Greedy Mary McAleese keeps €141k pension

unkel

It's disgraceful, Mary. You're already a multi-millionaire. Do the right thing and give up the state pension, we can't afford to pay you that kind of money any more.

Linky

Foxhound38

It's disgraceful Joe - she should be paying us money, not the other way around :rolleyes:

Quazzie

unkel wrote: »

It's disgraceful, Mary. You're already a multi-millionaire. Do the right thing and give up the state pension, we can't afford to pay you that kind of money any more.

Linky

Complain if you like that she shouldn't be getting that amount as a pension but I think it's a bit much to complain that she didn't give it back.

She might be worth a lot of money on paper, but that doesn't mean she has a lot of money.

cletus van damme

don't be giving out about saint mary , she invented the peace process don't you know.:pac:
also coincidentally her husband ended up appointed a senator , I heard he was a really talented guy and in no way his wife's position had any bearing in his appointment
really.:rolleyes:

Foxhound38

unkel wrote: »

It's disgraceful, Mary. You're already a multi-millionaire. Do the right thing and give up the state pension, we can't afford to pay you that kind of money any more.

Linky

I bet she drives a nicer car than you too OP - morally she should give that back too :rolleyes:

Fr_Dougal

unkel wrote: »

It's disgraceful, Mary. You're already a multi-millionaire. Do the right thing and give up the state pension, we can't afford to pay you that kind of money any more.

Linky

Seriously? You'd actually begrudge her the state pension before Cowen and Ahern?

Dozen Wicked Words

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Seriously? You'd actually begrudge her the state pension before Cowen and Ahern?

I think you can begrudge all three.

3rdDegree

cletus van damme wrote: »

don't be giving out about saint mary , she invented the peace process don't you know.:pac:
also coincidentally her husband ended up appointed a senator , I heard he was a really talented guy and in no way his wife's position had no play in his appointment.
really.:rolleyes:

How did you all become so cynical

Skid X

Mrs Robinson gave up €15,499 in 2011, but the accounts show she gave nothing in 2012.

However, a spokesperson said she had yet to finalise her financial affairs from last year, and could yet return some of her pension to the taxpayer.

So that money is just resting in her account. :rolleyes:

thebaz

Foxhound38 wrote: »

I bet she drives a nicer car than you too OP - morally she should give that back too :rolleyes:

if she is Independtly wealthy , she should give it back , especially given her and Mary Robinson's political person's was always as the nice ones - so yeah, if she can afford it give it back , but if she is broke like me and many others , then fair eneogh.

Quazzie

thebaz wrote: »

if she is Independtly wealthy , she should give it back , especially given her and Mary Robinson's political person's was always as the nice ones - so yeah, if she can afford it give it back , but if she is broke like me and many others , then fair eneogh.

Why should she give it back? She served her time for this country and that's the figure that our government has given her for her service.

Under your theory anyone that has money or worth over a million should work for no wages and instead give it to the Government. There's a word for that kind of system

Badly Drunk Boy

However, all pensions will be reduced further from the amounts detailed in the latest accounts since the Haddington Road Agreement introduced cuts to pensions for politicians and high-ranking civil servants.

Mr Ahern and Mr Cowen will lose around €30,147 each annually, although the reductions only came into effect from July 1 and will not be reflected until the 2013 Finance Accounts.

A lot of people would be happy to earn that much annually, yet they're only losing that amount... :mad:

Foxhound38

thebaz wrote: »

if she is Independtly wealthy , she should give it back , especially given her and Mary Robinson's political person's was always as the nice ones - so yeah, if she can afford it give it back , but if she is broke like me and many others , then fair eneogh.

I bet her house is bigger than ours too - she should give that back! Bedsit should be good enough for her! :mad:

And is that M&S I seen her shopping in?? :mad:

unkel

I don't begrudge her the pension she is by all means legally (if not morally) entitled too, but if she had any grace, she'd give (most of) it up.

And in the meantime we need to change the program

Retired president of Ireland - pension €141k
Retired president of the United States of America - pension €141k

That's just ridiculous. And we can not afford it.

My name is URL

Why single her out? There's dozens of 'millionaire' former politicians still receiving sky-high pensions

D1stant

In other news a Nurse in Galway apparently is drawing down her FULL salary. Disgace

thebaz

Quazzie wrote: »

Why should she give it back? She served her time for this country and that's the figure that our government has given her for her service.

Under your theory anyone that has money or worth over a million should work for no wages and instead give it to the Government. There's a word for that kind of system

completly different , she and Mary robinson based ther political / presidential outlook on being ethically honest, kind of the polar opposite to the Fianna Fail mantra of greed - so as I said, if she is indepently wealthy and wants to uphold her credibilty , she should forego her pension , when so many people in the irish state are suffering incredible poverty today, I believe people should be judged on what they do , not what they say , and that goes for ex Presidents.

