Nessa Childers asks EU to cut off Padraig Flynn's EU Pension

dublinman1990

Well this has come no surprise by many as Padraig Flynn day of reckoning with the EU may come into full force. It is a most genius idea of Nessa Childers to ask our EU counterparts to strip him of his pension.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/mep-strip-disgraced-flynn-of-his-50k-eu-pension-188229.html

The amount is 50K which is a sizeable pension as with many of you would agree.

Can I ask if there is any legal provision within the EU to strip someone of their pension though?

Even though the Labour Party is not perfect by any means; I think Ms Childers made a good move on this development IMO.

Any thoughts on this are very welcome.

thecommietommy

dublinman1990 wrote: »

Well this has come no surprise by many as Padraig Flynn day of reckoning with the EU may come into full force. It is a most genius idea of Nessa Childers to ask our EU counterparts to strip him of his pension.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/mep-strip-disgraced-flynn-of-his-50k-eu-pension-188229.html

The amount is 50K which is a sizeable pension as with many of you would agree.

Can I ask if there is any legal provision within the EU to strip someone of their pension though?

Even though the Labour Party is not perfect by any means; I think Ms Childers made a good move on this development IMO.

Any thoughts on this are very welcome.

Don't see Nessa Childers or FG/Labour calling for legislation to stop this country from paying ex Ministers and TD's pensions who have been caugh out as corrupt :mad: She's just playing to the public mood, no real intention in it :mad:

Einhard

thecommietommy wrote: »

Don't see Nessa Childers or FG/Labour calling for legislation to stop this country from paying ex Ministers and TD's pensions who have been caugh out as corrupt :mad: She's just playing to the public mood, no real intention in it :mad:

Such legislation would be unconstitutional as far as I'm aware. Things aren't simply black and white. It's very rare that a situation presents itself where doing the right thing is clear cut and presents no potential for unintended consequences.

Dannyboy83

Loss of pension may be the least of his worries; apparently he is going to be arrested and charged.

Sierra Oscar

Dannyboy83 wrote: »

Loss of pension may be the least of his worries; apparently he is going to be arrested and charged.

I would also imagine the Revenue Commissioners will be examining his financial accounts very closely.

Chuck Stone

When politicians get the job they should sign contracts that include a clause that they will lose any pension entitlements if they have used their position to enrich themselves.

Einhard

Chuck Stone wrote: »

When politicians get the job they should sign contracts that include a clause that they will lose any pension entitlements if they have used their position to enrich themselves.

Is this true? Does it apply to domestic politics or just the European sphere?

Rafa1977

Dannyboy83 wrote: »

Loss of pension may be the least of his worries; apparently he is going to be arrested and charged.

That is not gonna happen, this is ireland!!! He may be arrested for show but he won't be charged and he will walk free like everyone else that has ruined this country. We are the most corrupt country in the world where all these politicans can do what they want and the little person has to pay. :mad:

jonsnow

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

I would also imagine the Revenue Commissioners will be examining his financial accounts very closely.

A joint investigation unit would be one way to go.The revenue look hard at his affairs,if they need any access to suspected documents etc the guards can serve a warrant to find them and if they find any breaches of the criminal aspects of revenue law he can be charged.It worked for al capone!!

The drawback to a cab investigation is that while assets can be seized no criminal charges will be filed.

chimmy chonga

Dannyboy83 wrote: »

Loss of pension may be the least of his worries; apparently he is going to be arrested and charged.

- There is a GOD!

bijapos

Rafa1977 wrote: »

That is not gonna happen, this is ireland!!! He may be arrested for show but he won't be charged and he will walk free like everyone else that has ruined this country. We are the most corrupt country in the world where all these politicans can do what they want and the little person has to pay. :mad:

Sorry to say it but we are nowhere near the most corrupt in the world, not even in Europe.

