Bertie has claimed €10,000 in phone expenses since leaving office

Sykk

Source

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has claimed more than €367,000 in secretarial expenses and €10,000 in mobile phone expenses since he left office in 2008.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has received more than €10,655 in mobile phone expenses from the Department of the Taoiseach since he stepped down in 2008.
Mr Ahern has also claimed another €367,184 under the scheme to employ secretarial assistants.
All expenses were claimed under a scheme to help former Taoisigh with administration after they leave office.
The figures were contained in an answer to a Parliamentary Question asked by Labour TD for Wicklow, Anne Ferris.
Under the terms of the initiative, which was introduced in 2001, the Department of the Taoiseach pays the salary of secretarial assistants employed by former Taoisigh up to the maximum level of Higher Executive Officer scale.
The scheme allows former Taoisigh to employ two secretarial assistants for a period of up to five years after leaving office. After that five-year period has elapsed, one secretarial assistant can be employed.
The initiative also covers the cost of computer equipment necessary for this type of service and mobile phone expenses.
The type of duties that the assistants are supposed to undertake include assisting with aspects of their work that remain after their period in office ends. The assistant cannot, however, assist with party or constituency work.
Brian Cowen, who only left office this year, has so far claimed €32,279 in secretarial expenses and €296.82 in mobile phone expenses. He has also claimed €1,440 for computer equipment.
Between 2001 and 2011, John Bruton claimed €269,418 for secretarial expenses and between 2005 and 2011 he claimed €9,935 for mobile phone expenses.
Albert Reynolds claimed €356,712 between 2001 and 2011 for secretarial expenses and €7244.87 for mobile phone expenses between 2005 and 2011.
The late Garrett Fitzgerald claimed €333,556 between 2001 and 2011 for secretarial expenses and €5,982 between 2005 and 2011 for mobile phone expenses.
While the late Charles Haughey claimed €199,887 in secretarial expenses between 2001 and 2006 and €2,262.15 in mobile phone expenses between 2005 and 2006.

This won't push people to protest, but the next budget will.. Oh yes.

Cianos

What do they be yapping about on them phones?

Hannibal Smith

who on earth was he phoning? :eek:

Seachmall

€3.50 a minute to talk to local girls in your area.

Not his fault we're living in the rip-off Republic.

frostfright

Where the next brown envelope is!

abouttobebanned

Tip of the iceberg.

4leto

Fukcen hell how has he still got friends.

They must be sex lines.

TheyKnowMyIP

Bertie, the cock.

ejmaztec

Cianos wrote: »

What do they be yapping about on them phones?

Talking complete sh1te on the phone doesn't come cheap.

Dotrel

That seems like a terrible squandering of tax-payers money by the former Taoiseach?

Conversely however I'd imagine Ahern's complimentary bodyguard-for-life is earning his pay.

The_Kew_Tour

It's only a matter of time before one of them will be shot..

somebody is going lose it one day...

Son Of A Vidic

When you think of the salaries these guys are on and they still claim expenses? They are nothing more than a shower of greedy, unethical bástards.

Sunnyisland

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

who on earth was he phoning? :eek:

Might have been Gay Mitchel on how to win loose the presidential election

Sykk

This is SINCE leaving office. Not while in office.. Why are we paying for it when he's no longer employed by the state?

The King of Moo

He should switch to free calls and texts for 30 days to any network.

The tool.

foxyboxer

Ah Bertie, what are you on Meteor Bill Pay for?

Would it be ironic if he claimed he was ringing people to apologise for being...well....Bertie.

The_Kew_Tour

realies wrote: »

Might have been Gay Mitchel on how to win loose the presidential election

but Gay Mitchel lives in cuckooland

Sunnyisland

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

It's only a matter of time before one of them will be shot..

somebody is going lose it one day...

I do hope your wrong but yep someday someone will just snap,

4leto

I just wonder is this the phone bill for him and his security, because it would be impossible to spend that much on phonecalls in 3 years, at least I think it would be.

