Cowen's new gaff

darkman2

At your expense of course.......

www.farmleigh.ie

His actual house which he is expected to except is right beside this but cant be shown for 'security reasons'. It is equally plush.


Who says politicians are out of touch:pac:

Rb

Ah who cares at least we're rid of Bertie "um eh ah" Aherne.

delta_bravo

Well it is the official residence of An Taoiseach.

darkman2

delta_bravo wrote: »

Well it is the official residence of An Taoiseach.

Could they not have just stuck him in St Lukes?

delta_bravo

darkman2 wrote: »

Could they not have just stuck him in St Lukes?

Why would he go there? Thats a private residence/ constituency office for Bertie.

chopperbyrne

delta_bravo wrote: »

Why would he go there? Thats a private residence/ constituency office for Bertie.

The less Mercedes Benz's and Garda cars pulled up on the footpath there, the better, thank you very much!

pretty*monster

darkman2 wrote: »

At your expense of course.......

But we were paying for it anyway when Ahern wasn't living there. Cowen might as well move into it, it makes no difference.

Sherifu

I not paying tax for Biffo to waste.

Davidius

The government has already found a way to do everything for free. The whole tax collecting is just a show so nobody knows their secret.

Victor

I believe it is somewhere here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=dublin&ie=UTF8&ll=53.363825,-6.360687&spn=0.001444,0.003455&t=h&z=18

jaykay74

Nice gaff and what a garden

Wishbone Ash

I think he should be in Farmleigh House itself rather than a stewards house. he is after all, the Prime Minister of the country.

Could you imagine any other PM living in a servant's house?

MarinoMark

Nice to see Bertie still has his nice CL 350, saw it outside St Lukes today, He has lost his 5 series chase car, Just a mondeo behind him now !!

AckwelFoley

Hes the leader of the country.

The house must represent this.

FunkZ

I agree with Synper. What sort of house does Gordon Brown have?

Victor

FunkZ wrote: »

I agree with Synper. What sort of house does Gordon Brown have?

Small flat over his office in a townhouse off Whitehall I think.

Guy:Incognito

FunkZ wrote: »

I agree with Synper. What sort of house does Gordon Brown have?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_Downing_Street

Aisling(",)

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I think he should be in Farmleigh House itself rather than a stewards house. he is after all, the Prime Minister of the country.

Could you imagine any other PM living in a servant's house?

but farmleigh is open to the public and gets many visiters throughout the year and he dosent seem to mind the stewards house so leave him to itl.

johnnyrotten

Get over it people hes the leader of the country.
Pity Bertie left all the same..................

Wishbone Ash

FunkZ wrote: »

I agree with Synper. What sort of house does Gordon Brown have?

It's a mid-terraced one in Downing Street, London.

Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I think he should be in Farmleigh House itself rather than a stewards house. he is after all, the Prime Minister of the country.

Could you imagine any other PM living in a servant's house?

Aisling(",) wrote: »

but farmleigh is open to the public and gets many visiters throughout the year and he dosent seem to mind the stewards house so leave him to itl.

I know it's open to the public but, IMO, it should have been purchased for our leader and not opened to the public. What Mr Cowen's minds isn't relevant - I'm referring to the office of Taoiseach itself rather than any incumbent of that office.

What next - our President in the Park Ranger's house in St Stephen's Green?

Gone West

I hate the way people will begrudge the government basic expenses.
It shows a very narrow minded viewpoint.
There are lots of reasons for the taioseach to have a nice house.

1 quick reason off the top of my head: The leader of the state (we democratically elected the government into power) often holds receptions for foreign dignitaries and businessmen who have a view to their company/country investing in Ireland or other beneficial trade agreements. If the leaders house isn't up to scratch with other leaders residences of similar sized nations, it reflects badly on Ireland in the visitors eyes.
Like it or not (I personally don't but I accept it) thats the simple truth.

Investing in property which can be used as the primary residence of a state leader in the event that he/she lives outside of reasonable commuting distance to Dublin is a good idea. Simple as.

kevmy

Don't really mind this considering that the house was already in state hands and you might as well make some use out of it.

