Garda Earns €80,990 in overtime!

Hillel

Yet another example of inadequate goverance and lack of cost control in the public sector. One Mayo officer earned €80,990 in overtime in 2008. The total garda overtime bill for 2008 was €113m.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5781039.ece
The message has to go out loud and clear that this level of profligate waste is NOT acceptable. All of us are already paying the cost - and will shortly pay a lot more. There are options readily available, all that is lacking is the political will to implement them. There are THREE "Ministers of State" (Barry Andrews, Conor Lenihan, and John Moloney), in addition to Minister Dermot Ahern, with an interest in this area. (http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Our_ministers) Lets assume that Dermot is fully occupied with Equality and Law Reform. I know, maybe not the highest priority right now, but, lets be fair and give him the benefit of the doubt.) Surely, Barry, Conor or John could find some time to take a look at this. (Or maybe its all a false alarm and the country really can afford the €113m bill!)

If this were the private sector this figure would be causing alarm right up to director level. The line manager, and others in the chain, could expect hard questions as to why this occured. Suitable measures would be implemented to ensure no recurrance. Ah but, this is public sector la, la, land. Perofrmance bonuses were probably handed out for the extra productivity! Next time you see Dermot, Barry, Conor or John ask them about this. Demand action, demonstarble, visible, effective action. If they mutter about the difficulties,etc., tell them that this is what WE pay them for. Suggest that if they can't address this it is time that they step dowm as ministers/ministers of state. (At least we'd get some saving.)

Mena

I'm not sure where the problem is here? He worked the hours, and was paid for it. Are you suggesting he not be paid for overtime, or that no overtime be worked?

dave-higgz

Mena wrote: »

I'm not sure where the problem is here? He worked the hours, and was paid for it. Are you suggesting he not be paid for overtime, or that no overtime be worked?

+1

He's obviously devoting his life to the force. However I think a reduction in overtime or a cap on total overtime income needs to be brought in. While he, and all other gardai deserve good overtime pay it's money that the public can't afford to pay in these times.

yoshytoshy

Mena wrote: »

I'm not sure where the problem is here? He worked the hours, and was paid for it. Are you suggesting he not be paid for overtime, or that no overtime be worked?

80,000 euro overtime ? ,that is an absolutely astonishing amount of money for one year on overtime.

You could recruit at least one more garda for that ,what a monstrousity.

mike65

Was he detailed to protect Berverly Cooper?

FTA69

You could cut back on the overtime bill substantially if you didn't have carloads of Special Branch detectives engaging in low-level harrasment at Republican meetings and commemorations.

pirelli

Hillel wrote: »

Yet another example of inadequate goverance and lack of cost control in the public sector. One Mayo officer earned €80,990 in overtime in 2008. The total garda overtime bill for 2008 was €113m.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5781039.ece
The message has to go out loud and clear that this level of profligate waste is NOT acceptable. All of us are already paying the cost - and will shortly pay a lot more. There are options readily available, all that is lacking is the political will to implement them. There are THREE "Ministers of State" (Barry Andrews, Conor Lenihan, and John Moloney), in addition to Minister Dermot Ahern, with an interest in this area. (http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Our_ministers) Lets assume that Dermot is fully occupied with Equality and Law Reform. I know, maybe not the highest priority right now, but, lets be fair and give him the benefit of the doubt.) Surely, Barry, Conor or John could find some time to take a look at this. (Or maybe its all a false alarm and the country really can afford the €113m bill!)

If this were the private sector this figure would be causing alarm right up to director level. The line manager, and others in the chain, could expect hard questions as to why this occured. Suitable measures would be implemented to ensure no recurrance. Ah but, this is public sector la, la, land. Perofrmance bonuses were probably handed out for the extra productivity! Next time you see Dermot, Barry, Conor or John ask them about this. Demand action, demonstarble, visible, effective action. If they mutter about the difficulties,etc., tell them that this is what WE pay them for. Suggest that if they can't address this it is time that they step dowm as ministers/ministers of state. (At least we'd get some saving.)

If he was solving murders and researching the forensic evidence investigating other cases then he deserves to be paid for his hard work. My question would be what were we paying for:

Was it chasing motor convictions and hanging around state buildings or doing croke park.

We should simply only pay this type of overtime for valuable work and should not pay high overtime for work that an obvious few gardai could be employed to do or even not pay as much overtime for simply duties of presence in
functions etc.

