Think-ins

screamer

Is it just me or WFT are these political parties wasting money on jollies up and down the country to hotels to "think-in" and come out with SFA anyways? surely there must be some meeting rooms in Leinster house they could use, or what about that big expensive building that they spent millions on buying and restoring - Iveagh House that is never used. This type of wasteful spending really shows that they are not in touch with the "real world" at all..... I dunno, I despair at what is running this country into the ground.

PCPhoto

the country went to sh1t years ago .... no-one seems to care as long as the political spindoctors keep telling us that we're on the road to recovery - it may take us some time but we'll get there.

closer to election time we'll be hearing ...... we're nearly there - we've gotten on the road to recovery now we need to stay in power to continue our great work.

similar to the Iaranroid Eireann - "we're not there yet - but we're getting there" - which roughly translated means - please excuse the sh1t service, we dont care about you but if we smile and say sorry we hope you will go away and stop complaining.

the whole political and judicial system needs an overhaul - but no-one is willing to actually say that or do anything about it.

EDIT:
Political system is set up to have a buddy system - we're all part of the "political gang" so we all get away with the same things...if someone is caught out by the media he is hung out to dry by his "mates" but once the fuss has gone away ....his buddies pool together to "sort" him/her out.

Judicial system is set up so criminals get the best of help to stay out of jail (legal aid, jumping queues to FAS courses, etc),
- they are given every opportunity to apologise and get off with lesser sentences by the judges,
- there are little or no prison spaces so criminals avoid jailtime.
- judges see career criminals every day and still don't punish them enough to deter them from re-offending
- in many cases life behind bars is better for some criminals.

- criminals are still allowed drugs while behind bars (if they wanted to stop the supply the could), criminals are given 20% off EVERY Jail sentence even before they even goto jail for "good behaviour" ....so they won't riot or cause hassle for the prison officers.

we need more power and more gardai on the streets (hundreds of them) ...and need them to actually have a fairly strict zero tollerance attitude when it comes to breaking the law....I know we all break the laws at some point - so some of the laws need to be reviewed too.

Jo King

screamer wrote: »

Is it just me or WFT are these political parties wasting money on jollies up and down the country to hotels to "think-in" and come out with SFA anyways? surely there must be some meeting rooms in Leinster house they could use, or what about that big expensive building that they spent millions on buying and restoring - Iveagh House that is never used. This type of wasteful spending really shows that they are not in touch with the "real world" at all..... I dunno, I despair at what is running this country into the ground.

The are party functions so they would have to pay rent for Iveagh House or any other Government building. Most of the TDs would have to stay in hotels anyway as they do not live in Dublin. Meetings in Dublin are likely to lead to Ministers sneaking back to their desks and having civil servants on hand to keep in touch with department business.

BlaasForRafa

Am I the only one that considers the phrase "Fianna Fail Think-in" is a gross contradiction in terms?

evenmicheal

They are just an excuse for a good session

mike65

"Drinks-ins" as I think they should be known from here on, are merely a way to fool the wider party that thier various concerns and even ideas are being listened to. Then the party leadership pisses off back to Dublin and has forgotten whatever was put forward by the time they reach the M50.

mikemac

screamer wrote: »

Is it just me or WFT are these political parties wasting money on jollies up and down the country to hotels to "think-in" and come out with SFA anyways? surely there must be some meeting rooms in Leinster house they could use, or what about that big expensive building that they spent millions on buying and restoring - Iveagh House that is never used. This type of wasteful spending really shows that they are not in touch with the "real world" at all..... I dunno, I despair at what is running this country into the ground.

There are rules, like parties can't use government stationary and resources for canvassing supporters.

If any party got free use of Iveagh House or Farmleigh House or wherever I'd be reading why are political parties using government buildings rent free for their own uses.
Why aren't they supporting Irish hotels?? And then they do and more outrage

Most party members aren't from Dublin.
And if it's a think in then best to get out of familiar surroundings and go somewhere different every year.
FF went to Athlone last year and Galway this year, it'll be somewhere else in 2011