Aidan Cooney Storms off Ireland AM as they get angry with the government!

jasonc5432 · 28-11-2011 11:41am #1

Aidan Cooney Storms off Ireland AM as they get angry with the government!

He is a legend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T92YWTjNA18

JustinDee · 28-11-2011 11:42am

What did the dozen or so viewers think of that?

HellFireClub · 28-11-2011 11:52am

I wouldn't exactly call that storming off set! He had a bit of a rant and seemed to have to go on and do something else, so he said his bit and got up off his chair to go do whatever it was he had to do next.

In fairness though he is 200% right, Cowen a man in his 50's, getting paid a pension, it's an absolute disgrace. Nobody else living outside of this political la la land can touch their pension before their 65th birthday, why are these parasites exempt from the laws that the rest of us have to survive under???

jasonc5432 · 28-11-2011 11:57am

HellFireClub wrote: »

I wouldn't exactly call that storming off set! He had a bit of a rant and seemed to have to go on and do something else, so he said his bit and got up off his chair to go do whatever it was he had to do next.

In fairness though he is 200% right, Cowen a man in his 50's, getting paid a pension, it's an absolute disgrace. Nobody else living outside of this political la la land can touch their pension before their 65th birthday, why are these parasites exempt from the laws that the rest of us have to survive under???

And dont forget, the stories are that we will all be told to work until 66, or 67, or 68, very soon, before we qualify for our pensions.

This country is a laughing stock

COYW · 28-11-2011 11:57am

Perhaps he decided to leave his TV3 job early for his 2nd job on Q102. One of the biggest bandwagon merchants in the Irish media. Can't stand the man. At least we are not paying for his attention seeking rant. How many rallies etc has he attended?

jasonc5432 · 28-11-2011 11:59am

COYW wrote: »

Perhaps he decided to leave his TV3 job early for his 2nd job on Q102. Might have had some extra prep to do for his radio show. One of the biggest bandwagon merchants in the Irish media.

The bandwagon that says Irish ministers are being paid WAY too highly in expenses?

The bandwagon that says retired ministers being paid hundreds of thousands are wrong??

Im on that!!

jbkenn · 28-11-2011 1:01pm

jasonc5432 wrote: »

The bandwagon that says Irish ministers are being paid WAY too highly in expenses?

The bandwagon that says retired ministers being paid hundreds of thousands are wrong??

Im on that!!

Me too, from the Irish Examiner
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfkfidmhauau/rss2/

Former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes – who earns €99,000 as a Government appointed member on the board of Anglo Irish Bank – earns a combined ministerial and TD’s pension of €99,470. Dukes retired from politics in 2002

Former Labour leader and Tánaiste, Dick Spring, who receives a ministerial pension of €77,000 as well as a TD’s pension of €52,213, for a combined total of almost €130,000. This is on top of his basic salary of €27,375 and €3,000 for every committee meeting he attends as public interest director at the partly state-owned AIB. Spring retired from politics in 2002

Former EU Commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, receives a ministerial pension of €74,746 and a TD’s pension of €52,000. When added to his €51,000 EU pension, Mr McCreevy’s total pension package is worth €178,000 per year.
McCreevy retired from politics 2010, and when he pops his clogs his gorgeous young wife will be entitled to half his pension for the rest of her natural.

Wake up folks, wake up

jasonc5432 · 28-11-2011 1:16pm

jbkenn wrote: »

Me too, from the Irish Examiner
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfkfidmhauau/rss2/

Former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes – who earns €99,000 as a Government appointed member on the board of Anglo Irish Bank – earns a combined ministerial and TD’s pension of €99,470. Dukes retired from politics in 2002

Former Labour leader and Tánaiste, Dick Spring, who receives a ministerial pension of €77,000 as well as a TD’s pension of €52,213, for a combined total of almost €130,000. This is on top of his basic salary of €27,375 and €3,000 for every committee meeting he attends as public interest director at the partly state-owned AIB. Spring retired from politics in 2002

Former EU Commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, receives a ministerial pension of €74,746 and a TD’s pension of €52,000. When added to his €51,000 EU pension, Mr McCreevy’s total pension package is worth €178,000 per year.
McCreevy retired from politics 2010, and when he pops his clogs his gorgeous young wife will be entitled to half his pension for the rest of her natural.

Wake up folks, wake up

It is a bloody disgrace. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael -- two cheeks of the same arse!

The only thing between them, policy-wise, is a big black hole

jbkenn · 28-11-2011 2:01pm

jasonc5432 wrote: »

It is a bloody disgrace. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael -- two cheeks of the same arse!