Overtime for working on crime cases such as theft etc.. should be rewarded whilst croke park and other Nixers must half the rate of overtime and or we should re introduce the Garda community project and enlist citizens to help the gardai so that we can focus the gardai we have on specifically crime.

With on board computers in the traffic corp vehicles and the computerised penalty point system, the gardai should not clock up overtime on these tasks.

Overtime is good if properly used.

wow sierra

OP I am amazed that even after all the revelations of the last 6 months or so you have such faith in the ability of the sainted private sector to spot innapropriate financial activity.

Next time a drug dealer gives the two fingers on TV or 10 people are killed in one weekend on our roads, will you still be looking for a cut in Garda overtime.

Boston

yoshytoshy wrote: »

80,000 euro overtime ? ,that is an absolutely astonishing amount of money for one year on overtime.

You could recruit at least one more garda for that ,what a monstrousity.

Ironically recruitment is scaled back to save money. Same situation exists in the prison service. When you need a minimum level of service and you're not able to meet it from existing resources nor allowed to hire new staff, overtime is your only solution. I don't begrudge the Garda in question, but rather the system of management.

yoshytoshy

No one would have a problem with garda overtime. But if it's excessive across the board ,then more garda are needed.
If anything it's not fair to expect so much of a workforce.

edit : agreed boston

Daroxtar

FTA69 wrote: »

You could cut back on the overtime bill substantially if you didn't have carloads of Special Branch detectives engaging in low-level harrasment at Republican meetings and commemorations.

Observing known criminals birdwatchers is hardly harassment.

Boston

pirelli wrote: »

If he was solving murders and researching the forensic evidence investigating other cases then he deserves to be paid for his hard work. My question would be what were we paying for:

Was it chasing motor convictions and hanging around state buildings or doing croke park.

We should simply only pay this type of overtime for valuable work and should not pay high overtime for work that an obvious few gardai could be employed to do or even not pay as much overtime for simply duties of presence in
functions etc.

Overtime for working on crime cases such as theft etc.. should be rewarded whilst croke park and other Nixers must half the rate of overtime and or we should re introduce the Garda community project and enlist citizens to help the gardai so that we can focus the gardai we have on specifically crime.

With on board computers in the traffic corp vehicles and the computerised penalty point system, the gardai should not clock up overtime on these tasks.

Overtime is good if properly used.

Erm whether they're standing on the side of the road or solving crime, they're still on the job and should be paid for it. If your boss tells you to do some bull**** assignment during work hours would you turn around and say "actually, I only want half pay". Additionally "Nixers" more then pay for themselves so why should the Garda officer get his/her fair payment for services rendered.

randomer

Boston wrote: »

Erm whether they're standing on the side of the road or solving crime, they're still on the job and should be paid for it. If your boss tells you to do some bull**** assignment during work hours would you turn around and say "actually, I only want half pay". Additionally "Nixers" more then pay for themselves so why should the Garda officer get his/her fair payment for services rendered.

Woud not be better to employ two additional Gardai?

Also, is there not legislation to restrict the number of hours that an individual can work?

pawrick

randomer wrote: »

Woud not be better to employ two additional Gardai?

Also, is there not legislation to restrict the number of hours that an individual can work?

there is a freeze on recruitment as far as I know in most areas of the public service.

randomer

pawrick wrote: »

there is a freeze on recruitment as far as I know in most areas of the public service.

Really?

But surely the purpose of a recruitment freeze would be to manage costs? There must be a more cost effective solution rather than 113 million in overtime, or is Garda overtime considered sacrosanct?

randomer

How many Gardai are there? I remember hearing before that there were 12,000. An overtime bill of 113 million means that the average overtime is over 9k??? Am I missing something here?

*Honey*

randomer wrote: »

Woud not be better to employ two additional Gardai?

Also, is there not legislation to restrict the number of hours that an individual can work?

Yes, the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 allows an employee to work up to a max of 48 hours in a week. I'm not sure if Gardai are exempt from this (doctors are, I think).

randomer

*Honey* wrote: »

Yes, the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 allows an employee to work up to a max of 48 hours in a week. I'm not sure if Gardai are exempt from this (doctors are, I think).

