Ruairi Quinn Mileage Claim - RTE coverage

dublinman1990

Ruairi Quinn's Mileage claim was not only subject to RTE Radio's this week programme; I can also recall it was a subject on RTE's The Week in Politics with Sean O'Rourke.

http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=1136745

Would you think that it is covered one RTE News and Current Affairs programme is sufficient enough for television coverage?

It was broadcast on Sunday 19th February which was a week a half ago.

I suspect that the coverage although brief on a rather small amount of money; it was an indicator that it was a serious breach of expenses rules; it needs to be changed in order to make TD's accountable claiming taxpayer's money.

A system like those in the civil and public service IMO is more a valiant approach to curb savings in taxpayer's money.

John_C

I haven't been following the coverage all that closely but there seems to be a big difference in in the time given to this and the time given to the guy from Sinn Féin who took the ink cartridges.

Manach

From a purely human interest angle, the ink issue would be more novel, approachable and lends itself to discussion in a conversations. That Quinn mileage claim is news, comes across as a typical politician playing fast and lose with the system in the old manner of expenses.

Sully

Wasn't this "scandal" compared to the Sinn Fein scandal much more minor? A thousand or so over 50k by Sinn Fein?

Sponge Bob

Quinn was in Roundstone more or less every weekend last summer. That is how he clocked up the mileage. Sure he lives about 3 miles from Dáil Eireann.

Sponge Bob

Ruarí will not be in Roundstone every weekend this summer like he was last summer. The locals are gunning for him.

I'd expect his mileage claim to halve so.

http://www.galwaynews.ie/24786-clifden-school-campaigners-consider-protest-ministers-holiday-home

The controversy about Clifden Community School being left out of the newly published 5 year school building programme continues.
Campaigners are considering bringing their protest to the doorstep of Educations Minister Ruairí Quinn's holiday home in Roundstone.
A senior figure in the Fianna Fáil party in west Connemara has now suggested this protest action.

nuac

I think the AOS/SF toner cartridge scandal attracted more attention because

1. Most people use a printer at home or at work

2. Most people know what their carttridges cost, and how long they last.

If is alleged on behafl of AOS that he had no idea what those cartridges cost ( and never asked )

SF profess to be on the high moral ground i.e, all that average industrial wage nonsense. This shows they are at least as venal as the others now ( even if they have stopped shooting people )

pog it

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Ruarí will not be in Roundstone every weekend this summer like he was last summer. The locals are gunning for him.

I'd expect his mileage claim to halve so.

http://www.galwaynews.ie/24786-clifden-school-campaigners-consider-protest-ministers-holiday-home

Wow, Roundstone every weekend- now that would be the life.

Sponge Bob

pog it wrote: »

Wow, Roundstone every weekend- now that would be the life.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0403/1224314296282.html

Documents published on the investigative website thestory.ieyesterday showed a driver for Mr Quinn claimed for three journeys from Dublin to Roundstone and two trips in the opposite direction last August. Six journeys between Mr Quinn’s department on Marlborough Street in Dublin and Galway were also recorded in July and August. A claim for a trip from Dublin to Roundstone was also made in October.


Mr Quinn’s spokeswoman said he was frequently required to interrupt his holidays to attend official functions and carry out Government business.



His official diary states he was on holiday from August 6th until 28th last year.


She said the diary did not reflect all official uses of the car, such as trips taken on days when no official business was listed.

Here is a PDF

http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/330228/quinn-claims.pdf

Sierra Oscar

Quinn really is a champagne socialist these days - it is amazing how far he and his fellow counterparts in Labour have moved from the left towards the centre over the course of their political careers.

I am surprised it took him so long to come out and clarify these expenses claims.

John_C

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Here is a PDF

http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/330228/quinn-claims.pdf

Thanks for posting that. It has dates and destinations written down so I presume it'll be a simple enough job for the journalist to match them against the minister's appointments.
We should find out soon enough whether there was anything funny going on.