Also Biffo's from the country and doesn't have a place in Dublin (he rents a flat) which he'll need now. Bertie had his house. Before that Charlie had his mansion bought his money.

I'd prefer a house provided by the state in an above board manner than private property obtained through dodgy dealings

Keano

That is just going to be his crash pad for wild parties.

His family will remain in Offaly.

Who me?

I don't begrudge him the use of the house. It's important that he portrays a good image of the country. Our Taoiseach should not be living in a flat.

Steve

Didn't bertie use the excuse that he didn't have a whitehouse or a no.10 as one of the reasons for being the highest paid prime minister in the universe?

Does this mean biffo's going to take a pay cut if he uses the new gaff?

Wishbone Ash

kevmy wrote: »

Also Biffo's from the country and doesn't have a place in Dublin (he rents a flat)

AFAIK he owns the flat on Golden Lane.

flogen

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I know it's open to the public but, IMO, it should have been purchased for our leader and not opened to the public. What Mr Cowen's minds isn't relevant - I'm referring to the office of Taoiseach itself rather than any incumbent of that office.

What next - our President in the Park Ranger's house in St Stephen's Green?

I think Farmleigh House would be a bit much tbh - it's used best in its current guise.

I've not seen the servant's quarters but I'd imagine they're no squat - certainly not comparable to the likes of a park ranger's house.

Assuming they housed the entire staff of Farmleigh House I'd imagine they're quite big, to be honest.

Have the OPW finished working on them or is it still being redeveloped anyway?

rollie

darkman2 wrote: »

Could they not have just stuck him in St Lukes?

no beds....

Who me?

rollie wrote: »

no beds....

Ha! Ha!

cutbacks I suppose.

O'Coonassa

snyper wrote: »

Hes the leader of the country.

The house must represent this.

http://library.thinkquest.org/5008/_borders/shack.jpg

darkman2

lol

kowloon

I think it would be very progressive if we became a state that didn't consider our politicians as superior and deserving of privilage over the rest of the population.
Or maybe we coud give Cowen a big fat pay rise on the premise that he can't possibly fu<k things up. Maybe a harem of dancing ladies who can lick his balls while he's in the Dail. :pac:

darkman2

http://i26.tinypic.com/rjr20z.jpg

ART6

Like others in this thread have said, he's the leader (and representative) of this country. Whether we like it or not, other countries will expect our senior politicians to be maintained in a style that befits the perceived staus of the country. While I personally think that all politicians should be consigned to dog kennels, that's not how it is. A state residence for our first minister is a miniscule charge against the taxpayer and not worth getting excited about.

jesus_thats_gre

darkman2 wrote: »

At your expense of course.......

www.farmleigh.ie

His actual house which he is expected to except is right beside this but cant be shown for 'security reasons'. It is equally plush.


Who says politicians are out of touch:pac:

Politicians are out of touch?

Where the **** do you expect him to live then?

doonothing

I miss Bertie..

Steve

ART6 wrote: »

A state residence for our first minister is a miniscule charge against the taxpayer and not worth getting excited about.

Sorry but that's bolicks.

Bertie gave himself a 30 grand raise last year and part of his justification was that he didn't have a state residence. Biffo has now walked into the same salary and we are expected to accept him getting the same pay with farmleigh thrown in as a benefit???

delta_bravo

stevec wrote: »

Sorry but that's bolicks.

Bertie gave himself a 30 grand raise last year and part of his justification was that he didn't have a state residence. Biffo has now walked into the same salary and we are expected to accept him getting the same pay with farmleigh thrown in as a benefit???

Yes. He didnt raise his salary, his predecessor did. I know its massive but if I was Brian Cowen I would see no reason to lower it.

Steve

delta_bravo wrote: »

Yes. He didnt raise his salary, his predecessor did. I know its massive but if I was Brian Cowen I would see no reason to lower it.

Bertie was MD of Ireland Ltd. Brian Cowen was the company accountant - he knew what he was doing.