Ministers Mammy costs us €20k +

bon ami

The Sunday Times reports today that Mary Hanafin brought her mother on official trips at a cost of 20 grand for flights alone. They failed to ask the Minister what purpose her mother served on these trips (she wasn't there to make the sandwiches as I am sure they stayed 5 star as our ministers are accustomed to) and why the taxpayer had to pick up the bill for her junket. The €20k only covered flights by the way.

These stories about the spending habits of our elected representatives have been coming out over the past number of months and many more would be in the public arena but for the cost of getting the information under the Freedom of Information Act. I wonder why it costs the media so much to get information about how politicians spend our money?

yoshytoshy

We're special ,we deserve everything and we don't even have to do anything to get it.

Ring any bells ?

Padraig Mor

Didn't Hanafin's mammy take a fall in the dail a few years ago and get a tidy sum in compo? Or was it Sweary Mary's?

murphaph

Is the story online?

FFS, sad, but nothing surprises me with these people any more. Whatever sh!te excuses these thieves have given us for bringing their spouses on official "business", bringing your mother should surely, 110% be a resignation matter.

I know for absolute certain that if a british government minister was found to have done this, they would be forced out and if not, the british electorate would be guaranteed to remove them from office at the next election (along with their party!).

flutered

it was the teachers mammy, plus some time afterwards she appealed to parents not to claim against schools if their kids got injured while at school, she was minister for education at the time, one law for them etc.

Sir Oxman

And she was singled out for praise at the height of the expenses headlines as being the only one not with her nose in the trough!

She's widowed so obviously someone of her family *needs* to get the snout wet - after all, it's only public money - it's not real like...

Liam Byrne

At this stage no amount of waste or corruption by FF would surprise me.

Sad state of affairs, but true.

PomBear

In all fairness, Mary Hanafin's a widow so she is no different to other ministers taking their spouses. She's no worse than the rest.

murphaph

PomBear wrote: »

In all fairness, Mary Hanafin's a widow so she is no different to other ministers taking their spouses. She's no worse than the rest.

What a load of crap. She's a widow, so fcuking what tbh. My mother is a widow as well, she wouldn't steal €20k from the taxpayers' are pocket though.

bamboozle

not suprised with anything she does, she still has her teacher's post held for her so whoever's been filling it since she became a td wont qualify for permancy, she's also still availing of her teacher's pension.

unless the mother was filling an official role she needs to reimburse the state, simple as.

PomBear

murphaph wrote: »

What a load of crap. She's a widow, so fcuking what tbh. My mother is a widow as well, she wouldn't steal €20k from the taxpayers' are pocket though.

i'm not saying it's right but she's no worse than the others

ILA

I'd say Hannafin's and other Minister's mammys and even cousins have cost us alot more then 20k through other benefit-in-kind nepotistic schemes!

The words of Michael Moore's narration of a scene in Sicko come to mind: "Oh. They all loved their mothers. It 's just that they didn't love our mothers as much."

gandalf

PomBear wrote: »

i'm not saying it's right but she's no worse than the others

You see this is the problem because the "others" do it, it must be ok :rolleyes:

This is exactly the mentality that has this country sliding down into the sewers. It is unacceptable and this kind of gouging has to be stamped out.

PomBear

gandalf wrote: »

You see this is the problem because the "others" do it, it must be ok :rolleyes:

This is exactly the mentality that has this country sliding down into the sewers. It is unacceptable and this kind of gouging has to be stamped out.

you're dead right but you can't pigeon hole her

gandalf

PomBear wrote: »

you're dead right but you can't pigeon hole her

The witch hunt has to start somewhere, why not with Mary Hanafin?

DeVore

But you can say that she is out of line.

Just cos worse things have been done doesn't make this ok!!

What next.... "Ah Shure I only assualted him Judge, dat fella over der is after murdering some poor fecker... I shouldnt get sentenced!!!"


DeV.

johnnyskeleton

Originally politicians were not paid. It was considered an honour and a public duty to sit in the then westminister parliament, and if that meant you had to pay for your own way over there and accomodation while there, so be it. Of course a particularly talented person could get a bursary from a political party or a campaign donation, but there was no direct incentive to be a politician.

This changed with social changes whereby ordinary joe soaps were being elected, so they had to be paid a stypend to keep them at parliament and to give them a few quid to compensate them for the loss of other trade or profession. But it was still quite low and certainly not a whole lot better than working in a factory or whatever.

Of course this benefitted the Irish even more, because while previously we relied on aristocrats to represent us in westminister, now the ordinary joe could represent his people.

So at one stage, politicians getting expenses and a salary was actually (believe it or not) a benefit to democracy.

However, that has changed over the years, mostly because politicians were in charge of their own payrises.

