Political junkets for St Patricks day

Pumpkinseeds · 12-03-2013 3:52pm #1

I've just been reading about 3 councils in my county that are sending town and county Councillors abroad for Paddy's day. They claim it is justifiable and worth the 6000 euro that it is estimated to cost. Personally I don't have an issue with Ireland being represented abroad for Paddy's day, providing it does have a positive impact for Ireland.

I don't believe that we need to send as many of them on all expenses paidholidays, sorry,business trips, as we do. We certainly don't need several towns in any given county represented. I wonder how many in total of our town and county councillors from all over the country get these junkets for Paddy's day. I remember hearing on the radio last month that a town, I can't remember which one, wouldn't be having a parade this year as the pot holes are too bad.

So AHers what do you think, is it time these junkets are stopped or at least greatly reduced, given the state of the economy?

OU812 · 12-03-2013 3:54pm

These are really important to our economy & should be monitored, possibly scaled back in lesser areas, but most certinally not stopped.

gobnaitolunacy · 12-03-2013 3:56pm

Just stop sending cnuts of politicians, send people who make a difference to society or outstanding sports people.

Duckworth_Luas · 12-03-2013 4:05pm

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

I remember hearing on the radio last month that a town, I can't remember which one, wouldn't be having a parade this year as the pot holes are too bad.

Only themselves to blame for that. They decided they wanted a monorail!

ART6 · 12-03-2013 4:26pm

Our mistake,every time, is not that we want to stop them going but that we let them come back!

ejmaztec · 12-03-2013 4:37pm

gobnaitolunacy wrote: »

Just stop sending cnuts.

fyp

davet82 · 12-03-2013 4:49pm

i suggest one way tickets for them

Ray Palmer · 12-03-2013 4:59pm

davet82 wrote: »

i suggest one way tickets for them

Damn that was such a predictible comment and a great illustration of non wit.

Heroditas · 12-03-2013 5:03pm

Is there not some overall national strategy for attracting businesses and tourists to Ireland?
If these trips are part of that, then they are possibly justifiable.
If not, I find it hard to justify letting county councillors go abroad for St. Patrick's Day an act as ambassadors for the country.
I really can't see how a small-town councillor is going to have much of an impact on whether lorryloads of people suddenly get the bright idea to pay a visit here.

gazzer · 12-03-2013 5:04pm

I thought this whole Gathering thing was about getting people to Ireland and here we have these gob****es jetting off out of Ireland. Do as I say not as I do springs to mind.

davet82 · 12-03-2013 5:05pm

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Damn that was such a predictible comment and a great illustration of non wit.

guilty as charged

Boombastic · 12-03-2013 5:27pm

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

.......... They claim it is justifiable and worth the 6000 euro that it is estimated to cost. .............

Estimated to cost, How much will it actually cost? You'd think at this stage they'd have this hotels and flights booked.

Pumpkinseeds · 12-03-2013 5:37pm

Boombastic wrote: »

Estimated to cost, How much will it actually cost? You'd think at this stage they'd have this hotels and flights booked.

Your guess would be as good as mine. It doesn't go into any detail on how many councillors were going or if spouses were accompanying them. I suppose the hotels and flights are the ones you could put an exact price on although the article didn't give a break down of costs. It would be interesting to see a break down of expenses claimed when they get back.

HondaSami · 12-03-2013 5:44pm

Who is going where this year?

Boombastic · 12-03-2013 5:46pm

Here's the list for where some TD's are going, it's well for them

From Newstalk

This year at least 9 of them will travel with the Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe leaving for Australia today.

The full list is set to be announced next week. But it is understood the break-down will look something like this:

Leo Varadkar: Japan
Phil Hogan: Boston
Frances Fitzgerald: India
Pat Rabbitte: New York
Eamon Gilmore: Washington
Brian Hayes: Brussels
Joan Burton: Chicago
Alan Shatter: The Middle East
Taoiseach Enda Kenny meanwhile will take in a week-long trip which will include Washington, New York, Seattle and Silicon Valley.

Pumpkinseeds · 12-03-2013 5:47pm

Surely it would be better to invite representatives from America etc, whose businesses we want to attract to Ireland, to come here for St Patricks day rather than sending local council reps on jaunts. One of my local gobsh*te councillors uses his taxi driving email address as his official contact address. It is farcical, I mean what fricking use is a cowboy like that going to be abroad.

Can we even be sure that all of them actually do much when they are there.

Jimoslimos · 12-03-2013 6:01pm

I wonder does it work the other way around. US politicians evacuating the country every 4th July or Thanksgiving?

How can you showcase hospitality when you're a guest of someone else?

ART6 · 12-03-2013 6:43pm

Jimoslimos wrote: »

I wonder does it work the other way around. US politicians evacuating the country every 4th July or Thanksgiving?

How can you showcase hospitality when you're a guest of someone else?