Foxhound38

I once saw a civil servant buy a cup of tea AND a Snack Bar at a Cafe!

DISGRACEFUL! Some people can't AFFORD Snack Bars!

PizzamanIRL

Put yourself in her shoes. Would you say no to 141k? I doubt it.

141k won't get Ireland back on it's feet.

Quazzie

unkel wrote: »

I don't begrudge her the pension she is by all means legally (if not morally) entitled too, but if she had any grace, she'd give (most of) it up.

And in the meantime we need to change the program

Retired president of Ireland - pension €141k
Retired president of the United States of America - pension €141k

That's just ridiculous. And we can not afford it.

See the thing is, a former president can't really go back to work. They can't go back to teaching, selling cars, building houses, whatever it is they used to do, so they need a pension. They can't be expected to live in a bedsit either so a tiny pension wouldn't be enough. They need adequate income because they can't work, have to live in above normal accommodation, and also need to live a somewhat prosperous life. €141k might be excessive, but reallistically it probably isn't too far off what a former president should be getting for their standing in out society.

Where I would look for changes is that any more earned in "retirement" comes off their pension. So if she earns €10k from giving after dinner speeches etc, then the government only gives her a pension of €131k. Basically the Government should be subsidizing the income of these people, not boosting it to ridiculous figures.

Foxhound38

thebaz wrote: »

completly different , she and Mary robinson based ther political / presidential outlook on being ethically honest, kind of the polar opposite to the Fianna Fail mantra of greed - so as I said, if she is indepently wealthy and wants to uphold her credibilty , she should forego her pension , when so many people in the irish state are suffering incredible poverty today, I believe people should be judged on what they do , not what they say , and that goes for ex Presidents.

How incredibly dishonest of her to draw the pension her former office entitled her to - disgrace Joe, absolute disgrace! :mad:

unkel

My name is URL wrote: »

Why single her out? There's dozens of 'millionaire' former politicians still receiving sky-high pensions

Because she gets more state pension than anybody else in this country.

Bannasidhe

Quazzie wrote: »

See the thing is, a former president can't really go back to work. They can't go back to teaching, selling cars, building houses, whatever it is they used to do, so they need a pension. They can't be expected to live in a bedsit either so a tiny pension wouldn't be enough. They need adequate income because they can't work, have to live in above normal accommodation, and also need to live a somewhat prosperous life. €141k might be excessive, but reallistically it probably isn't too far off what a former president should be getting for their standing in out society.

Where I would look for changes is that any more earned in "retirement" comes off their pension. So if she earns €10k from giving after dinner speeches etc, then the government only gives her a pension of €131k. Basically the Government should be subsidizing the income of these people, not boosting it to ridiculous figures.

ummm...didn't Mary Robinson get a well paid gig with the United Nations for which she cut short her second term as President?

As for McAleese - nice gig as visiting scholar at Boston College....and yes, there is a payment for this as she is deemed to be holding a chair (i.e professorship) so she is getting at least another 140k p.a for that. http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/offices/pubaf/news/2013-mar-apr/mary-mcaleese-to-be-visiting-scholar-at-boston-college.html

mrbrown69

While old age pensioners go to Mountjoy for a fking tv license politicians and bankers who banjaxxed this country for decades sit in their retirement ivory towers...sums up this country...FUBAR

Foxhound38

Ban salaries over 30K I say, on pain of exile!

McDermotX

The right question to be asking is why is there a need for a president at all, along with all the associated costs relating to salary, pensions, running costs, expenses etc...

Ridiculous position that in reality offers no tangible benefit or requirement that could not be re-apportioned. Needs to be scrapped completely, even if it meant only saving a couple hundred quid.

No respect for the office........in fact, I find it offensive.

Foxhound38

McDermotX wrote: »

The right question to be asking is why is there a need for a president at all, along with all the associated costs relating to salary, pensions, running costs, expenses etc...

Ridiculous position that in reality offers no tangible benefit or requirement that could not be re-apportioned. Needs to be scrapped completely, even if it meant only saving a couple hundred quid.

No respect for the office........in fact, I find it offensive.

