 17-12-2012 12:37pm

sfwcork wrote: »

was the paaaaarttttttyyyyyy held in a hotel or where?

The department said: ‘All the arrangements necessary to facilitate the function are handled in-house by current staff, the catering is arranged with internal caterers at a reasonable rate, the department uses its own premises.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2248843/Joan-Burtons-team-blew-5K-staff-party--Social-Protection-used-taxpayers-money-fund-ex-colleagues.html#ixzz2FJB1YQTo
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Boombastic · 17-12-2012 12:47pm

The department said: ‘All the arrangements necessary to facilitate the function are handled in-house by current staff, the catering is arranged with internal caterers at a reasonable rate, the department uses its own premises.

Apart from the slabs of cans back at the office
Venues also included the church which they paid €250 donation and the €150 for the organist....

The party was 'facilitated' by current inhouse staff...meaning they were taken away from their regular duties to organise it

sfwcork · 17-12-2012 12:50pm

Seeing as it was mostly jameson and guinness i reckon it was mostly men

so one can conclude from this that joan burton was looking for male loving on the night

was condoms and lub o that bill?

€5335 for the Dept. of Social protection annual retired staff get together

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