Thanks. If they are not exempt, and the garda in question is doing just 48 hours per week, that would mean that he would have to be earning more than €130 per hour overtime?

joseph brand

AFAIK, the Garda are speedy when it comes to taking the names of 10yr olds playing football in estates, due to ball entering garden. (happened me)

They will also take down details of stolen goods, that they have no hope of recovering.

I'm not against the Gards but 80K seems like a lot of cash for a civil servant, or at least it used to???

By the by, it costs 80K per/yr to house convicts up the north (tv prog last week). Cops AND robbers cost 80,000 a yr. Nice. Do they somehow cancel out? :rolleyes:

therecklessone

randomer wrote: »

Really?

But surely the purpose of a recruitment freeze would be to manage costs? There must be a more cost effective solution rather than 113 million in overtime, or is Garda overtime considered sacrosanct?

Overtime is one of the cheapest forms of labour available, particularly if overtime is not included in reasonable pay for pension purposes.

cossworxenergy

The Garda probably deserved it. Depending on what field he was involved with most proably murder investigations. Do you know the hours and commitment that go int that and the personal effect it has.!? I doubt it. I do cos my father did it for 30 years throughout Ireland and it no mean task. I hope he spends it well fair dues to him for his commitment!!

Boston

randomer wrote: »

Woud not be better to employ two additional Gardai?

Also, is there not legislation to restrict the number of hours that an individual can work?

therecklessone wrote: »

Overtime is one of the cheapest forms of labour available, particularly if overtime is not included in reasonable pay for pension purposes.

There you have the other argument randomer. A new garda officer represents an investment for the next 20 - 30 years.

P. Breathnach

The Garda is based in Mayo. I suspect a connection with the Shell to Sea campaign.

cossworxenergy

He was actually looking after the contracters at the corrib gas field. So he put in the hours. Fair dues.

D-Generate

Surely with the hours he would work a week to clock that up he couldn't be running at the same efficiency as if two Gardai had been employed which they could have been on his salary. Its not his fault and fair play to him for the commitment he has towards his job but its terrible mismanagement that they would prefer to overwork one man instead of employing two men.

P. Breathnach

D-Generate wrote: »

... one man instead of employing two men.

Anything wrong with women?

nice_guy80

if he was working on the Sheel to Sea protests down in Belmullet I'm not surprised

most of that bill will be paid by Shell anyway

OhNoYouDidn't

randomer wrote: »

Really?

But surely the purpose of a recruitment freeze would be to manage costs? There must be a more cost effective solution rather than 113 million in overtime, or is Garda overtime considered sacrosanct?

Are you seriously trying to suggest that you are surprised that in the middle of a hiring freeze overtime doesn't increase?

I bet the OP still demands a Gard response before the phone is put down

Hillel

Mena wrote: »

I'm not sure where the problem is here?

An overtime bill of €80,990 for one individual, regardless of circumstances, should raise alarm bells. In current circumstances a total overtime bill of €113m is way too high. The issue is not with the individuals getting the overtime. Rather it is with the management of the force. Either there are insufficient resources or resources are being mismanaged. In either case corrective action is necessary. Ultimately, that responsibility lies with government – hence my first post.

Mena wrote: »

I'm not sure where the problem is here? He worked the hours, and was paid for it. Are you suggesting he not be paid for overtime

Of course not. Neither was this thread intended as an attack on rank and file members of the Garda Siochana.

pirelli wrote: »

If he was solving murders and researching the forensic evidence investigating other cases then he deserves to be paid for his hard work.

He is entitled to be paid for his work, hard, or otherwise. My concern is not with any individual Garda, rather it is with Garda HR, top-level management and both their political masters.

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

Are you seriously trying to suggest that you are surprised that in the middle of a hiring freeze overtime doesn't increase?

No, I’m not a bit surprised - in the absence of strong governance and tight controls, overtime always increases. I am asking what steps are being taken, at top-level management and political level, to curtail overtime through efficient resource management and whatever other steps are necessary. This is not rocket science, across industry we are all being asked to do “more with less”.

FTA69

Daroxtar wrote: »

Observing known criminals birdwatchers is hardly harassment.

The small Republican group Éirigi gets carloads of Branchmen at their events, as well as them tailing members and engaging in general harassment (stop and search etc), this group has absolutely no connection to any armed group so why the need to waste taxpayers money to pay detectives to sit around in Ford Mondeos all day?

