Drinking "on the slate" is it illegal? Dail bar tab runs into "thousands".

Run_to_da_hills

"TDs have built up a bar bill totalling almost €70,000 – some of which will have to be picked up by you".

I heard that it was illegal for a pub to sell alcohol on credit to customers that would run into a period of several day

Apparently this has been going on at the Dail bar for quite some time with an unpaid tab running into several thousands with the possibility of tax payer having to cough up for the discrepancy.

Is it time now to close the Dail bar for good?

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/taxpayers-may-be-left-to-pick-up-part-of-euro70k-dail-bar-tab-2824165.html

heyheyhey1982

Name And Shame

I reckon Bertie will top another poll

chin_grin

Sure don't we all know by now that the biggest criminals in this country wear a shirt and tie and sit pretty in the high house? <rabble rabble rabble nothing ever changes rabble rabble rabble Animal Farm rabble rabble rabble>

policarp

Thirsty work, all that b*llsh*ttin' and wearing pink and the likes...

ScumLord

No place of work should have a bar in it. It's a joke.

The_Minister

I don't really see the problem so long as TDs pay the money back (and all evidence is that they do).

efb

Tell that to barstaff...

FloatingVoter

Most pubs run slates for regulars. However they do not run into four figures and depend on the regular in question paying it off regularly.

The most I've ever run up on a slate is about €50. I'll accept some of these guys were entertaining people but going in to the thousands is excessive.

efb

ScumLord wrote: »

No place of work should have a bar in it. It's a joke.

Tell that to bar staff

The_Minister

Oh, and I just looked at the article you linked - the Oireachtas Services released a press release last night explaining why it's bull.

The figure for the bar is €7,000 not €70,000, and the only circumstance in which they don't chase for payment is death.

HellFireClub

The_Minister wrote: »

I don't really see the problem so long as TDs pay the money back (and all evidence is that they do).

That's all well and good, but sure they'll probably just put it on their expenses which means the rest of us will be paying for it.

ScumLord

ScumLord wrote: »

No place of work should have a bar in it. It's a joke.

Why not?

In any case its much more than a place of work anyway. They also need a place where dail members can have a few pints in peace which is only fair.

ScumLord

efb wrote: »

Tell that to bar staff

I was going to say but the fact is those bar staff are there to work and serve other people, it's not their own private bar where they can get drunk away from prying eyes while they're supposed to be working. There's no way our government should get it's own private boozer, it's a joke.

realdanbreen

FFS! First it was smoking,now someone reckons its illegal to get drink on the slate! This country is being overrun by urban dwellers with poncy ideas.
Thank God we still have salt of the earth folk like Michael Lowry & the Healy-Raes.

The_Minister

HellFireClub wrote: »

That's all well and good, but sure they'll probably just put it on their expenses which means the rest of us will be paying for it.

?
Which expense category would that be?

(Genuine question)

Magic Beans

The_Minister wrote: »

The figure for the bar is €7,000 not €70,000, and the only circumstance in which they don't chase for payment is death.

Why not? If I left outstanding bills on my death my creditors would rightly expect to be paid from my estate.

The_Minister

http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/mediazone/pressreleases/name-2344-en.html

STATEMENT FROM THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS
Evening Herald Headline Seriously Misleading

18 July 2011

Reports in today’s (18th) Evening Herald about outstanding amounts of monies owed by Oireachtas Members are misleading and inaccurate.

Page 1 of the paper reports a headline “TDs' €70K bar bill”. This headline is wholly untrue. In fact the actual sum in question for the bar is €7K, a ten fold exaggeration.

The figure of €70K is the combined figure for the bar and restaurant facilities. The large majority of the outstanding debts relate to the restaurant only; where TDs and Senators regularly host visiting groups and organisations. And all of this money is being repaid.

The article that appears today is based on information provided to the Evening Herald at the end of April 2011 some 10 weeks ago, since then outstanding money owed by former members has reduced significantly. So the situation in relation to outstanding accounts in respect of former Members has changed significantly since then.

The Houses of the Oireachtas rigorously follows up on any current and former Oireachtas Members who have outstanding accounts for catering services in Leinster House. The only exception in the pursuit of outstanding accounts is in the case of bereavement. The Houses of the Oireachtas stand over the fact that all outstanding monies are pursued and are confident that the situation will not arise that “the bill may have to be picked up by the taxpayer”.

Yes, the Houses of the Oireachtas provide a credit facility to Members that allows them to have monthly accounts for their food and beverages consumed in Leinster House. This is not a free credit line for Members and is repaid in full by Members. This facility is in place as a convenience and to facilitate Members when they are hosting groups of visitors, constituents and schools groups.

Today’s Evening Herald’s misrepresentation of the facts should at least be acknowledged for what it is – an inaccurate and misleading report that is based on out of date and badly researched facts.