Sunnyisland

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

but Gay Mitchel lives in cuckooland

I know but its very expensive to ring there

jayteecork

Why isn't this man's head on a platter?

We have to be the only nation on on earth that would allow this shít.
The absolute cheek of the cúnt. What's that over 3K a year on phone calls that he expects the taxpayer to pay?
Pay it out of the Sunday Mirror or whatever rag put you in the cupboard.

If it were the French they'd bring back the guillotine.

foxyboxer

realies wrote: »

I do hope your wrong but yep someday someone will just snap,

Hope this fella never get's himself a weapon.

http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/politics/files/2009/11/heckler.jpg

TheyKnowMyIP

The irish love it up the ass. Metaphorically speaking, of course. This expense racket adds fuel to the argument. Just like that bailout last November. Passive aggresion is worthless agression.

Sunnyisland

All these after election perks must stop,looking at the figures in the OP post is shocking.

Seachmall

foxyboxer wrote: »

Would it be ironic if he claimed he was ringing people to apologise for being...well....Bertie.

Our very own Frank Spencer.

Statistician

4leto wrote: »

I just wonder is this the phone bill for him and his security, because it would be impossible to spend that much on phonecalls in 3 years, at least I think it would be.

Try using data when roaming, and you'll soon clock up that amount.

Are people honestly shocked by this any more? Things haven't changed. We are still being 'governed' (although I prefer calling it 'fleeced') by Fail Gael.

readyletsgo

Sykk wrote: »

This is SINCE leaving office. Not while in office.. Why are we paying for it when he's no longer employed by the state?

THIS!

I dont understand why we are paying for his phone and other things when he is not employed anymore. Why does he deserve the money? Hasnt he enough money in his bank account under is bed?

Biggins

*sigh*

We all know what he is - yet as one idiot posted in the comment section of journal.ie (here) "Bertie sure is a loveable rogue!"

...And this is why he's getting away with this crap. We, the public are not protesting enough about this piece of deluded garbage!

€366,284 to employ secretarial assistants when he's getting €40,000 per each Nigerian trip he takes!
...And they probably organised them at our expense too boot!

Madness overall.

Cianos

Biggins wrote: »

*sigh*

We all know what he is - yet as one idiot posted in the comment section of journal.ie (here) "Bertie sure is a loveable rogue!"

...And this is why he's getting away with this crap. We, the public are not protesting enough about this piece of deluded garbage!

Loveable rogue :rolleyes: If he loves him so much maybe he wouldn't mind covering the €10k.

foxyboxer

Biggins wrote: »

*sigh*

We all know what he is - yet as one idiot posted in the comment section of journal.ie (here) "Bertie sure is a loveable rogue!"

...And this is why he's getting away with this crap. We, the public are not protesting enough about this piece of deluded garbage!

Anyone who has a go at him, he describes as "wanting their fifteen minutes..or to make a name for themselves.." as some sort of defence mechanism.

He is simply a deluded man. The teflon taoiseach after all.

readyletsgo

Biggins wrote: »

*sigh*

We all know what he is - yet as one idiot posted in the comment section of journal.ie (here) "Bertie sure is a loveable rogue!"

...And this is why he's getting away with this crap. We, the public are not protesting enough about this piece of deluded garbage!

Besides OAP's, why do the Irish people not protest? I guess if I take my view of protesting, I wouldnt know where to begin to set one up tbh, and also the govt dont seem to take any notice when the Irish people (who pay their wages and everything else to keep this country running) protest, very dishearting really.

Biggins

He’s a walking, living advertisement why Fianna Fail should NEVER be voted for ever again!
He embodies all that is wrong with the organisation/cult!

Cunning Stunt

I saw that article this morning, and if there ever was a photo that had the potential to make me throw up my breakfast - that was it. The pair of gangster heads on them!

Only in Ireland...:rolleyes:

Sam Kade

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

It's only a matter of time before one of them will be shot..

somebody is going lose it one day...