OhNoYouDidn't

FTA69 wrote: »

The small Republican group Éirigi gets carloads of Branchmen at their events, as well as them tailing members and engaging in general harassment (stop and search etc), this group has absolutely no connection to any armed group so why the need to waste taxpayers money to pay detectives to sit around in Ford Mondeos all day?

Templemores finest will fight tooth and nail to keep their policitcal policing role - even if its entirely unneccescary

Rowley Birkin QC

pirelli wrote: »

Was it chasing motor convictions and hanging around state buildings or doing croke park.

We should simply only pay this type of overtime for valuable work and should not pay high overtime for work that an obvious few gardai could be employed to do or even not pay as much overtime for simply duties of presence in
functions etc.

Overtime for working on crime cases such as theft etc.. should be rewarded whilst croke park and other Nixers.

Yeah there really is no need for Gardai at a venue that holds 80,000 people in a confined space, a lot of them with beer on board and a high proportion of children who get lost and whatnot. The England v. Ireland soccer riot at Lansdowne a few years back is a prime example of what can go wrong, I was at that match and the Gardai did sterling work that night.

How is it a "nixer" when the Guard is on Duty? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

nice_guy80 wrote: »

most of that bill will be paid by Shell anyway

How do you make that out?

cast_iron

bigkev49 wrote: »

How is it a "nixer" when the Guard is on Duty? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

I think a deal was made where the Croker must pay for the Gardai on duty on match days. Hence the 'nixer' reference.

johnnyskeleton

Boston wrote: »

Ironically recruitment is scaled back to save money. Same situation exists in the prison service. When you need a minimum level of service and you're not able to meet it from existing resources nor allowed to hire new staff, overtime is your only solution. I don't begrudge the Garda in question, but rather the system of management.

I'd agree with this. That garda must have worked 50 overtime hours every week. It's not a pleasant life at all when you work 80+ hours p.w. Gardai regularly have to work double shifts and come into court on their days off.

The situation we have now is that not only are they not hiring new gardai, but they are also cutting overtime. So what we are going to see is gardai either working overtime for free or else not having enough time to deal with all their cases. This is a big problem for the country.

Dob74

Hillel wrote: »

Yet another example of inadequate goverance and lack of cost control in the public sector. One Mayo officer earned €80,990 in overtime in 2008. The total garda overtime bill for 2008 was €113m.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5781039.ece
The message has to go out loud and clear that this level of profligate waste is NOT acceptable. All of us are already paying the cost - and will shortly pay a lot more. There are options readily available, all that is lacking is the political will to implement them. There are THREE "Ministers of State" (Barry Andrews, Conor Lenihan, and John Moloney), in addition to Minister Dermot Ahern, with an interest in this area. (http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Our_ministers) Lets assume that Dermot is fully occupied with Equality and Law Reform. I know, maybe not the highest priority right now, but, lets be fair and give him the benefit of the doubt.) Surely, Barry, Conor or John could find some time to take a look at this. (Or maybe its all a false alarm and the country really can afford the €113m bill!)

If this were the private sector this figure would be causing alarm right up to director level. The line manager, and others in the chain, could expect hard questions as to why this occured. Suitable measures would be implemented to ensure no recurrance. Ah but, this is public sector la, la, land. Perofrmance bonuses were probably handed out for the extra productivity! Next time you see Dermot, Barry, Conor or John ask them about this. Demand action, demonstarble, visible, effective action. If they mutter about the difficulties,etc., tell them that this is what WE pay them for. Suggest that if they can't address this it is time that they step dowm as ministers/ministers of state. (At least we'd get some saving.)

What's the problem? If he worked the hours he should get paid. 80k is peanuts compared to what has been happening in banks.

*Honey*

therecklessone wrote: »

Overtime is one of the cheapest forms of labour available, particularly if overtime is not included in reasonable pay for pension purposes.

How can it be cheaper? If they employed a new garda, they'd be at the bottom of the scale, so probably earning less than this one - even if he/she is at the bottomo of the scale too, which I'd doubt, overtime would still be paid at more than the hourly rate.

Assuming this person earned 80K a year, there's obviously a requirement for additional gardai for that area ... at least one more. So surely paying one new recruit would be cheaper than paying an already employed garda the additional overtime? How can it be one of the cheapst forms of labour avaialble?

luckat

My only worry about this is that it's not at all healthy to work that kind of level of hours. The poor man (or woman) must have no family life, must be completely exhausted the whole time.

