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Bertie's chauffeur-driven Merc clocks up €175,600 travel bill

  • 06-04-2010 11:36am
    #1
    The_Honeybadger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,219 ✭✭✭


    http://www.independent.ie/national-news/berties-chauffeurdriven-merc-clocks-up-8364175600-travel-bill-2126292.html

    I know we are all probably tired of hearing about the scandelous behaviour of our politicians, but FFS why are we funding Berties jaunts to plug his book. This really pisses me off, especially against a backdrop of removing SNA's from schools and other despicable cuts that have been made. This is yet another example of our elite living like kings while the rest of us are left be damned.
    THE cost of providing chauffeur-driven cars to four ex-taoisigh came to a massive €684,247 last year, new figures reveal.
    And former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern ran up the biggest bill in his 2006 Mercedes S350 at €175,635.
    But he was closely followed by Albert Reynolds, whose overall costs came to a total of €173,843.
    During the year, Mr Ahern travelled extensively to promote his autobiography, which was co-written with Professor Richard Aldous.
    Mr Ahern, Mr Reynolds, Garret FitzGerald and Liam Cosgrave are all entitled to a car with full-time garda driver for life.
    Normally, this involves the assignment of two gardai to each former Taoiseach, each working one week on and one week off with relief drivers when they are on holiday.
    The cost of the drivers for the four former leaders is standard, at €162,595.
    However, Mr Ahern ran up the biggest bill for fuel and maintenance costs at €13,040.


Comments

  • #2
    paddyland
    Closed Accounts Posts: 932 ✭✭✭paddyland


    Did anyone notice this snivelling waster skulking at the back of the crowd at the Easter commemorations at the GPO?

    Patriot my arse, the nerve to even show his face at such an occasion. It speaks yards that he hid at the back, coward, come out and stand over your legacy.


  • #3
    murphaph
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,049 ✭✭✭✭murphaph


    Write to ALL your TDs now and tell them that you want this privilige removed for former Taoisech. It's a pure waste of the best part of a million quid a year. If people can't be arsed to tell their TDs that this annoys them, then people can't complain when it keeps happening.


  • #4
    The_Honeybadger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,219 ✭✭✭The_Honeybadger


    murphaph wrote: »
    Write to ALL your TDs now and tell them that you want this privilige removed for former Taoisech. It's a pure waste of the best part of a million quid a year. If people can't be arsed to tell their TDs that this annoys them, then people can't complain when it keeps happening.
    Thank you murphaph, I intend to do just that.


  • #5
    Liam Byrne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,163 ✭✭✭✭Liam Byrne


    Ahern was using it to drive (get driven) around and flog his unpopular work of fiction, and to the best of my knowledge this was on Dáil days.

    Sickening!


  • #6
    yop
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators, Regional West Moderators Posts: 16,724 Mod ✭✭✭✭yop


    It does seem excessive for sure, especially to promote a book which he isn't even going to pay tax on.

    So has the "culture" really changed???


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  • #7
    Dacian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 812 ✭✭✭Dacian


    Liam Byrne wrote: »
    Ahern was using it to drive (get driven) around and flog his unpopular work of fiction, and to the best of my knowledge this was on Dáil days!

    I believe that TDs should sign in and out of the Dail. Part of their salary should be based on their attendance. Yes they often have to deal with local issues in their constituency, so can't attend but let them choose their precious salary or helping their voters..

    Draconian? Perhaps, but didn't the Finance minister AND the Taoiseach tell us to tighten our belts and make sacrifices?

    The neck on Bertie 'writing' a book and writing for a newspaper when he is supposed to be representing his constituents is disgraceful. Wonder how many issues in North Dublin have not been dealt with as he had a deadline for his editor.............


  • #8
    average_runner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,864 ✭✭✭✭average_runner


    All past taoisseachs have this right and used it. Fitzgerald was notorious for it when out of office!


  • #9
    mossfort
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 609 ✭✭✭mossfort


    Dacian wrote: »
    I believe that TDs should sign in and out of the Dail. Part of their salary should be based on their attendance. Yes they often have to deal with local issues in their constituency, so can't attend but let them choose their precious salary or helping their voters..

    Draconian? Perhaps, but didn't the Finance minister AND the Taoiseach tell us to tighten our belts and make sacrifices?

    The neck on Bertie 'writing' a book and writing for a newspaper when he is supposed to be representing his constituents is disgraceful. Wonder how many issues in North Dublin have not been dealt with as he had a deadline for his editor.............

    The tds will just get their drivers to clock in for them , whos going to know.
    i wonder who was it that thought up this stupid idea of providing chauffeur drive cars to former taoiseach?


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