We can only live in hope

Peetrik

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

It's only a matter of time before one of them will be shot..

somebody is going lose it one day...

Luckily you only get locked up for civil crimes like refusing to allow people onto your land to chop your trees down.

4leto

The more I think of this the more annoyed I get, I still don't think its possible, but alas if anyone can fuku up a good thing, well that would be Bertie.

So as a poster above informed me he must have used roaming charges,,jesus,,people are going to suffer and some will actually die because of the necessary cut backs and here you have this cnut who is partly responsible for the mess, raking up 3 and half grand a year in phonecalls.

He is a millionaire, he has a very very good pension, free transport, a security detail, this is just pure unadulterated arrogance and apathy toward the Irish austerity measures.

Peep O'Day

Biggins wrote: »

He’s a walking, living advertisement why Fianna Fail should NEVER be voted for ever again!
He embodies all that is wrong with the organisation/cult!

That is just as crazy as someone vowing to vote for the one party all the time no matter what. There would be absolutely nothing wrong with voting for a reformed Fianna Fáil. It is fair enough to dismiss the current bunch who were responsible for the mess we are in but to punish the future generations of Fianna Fáil who may be excellent, for the sins of their predecessors is quite frankly ludicrous and i'm surprised at a poster like yourself for coming out with something like that

Freddie59

Biggins wrote: »

*sigh*

We all know what he is - yet as one idiot posted in the comment section of journal.ie (here) "Bertie sure is a loveable rogue!"

...And this is why he's getting away with this crap. We, the public are not protesting enough about this piece of deluded garbage!

€366,284 to employ secretarial assistants when he's getting €40,000 per each Nigerian trip he takes!
...And they probably organised them at our expense too boot!

Madness overall.

Agreed. But - like the bogus asylum seekers/illegal immigrants/dole scroungers/civil servants/pencil in as necessary he is playing the system.

Change it - and he - and all of the above - can't. But it will never be changed, because some of the ones playing it are the ones responsible for overseeing it. Who watches the watchers?

Biggins

Peep O'Day wrote: »

That is just as crazy as someone vowing to vote for the one party all the time no matter what. There would be absolutely nothing wrong with voting for a reformed Fianna Fáil. It is fair enough to dismiss the current bunch who were responsible for the mess we are in but to punish the future generations of Fianna Fáil who may be excellent, for the sins of their predecessors is quite frankly ludicrous and i'm surprised at a poster like yourself for coming out with something like that

The underlying internal selection system, the underlying internal localised (at cumman level) old boy network "what my country can do for me, not what I can do for my country" , still exists in the organisation.
For ALL their current PR talk and widow-dressing, moving top heads around at Dublin/national level, FF has NOT changed one bit for a so called "reformed Party".
I'm constantly up to date as regards the internal systems and protocols - and I can tell you NOTHING - absolutely NOTHING of any substance has changed a goddamned bit.

Reformed my arse!

Freddie59 wrote: »

...Who watches the watchers?

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? (The quote under my net name)
Who guards the guardians!

Peep O'Day

Biggins wrote: »

The underlying internal selection system, the underlying internal localised (at cumman level) old boy network "what my country can do for me, not what I can do for my country" , still exists in the organisation.
For ALL their current PR talk and widow-dressing, moving top heads around at Dublin/national level, FF has NOT changed one bit for a so called "reformed Party".
I'm constantly up to date as regards the internal systems and protocols - and I can tell you NOTHING - absolutely NOTHING of any substance has changed a goddamned bit.

Reformed my arse!

God almighty... where did I say they had already reformed? I'm talking about 5,6, 10 years down the line, how are you to know the new breed won't be different? To rule these people who we haven't even heard of yet out just because of the FF name is completely ridiculous. I believe the new generation will be completely different as they will have no choice to be otherwise the party will die out

colly10

Can someone tell me how a guy who's retired can claim on his phone bills, can Enda do this when he retires?

bc dub

If theres anything that robs you more then Bertie, its vodafone.

