Will new government go on St Patricks Day junket

Trampas

So will the new government be flying around the world for St Patrick's day on the tax payers expense?

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

NSNO

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

To be fair, the spelling in the title implies something which could be far more interesting!

cb900ie

Of this, you can be sure.

Manach

In the interest of post-election peace, I propose we send the previous government abroad instead. I believe Tripoli has an excellent St. Patrick's Day parade planned this year.

Tigerbaby

Not any affiliation myself, but an awful lot of good PR is done by government Ministers around Paddy's day. Its a World Wide brand associated with our Country. Only a fool would not use the occasion to enhance our image.

A lot of inward investment comes our way because of this.

We are blessed to have Paddy's Day. Its an open door for Irish politicians to gain access to the rich and powerful.

We need all the help we can get.

mikemac

I've no issue with ministers going abroad, a lot of good can be done.

I do have an issue with our county councilors going abroad and bringing their wives/husbands at rate payers expense.

At least a minister is higher up and can achieve something.
It's the councillors who are on a junket

Gunmonkey

Sure why do ya think they wanted the elections the end of Feburary? To get sound economic policies in place before the country slips further into s**t, or get free flights round the world and treated like royalty in New York and Sydney and such?

They are still politicians, remember.

Biggins

Manach wrote: »

In the interest of post-election peace, I propose we send the previous government abroad instead. I believe Tripoli has an excellent St. Patrick's Day parade planned this year.

Well depending on the ways things go there, there might still be a lot of green to be seen flying!

20Cent

They should be. St Patrick's day is an excellent opportunity to promote Ireland around the world. So long as it is focused on getting investment/selling Ireland and they don't go crazy on the expenses it is money well spent.

There is an annual outcry about these trips but for once it is very necessary.

TGQ

Totally agree with Tigerbaby and feelingstressed.

I have no problems at all with ministers going abroad to promote Ireland. i would go so far as to say that we should have a 'PR minister' for use of a better word whose job would entail the following.

1. Selling ireland abroad to attract tourism,
2. Developing markets in eastern Europe, china etc for us to export to.
3. Attracting inward investment.

These are to name but a few.

analucija

I hope so!

How big are chances of any president or prime minister of some other small nation to meet Obama for more than 5 minutes at some conference? It would be stupid not to take an opportunity like that. Something should be done about the cost of traveling and officials in departments should try a bit harder finding cheaper options.

PCPhoto

analucija wrote: »

I hope so!

How big are chances of any president or prime minister of some other small nation to meet Obama for more than 5 minutes at some conference? It would be stupid not to take an opportunity like that. Something should be done about the cost of traveling and officials in departments should try a bit harder finding cheaper options.

so because it an opportunity for one of our politicians to actually meet the president of the USA you think we should spend thousands of euro.

I do think ministers should go to other countries and learn how governments are run - find out that its not about money (or sorting out your mates/political donaters) its about getting the right framework in place and structure to build a country and economic policies.

pocketvenus

Well looks like all the election promises of less waste, less spending on the politicans the backtracking has begun and our new Gov decided they have to have the junkets.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ministers-get-ready-to-travel-the-globe-2573607.html

I have no problem with our Taoiseach going to the White House it is tradition, not that Obama gives a damn about Ireland but still.

However I do object to all the other ministers jetting off, how about we promote Ireland by getting some of the important trade people, ministers to come over to Ireland for St Patricks Day and the festival and sell Ireland that way. Show the world Ireland.
These St Patricks Day junekts are not selling Ireland but a holiday for the ministers and their families courtsey of the taxpayer.

I knew that our new FG/Lab Gov would not turn down and refuse to go on these junkets despite the giving out they gave FF about their trips. The excuse of " oh we are new and have to introduce ourselves etc" is all bull, ever hear of Cisco Sysems they offer great video conferencing or as I said invite them to Ireland.
No we just have a new set of hoofs at the trough.

Corsendonk

Tigerbaby wrote: »

Not any affiliation myself, but an awful lot of good PR is done by government Ministers around Paddy's day. Its a World Wide brand associated with our Country. Only a fool would not use the occasion to enhance our image.

A lot of inward investment comes our way because of this.

We are blessed to have Paddy's Day. Its an open door for Irish politicians to gain access to the rich and powerful.

We need all the help we can get.

Lazy journalism too, easy target to attack. You know that summer is around the corner when the papers dust off the Paddies Day junket stories.

8 trips abroad this year as compared to 24 last year.

johnmcdnl

St Patrick's day is the one day of the year that Irish politicans have a perfectly valid excuse to go visit the rich countries in the world to try to improve relations with other countries - It's probably one of the few times that I don't have a problem with politicians getting basically a free holiday out of their job...


it's when mayors try to get a free holiday out of it that I have a big problem like this lad - luckily enough he didn't get away with it...

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0222/donegal1.html

PeterIanStaker

Good to see that the number of ministers going abroad has decreased this time. Still taxpayer's money though.

Worztron

If this new government had the slightest bit of sense and decency, they'd cancel all travelling on St. Patrick's Day except for the White House visit of the Taoiseach. People in Australis, NZ, etc. know where Ireland is. This whole thing of promoting Ireland abroad is a load of b****x. Didn't that incompetent horror by the name of Mary Harney go to NZ last year for St. Patricks day for 2 weeks! :mad: