Why the mass exodus going on

Trampas

Why is there such a mass exodus going on in the dail.

Is it they are afraid they won't get re-elected or is it to do with pensions or is it a bit of both or something else?

gandalf

I have a feeling that there is a fear that whoever gets into Government next may change the pensions rules to mirror the real world. As in wait until 65 before they get their pensions.

GSF

gandalf wrote: »

I have a feeling that there is a fear that whoever gets into Government next may change the pensions rules to mirror the real world. As in wait until 65 before they get their pensions.

they would probably raise the retirement age to 70 at the same time for the rest of us.

Poly

Maybe there is some very large and ugly revelation coming down the tracks

gandalf

I believe it will be raised to 66 in three years and eventually to 68 in the long term.

PeterIanStaker

They get to retire on up to three large pensions now, without having to go through the effort of trying to fight for a seat that'll just go to some other gombeen/terrorist/eejit. They essentially have gotten away with f***ing up the country to the point where there are people with PhD's applying for Burger King.

leeroybrown

It's simple! Rats, sinking ship...

ilovelamp2000

Trampas wrote: »

Why is there such a mass exodus going on in the dail.

Is it they are afraid they won't get re-elected or is it to do with pensions or is it a bit of both or something else?

Maybe it's simply they know that they have secured nice pensions already, and know that they're unlikely to get re-elected so why bother with another election campaign ?

Min

Some wouldn't get elected, some are ill, some don't want to be in opposition after spending so long in power.
I expect they don't want the abuse that they will receive at the door if they went campaigning.

Shea O'Meara

For many it's age. They know it will be a good while before they get back into power and know they probably won't stick it out.
For others it's to disassociate themselves with FFail and maybe run independant at a later date, until the sun shines on FFail once again.
Either way, in most if not all cases it's about self rather than country.

Atlantic Dawn

My theory
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056153144

expectationlost

it called inserting your replacements, party first

newmug

Cant believe nobody posted tis yet - THIS is the real answer:

If a FF TD pulls out now, they're essentially retired. They are entitled to all of their pensions now. So for Noel Dempsey, I think he would be creaming taking in E120K per year. But, if he stayed in politics, and got a job in opposition, he'd ONLY earn E90K per year!

Same with them all. Ahern, Harney, every one of the baxtards. My figures may not be 100%, but they're pretty close. They'd essentially earn LESS from "working" as opposition TD's.

Its a sad reflection when you're earning that kind of money and you're greedy for more. If any of these spineless snakes actually ever took up politics for the greater good of the country, they'd stay in opposition and try to air their views, right or wrong. Snakes is too good a word for them, worms is more appropriate, cos worms digest sh1t to live!

dixiefly

What gets to me is the fact that all of this is in one go and after Cowen's vote.

Is this being done now to facilitate Cowen promote some backbenchers that have supported him?

If Cowen had intended a rehuffle for the good of the country then they would have done this months ago.

However, it is now done just before an election when there is no way the new minister will be able to read into a brief.

It actually beggars belief.

ednwireland

dixiefly wrote: »

What gets to me is the fact that all of this is in one go and after Cowen's vote.

Is this being done now to facilitate Cowen promote some backbenchers that have supported him?

If Cowen had intended a rehuffle for the good of the country then they would have done this months ago.

However, it is now done just before an election when there is no way the new minister will be able to read into a brief.

It actually beggars belief.

totally agree with this, this is political and i dont know how nmuch bigger a payout a back bencher would get afetr being in cabinet for a few weeks but this is the only logic i can see behind accepting resignations (possibly 6 weeks before an election)

OR

cowen intends to hold on for as long as possible and we aint seeing an election anytime soon

complete utter joke the lot of them imo

bohsfan

I believe this is an attempt by FF to try and make sure they win some seats in the GE that are currently in the balance. By freeing up 5 cabinet seats they will be able to promote 5 TDs from key constituencies and then send them back to their people as ministers when the GE comes around.

It's a pretty cynical ploy, but for a party face with the prospect of only winning 12-16 seats, then winning another 5 would make a big difference.

Very big of Cowan to let Harney go first and bear the brunt of the spotlight before the motley FF crew announce their exit later on. Not that I like Harney, but that was a brutal move.