Interesting to see what will happen to him, he could come out the worst of all of them. On the one hand it would be of use to FG-Lab-SF if he goes down, on the other he might spill the beans on the dirty world of Irish politics and the very murky world of Mayo politics as well.

jbkenn

dublinman1990 wrote: »

Well this has come no surprise by many as Padraig Flynn day of reckoning with the EU may come into full force. It is a most genius idea of Nessa Childers to ask our EU counterparts to strip him of his pension.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/mep-strip-disgraced-flynn-of-his-50k-eu-pension-188229.html

The amount is 50K which is a sizeable pension as with many of you would agree.

Can I ask if there is any legal provision within the EU to strip someone of their pension though?

Even though the Labour Party is not perfect by any means; I think Ms Childers made a good move on this development IMO.

Any thoughts on this are very welcome.

Perhaps Nessa might also enquire why it is still necessary to pay the following Labour Party worthies the pensions we pay them.

Dick Spring, former Tanaiste, Age 61, Political Service 21 years, pension €114,806.62

Mervyn Taylor, Former Minister, Age 81, Political Service 18 years, pension €60,942.14

Seamus Pattison, Former Minister and former Ceann Comhairle, Age 76, Political Service 46 years, pension €109,225.17 (at least he put in the hard years)

Toddy O'Sullivan, Former Junior Minister Age 78, Political Service 17 years, pension €45,120.00

Just some examples of our pension largesse

These four alone cost the taxpayer €330,093.93 a year, if we were to cap Public Service pensions at a very generous, average industrial wage of €35,000 per annum, it would free up €190,093.93 to perhaps pay for badly needed SNA's who have lost their positions due to recent cutbacks.

Just a thought.

MadsL

Sorry but what treasonous corruption was linked to Dick Spring, Mervyn Taylor, Seamus Pattison, or Toddy O'Sullivan?? Are you just picking out random-(ish) pensioners?

jbkenn

MadsL wrote: »

Sorry but what treasonous corruption was linked to Dick Spring, Mervyn Taylor, Seamus Pattison, or Toddy O'Sullivan?? Are you just picking out random-(ish) pensioners?

None what so ever, although Dick Spring did'nt exactly cover himself in glory during his term as a director of Eircom, my point is simply, in these challenging times, the obscenity of their pensions.

K-9

jbkenn wrote: »

None what so ever, although Dick Spring did'nt exactly cover himself in glory during his term as a director of Eircom, my point is simply, in these challenging times, the obscenity of their pensions.

Mod

There are plenty of threads to bring that up in the Irish Economy section. Please keep posts on topic.

Voodoo_rasher

Don't wait up.

Chuck Stone

Einhard wrote: »

Is this true? Does it apply to domestic politics or just the European sphere?

I was saying what I think should happen.

Hotblack Desiato

Chuck Stone wrote: »

When politicians get the job they should sign contracts that include a clause that they will lose any pension entitlements if they have used their position to enrich themselves.

While we're at it, we can require that no political salaries, pensions or expenses will be paid without a current tax clearance certificate. Payments made under a TCC subsequently discovered to have been obtained by false pretences will be forfeit.

dublinman1990

It was heard on the RTE 9 O'Clock News this evening that Padraig Flynn may lose his pension after all.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0326/mahon.html#video (Click on the video report for the 6.1 News if you missed it)

The Frontline is on now about The Mahon Report. It should be interesting to watch it tonight.

antoobrien

ninja900 wrote: »

While we're at it, we can require that no political salaries, pensions or expenses will be paid without a current tax clearance certificate. Payments made under a TCC subsequently discovered to have been obtained by false pretences will be forfeit.

Members of houses of the Oireachtas are already required to have a TCC in order to hold their seat.

femur61

MadsL wrote: »

Sorry but what treasonous corruption was linked to Dick Spring, Mervyn Taylor, Seamus Pattison, or Toddy O'Sullivan?? Are you just picking out random-(ish) pensioners?