The only thing between them, policy-wise, is a big black hole

Here are a few blasts from the past, you probably never heard of them
Mervyn Taylor (Labour) retired 1997 Pension €77,980
Paddy Cooney (F.G.) retired 1989 MEP Pension €102,565
Richie Ryan (F.G.) retired 1982 Pension €93,033
Tras Honan (F.F.) Senator retired 1992 Pension €50,750

The full list is here
http://www.fairocracy.com/facts_and_figures/current_cost_of_ex_tds_and_ministers_yearly_pensions_in_ireland.html

jasonc5432 · 28-11-2011 2:11pm

jbkenn wrote: »

Here are a few blasts from the past, you probably never heard of them
Mervyn Taylor (Labour) retired 1997 Pension €77,980
Paddy Cooney (F.G.) retired 1989 MEP Pension €102,565
Richie Ryan (F.G.) retired 1982 Pension €93,033
Tras Honan (F.F.) Senator retired 1992 Pension €50,750

The full list is here
http://www.fairocracy.com/facts_and_figures/current_cost_of_ex_tds_and_ministers_yearly_pensions_in_ireland.html

If you criticize the working man who is getting screwed, lots of people will back you up and say things like "well we are broke" and "we all partied" and "we all have to share the pain".

If you criticize the stupidity of paying 50 year olds FULL pensions amounting to hundreds of thousands, you are on a bandwagon.

No wonder Ireland is in this mess. Too many people willing to jump to the defense of anyone who is screwing the rest of us.

And when anyone points it out, they are a communist or some other stupid label from McCarthyist America circa the 1950s.

Irish politicians, both current AND retired are dramatically overpaid.

I wonder what would happen if I went back to all MY previous employers and said I think I deserve a pension to be paid to me NOW, even though Im YEARS away from 65. Id be laughed at.

And the EXACT same people who will defend the levels of ministerial pensions would say I was an idiot. And you know what, theyd be right! Unfortunately, it seems perfectly fine when it comes to politicians.

Lunacy

wingsof daun · 29-11-2011 12:38am

HellFireClub wrote: »

In fairness though he is 200% right, Cowen a man in his 50's, getting paid a pension, it's an absolute disgrace. Nobody else living outside of this political la la land can touch their pension before their 65th birthday, why are these parasites exempt from the laws that the rest of us have to survive under???

People that worked in the customs some are retired since 55 with a 50K top-up Don't forget to mention them...

jasonc5432 · 29-11-2011 11:09am

wingsof daun wrote: »

People that worked in the customs some are retired since 55 with a 50K top-up Don't forget to mention them...

How is it justifiable that a person who works themselves to the bone (almost literally), wrecking their body (in some cases), on a building site, getting up at 430 in the morning (in many cases) and not getting home until maybe 8 in the evening (yes these are builders hours for people I know personally), is expected to retire at 65, or now 66, or 67, or god knows??

Yet, someone who works in customs or politics gets to retire before their voices have even fully broken???

This is quite disturbing.

It is clearly a gigantic case of inequality in our society. If it was on the basis of race or gender it would be banned. But, because it is on the basis of job title people think it is ok.

I applaud those who work in government and customs, if they do a good job. But, being able to take ANY pension (nevermind FULL pension) at 50 or so appears madness... doesnt it?

jbkenn · 29-11-2011 12:28pm

jasonc5432 wrote: »

I applaud those who work in government and customs, if they do a good job. But, being able to take ANY pension (nevermind FULL pension) at 50 or so appears madness... doesnt it?

The pension that really sticks in my craw is Peter "Suds" Sutherland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Sutherland
"Suds" graced us with his presence as Attorney General from
30 June 1981 to 9 March 1982 a period of 8 months and 9 days
and again from
15 December 1982 to 12 December 1984 a period of 2 years
For his 2 years 8 months and 9 days of sterling service we have paid, and continue to pay him a pension of €50,000 per annum, and, despite his enormous personal wealth, he continues to trouser it, while lecturing us on the need for further austerity measures.

jasonc5432 · 29-11-2011 1:04pm

jbkenn wrote: »

The pension that really sticks in my craw is Peter "Suds" Sutherland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Sutherland
"Suds" graced us with his presence as Attorney General from
30 June 1981 to 9 March 1982 a period of 8 months and 9 days
and again from
15 December 1982 to 12 December 1984 a period of 2 years
For his 2 years 8 months and 9 days of sterling service we have paid, and continue to pay him a pension of €50,000 per annum, and, despite his enormous personal wealth, he continues to trouser it, while lecturing us on the need for further austerity measures.

What's that old right wing mantra-- "he's dead right sure... people are only jealous"

The same right wingers who forget they are actually part-paying the ludicrous pension.

In an Ireland where people will defend such idiot fiscal/pension policy, while at the same time supporting cutting the most vulnerable, we will always continue to have this kind of systemic corruption... legal corruption, but corruption by definition of how it acts as a drain on the system, damaging its integrity financially.