Also, I believe that there are some changes to the ministerial pensions that will only come into force when the finance bill is passed, so they could be jumping before they get hit.

CorkMan

bohsfan wrote: »

Also, I believe that there are some changes to the ministerial pensions that will only come into force when the finance bill is passed, so they could be jumping before they get hit.

Why can't the next goverment change legislation, so that ex-minister only get a certain amount.

outandabout

Anything to do with Bob Marley?

Exodus, movement of jah people...

CorkMan

outandabout wrote: »

Anything to do with Bob Marley?

Exodus, movement of jah people...

I shot An Taoiseach, but I didn't shoot an Tánaiste!

dougal

bohsfan wrote: »

I believe this is an attempt by FF to try and make sure they win some seats in the GE that are currently in the balance. By freeing up 5 cabinet seats they will be able to promote 5 TDs from key constituencies and then send them back to their people as ministers when the GE comes around.

It's a pretty cynical ploy, but for a party face with the prospect of only winning 12-16 seats, then winning another 5 would make a big difference.

Head Nail On!!!!

Exactly it's a cynical ploy by FF to try win more seats in the election.

There is no point in someone taking over a ministerial portfolio now as there is an election on the way in less than 12 weeks.

the_syco

CorkMan wrote: »

Why can't the next goverment change legislation, so that ex-minister only get a certain amount.

They're dumb, but that'd be shooting themselves in the foot head.

bohsfan

CorkMan wrote: »

Why can't the next goverment change legislation, so that ex-minister only get a certain amount.

Now, I'm only going on snippets I heard on the radio, so I am most certainly open to correction, but I believe the proposed changes will only apply to Tds/Ministers if they retire after it is signed in. I'm not sure about what can be done under a new administration, but I think that's where it stands at the minute.

JustinDee

Trampas wrote: »

Why is there such a mass exodus going on in the dail.

Is it they are afraid they won't get re-elected or is it to do with pensions or is it a bit of both or something else?

Join the chorus (inside the doors) for change of party leadership, lose out then 'step-aside'.

BlaasForRafa

dougal wrote: »

Head Nail On!!!!

Exactly it's a cynical ploy by FF to try win more seats in the election.

There is no point in someone taking over a ministerial portfolio now as there is an election on the way in less than 12 weeks.

This is it. Its widely "known" that ministers get stuff for their constituency and having a senior minister in your constituency means more pull at the cabinet table. Martin Cullen topped the poll in Waterford last time in large part because "he got us the Dublin-Waterford motorway"

omniscient_toad

It looks like a pantomime for the benefit of a (FF hope) gullible electorate, get rid of the recognisable old guard associated with wrecking the country, stamping on our dreams and eating our children, and wave in a fresh new go getting crew of cabinet ministers. Major reconstruction! Brave new beginning! and so on and so on. Put them in a place for a couple of months, just long enough for lots of empty talk without the time to actually move anything into reality and then hopefully cod naive voters into thinking the party has somehow changed.

NotBothered

All of these resignations smack of the greedy feckers getting out so they can get there big payoffs and pensions its a disgrace but i wouldnt expect anything less from them!!

DarkJager

NotBothered wrote: »

All of these resignations smack of the greedy feckers getting out so they can get there big payoffs and pensions its a disgrace but i wouldnt expect anything less from them!!

Looks like it might all come crashing down around them before the day is out. The Greens are supposed to make a statement but haven't yet, and the dail is now suspended until 1:30pm. I think its game over for Cowen and his puppets.

mcwhirter

Trampas wrote: »

Why is there such a mass exodus going on in the dail.

Is it they are afraid they won't get re-elected or is it to do with pensions or is it a bit of both or something else?

financial, same as all fail decisions

GuanYin

newmug wrote: »

Same with them all. Ahern, Harney, every one of the baxtards. My figures may not be 100%, but they're pretty close. They'd essentially earn LESS from "working" as opposition TD's.

If only they'd displayed that level of financial acumen when running your country

Sand

@GuanYin

If only they'd displayed that level of financial acumen when running your country

Dont worry, they were great at looking after themselves in the good times as well.

OhNoYouDidn't

These FF heads aren't as thick as you would like to think. They have done their homework at constituency level, know they are dead, and are getting out while their heads are still attached.

Its that simple.