Big Phil lapping it up in Doha

thegreengoblin

Ok, had to re-edit this to get it started again as I didn't realise pics can't be posted here!

Anyway, today's Irish Daily Mail has a front page pic and story of Environment Minister Phil Hogan enjoying a drink in Doha at the UN climate change conference with his press secretary, Yvonne Hyland. Hogan, who as far as I know is happily married (as I believe is Miss Hyland) has his arm wrapped around her and inside there is a story with more pics of the couple canoodling together. There is no link to the Mail's story, the only other link I can find so far is here

http://www.joe.ie/easygoing-joe/pic-of-the-day/not-the-sort-of-front-page-enda-kenny-would-want-to-see-on-budget-day-0031231-1

Is this story in the public interest or is it muck-raking?

super_furry

So what?

dvpower

Joe Duffy forum is that way >>>>>

TheFisherKing

Here's the pic:

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/3756/bigphil.jpg

I knew he was too good to be true with his morning show telling us all how to save our relationships. Fcuk you Dr.Phil, now we have you!!

King of Kings

so the minister for the environment goes to a conference on the environment and has a few in the evening time.

you'd probably give out if he skipped the conference.

I dislike Phil Hogan as much as the next man but let's beat him for his failings and being a dick rather than him actually doing his job.

thegreengoblin

King of Kings wrote: »

so the minister for the environment goes to a conference on the environment and has a few in the evening time.

you'd probably give out if he skipped the conference.

I dislike Phil Hogan as much as the next man but let's beat him for his failings and being a dick rather than him actually doing his job.

With his arm wrapped around his press secretary's arse...

thomasm

Sure his wife (if Satan can marry) will love that picture..

thegreengoblin

Hope Budget day isn't going to be ruined for him after this

King of Kings

thegreengoblin wrote: »

With his arm wrapped around his press secretary's arse...

let his wife judge him so,

Dodge

Generally I despise this type of tabloid sensationalism. Saying he's there on "taxpayer funded trip" as if they're breaking enws that the Government pay for their officials to attend conferences.

Pointing out its during Budget week as if he had a say in the timing of an international conference.

Absolute gutter press.

thegreengoblin

King of Kings wrote: »

let his wife judge him so,

He's off on a publicly-funded jolly where he's trying to take advantage of the fact that he thinks none of us can see what he's actually up to. I've no problem whatsoever with this story, it's in the public interest to know what our ministers get up to while they're representing the state.

SEPT 23 1989

They have to keep him out of the way in case he opens his mouth

Re-opened for the OP to give a half decent opening post

Higher

I am pretty sure hes separated from his wife?

Dodge

Higher wrote: »

I am pretty sure hes separated from his wife?

Yes, he's seperated.

Just to be clear my comments above were on the Mail front page (taxpayers' funded jolly being the gist), not on the fact Hogan had his arm around someone.

thegreengoblin

Higher wrote: »

I am pretty sure hes separated from his wife?

If he is then I stand corrected. However, if he is in a relationship with his press secretary, or at least has it off with her on publicly-funded trips abroad, does this not make things a tad more complicated than would normally be the case with a minister and the person in charge of his PR/press duties?

BigFatGiant

I have no problem with him going to these conferences but is it really necessary for us to be paying for a party of 10 to be going all the way to Doha. Maybe they could help climate change by broadcasting these conferences over the www and everybody can just stay in their own country and attend from the comfort of their own office.

Dodge

BigFatGiant wrote: »

I have no problem with him going to these conferences but is it really necessary for us to be paying for a party of 10 to be going all the way to Doha. Maybe they could help climate change by broadcasting these conferences over the www and everybody can just stay in their own country and attend from the comfort of their own office.

10 really isn't a big party. Minister does political thing. High ranking official does high ranking official thing. A handful of admin staff too.

It doesn't happen with every conference, either. Some are just attended by staff from of the local Irish embassy and a report sent back.