I don't care if they did anything but why are they getting such large pensions? Enough is enough.

ednwireland

antoobrien wrote: »

Members of houses of the Oireachtas are already required to have a TCC in order to hold their seat.

shame its not enforced

did one b ahern ever produce one ?

dublinman1990

The European Commission have stated tonight after being noted by RTE that the Former EU Commissioner Padraig Flynn will not lose his pension UNLESS he is found guilty in a criminal court.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0404/childers-calls-for-flynn-to-lose-eu-pension.html

You have to look at it in context and I have to say this really takes the biscuit IMO. The leadership in the EC is not credible at what it has done to the Irish People.

FF must be secretly laughing behind their backs at saying the people who have been branded corrupt by an Irish Society are going to take the so called medicine to clear it's shoddy background. I really don't think they would even last a few months in opposition if this type of news goes to their National Executive.

MadsL

dublinman1990 wrote: »

The European Commission have stated tonight after being noted by RTE that the Former EU Commissioner Padraig Flynn will not lose his pension UNLESS he is found guilty in a criminal court.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0404/childers-calls-for-flynn-to-lose-eu-pension.html

Charge him so. Gardai are preparing to take action are they not?

murphaph

dublinman1990 wrote: »

The European Commission have stated tonight after being noted by RTE that the Former EU Commissioner Padraig Flynn will not lose his pension UNLESS he is found guilty in a criminal court.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0404/childers-calls-for-flynn-to-lose-eu-pension.html

You have to look at it in context and I have to say this really takes the biscuit IMO. The leadership in the EC is not credible at what it has done to the Irish People.

FF must be secretly laughing behind their backs at saying the people who have been branded corrupt by an Irish Society are going to take the so called medicine to clear it's shoddy background. I really don't think they would even last a few months in opposition if this type of news goes to their National Executive.

You're blaming the EU for the corruption of people we sent there to represent us? We have to take Flynn to court in our own country and find him guilty of something before we can expect the EU to do our work for us.

This is not an EU problem. This is a homegrown attitude towards cute hoorism that forgives the likes of Flynn. Flynn would never have become so succesful if he were operating in the Netherlands or Germany. This is down to the Irish electorate. That's where the blame really lies....politicians are a product of the system they operate in. They can be kept largely clean or let away with murder...all depends on the electorate.

Dannyboy83

If we are to have more tribunals, I think we will need to give them teeth.

dublinman1990

murphaph wrote: »

You're blaming the EU for the corruption of people we sent there to represent us? We have to take Flynn to court in our own country and find him guilty of something before we can expect the EU to do our work for us.

This is not an EU problem. This is a homegrown attitude towards cute hoorism that forgives the likes of Flynn. Flynn would never have become so succesful if he were operating in the Netherlands or Germany. This is down to the Irish electorate. That's where the blame really lies....politicians are a product of the system they operate in. They can be kept largely clean or let away with murder...all depends on the electorate.

I was meant to say that it is a Irish problem to resolve the situation; I should really have explained it better, For not doing that I am very sorry.

I agree that the Irish courts have to study the evidence very thoroughly to make a decision which shows the evidence that was given from Judge Mahon how big and complex it is will show us that the Legal system in Ireland.

I do agree with Nessa Childers action to highlight the issue with the EU. I think it showed great leadership in how politics should be able to work properly including Ireland and for the rest of the EU in future years.

However; the Irish specifically do take very long in regards to making important legal decisions like what happened recently possibly for a lack of vital legislation in regard to stamping out corruption. IMO, If there is little or no legislation for corruption in Irish Law; Well it will show that the Irish do not take corruption that seriously. The scars of corruption in Ireland are going to with us for a long, long time. Just wait and you'll see it.

If there was any legislation to show that the Irish have the legal backbone to give Justice for themselves; well this would send a message to others that corruption will end in this society and will end for good.

recedite

antoobrien wrote: »

Members of houses of the Oireachtas are already required to have a TCC in order to hold their seat.

They are also not allowed to be bankrupt, but these things can be "got around" by the oireachtas in order to avoid bringing the whole lot into public disrepute.
Remember Mick Wallace TD, failed property developer? Banks mysteriously decided not to pursue his personal guarantees, thus allowing him to remain on as a TD.