ENDS

For further information contact:

Mark Mulqueen
Oireachtas Communications Unit
01 618 4077
086 0454152

Orando Broom

COSY CARTEL!!!!!!

HellFireClub

The_Minister wrote: »

?
Which expense category would that be?

(Genuine question)

If they claim that they were entertaining some person or group of people, surely they can submit a claim for that? If I am entertaining a client I can claim the expense of that once I vouch for it.

These suckers don't have to vouch for their expenses as far as I know or at least that has been the case up until recently.

biko

It's been going on quite some time
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/politician-ordered-to-clear-tab-of-euro1400-at-dail-bar-2174974.html
http://www.examiner.ie/text/ireland/kfkfsneycwoj/

May 2010

GOVERNMENT officials claim that bills run up at the Dail bar are paid in full each month and insist that the taxpayer is not being hit.

July 2011

Taxpayers may be left to pick up part of €70k Dail bar tab
-New deputies spend thousands
-You could be picking up tab for former TDs who haven’t paid up their old accounts

I just hope they'll be named so people in their local pubs back home can show them up for the fat cat cheapskates they are. I hope they choke on their drinks and canapés.

opinion guy

Isabelle Squeaking Farmer wrote: »

Why not?

In any case its much more than a place of work anyway. They also need a place where dail members can have a few pints in peace which is only fair.

Eh....why do they need a place to have a few pints in peace ??
I would have thought they need to keep clear heads being in the business of running the country and all that.


in other news - Evening Herald needs smack in mouth for exaggerating headlines. How postively Murdockian of them!

opinion guy

opinion guy wrote: »

Eh....why do they need a place to have a few pints in peace ??
I would have thought they need to keep clear heads being in the business of running the country and all that.

Well they can go for a few pints after work cant they without being pestered by people or the media if say a few members of the dail wanted to go together.

They can also hold informal meetings there without wondering what journalists is hiding near by waiting to take some comment out of context. Informal meetings over a few drinks can often be the most productive kind.

Its not like its unique to Ireland having a private bar for members of parliament.

Run_to_da_hills

opinion guy wrote: »

in other news - Evening Herald needs smack in mouth for exaggerating headlines. How postively Murdockian of them!

Its a tabloid, what do you expect.

Niall_G

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

"TDs have built up a bar bill totalling almost €70,000 – some of which will have to be picked up by you

I heard that it was illegal for a pub to sell alcohol on credit to customers that would run into a period of several day"

It was illegal until 2000 when the provision of the 1924 legislation was repealed by S33 Intoxicationg Liquor Act 2000.

thee glitz

afaik, it's not a legally enforceable debt.

opinion guy

Isabelle Squeaking Farmer wrote: »

Well they can go for a few pints after work cant they without being pestered by people or the media if say a few members of the dail wanted to go together.

They can also hold informal meetings there without wondering what journalists is hiding near by waiting to take some comment out of context. Informal meetings over a few drinks can often be the most productive kind.

Its not like its unique to Ireland having a private bar for members of parliament.

They need to have pints do they ? What are they a bunch of alcoholics ??? Woudl they not be better having their informal meetings over a coffee. I mean if they are discussing the state of the nation I'd rather they are on stimulants and not depressants.

Hmmm....might explain a certain bank guarantee.....

opinion guy

opinion guy wrote: »

They need to have pints do they ? What are they a bunch of alcoholics ??? Woudl they not be better having their informal meetings over a coffee. I mean if they are discussing the state of the nation I'd rather they are on stimulants and not depressants.

Hmmm....might explain a certain bank guarantee.....

Whats your problem with people in a stressful job relaxing over a few pints in comfortable surroundings. Its not doing anything on you so why does it bother you so much.

Having a few pints is much more enjoyable than having a coffee ffs, you would be amazed what can be solved over a few pints.

listermint

Isabelle Squeaking Farmer wrote: »

Whats your problem with people in a stressful job relaxing over a few pints in comfortable surroundings. Its not doing anything on you so why does it bother you so much.

Having a few pints is much more enjoyable than having a coffee ffs, you would be amazed what can be shadily arranged over a few pints.

Fixed your post there for ya

listermint

listermint wrote: »

Fixed your post there for ya

Some awful dry sh**es around these parts obviously.

How have you got any idea what can or cannot be arranged, in anycase that was only a side argument its there so they can relax and enjoy a drink in peace I dont see why people want it got rid off other than begrudging them.

Richard Hillman

ScumLord wrote: »

No place of work should have a bar in it. It's a joke.

What about a pub?

Seloth

Ok one of the posts made me laugh cause its not just an Irish thing for a meeting over a drink....Infact were not the "worst" for it.

In Germany they go for a pint at break or if they are meeting a business client usually.But then again drinking beer there is not seen like it is here,but rather just another beverage like tea or pepsi.

Brazilmorgyn

Why not print a list of these parasites, was it Mary harney who eat the most ?