LostCorkGuy

Christ does he even have a chin ?

Valetta

thegreengoblin wrote: »

He's off on a publicly-funded jolly where he's trying to take advantage of the fact that he thinks none of us can see what he's actually up to. .

Apart from the highlighted bit, the rest is complete rubbish.

hidinginthebush

thegreengoblin wrote: »

With his arm wrapped around his press secretary's arse...

Dont know if you saw the pic, but thats not where I keep my arse.

gobnaitolunacy

Maybe they're really good friends?

Complete shlte journalism catering for the angry masses.

thegreengoblin

hidinginthebush wrote: »

Dont know if you saw the pic, but thats not where I keep my arse.

His little finger is definitely on the rump area.

Teyla Emmagan

Deleted User wrote: »

Complete shlte journalism catering for the angry masses.

+ 100. The angry, morally outraged and looking to be offended by anything masses. He's away with work, having a drink after a long day, just like anyone else would be entitled to. It's not a Club 18 to 30 holiday, no matter how much the tabloids would like you to believe otherwise.

Uriel.

maybe they were posing for a photgraph being taken by someone in their party. They work together, so I am sure they are on friendly terms. I have often stuck an arm around a colleague for a photo etc... no big deal. might just look worse than it is.

Really don't see the problem here.

Casillas

There are enough reasons to tackle Hogan in a professional capacity.

Attacking him over his private life just stinks.

Haven't we moved on from the Parnellite days yet?

Higher

Wait, so people are annoyed that he had a few drinks after a day's work?

What do most people do on a Friday after work?

He hardly chose to have the conference in Qatar, what do you expect him to do, not go for fear that people will get annoyed at him attending a conference in a sunny part of the world?

And what is the outrage of the trip being publicly funded? Do you expect him to pay for his flights and hotel out his own pocket or something? What would your reaction be if your company told you they required you to travel across the world but expected you to pay for your own flights and accommodation?

I know everyone's angry in general but a bit of perspective wouldn't go astray......

super_furry

Still a nonsense non-story from an anti-Irish tabloid rag.

LivelineDipso

These climate change summits are a scam from start to finish. They are a holiday for corrupt scientists, civil servants, journalists and various other arseholes all paid for by the tax payer.


His private life is not the issue here. The decadant nature of these bull**** events are.

Valetta

LivelineDipso wrote: »

These climate change summits are a scam from start to finish. They are a holiday for corrupt scientists, civil servants, journalists and various other arseholes all paid for by the tax payer.


His private life is not the issue here. The decadant nature of these bull**** events are.

How do you maintain scientists are corrupt?

Taxpayers don't pay for scientists to attend.

Taxpayers don't pay for journalists to attend.

Who are the "other arseholes"?

Do you think these conferences have any value?

golfball37

The issue here is the use of taxpayers money. The cheapest room in the hotel is 605 euro which is an outrage when he is standing over cuts to the blind and disabled.

Who he rides or what he drinks is nobody's business but how he spends our money is.

LivelineDipso

Valetta wrote: »

How do you maintain scientists are corrupt?

Climategate.

Valetta wrote: »

Taxpayers don't pay for scientists to attend.

Yes they do!

Valetta wrote: »

Taxpayers don't pay for journalists to attend.

RTE...BBC...etc...

Valetta wrote: »

Who are the "other arseholes"?

Mainly people who can't debate and think Al Gore is a God.

Valetta wrote: »

Do you think these conferences have any value?

The CO2 emission from all the high-life parasites just exposes the sheer hyprocacy of the mindset of these people.

I am sure all the owers of 5 stars bistros, top class golf courses, resort spas and luxury hotels love when these 'environmentalists' arrive to tell the rest of of to restrict our standard of living...


I sometimes think the 'smutty' aspect of the story is divert public attention away from the sheer luxury of these tax-payer events.

humanji

I'm locking this partly because it's gone off topic, but mostly because AH isn't a gossip magazine.