Now they have monstrous salaries and pensions, lots of time off and never have to pay for a thing because it is all fully comp. Want a few pints after work - but of course taoiseach, don't even think of putting your hand in your pocket. Want to fly to new york for st patricks day - sure, but make sure you carry these weeds over with you so it looks like youre there for work. Of course you'll need to get a new suit because we can't have you looking like a chubby schoolboy whose buttons are about to pop, so we'll tell Louis to put the suit on the government tab. etc.

I think we have to go back to a situation whereby the money they get is just enough to make it viable for a person of low income and no wealth to sit as a TD. Arguably keeping thei pay low means that they have to suppliment, but sure if you look at the current bunch they are supplimenting their already massive salaries, so I can't see it making much difference.

mikemac

Yes, she is a widow.
But because other politicians take their husbands/wives doesn't excuse it.
I've no issue with Mammy Hanafin going on trips but it shouldn't be coming from taxpayer money.

But my main rage goes to our local county councillors who go to Boston every year and also take their husband/wifes.

I can understand IDA, Ministers, State organizations like Bord Bia going on junkets and I do think they have a lot of value.
The Presidents recent trip to Russia was very succusful

But feckin county councillors taking their partners around the world? Come off it

PCPhoto

does anyone know where she flew that cost €20K ....I flew all over east and west coast of USA for a fraction of that !!

PomBear

gandalf wrote: »

The witch hunt has to start somewhere, why not with Mary Hanafin?

because you treat all ministers the same not because she takes her ma instead of a spouse

Olaf

Wasn't the reason for spouses going along in relation to the dignitaries being visted having their spouses in attendance also so it would have seemed a bit strange if they weren't there?

So that weak argument doesn't even apply here.

Her mother cost the state €20000 at least and served it no purpose. That could have paid the salary of a classroom assistant for an entire year.

D-Generate

So no one has provided a link yet to a reputable news source for this?

gandalf

D-Generate wrote: »

So no one has provided a link yet to a reputable news source for this?

Details of travel for former education minister Mary Hanafin have also emerged: more than €280,000 was spent in three years on the minister, her mother Mona and several civil servants.

That is one story after a brief search from the Sunday Tribune

toolfan1912

Liam Byrne wrote: »

At this stage no amount of waste or corruption by FF would surprise me.

Sad state of affairs, but true.

Too be honest I don't think there's any politician or political party out there that hasn't not been involved in corruption, it's at the heart of all governments around the world. They are the elite and we are all just the worker ants.

We'll all complain but no action usually is ever taken, maybe perhaps after this years budget the **** might really hit the fan, apparently heard from a reliable source that the Irish Army have been training over the last few months in case all hell brakes loose after the budget is announced.

Sir Oxman

D-Generate wrote: »

So no one has provided a link yet to a reputable news source for this?

http://www.kenfoxe.com/2010/10/micheal-martins-e3800-hotel-bill-and-minister-hanafins-mother/

scroll to bottom for actual travel expense reports for her and her mammy

gandalf

toolfan1912 wrote: »

Too be honest I don't think there's any politician or political party out there that hasn't not been involved in corruption, it's at the heart of all governments around the world. They are the elite and we are all just the worker ants.

It doesn't mean we have to tolerate it any longer thought does it?

We'll all complain but no action usually is ever taken, maybe perhaps after this years budget the **** might really hit the fan, apparently heard from a reliable source that the Irish Army have been training over the last few months in case all hell brakes loose after the budget is announced.

This story did the rounds last year as well. They were doing urban riot training last year and the Gardai did buy new riot equipment last year under the expectations that civil unrest would kick off.

D-Generate

gambiaman wrote: »

http://www.kenfoxe.com/2010/10/micheal-martins-e3800-hotel-bill-and-minister-hanafins-mother/

scroll to bottom for actual travel expense reports for her and her mammy

Jesus, fair enough! Mary must be figuring her days are numbered and trying to abuse the system as much as possible. A disgrace and to be expected from FF.

Manach

I don't have an issue with a politician being accompanied by one personal acquintance during an official as it seems to be a custom - even though given the current financial situation this a custom that must cease.
My issue is Micheál Martin expense's. "The room, which came to a cost of €3,843" as per the link provide by Gandalf. Two nights, for what is a good percentage of a working wage in a year, a tad over the top.

yoshytoshy

gambiaman wrote: »

http://www.kenfoxe.com/2010/10/micheal-martins-e3800-hotel-bill-and-minister-hanafins-mother/

scroll to bottom for actual travel expense reports for her and her mammy

9k for a trip to Dehli and €240 medical expenses on top of that .................. ,poor dear.

Zambia

Hang on you cant say tto the people

"Times have changed we cant carry on as before"

Yet carry on as before yourself.