Problem is, both Fianna Fail AND Fine Gael supporters will have you believe that Sutherland's pension is right and proper.

murphaph · 29-11-2011 1:23pm

jasonc5432 wrote: »

What's that old right wing mantra-- "he's dead right sure... people are only jealous"

The same right wingers who forget they are actually part-paying the ludicrous pension.

In an Ireland where people will defend such idiot fiscal/pension policy, while at the same time supporting cutting the most vulnerable, we will always continue to have this kind of systemic corruption... legal corruption, but corruption by definition of how it acts as a drain on the system, damaging its integrity financially.

Problem is, both Fianna Fail AND Fine Gael supporters will have you believe that Sutherland's pension is right and proper.

I don't think many people of any political persuasion would be happy that a man gets a 50k pension for 3 years work.

jasonc5432 · 29-11-2011 1:30pm

murphaph wrote: »

I don't think many people of any political persuasion would be happy that a man gets a 50k pension for 3 years work.

Are you sure?
I am absolutely convinced there are people on here who do.
Lots of people on this forum support ministerial pensions for people who only served a few years.

I hope they come forward and argue the point. Youll find theyll usually be the same types who support cutting the minimum wage.

murphaph · 29-11-2011 1:35pm

jasonc5432 wrote: »

Are you sure?
I am absolutely convinced there are people on here who do.
Lots of people on this forum support ministerial pensions for people who only served a few years.

I hope they come forward and argue the point. Youll find theyll usually be the same types who support cutting the minimum wage.

I support cutting the minumum wage. I certainly don't support huge pensions for (more often than not) extremely mediocre ex politicians.

The two positions are certainly not mutually exclusive, despite your apparent desire for that to be the case.

In short, I believe we need to get back to sane wage, welfare and pension levels in all sectors. These ghastly pensions are particularly irksome, but are not the only problem and even if all these fat pensions were eliminated, we'd probably only reduce the deficit by 5 milion or so (NOT that we shouldn't reduce these inflated pensions or if that's not legally possible, tax them at punitive rates).

jasonc5432 · 29-11-2011 1:39pm

murphaph wrote: »

I support cutting the minumum wage. I certainly don't support huge pensions for (more often than not) extremely mediocre ex politicians.

The two positions are certainly not mutually exclusive, despite your apparent desire for that to be the case.

In short, I believe we need to get back to sane wage, welfare and pension levels in all sectors. These ghastly pensions are particularly irksome, but are not the only problem and even if all these fat pensions were eliminated, we'd probably only reduce the deficit by 5 milion or so (NOT that we shouldn't reduce these inflated pensions or if that's not legally possible, tax them at punitive rates).

If we take 'sane' levels to be levels in countries that have proven to have successful socio economic policy.

Then lets look at Sweden.

Lowest income earning Swedes are more highly paid (all inclusive) than Irish lowest income earners.

So, sanity eh. Ya gotta love it.

Sane politics. In Ireland? With fianna fail and fine gael?

Ill keep waiting to see that one alright, with ye lot about this country is gonna sink and sink. It is so sad because the people causing it are being rewarded, while the people suffering are the ones most innocent. Like new leaving cert grads.

Or blind pensioners.

Or widowers pensioners.

Lets cut them too. All this sanity feels great

JustinDee · 29-11-2011 3:26pm

jasonc5432 wrote: »

If we take 'sane' levels to be levels in countries that have proven to have successful socio economic policy.

Then lets look at Sweden.

Lowest income earning Swedes are more highly paid (all inclusive) than Irish lowest income earners.

So, sanity eh. Ya gotta love it.

Sane politics. In Ireland? With fianna fail and fine gael?

Ill keep waiting to see that one alright, with ye lot about this country is gonna sink and sink. It is so sad because the people causing it are being rewarded, while the people suffering are the ones most innocent. Like new leaving cert grads.

Or blind pensioners.

Or widowers pensioners.

Lets cut them too. All this sanity feels great

Oh relax with the melodrama.
If you're going to compare different countries' wage levels, then apply similar criteria or adjust for the differences in standard of living.
One-dimensional comparisons don't cut it.

jasonc5432 · 29-11-2011 3:28pm

JustinDee wrote: »

Oh relax with the melodrama.
If you're going to compare different countries' wage levels, then apply similar criteria or adjust for the differences in standard of living.
One-dimensional comparisons don't cut it.

So what is the difference with standards of living, specifically?

COYW · 29-11-2011 3:47pm

Didn't storm too far as he was back on set this morning collecting his nice, closer to a TDs than the min wage, salary. Another Bertie Ahern type socialist!

Cardinal Richelieu · 29-11-2011 4:13pm

COYW wrote: »

Didn't storm too far as he was back on set this morning collecting his nice, closer to a TDs than the min wage, salary. Another Bertie Ahern type socialist!

Was that really him? I haven't watched him for a while on the TV but he would want to slim down before he starts going on anymore rants or he will be taking up a hospital bed soon.

