He who pays the piper.....

Snickers Man

The issue of what favours may be sought or granted following a generous gift has now popped up in the world of football, following philanthropic tax exile Dennis O'Brien's not-for-profit-or-any-gain-whatsoever promise to fund half the cost of our soccer team's management staff.

Can it really be the case that all he wants to do is know that the massed paying punters at Croker may finally get some value for their money? Or will he expect a reward in more tangible form?

Browsing through the Independent's website just now I came across an interesting illustration of how a supposedly disinterested appointment granted in the public or national interest and funded at taxpayer's expense can lead to an extraordinary showing of grateful loyalty on behalf of the recipient to the public servant who made the appointment.

Just have a look at the summary page of Eoghan Harris's recent columns in the Sindo.

Twelve columns, eight of which in either their headline or the few lines of blurb that describe them, make it clear that they contain a robust defence of Bertie Ahern's actions as scrutinised by the tribunal.

Now this is hardly a surprise. Bertie appointed Harris to the Senate as it was in his gift to do. And only the extraordinarily naive would be shocked that this would be reciprocated by a Pavlovian defence of his benefactor by Harris against the impertinent scrutiny of his financial affairs in a public forum.

But let's have no nonsense about "no favours sought or given" or that it was done "in the national interest".

Just two bloody Corkmen (one an exile in North Dublin) scratching each other's backs like a right pair of cute hoors.

BurnsCarpenter

I'm not sure why it's so unbelievable that someone would just do something nice.
I know if I won the euromillions I'd probably spend some money on cork city fc. I wouldn't be expecting to pick the team in return.

Snickers Man

Well your generosity is commendable but should you ever have the opportunity to do so, be very careful.

I was reading lately about one of the early big winners of the UK lottery who was inveigled to invest in Livingston FC. He lost the lot and then found he was liable for the clubs debts. So he's now almost penniless.

Anyway, I was more interested in showing that there are some areas of life, outside of football perhaps, where a tickle of one man's back is expected to be followed by a full-featured aromatherapy massage of another's.

(Hold that image )

flogen

Harris was defending Bertie long before the Seanad appointment - that was more a reward for loyalty than an incentive for loyalty.

As for O'Brien, it's difficult to see exactly what he could gain out of it besides publicity and kudos. Maybe he wants first dibs on the radio rights for Today FM or Newstalk. Maybe Communicorp will become the Ireland sponsor next year. If either happens, at the amount paid for the pleasure is below market rates then it will certainly seem suspicious.

I'm inclined to think neither will. I don't think O'Brien did it purely for the greater good - I do think there may have been a certain amount of PR involved in it and I'm sure he's gained many people's appreciation for his kind gesture (fans and others alike). That's the kind of currency that will come in handy to a man being regularly bashed by the country's biggest media group for obvious reasons.

I do think there's a certain element of some people in the media looking for something to hang the FAI on - they couldn't attack them on the appointment itself so they're being cynical about the way it was funded*. It's worth noting too that it seems to be the INM stable that's making the most stink over what has so far been a non-issue.

* Just to note that the journalists are well within their rights, and indeed obligations, to sniff around for any potential ulterior motives here... clearly nothing solid has manifested itself yet but they're determined to make a story out of it despite this and that's where I get cynical about what some are doing.

FlutterinBantam

Looks like the "army" who support Oiirland have given O'Brien the "thumbs up".

And why wouldn't they:D, bit of a prospect of a trip to SA in 2010,"pitch camp" close to the nearest OOirish Bar ,max out the credih (sic)cards,and ring in sick if OOirland progress past the initial stages.Meanwhile gimps like Dessie Cahill will be in attendance hmmmmmph hmmmph to bring us the "culur"of the occasion and the rest of the country will go apeshít,thus increasing the offie sales and the "street parties" (drunken brawls) and keeping the country from looking at its REAL problems.

jdivision

TBH I'd much prefer if O'Brien paid his taxes here rather than seeking an ego boost through this and the stake in Aer Lingus

fly_agaric

Snickers Man wrote: »

Can it really be the case that all he wants to do is know that the massed paying punters at Croker may finally get some value for their money? Or will he expect a reward in more tangible form?

What reward can they give him?? He's already got the kudos, publicity etc.
And lets face it, isn't this the equivalent of the few hundred a year a "normal" person might give to charity for someone with wealth-beyond-the-dreams of avarice?

Snickers Man

With my cynical hat on my guess is that he just wants to implant in the public imagination the idea that it is in the nature of a wealthy businessman to hand over cash willy nilly no questions asked and no favours sought because that's the sort of thing these guys do.

Want a couple of million for a vanity project? No problem.

Want a few thousand for a pay rise? Feck off you uncompetitive commie bastard!!!!

jdivision

Better to pay other people in sport rather than engage in it yourself and say something you might regret (if it was true of course) *heads off to run in the mountains*