Ministers pay out. Actions speak louder than words

hunterscheese

Should all the Ministers follow Trevor Sargent's example and donate their pension hand out to St Vicent De Paul.

Deepwell

Defintely - you should not need a cusion when you are ridicoulsy well paid and underperforming!!

But how do we know the money has definetly been donated??

Max Power1

Or just not accept it at all!

It still costs the taxpayer the same if they accept it or donate to charity.

cathy01

I can get a copy of the receipt, it was donated, and FYI, Trevor is VERY active in my community.Im a fan, he is everywhere.He is opening an information night for me on FEB 18 and will be in swords later . He works so hard, I havent had many canvessers calling to my door once I put his picture on it , saying thats who Im voting for.:D

hunterscheese

In my opinion actions do count for a lot. We need politicans like Sargent and the much missed Tony Gregory and Jim Kemmy

liammur

Correct. It's easy for the likes of M Martin to talk about political reform and his trousers is almost falling down with the money in it.

Snakeblood

hunterscheese wrote: »

Should all the Ministers follow Trevor Sargent's example and donate their pension hand out to St Vicent De Paul.

No, they should give the money back to the state.

cathy01

And mis spend it TWICE??

Snakeblood

cathy01 wrote: »

And mis spend it TWICE??

I don't really care for the idea of giving public money to religious (even charitable) organisations. I'd prefer it to giving it to a bunch of thieving politicians, mind.

RachaelVO

In one way it seems like a bit of a publicity stunt on his part, if he was so great he'd not of told anyone.

I'm glad he gave it to VdeP. Any good cause is worth giving money to (with some exceptions, which I won't mention cos it would cause a row and the thread would be derailed). At least it's not going to prop up the banks, which is probably what would happen if it was put back into the state, so maybe donating it to good causes stops it from going to prop up the banks, and sending it right where it's needed!

oppenheimer1

hunterscheese wrote: »

Should all the Ministers follow Trevor Sargent's example and donate their pension hand out to St Vicent De Paul.

Why is it just ministers you're worried about? Shouldn't all retiring TDs hand it back. And why should it be limited to those retiring now? Why not all former ministers and TDs that are still living?

yahoo_moe

I'd also have to question the decision to donate to charity as opposed to just not accepting it. As worthy as it is, it saves the taxpayer nothing and boosts the candidate's profile. They're still accepting the payment and using it.

Didn't Joe Higgins, for instance, only ever draw the average wage from his total TD's salary? Likewise, many judges (though not all!) have voluntarily rebated the Revenue with a % of their incomes.

oppenheimer1

yahoo_moe wrote: »

I'd also have to question the decision to donate to charity as opposed to just not accepting it. As worthy as it is, it saves the taxpayer nothing and boosts the candidate's profile. They're still accepting the payment and using it.

Didn't Joe Higgins, for instance, only ever draw the average wage from his total TD's salary? Likewise, many judges (though not all!) have voluntarily rebated the Revenue with a % of their incomes.

Joe higgins drew the full wage but apparently only keeps the average industrial wage and gives the rest to the socialist party.

brianthelion

But does he claim it against his taxes like the ones who give it to charity

brianthelion

Mr Martin has shown why Fianna Fail will never change,Show me the money,Great leadership in this time of crisis,Great leadership