No one really takes workaholism seriously, but it work can be as addictive as any drug, and just as harmful if taken to excess.

However, I wouldn't be indignant, personally, about someone working hours and being paid for them. I'm indignant about the 'top' bank managers and their carry-on, yes, and about our leaders and their inability to lead, and the money both these groups are paid.

*Honey*

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

Are you seriously trying to suggest that you are surprised that in the middle of a hiring freeze overtime doesn't increase?

I work in another area of the public service and there is no only a recruitment ban but also a ban on overtime too.

OhNoYouDidn't

cast_iron wrote: »

I think a deal was made where the Croker must pay for the Gardai on duty on match days. Hence the 'nixer' reference.

all sports pay for the cop presence. the issue being that they decide the level they need and bill you for it and you have no say.

Turner

FTA69 wrote: »

The small Republican group Éirigi gets carloads of Branchmen at their events, as well as them tailing members and engaging in general harassment (stop and search etc), this group has absolutely no connection to any armed group so why the need to waste taxpayers money to pay detectives to sit around in Ford Mondeos all day?

The state are obliged to protect the public from any form of terroirist or subversive group by collecting intelligence, stopping and searching where suspicion arises and monitoring their movement.

God if they didnt monitor these groups the public would be up in arms!! (excuse the pun)

The Eirigi party seeks a British withdrawal from Ireland and the establishment of a 32-county republic.

Now we know what class of people these types of movements attract, the same type that Sinn Fein appeals to and the same type that can be found in any pub at half 10 every morning.

Dole taking criminals who all see themselves as republican soldiers. And I believe Eirigi was involced in the peaceful protests in Rossport.

So peaceful that some of the protestors have attacked, harrassed and threatened the families of their own Irish police force down there.

Im speaking from experience and from speaking first hand to many Gardai who worked down there.

Believe me i have met hundereds of them in my career.

therecklessone

*Honey* wrote: »

How can it be cheaper? If they employed a new garda, they'd be at the bottom of the scale, so probably earning less than this one - even if he/she is at the bottomo of the scale too, which I'd doubt, overtime would still be paid at more than the hourly rate.

Assuming this person earned 80K a year, there's obviously a requirement for additional gardai for that area ... at least one more. So surely paying one new recruit would be cheaper than paying an already employed garda the additional overtime? How can it be one of the cheapst forms of labour avaialble?

Costs associated with recruitment, basic recruit training, ongoing training once attested, 30+ years of salary, employers PRSI, pension contributions etc etc.

It all adds up.

You can argue that there's a greater benefit in recruiting more Gardai, but the value of that is spread over a long period of time, whereas the initial outlay involved in recruitment/training is felt in revenue terms quite early.

Daroxtar

FTA69 wrote: »

The small Republican group Éirigi gets carloads of Branchmen at their events, as well as them tailing members and engaging in general harassment (stop and search etc), this group has absolutely no connection to any armed group so why the need to waste taxpayers money to pay detectives to sit around in Ford Mondeos all day?

Eirigi may have the noblest and most honorable membership of any political party, but when the words "small republican group" come up for a lot of people alarm bells go off and its almost a natural reaction to associate them with other words such as " breakaway" or "dissadent republican".

Eirigi is a relative newcomer on the political scene and the garda are entitled to check them out to see whether they are legit or not. We dont have a direct equivelant to CIA,NSA, MI5/6 etc. but if we did they would almost certainly take an interest. Likewise political activists in any country can expect interest from the state security agencies.

State security is hardly a trivial matter and its a possibility the Gardai are keeping an eye on things because someone reported something which they are obliged to investigate.

yoshytoshy

therecklessone wrote: »

You can argue that there's a greater benefit in recruiting more Gardai, but the value of that is spread over a long period of time, whereas the initial outlay involved in recruitment/training is felt in revenue terms quite early.

Why the need for so many clerical staff in the public sector so ?

therecklessone

yoshytoshy wrote: »

Why the need for so many clerical staff in the public sector so ?

I'm sorry, you've lost me...

yoshytoshy

therecklessone wrote: »

I'm sorry, you've lost me...

It seems from what you're suggesting that there is justification in paying so much overtime. When more garda is what the country needs.

Can't understand the time element of things ,sooner is better as the country isn't getting any smaller.

Mr. Presentable

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

I'd agree with this. That garda must have worked 50 overtime hours every week. It's not a pleasant life at all when you work 80+ hours p.w. Gardai regularly have to work double shifts and come into court on their days off.

