Brian Cowen's Holidays

Long Onion

I heard an interview with Brian Cowen the other day, I think he was on about NAMA. The interview was been given at the Galway Races. This got me thinking a bit about his holidays. As we all pay his wages, did he ask any of you for that time off, 'cause he didn't ask me.

With the holiday's the Dail gets, are they not a bit like teachers in so far as you are off at easter, christmas, halloween and the summer - tat's your lot.

I do understand that as the leader of the country he will have to meet union heads, visiting heads of state etc bu the Galway F*cking races - come on man. Get back to work and stop dossing if you want to book holidays ask your employers if it's ok or not. I mean the man gets paid more than Obama and then just fecks off to the horsies on a weekday!:mad:

Is this on?

My name is URL

C'mon man... 2 threads about the guverment in the space of 30 mins

It's bad enough that we have them in charge

the only thing worse is reading or thinking about it on a Tuesday morning

Long Onion

Yeah ... i know it's a downer after the long weekend but I live in the sticks with no 'tinternet and so these things build on me over the weekend.

Sorry for the pain:(

whadabouchasir

Long Onion wrote: »

Sorry for the pain:(

That's what she said.

The Davestator

Long Onion wrote: »

I heard an interview with Brian Cowen the other day, I think he was on about NAMA. The interview was been given at the Galway Races. This got me thinking a bit about his holidays. As we all pay his wages, did he ask any of you for that time off, 'cause he didn't ask me.

With the holiday's the Dail gets, are they not a bit like teachers in so far as you are off at easter, christmas, halloween and the summer - tat's your lot.

I do understand that as the leader of the country he will have to meet union heads, visiting heads of state etc bu the Galway F*cking races - come on man. Get back to work and stop dossing if you want to book holidays ask your employers if it's ok or not. I mean the man gets paid more than Obama and then just fecks off to the horsies on a weekday!:mad:
Is this on?

The obama comparrision really annoys me - obama may get less money (marginally) but he gets a plane, a house, lots of staff etc. He couldn't spend his salary if he tried, its just pocket money. Also, he gets paid for the rest of his life and gets secret service protection etc forever too.

The gov are knobs but this argument doesnt stack up.

*awaits the inevitable onslaught from Obama drones*

mike65

And Cowen doesn't get paid for the rest of his life? You are aware of his several pensions? And he also gets security for the rest of his life.

The gubberment also has a jet at its disposal, no doubt he makes use of it.

Biggins

The Davestator wrote: »

The obama comparrision...
Also, he gets paid for the rest of his life and gets secret service protection etc forever too....

Just for the record, the rules regarding secret service protection have changed. Ex-president's are now only allowed secret service protection for ten years after they leave office.

In 1965, Congress authorized the Secret Service (Public Law 89-186) to protect a former president and his/her spouse during their lifetime, unless they decline protection. In 1997, Congress enacted legislation (Public Law 103-329) that limits Secret Service protection for former presidents to 10 years after leaving office. Under this new law, individuals who are in office before January 1, 1997, will continue to receive Secret Service protection for their lifetime. Individuals elected to office after that time will receive protection for 10 years after leaving office. Therefore, President Clinton will be the last president to receive lifetime protection.

http://www.secretservice.gov/faq.shtml

niceirishfella

My name is URL wrote: »

C'mon man... 2 threads about the guverment in the space of 30 mins

It's bad enough that we have them in charge

the only thing worse is reading or thinking about it on a Tuesday morning

lol...........Long Onion, you need to get out more - like you've got your Location in your profile as : Wille O'Dea's 'tache???!!!?!?!:p

Aidric

Long Onion wrote: »

This got me thinking a bit about his holidays. As we all pay his wages, did he ask any of you for that time off, 'cause he didn't ask me.

How dare he use his holiday entitlements.

johnny_knoxvile

niceirishfella wrote: »

lol...........Long Onion, you need to get out more - like you've got your Location in your profile as : Wille O'Dea's 'tache???!!!?!?!:p

it could be worse, it could be Mary Harney's tache

Long Onion

Aidric wrote: »

How dare he use his holiday entitlements.

This is what i mean - surely his holiday entitlements are the standard and very generous Dail holidays why should he be allowed feck off to the races at the drop of a hat when the country's in the sh1tter

Long Onion

niceirishfella wrote: »

lol...........Long Onion, you need to get out more - like you've got your Location in your profile as : Wille O'Dea's 'tache???!!!?!?!:p

Not my fault, it was nowhere near when i moved here - it just kinda enveloped me

mickoneill30

Long Onion wrote: »

The interview was been given at the Galway Races. This got me thinking a bit about his holidays. As we all pay his wages, did he ask any of you for that time off, 'cause he didn't ask me.