Because you can then ply them with €70,000 euros of fine wines in your embassies and have your hair done at public expense. You can give their bemused president a bowl of shamrock that will be in his compost heap tomorrow morning. You can be seen to be shaking hands with the world's most powerful leader in a photo opportunity that will last ten seconds before his minders take you away. You can then meet all sorts of people who have no say whatever in their country's political strategy and can then come home and issue press notices telling your gullible people how you have changed the world for the better.

Boombastic · 12-03-2013 6:45pm

Don't forget to get your nails done in cocoa nail bar

Il Trap · 12-03-2013 7:01pm

Boombastic wrote: »

Here's the list for where some TD's are going, it's well for them

From Newstalk

This year at least 9 of them will travel with the Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe leaving for Australia today.

The full list is set to be announced next week. But it is understood the break-down will look something like this:

Leo Varadkar: Japan
Phil Hogan: Boston
Frances Fitzgerald: India
Pat Rabbitte: New York
Eamon Gilmore: Washington
Brian Hayes: Brussels
Joan Burton: Chicago
Alan Shatter: The Middle East
Taoiseach Enda Kenny meanwhile will take in a week-long trip which will include Washington, New York, Seattle and Silicon Valley.

You know that feeling of exhasperated, yet futile, rage... :mad:

sock puppet · 12-03-2013 7:09pm

Boombastic wrote: »

Here's the list for where some TD's are going, it's well for them

From Newstalk

This year at least 9 of them will travel with the Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe leaving for Australia today.

The full list is set to be announced next week. But it is understood the break-down will look something like this:

Leo Varadkar: Japan
Phil Hogan: Boston
Frances Fitzgerald: India
Pat Rabbitte: New York
Eamon Gilmore: Washington
Brian Hayes: Brussels
Joan Burton: Chicago
Alan Shatter: The Middle East
Taoiseach Enda Kenny meanwhile will take in a week-long trip which will include Washington, New York, Seattle and Silicon Valley.

Brian Hayes really got fucked over there.

Il Trap · 12-03-2013 7:15pm

sock puppet wrote: »

Brian Hayes really got fucked over there.

Francis f*cking Fitzgerald off to charm the pants off India. It'd be funny if it wasn't so wrong.

crockholm · 12-03-2013 7:19pm

sock puppet wrote: »

Brian Hayes really got fucked over there.

I was thinking it was Alan Shatter

Fromthetrees · 12-03-2013 7:23pm

Do they draw lots or do they do call it?

"1st?", "1st!",

"ah man, Happy Gilmore and Fat Rabbitte always calls it first", :mad:

Brian and Alan must have been outside having a spliff when Edna came in with the list of destinations and hotels he'd booked.

Jon_459 · 13-03-2013 1:14pm

sock puppet wrote: »

Brian Hayes really got fucked over there.

According to RTE :

Richard Bruton: Germany
Ruairi Quinn: China.
Brendan Howlin:Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Jan O'Sullivan: Saudi Arabia
James Reilly :Birmingham and London.

Brian Hayes to Brussels not looking too bad now

VinLieger · 13-03-2013 1:22pm

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

Surely it would be better to invite representatives from America etc, whose businesses we want to attract to Ireland, to come here for St Patricks day rather than sending local council reps on jaunts.

Have you seen Ireland on paddies day? Surely it would be best to keep prospective investors as far away as possible on this day specifically

jjbrien · 13-03-2013 1:25pm

Boombastic wrote: »

Here's the list for where some TD's are going, it's well for them

From Newstalk

This year at least 9 of them will travel with the Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe leaving for Australia today.

The full list is set to be announced next week. But it is understood the break-down will look something like this:

Leo Varadkar: Japan
Phil Hogan: Boston
Frances Fitzgerald: India
Pat Rabbitte: New York
Eamon Gilmore: Washington
Brian Hayes: Brussels
Joan Burton: Chicago
Alan Shatter: The Middle East
Taoiseach Enda Kenny meanwhile will take in a week-long trip which will include Washington, New York, Seattle and Silicon Valley.

Well if you look at where Enda is going he will spend an entire day with Obama the leader of the free world which I think is very good for us here. What other country in the world has this kind of relationship with the white house. If you remeber when Enda went the first time he invited Obama to come here and he came like 2 months after which gave us a good boost when we needed it most. If you look at where else hes going Seattle home of Microsoft and Google both are massive employers here and make up a big part of our economy. Then Silicon Valley again we have a lot of Amercian comanies like HP, Intel etc which are all based there which are major players in our economy.

All the other TD's listed are going to visit some of our major trading partners. I dont see the UK on that list but we should be sending someone there too. The more business they can bring into our country the better and the faster we will get out of this mess. They aint going to party.

This thread comes up every year and its just a cheap go at the government.

jjbrien · 13-03-2013 1:28pm

VinLieger wrote: »

Have you seen Ireland on paddies day? Surely it would be best to keep prospective investors as far away as possible on this day specifically

Very true the last time i went into Dublin City Centre on paddys day it was dirty, the streets were covered in sick and vomit. Its best to keep Obama and co away from here on Paddys day.

Crann na Beatha · 13-03-2013 1:30pm

This post has been deleted.