Our entire political system offers little in the way of tangible benefit - should we scrap everything and turn into an anarchist collective because we begrudge public salaries?

thebaz

Foxhound38 wrote: »

How incredibly dishonest of her to draw the pension her former office entitled her to - disgrace Joe, absolute disgrace! :mad:

yes your honour, when the country is in such a ****ing financial mess, and so much hardship around , is it too much to expect all politicians not to act like corrupt Fianna Failers , especially those that based ther campaigns on honesty and ethics. Nothing legally wrong obviously , but ethically i have a problem , if she can well afford to forego pension , especially when many of the poorer sections of our society are being squeezed for basic human needs.

Nermal

Foxhound38 wrote: »

Our entire political system offers little in the way of tangible benefit - should we scrap everything and turn into an anarchist collective because we begrudge public salaries?

I begrudge wasted public salaries, yes. The president has no power, the position is pointless. If we need someone to represent the country at a function, send one of the dozens of ministers we appear to have these days.

afatbollix

Foxhound38 wrote: »

Ban salaries over 30K I say, on pain of exile!

Ya Communism worked so well.

McDermotX

Foxhound38 wrote: »

Our entire political system offers little in the way of tangible benefit - should we scrap everything and turn into an anarchist collective because we begrudge public salaries?

Best thing you can do when trying to save money, is to cut away what is essentially useless fat in all areas. Something that offers nothing beyond yet another expense slip submitted, yet offers nothing of any benefit beyond filling a photo or a 3min spot on RTE news.

Frankly my disdain for the particular office goes far beyond 'begrudging' public salaries. Every minute that position is still in place costs us all money, and yet it appears to be off the table for any change.

It's a disgrace Joe..........

guillespe

I agree with the poster,she is worth millions without the pension why is she keeping it,and at the expense of an economically broken country that owes germany + interest.

**** her.

Foxhound38

thebaz wrote: »

yes your honour, when the country is in such a ****ing financial mess, and so much hardship around , is it too much to expect all politicians not to act like corrupt Fianna Failers , especially those that based ther campaigns on honesty and ethics. Nothing legally wrong obviously , but ethically i have a problem , if she can well afford to forego pension , especially when many of the poorer sections of our society are being squeezed for basic human needs.

In what way specifically has former President McAleese acted in a corrupt manner? Baring in mind that corruption is a serious and criminal charge to make against someone

Oakboy

unkel wrote: »

It's disgraceful, Mary. You're already a multi-millionaire. Do the right thing and give up the state pension, we can't afford to pay you that kind of money any more.

Linky

How is that the right thing?
What is disgraceful is journalists trying to bully her into giving it back. She has absolutely no obligation to do so.

This logic implies anyone that is well off who has been in public office should give money back or face harassment like this? That's some society you envisage. It is bullying plain and simple. I hope Mary keeps every cent

guillespe

This logic implies anyone that is well off who has been in public office should give money back or face harassment like this? That's some society you envisage. It is bullying plain and simple. I hope Mary keeps every cent

Every cent at the tax payers expense,ie you and me,this will really help when paying back ze germans plus added interest..Fool

Insect Overlord

What a stupid fecking thing to give out about. Jesus. Who's that bored on a Saturday afternoon?

Fr_Dougal

Foxhound38 wrote: »

I once saw a civil servant buy a cup of tea AND a Snack Bar at a Cafe!

DISGRACEFUL! Some people can't AFFORD Snack Bars!

:eek: What colour Schnack Bar?

spank_inferno

Why is anyone surprised?

We must have forgotten mother Mary is a Fianne Failer.

Oakboy

guillespe wrote: »

Every cent at the tax payers expense,ie you and me,this will really help when paying back ze germans plus added interest..Fool

Your logic is to bully politicians to hand back money just because they are politicians and are perceived to be well off. Yet I'm the fool....??

The Big Smoke

I really wish I had gone into politics, between the salaries, pensions and the general passive attitude this country (look at this thread) has it seems like a winning career choice.

Outkast_IRE

Civil service pensions at all levels should be capped at the average industrial wage, as a maximum, if they want to contribute to them to top that up then leave them at it like everyone else.

Foxhound38

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

:eek: What colour Schnack Bar?

Imperial purple I recall! :eek:

Wasn't even from a multi-pack! :mad:

guillespe

Your logic is to bully politicians to hand back money just because they are politicians and are perceived to be well off. Yet I'm the fool....??

Im not bullying any politician,im just asking them to hand back the pension payout,as this woman mcalesse doesn't need this payout her life doesn't depend on it,she is worth millions without it anyway..


If this was anybody else doing the same thing there could be uproar but politicians seem to be the protected species..

All you need to walk away with a pension in this country as a politician is to work 2 years how the fvck is that fair??

MadsL

mrbrown69 wrote: »

While old age pensioners go to Mountjoy

For 30 mins. Let's get a grip here. And they were 60 years old, not pensioners.