Giving the interview isn't holidays is it? I'd be pretty annoyed being asked about work stuff on my holidays.

Long Onion wrote: »

This is what i mean - surely his holiday entitlements are the standard and very generous Dail holidays why should he be allowed feck off to the races at the drop of a hat when the country's in the sh1tter

Do they only work when they're sitting in the Dail?

Biggins

mike65 wrote: »

And Cowen doesn't get paid for the rest of his life? You are aware of his several pensions? And he also gets security for the rest of his life...

Yep. Not many folk know that if any elected TD gets to the four year mark as an elected official, they are entitled to a TD's state pension for the rest of their lives (and this is on top of the ordinary state pension).
If a TD is then elected for eight years, he gets 2 TD pensions.
Elected 4 times = 4 TD pensions and so on...

Look at Harney (if you can stomach such an idea): she is now an elected official for around 26 years - add up her pensions which she is now entitled to. Its a shocking amount of money. Don't forget that also as she/they hold any further higher office/role, those pensions increase dramatically even more!

They have it made.

I personally suspect this is why the greens sitting around the state table, is hanging on.
Just to hit the four year mark!
(Not that they will admit that to their members!)

...O' and then their is their other pensions! Such as the ones they are entitled to as teachers who are on a "break" while acting as a TD.
See:
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/shame-of-pensions-on-double-for-teachertds-1726771.html
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ahern-will-profit-by-quitting-politics-after-td-pension-cut-1775750.html

Ministers on €140,000 in triple pension deal
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ministers-on-8364140000-in-triple-pension-deal-1720661.html

Politicians get pension payments on top of salary
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/politicians-get-pension-payments-on-top-of-salary-1623010.html

Fury over pension perk for minister

Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe is getting a teaching pension of €12,000 after tax, or €230.45 per week, from his time as a college lecturer -- a job he has not held since becoming a TD in 1987.
This is on top of his Cabinet salary of €200,000 plus other ministerial perks.

Source: http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fury-over-pension-perk-for-minister-1772631.html

Its just pure financial madness.
The next time you pay your taxes, you know now where its also all going!
Will ye get angry enough to do anything about it? For the majority of folk, nope, that's the new Irish apathy for you.

Long Onion

mickoneill30 wrote: »

Giving the interview isn't holidays is it? I'd be pretty annoyed being asked about work stuff on my holidays.

Does that mean that I can send an e-mail from the Bahamas and say that i'm working?

mickoneill30 wrote: »

Do they only work when they're sitting in the Dail?

What other work can you do from the betting ring at the Galway Races - why would Cowen need to go there as any part of his job?

I couldn't give a fcuk if he was at the camel racing in Congo.

mickoneill30

Long Onion wrote: »

Does that mean that I can send an e-mail from the Bahamas and say that i'm working?

Ehm yeah. If it's for work then why not

Long Onion wrote: »

What other work can you do from the betting ring at the Galway Races - why would Cowen need to go there as any part of his job?

What's that got to do with anything. If he's giving an interview about Nama he could be doing it from the moon for all I care, it's still work, unless he's doing it for fun. I'm not saying that all his time in Galway is work but it's a pretty crappy holiday if even 10% is work.

Edit: I'm not saying that I disagree with politicians working during their holidays, for their pay and perks I'd expect them to work longer hours, I'm just disagreeing with people who say that once the Dail is closed they're all off to the beaches.

Flyer1

If you dont like it then get off your arse and do something about it.

Long Onion

Flyer1 wrote: »

If you dont like it then get off your arse and do something about it.

I am. For each day of ars*ing around by any TD outside the Dail holidays I am going to under pay my taxes and refuse to pay either my TV license, my Road Tax, my hospital bill etc., etc.

Join me if you like

Biggins

Flyer1 wrote: »

If you dont like it then get off your arse and do something about it.

I did!

ejmaztec

Long Onion wrote: »

I am. For each day of ars*ing around by any TD outside the Dail holidays I am going to under pay my taxes and refuse to pay either my TV license, my Road Tax, my hospital bill etc., etc.

Join me if you like

Let us know what days you're in court and we'll all be in the public gallery with our popcorn.