Mr.Micro · 29-11-2011 8:48pm

Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »

Was that really him? I haven't watched him for a while on the TV but he would want to slim down before he starts going on anymore rants or he will be taking up a hospital bed soon.

Maybe he only stormed out because the Odlums woman was not making something he could stuff his face with.

nuac · 29-11-2011 8:59pm

It is wrong that any retirng AG gets a pension.

GTraditionally on retirement they have first call on any vacancy on the bench.

Even if that does not happen, as experienced and well known SCs they can go back to private practice.

edanto · 29-11-2011 11:45pm

This thread is much better than the title suggests, lots of juicy details about fat cats pensions.

I bet the current AGs legal advice to the govt is that those legacy pensions can't be touched for legal reasons...... said with one eye on their own pension of course.

There should be an emergency revision of all state pensions. Absolute maximum of something like 80k/yr for ex taoisaigh with a minimum of 15 yrs state employment. Others, like Suds, should only receive 5% of a normal pension if they only worked for less than 5 years.

I would love to know how much that would save.

jbkenn · 30-11-2011 3:45am

edanto wrote: »

There should be an emergency revision of all state pensions. Absolute maximum of something like 80k/yr for ex taoisaigh with a minimum of 15 yrs state employment. Others, like Suds, should only receive 5% of a normal pension if they only worked for less than 5 years.

I would love to know how much that would save.

Peter Sutherland should not get any pension, end of.
Michael Begley, who? why are we paying this 79 year old, who gave 20 years service as a Fine Gael T.D. and Junior Minister, who retired from politics in 1989, 22 years ago, €69,453 p.a.
Exactly what Herculean service did he provide the State?.
How many retired Garda Commissioners are we paying?, and what is their pension?.
How many retired Army Lt. Generals are we paying?, and what is their pension?.
How many retired Departmental Secretary Generals are we paying? and what is their pension?
How many retired City and County Managers are we paying?, and what is their pension?
How many retired Chief Fire Officers are we paying?, and what is their pension?
To put this in context:
Munster population 1.1 million has
10 CFOs, Salary €78,000-€95,000 p.a. assume all retire on €90,000 salary, tax free lump sum €135,000, pension €45,000 p.a.
20 senior assistant CFOs, Salary €73,000-€87,117 p.a. assume all retire on €80,000 salary, tax free lump sum €120,000, pension €40,000 p.a.
40 assistant CFOs, €47,315-€67,526 p.a assume all retire on €60,000, tax free lump sum €90,000, pension €30,000 p.a.
20 assistant FOs. no accurate figures but assume €35,000-€47,000

The City of London population 7.7 million has 1 Chief Fire Officer and 6 Senior Staff.

This is only the tip of the iceberg, hence our massive Public Service pension pay bill liability, wake up folks, wake up.

monkeypants · 30-11-2011 9:56am

Hold on folks, I don't agree with cutting the pensions entirely. I think that these people are entitled to a pension all right, just not the pension that they are on right now and not payable until they hit 65, 66, 67, 68 or whatever the criteria is for the regular state pension.

I detest Peter Sutherland and I especially detest how he is given time on the airwaves. I don't want to see Bryan Dobson or anyone else interviewing him on the air unless the first words he says are, "Peter Sutherland, you've done all right for yourself, haven't you? You fat c**t..."

I don't know what the percentage ratio of pension to salary is for these folks, but if I simply call it 'A' for now, the formula for calculating their pension should be something like this:

((Average salary in role x A) / Potential duration of service) x Actual years of service

If we figure a pension ratio of 25% (quite generous I feel) and the potential duration of service as 45 years (could have joined at 20 and worked up to 65) and Mr Sutherland's salary as a nice round €100k, then his pension should be €1,667 each year after his 65th birthday.

Boskowski · 30-11-2011 10:05pm

jbkenn wrote: »

... and when he pops his clogs his gorgeous young wife will be entitled to...

Don't want to turn this into an AH style thread but...what!?!

Okthanks · 13-06-2012 10:08pm

Republicans will never forget Cooney. A Pinochet character who should have been brough before the International Courts for human rights abuses for directing the heavy-gang of the politically motivated Garda Special Branch.

Pension, prison more like it.

Skid · 13-06-2012 10:09pm

Okthanks wrote: »

Republicans will never forget Cooney. A Pinochet character who should have been brough before the International Courts for human rights abuses for directing the heavy-gang of the politically motivated Garda Special Branch.

Pension, prison more like it.

Still, he is harmless enough doing the Sports news on Ireland AM

Eggy Baby! · 14-06-2012 1:17am

JustinDee wrote: »

What did the dozen or so viewers think of that?

Burned

K-9 · 14-06-2012 1:01pm

Old thread locked.

Aidan Cooney Storms off Ireland AM as they get angry with the government!

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