NinjaTruncs · 13-03-2013 1:33pm

Boombastic wrote: »

Here's the list for where some TD's are going, it's well for them

From Newstalk

This year at least 9 of them will travel with the Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe leaving for Australia today.

The full list is set to be announced next week. But it is understood the break-down will look something like this:

Leo Varadkar: Japan
Phil Hogan: Boston
Frances Fitzgerald: India
Pat Rabbitte: New York
Eamon Gilmore: Washington
Brian Hayes: Brussels
Joan Burton: Chicago
Alan Shatter: The Middle East
Taoiseach Enda Kenny meanwhile will take in a week-long trip which will include Washington, New York, Seattle and Silicon Valley.

Now that's taking the piss, heading out a week before the event!

The Dagda · 13-03-2013 1:37pm

Boombastic wrote: »

Here's the list for where some TD's are going, it's well for them

From Newstalk

This year at least 9 of them will travel with the Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe leaving for Australia today.

The full list is set to be announced next week. But it is understood the break-down will look something like this:

Leo Varadkar: Japan
Phil Hogan: Boston
Frances Fitzgerald: India
Pat Rabbitte: New York
Eamon Gilmore: Washington
Brian Hayes: Brussels
Joan Burton: Chicago
Alan Shatter: The Middle East
Taoiseach Enda Kenny meanwhile will take in a week-long trip which will include Washington, New York, Seattle and Silicon Valley.

So who's in charge??

With all our "leaders" away, I can't figure out if it's a good or bad time for a coup d'etat?...

On one hand all the high level "vital" people are away, but on the other hand, the unelected people who are still here might be better qualified, and capable of handling any situation??!! :pac:

HondaSami · 13-03-2013 1:38pm

http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=government%20ministers%20st%20patrick's%20day&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&ved=0CEQQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thejournal.ie%2Fministers-travel-abroad-st-patricks-day-2013-829930-Mar2013%2F&ei=XoBAUfe7NeaM7Abd34CoDw&usg=AFQjCNFqEH2Jw1i4DgaiwnuYb0-mTw2ftQ

Michael Ring, the junior minister responsible for sport, will be in Italy for the conclusion of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign.

I hope he likes rugby.

G Power · 13-03-2013 1:39pm

isn't it well for them all jetting off around the world eating and drinking the finest of everything along the way barely having to wipe their own ar$e$ and rubbing shoulders with war criminals in some cases while we wallow in **** and drown our sorrows back home spending money we can't afford to block it all out for a day until Arthurs day comes round again.

ejmaztec · 13-03-2013 1:41pm

jjbrien wrote: »

Well if you look at where Enda is going he will spend an entire day with Obama the leader of the free world which I think is very good for us here. What other country in the world has this kind of relationship with the white house. If you remeber when Enda went the first time he invited Obama to come here and he came like 2 months after which gave us a good boost when we needed it most. If you look at where else hes going Seattle home of Microsoft and Google both are massive employers here and make up a big part of our economy. Then Silicon Valley again we have a lot of Amercian comanies like HP, Intel etc which are all based there which are major players in our economy.

All the other TD's listed are going to visit some of our major trading partners. I dont see the UK on that list but we should be sending someone there too. The more business they can bring into our country the better and the faster we will get out of this mess. They aint going to party.

This thread comes up every year and its just a cheap go at the government.

Partying, arse-licking, bargain shopping and duty-free.

End result = zero.

jjbrien · 13-03-2013 1:44pm

NinjaTruncs wrote: »

Now that's taking the piss, heading out a week before the event!

Takes 2 days to get to OZ so its not taking the piss

HondaSami · 13-03-2013 1:51pm

The Dagda wrote: »

So who's in charge??

''Minister for Finance Michael Noonan will in effect be left in charge of the State when Taoiseach Enda Kenny and other Government Ministers travel abroad to mark St Patrick’s Day''.

crockholm · 13-03-2013 1:57pm

Whitehouse sppechwriters have complained before of the dread of st.Pats day, every year the regurgitated ****e about how great the Irish are, really cringworthy stuff. No doubt we will be informed by obuma that" the US has no greater ally", even though he's used it many times about different countries.

It would be nice to think the buttheads in office would like to spend the day with the people who actually elect them.

We can send people from IDA or Commerce Ireland or someone like that,with experience in technology and business.

Boombastic · 13-03-2013 2:05pm

jjbrien wrote: »

................................... They aint going to party.

.........................................

:pac::pac::pac:

Sure they are

The Dagda wrote: »

So who's in charge??

With all our "leaders" away, I can't figure out if it's a good or bad time for a coup d'etat?...

On one hand all the high level "vital" people are away, but on the other hand, the unelected people who are still here might be better qualified, and capable of handling any situation??!! :pac:

Sorry to inform you but they left me to mind the house while they're away

razorblunt · 13-03-2013 2:14pm

All we're short now is for Micky Noonan to post on Facebook about a little party he's having in Leinster House "just for good friends". Then we can all crash the gaff. Dibs on the ashtray.