Our Lazy President!

cosanostra

Either shes lazy or just likes wasting money

http://www.donegaldaily.com/2011/09/25/controversy-as-presidents-car-driven-400-miles-for-150-journey-in-co-donegal/

humbert

I think it's more about making an entrance becoming of a president.

DrumSteve

CONTROVERSY AS PRESIDENT’S CAR DRIVEN 400 MILES FOR 150YD JOURNEY IN CO DONEGAL
September 25, 2011

President Mary McAleese’s chauffeur-driven State Mercedes was sent on a 400 mile round trip so she could be driven just 150 yards to the door of Letterkenny Institute of Technology.

The car was sent on the huge round-trip journey on Thursday last when the President helped celebrate the 40th anniversary of the college.

The President, on her last official trip to Donegal, arrived by helicopter around 11am.

However her car had to be driven via Sligo for the two minute journey form the college football pitch to the front door of the campus because Gardai cannot cross the border.

The estimated cost of the journey including the President’s helicopter has been put at over €3,000.

The President was flown on to Co Meath for a golf competition but her car had to be driven back to Dublin after its 300 yard official function.

The Irish Mail on Sunday claimed a number of onlookers were shocked to see President McAleese being met by A Mercedes car for the short walk to the College entrance.

“It surely wouldn’t have been too much just to walk,” said one eye-witness.

A spokesman for President McAleese’s office said “Plans for the President’s travel arrangements are determined by security and programming considerations.”

For those on phones.

cosanostra

humbert wrote: »

I think it's more about making an entrance becoming of a president.

She already arrived by helicopter surely that was enough she only needed the car to drive her from the sports ground to the front door

General General

Look, everyone knows LYIT is one of the lynchpins of Ireland's knowledge economy going forward into the 21st century... it has a track record second to none... obviously she couldn't not show up in a limo.

ItsAWindUp

That's a disgrace, it's not exactly like the state has an abundance of cash that it has to waste.

FearDark

Who cares?
Really.

FearDark

I AM TOTALLY OUTRAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*RABBLE RABBLE*

ItsAWindUp

FearDark wrote: »

Who cares?
Really.

I'd care if I lived in Roscommon: http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0705/roscommon.html

Riamfada

Ive been saying we need government segways for things like this for years.

ejmaztec

Haven't they got a presidential rickshaw with a €50 intern running in front of it?

mikemac

Journalist still use yards in articles?

Tabnabs

Please, if she had any stile she'd arrive in one of these

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gHQPRYxAN2U/TXmMp1YRMXI/AAAAAAAAPC4/SkeuDGFbb6Y/s1600/Defiant%2BLibyan%2Bleader%2BMuammar%2BGaddafi%2Bgestures%2Bfrom%2Binside%2Bhis%2Barmoured%2Bgolf%2Bcart%2Bafter%2Bmaking%2Bhis%2Bspeech.jpg

reprazant

However her car had to be driven via Sligo for the two minute journey form the college football pitch to the front door of the campus because Gardai cannot cross the border.

I would presume that the car was needed for legal reasons since the gardai couldn't be there.

The reference to the border makes me doubt much of this story though, along with quotes from nameless 'onlookers'.

cosanostra

reprazant wrote: »

I would presume that the car was needed for legal reasons since the gardai couldn't be there.

Why could Gardai not be there? We have Garda in Donegal too you know

cosanostra

reprazant wrote: »

I would presume that the car was needed for legal reasons since the gardai couldn't be there.

Why could Gardai not be there? We have Garda in Donegal too you know!

reprazant

cosanostra wrote: »

Why could Gardai not be there? We have Garda in Donegal too you know

I don't know. I am going on what is says in the article you linked.

You did read the article I presume?

mikemac

“It surely wouldn’t have been too much just to walk,” said one eye-witness.

Who?

The Evening Herald does this a lot too

Could be a made up quote and nobody can prove it was

cosanostra

reprazant wrote: »

I don't know. I am going on what is says in the article you linked.

You did read the article I presume?

Yes the car took a detour via sligo therefor staying in the republic instead of going the more direct route through the 6 counties to Donegal!

Zebra3

Not the first time she's pulled this stunt.

She done a similar thing on a trip to Belfast before.

But, hey, she invited Windsor over, so who cares how she wastes our money? :rolleyes:

cosanostra

She was happy enough to walk with the orange men in Donegal on the twelfth

biko

Happens all the time

http://www.westernpeople.ie/news/eyqlausngb/

Ministers who have chauffeur-driven cars often board at Baldonnel and are picked up later at an airport closer to home after their garda driver has made the journey by road.

Well, not since they got rid of the garda drivers I guess.
edit: Actually they were just replaced by civilian drivers.

hondasam

FearDark wrote: »

Who cares?
Really.

Some of us do care, she could have walked. Ridiculous tbh.

FearDark wrote: »

I AM TOTALLY OUTRAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*RABBLE RABBLE*

You should be outraged it's your taxes that's paying for it.

_feedback_

biko wrote: »

Happens all the time

http://www.westernpeople.ie/news/eyqlausngb/


Well, not since they got rid of the garda drivers I guess.
edit: Actually they were just replaced by civilian drivers.

They provide their own cars in most cases too. Big change to what it used to be at least.

That story about the presidents car travelling a massive journey just to bring her a few yards seems ridiculous. Saying that it is a security measure is silly too. I wouldn't say Mary is exactly at much of a risk.

bigneacy

and not one fúck...


Seriously would you rather pictures of our president walking because we couldn't afford a car for her. We're already a joke to the world - lets not add to it!

kingtut

DrumSteve wrote: »

For those on phones.

I'm curious, are people who use boards on their phone incapable or too lazy to click on a link?

I often use boards on my phone and I prefer to click the link than to have to scroll down the page and read an entire story that might be of no interest to me...

cosanostra

bigneacy wrote: »

and not one fúck...


Seriously would you rather pictures of our president walking because we couldn't afford a car for her. We're already a joke to the world - lets not add to it!

Yes because we cant afford it

bigneacy

There's a lot of things we can't afford but are none-the-less necessary. It may have been a waste of money - it could have been planned better but don't say we can't afford it - the country is broke, we can't afford anything but we can't just turn off the lights, close the hospitals and give the president a scooter to get about.

smash

They're staling our jobs
Those damn bankers
Those damn politicians
Those damn developers
There is no god
Atheists are dumb
Public servants earn too much money
Reckless spending by the state

Ok, I think I picked the right one... I'm appalled!

cosanostra

Surely money should be prioritized health, education and law and order before a car driving from Dublin to Donegal to give her a lift just for show!

If people are dying because we cant provide proper health care then we should cut cosmetic spending like this its like third world country stuff the people starving and the leaders of the country swanning around like we are all millionaires

DublinWriter

cosanostra wrote: »

Why could Gardai not be there? We have Garda in Donegal too you know

...and don't we know it.

Krusader

What a waste of €60 in petrol boo hiss

DublinWriter

Could have been worse...she could have blown €55million on the visit of a foreign head of state....oh.

McBauer

Its an outrage, its our taxes she wasting, people are dying in hospitals, etc, etc. Jesus whats the big deal. Granted she probably should have left the car behind but FFS people it was only a few quid that was wasted

DEFTLEFTHAND

In the words of the immortal Paddy Donegan. Our President is a Thundering Disgrace..