The situation we have now is that not only are they not hiring new gardai, but they are also cutting overtime. So what we are going to see is gardai either working overtime for free or else not having enough time to deal with all their cases. This is a big problem for the country.

Why must he? He might, but if he was at the top of the scale, c€45,000.00 he'd only have to do an additional 20-ish hours at double time.

Rowley Birkin QC

yoshytoshy wrote: »

Why the need for so many clerical staff in the public sector so ?

Can't remember the exact statistics but I read lately that Ireland has one of the smallest civil services per capita in Europe.

Hillel

luckat wrote: »

My only worry about this is that it's not at all healthy to work that kind of level of hours. The poor man (or woman) must have no family life, must be completely exhausted the whole time.

You are right, it is not healthy for the individual involved. But it goes well beyond that. It is reasonable to surmise that this Garda was in a high-stress situation where coolness and a steady judgement were essential. That does not sit well with excessive working hours. As I said earlier, this should have rung alarm bells, long before it reached this level. I wonder just what kind of checks are in place to avoid overtime, at this level.

luckat wrote: »

However, I wouldn't be indignant, personally, about someone working hours and being paid for them. I'm indignant about the 'top' bank managers and their carry-on, yes, and about our leaders and their inability to lead, and the money both these groups are paid.

Well you should be. Overtime at this level is not efficient, or cost effective. In a time of unprecedented cutbacks, it is simply not best use of scarce resources.

yoshytoshy

bigkev49 wrote: »

Can't remember the exact statistics but I read lately that Ireland has one of the smallest civil services per capita in Europe.

I didn't realise that all clerical staff that are payed by the government are in the civil service:o

therecklessone

yoshytoshy wrote: »

It seems from what you're suggesting that there is justification in paying so much overtime. When more garda is what the country needs.

Hey, I'm not trying to provide justification for anything, just providing a bit of context.

Certain areas of policing require increased resources for specific periods, the Corrib gas protests are a prime example...are people suggesting that we take on extra Gardai to provide a contingency in case of an increase in workload for a short period of time? What happens when the lads are left sitting around with nothing to do in the meantime?

It would be interesting to see exactly where the overtime budget goes and what it delivers, a quick google reveals little in the way of up to date figures but back in 2003 the Garda overtime bill was €66m (10% of the Garda wage bill)...of that nearly 20% was accounted for by payments to members attending court, and another 9% was to members performing escort duties:

http://www.tribune.ie/archive/article/2003/jun/22/overtime-boosts-gardas-pay-to-100000/

It's also worth noting that in 2005 the top 20 members in receipt of overtime consisted of 3 Inspectors, 10 sergeants and 7 rank-and-file Gardai, so there's a good chance the recipient of the bumper pay out this time around was a higher rank than an ordinary Garda.

Hillel

Hillel wrote: »

Yet another example of inadequate goverance and lack of cost control in the public sector. One Mayo officer earned €80,990 in overtime in 2008. The total garda overtime bill for 2008 was €113m.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5781039.ece
The message has to go out loud and clear that this level of profligate waste is NOT acceptable. All of us are already paying the cost - and will shortly pay a lot more. There are options readily available, all that is lacking is the political will to implement them. There are THREE "Ministers of State" (Barry Andrews, Conor Lenihan, and John Moloney), in addition to Minister Dermot Ahern, with an interest in this area. (http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Our_ministers) Lets assume that Dermot is fully occupied with Equality and Law Reform. I know, maybe not the highest priority right now, but, lets be fair and give him the benefit of the doubt.) Surely, Barry, Conor or John could find some time to take a look at this. (Or maybe its all a false alarm and the country really can afford the €113m bill!)

If this were the private sector this figure would be causing alarm right up to director level. The line manager, and others in the chain, could expect hard questions as to why this occured. Suitable measures would be implemented to ensure no recurrance. Ah but, this is public sector la, la, land. Perofrmance bonuses were probably handed out for the extra productivity! Next time you see Dermot, Barry, Conor or John ask them about this. Demand action, demonstarble, visible, effective action. If they mutter about the difficulties,etc., tell them that this is what WE pay them for. Suggest that if they can't address this it is time that they step dowm as ministers/ministers of state. (At least we'd get some saving.)

Who was it ??? Axl Foley??