Keith186

The King of Moo wrote: »

He should switch to free calls and texts for 30 days to any network.

The tool.

That would actually be a great marketing piece if some phone company got his costs down to a fraction of what they are now over the same period.

But he's so dodgy that if any company gets involved with this guy
I'd prefer not to go near them!

Hannibal Smith

Imagine being entitled to an 'expense' account when you resign from your job in dubious circumstances :rolleyes:

the groutch

Now we know who was ringing in all them votes for Michael Healy-Rae

krudler

the fcuk? you can get an unlimited call plan for less than 80 quid a month on some networks.

absolute farce of a country, whats worse is that this stuff isnt even news anymore, just another joke in the long list of this country being royally arsefcuked by anyone in power, golden jobs for the boys, fcuk the taxpayer and let the regular joe pay for everything, thats Irish politics right there.

Keith186

+ why should he have secretaries to help him with non constituency work.
Surely this is helping him prepare speeches for Nigerian princes and the like which is a private affair if he is getting paid for it.

Maybe his expenses are so high because he keeps sending money through western union to them.

Biggins

Peep O'Day wrote: »

...I believe the new generation will be completely different as they will have no choice to be otherwise the party will die out

I don't think the future generation will be completely different and I'll tell you why...
...Because they are still not doing the groundwork at national and local level - and not willing to.
...So nothing is changing, the new seeds are not being sown, the younger's are still battling within the old - and I mean OLD - internal systems and rules (which they won't change either to include corruption, etc).

It all adds to to a party that was setup to work for a different generation, for reasons that were of the past, a party that is not changing and is still spawning the same characters adopting the old ways as they even have to battle within, in just advance there before they even get to the electorate or be allowed to by others within who want to be looked after first (I'll support you if you eventually do something for me - now or in the future!).

The party should be let die out. Its done. Its serving a public for which it was not internally designed for. Even this was said in the recent RTE documentary detailing their rise and fall.
Their day is over. The party is over. Its time for a new party to get started!

Kasabian

Itis laughable the derision directed at the man everytime a thread about him is put up here.

He clearly doesn't give a fcuk about the country and while in office, put there continuely by idiots, he spent his time lining his pockets and creating the rules to ensure that he will be able to continue when out of office.

The whole system needs to be brought crashing down.

The grassroots are still being thought the fundamental beliefs of right wing politics and labour, get it while it's going.

Johnny Bitte

The problem isnt him getting the money its HOW and WHY the **** is he still allowed.
The system they own is whats broken and why would any politician change it before its there turn to rake it in.
Give it a week and everyone will have forgetton this cause there be some other scandel.

As for someone killing him its very unlikely. For some reason the majority of Irish people (me being one) seem to to have the psycological disposition to sit on our holes while we get ****ed from those on high saying "ah sure fair ****s to him" or writing angry posts online.

While there is a minority who will actually get up and do something like protest. Or back in the day when necessary, storm the GPO or die trying. Unfortunalety protesting means nothing. I have yet to see any protest have any effect on these *****.

When the Corrib gas line protests were going on or when that lady got locked up because of the ESB or the guy got locked up for not paying his bills, where were we to down towels, all 4.5 mllion of us to march on the Dail and demand it be set right??

We were at home or in work thinking, "Well it not me"

Just buy the vaseline and spread'em wide, we ain't seen nothing yet!

krudler

Kasabian wrote: »

Itis laughable the derision directed at the man everytime a thread about him is put up here.

He clearly doesn't give a fcuk about the country and while in office, put there continuely by idiots, he spent his time lining his pockets and creating the rules to ensure that he will be able to continue when out of office.

The whole system needs to be brought crashing down.

The grassroots are still being thought the fundamental beliefs of right wing politics and labour, get it while it's going.

this, but it wont, if time has taught us anything this country doesnt want to do anything to help itself in these situations, complain, whinge, be outraged, but do absolutely fcuk all about it when it matters.