Bannasidhe

Personally I find it a bit rich listening to politics saying how we all must tighten out belts and do our bit yada yada yada sure didn't we all party so they cut resources to schools, cut resources to hospitals, cut resources to emergency services and that not enough so its propert taxes and water taxes and levies and VAT increases and an increase to the age the Old Age Pension is paid out at but heaven forbid that these same politico should lose their 'entitlements' or have to actually wait until retirement age to collect these 'entitlements'.

MaAleese - and Robinson - were elected as President. A non-political (ha!) office which is based on the role played by the British monarch i.e. as 'figurehead' or embodiment of the State itself - and here we have the perfect examples of why Ireland is a failed State imho. Our figureheads are perfectly content to claim every cent as they are 'entitled' while also working in highly paid jobs outside the State with no thought of 'sharing the pain' whatsoever.

As for the likes of Cowen, Ahern etc - as far as I am concerned they should be in the dock explaining their incompetence not sitting on their arses collecting considerably more in pension payments than the vast majority of Irish taxpayers (who are funding them) get in gross annual income.

What is the difference between people on SW and retired politicos ?
People on SW are regularly vilified in threads on boards (scroungers/spongers who should be on food stamps/vouchers etc), watched and called to account and howverydaretheybeaburdon - but politicians...oh well, they are entitled - who entitled them? They did!

Cody Pomeray

I was really saddened to see the Indo put that story on the front page of their newspaper this morning. And no, I'm not exaggerating. There is so much bad stuff going on, and they're making headlines out of a person not making a gift to the state.

They're chasing pennies in national debt terms, and they're denigrating the few things that we can have faith in, in the process.

The President is the closest thing we have to a secular, non-denominational spiritual leader. Stories like this just try to start a fire of cynicism in one of the few institutions that we can feel belong to us as a People and are above politics.

The other national institution that belongs to the People is the constitution, and we can see what a hash they're trying to make of that as well. It's time society started to really turn on those who try to undermine society's core structures. I don't want our former Presidents to be shamed into making gifts to the state which will end up saving some quango or the Taoiseach's cleaning bill. get a grip.

aidan24326

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Civil service pensions at all levels should be capped at the average industrial wage, as a maximum, if they want to contribute to them to top that up then leave them at it like everyone else.

It's being reined in a bit now but for too long public sector pensions here were a gravy train.

Ruairi Quinn recently said that he doesn't have much room to manouevre in terms of cutting his Dept of Education budget, because 80% of his entire departmental budget consists of pensions to retired staff, most of whom were allowed retire in their 50s on pensions that would be higher than what a lot of people earn in full time employment.

Painted Pony

I wonder how much all of those yowling and growling about Mary McAleese not giving her money away have ever voluntarily given to the state in our times of need? Granted, you mightn’t be able to match what McM might be able to do but surely you could manage a once of €100, or even €50?

But of course you haven’t or wouldn’t, just like I haven’t or wouldn’t. Because, the odd bit of political gimmickry aside, nobody (sane!) does this kind of thing. At all. Ever.

If you want to make a case that remuneration is unduly generous for some of our political offices, fine. But outrage because someone is refusing to give their money away? Very, very silly.

Bannasidhe

Painted Pony wrote: »

I wonder how much all of those yowling and growling about Mary McAleese not giving her money away have ever voluntarily given to the state in our times of need? Granted, you mightn’t be able to match what McM might be able to do but surely you could manage a once of €100, or even €50?

But of course you haven’t or wouldn’t, just like I haven’t or wouldn’t. Because, the odd bit of political gimmickry aside, nobody (sane!) does this kind of thing. At all. Ever.

If you want to make a case that remuneration is unduly generous for some of our political offices, fine. But outrage because someone is refusing to give their money away? Very, very silly.

I shall look forward to your posts in the next thread about SW where you will no doubt make the same points about 'their' money.

Painted Pony

Bannasidhe wrote: »

I shall look forward to your posts in the next thread about SW where you will no doubt make the same points about 'their' money.

The money social welfare recipients get IS their money, just as the money retired public servants get IS their money.

If you (we) think one or other of these groups are being paid too much then we can reduce what they get. But to expect them to voluntarily give this money back …:rolleyes:

(Have you ever returned any money paid to you my the state? I.e. social welfare, tax rebate, mortgage relief etc?)

Cody Pomeray

aidan24326 wrote: »

Ruairi Quinn recently said that he doesn't have much room to manouevre in terms of cutting his Dept of Education budget, because 80% of his entire departmental budget consists of pensions to retired staff

I think he said 80% of his budget goes to salaries and pensions, not just pensions. 80% is definitely not the pension figure.