The Raven.

flutered wrote: »

it was the teachers mammy, plus some time afterwards she appealed to parents not to claim against schools if their kids got injured while at school, she was minister for education at the time, one law for them etc.

Yes indeed, that was Hanafin.

One of the biggest critics of the compensation culture, Minister Mary Hanafin, has refused to comment after her mother won damages follwing a fall at Leinster House.

Ms Hanafin's mother has settled a personal injuries claim against the State after the fall while on a visit to Government buildings in 2007.
http://www.herald.ie/national-news/hanafins-mum-makes-compo-claim-after-she-falls-in-leinster-house-1624065.html

And the same 'critic' who (according to the Sunday Tribune), spent more than €280,000 of taxpayers money in three years on travel for herself, her mother, and several civil servants, Mary Hanafin said in relation to Ivor Callely's expenses:

‘It is an embarrassment and it also discredits the whole of the political profession.’

http://www.thepost.ie/breakingnews/ireland/eygbidcwqlmh/

Spoken like a typical Fianna Fail hypocrite :rolleyes:!

jmayo

feelingstressed wrote: »

Yes, she is a widow.
But because other politicians take their husbands/wives doesn't excuse it.
I've no issue with Mammy Hanafin going on trips but it shouldn't be coming from taxpayer money.

But my main rage goes to our local county councillors who go to Boston every year and also take their husband/wifes.

I can understand IDA, Ministers, State organizations like Bord Bia going on junkets and I do think they have a lot of value.
The Presidents recent trip to Russia was very succusful

But feckin county councillors taking their partners around the world? Come off it

I do remember some years ago story about either Tip North or Tipp South county council sending more delegates to a public housing conference in the Caribean than the city of London.

yoshytoshy wrote: »

9k for a trip to Dehli and €240 medical expenses on top of that .................. ,poor dear.

Maybe the two of them were going to convert the heathens over there. :rolleyes:

The Raven. wrote: »

Yes indeed, that was Hanafin.
...
And the same 'critic' who (according to the Sunday Tribune), spent more than €280,000 of taxpayers money in three years on travel for herself, her mother, and several civil servants, Mary Hanafin said in relation to Ivor Callely's expenses:
...

I wonder why this story was not taken up by the sindo/indo ?

Would it have anything to do with fact that fionan sheehan the political editor of the indo is married to one of hannafin's €90,000 a year plus policy advisors and ff local election candidate, averil power ?

Sir Oxman

jmayo wrote: »

I do remember some years ago story about either Tip North or Tipp South county council sending more delegates to a public housing conference in the Caribean than the city of London.



Maybe the two of them were going to convert the heathens over there. :rolleyes:



I wonder why this story was not taken up by the sindo/indo ?

Would it have anything to do with fact that fionan sheehan the political editor of the indo is married to one of hannafin's €90,000 a year plus policy advisors and ff local election candidate, averil power ?

They've picked it up today
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/euro20000-spent-on-overseas-trips-for-hanafins-mother-2363459.html

This is an interesting quote at the end of it:
"
Official guidelines from the Department of Finance on trips abroad for ministers and civil servants dictate that travel costs should not be paid if people have no direct connection with the department in question.
However, there is an exception where an invitation is extended by a "host country for a special occasion and the appropriate minister has certified that attendance is in the public interest"."

cyclopath2001

gambiaman wrote: »

They've picked it up today
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/euro20000-spent-on-overseas-trips-for-hanafins-mother-2363459.html.....it was suggested to me that my mother might like to accompany me and did just on St Patrick's Day and on the state visit of the President."

You see it was not her idea at all, 'it was suggested to her'.

That's all right then.

bamboozle

wouldnt it be nice if we all got a gift from the state to the tune of 20k when someone close passes away. Unbelievable neck, yet with FF i am never suprised.

bon ami

bamboozle wrote: »

wouldnt it be nice if we all got a gift from the state to the tune of 20k when someone close passes away. Unbelievable neck, yet with FF i am never suprised.

When my Dad passed away , my mother who needed 24 x 7 care had to enter a nursing home. We sold the family house to fund this and for the 1st 3 years she paid €120k and got no help from the state or subvention. She was worried sick about running out of money and being turfed out of what was in effect her home. For the final two years of her life she got some intervention. She had to attend A & E on a number of occasions often spending more than 36 hours on a trolley.

Unlike Hanafin's mother the state ignored her- she was a non person . Of course she was not the mother of a minister and had no clout, she was only an ordinary Joan Soap. Against all my own principles I have told my own children become involved in politics - yes they will have to be dishonest, tell lies, develop a neck like a bockeys jollix but they will be able to give the 2 fingers to everybody and look after their own.

Up the Republic.