Should president Michael D Higgins pay benefit in kind on his rent free accommodation

SafeSurfer

Should our president pay benefit in kind on his rent free accommodation at Aras an Uachtarain in addition to tax on his €250,000 salary? Certain employees and trades are exempt from BIK in regard to accommodation provided by their employer such as prison governors and night watchmen. Should the president be exempt from paying?

Pawwed Rig

Probably not as the situation could arise where the President cannot afford to move into the Aras. What is the market rent for a house of that size anyway?

ryan101

He doesn't take up much room, he speaks well, and anyone is better than that slimy baldy FF bag man we nearly got, so leave Michael D alone, he's doing all right.

kneemos

Is he not on call twenty four seven?therefore entitled to free digs.

Mr. Z

No. Michael D. Higgins shouldn't. Maybe the next president, but not Michael D.

scwazrh

He already gives up a pensions he's entitled to. When the ex goverment members such as Bertie and cowen stop taking tax payers money then we can worry about taxing useful peoples benefits

hfallada

No. Because doesnt he host **** at the house. I mean ****, as is practically a glorified Lord mayor(as in he a step above planting trees at a new green verge at some generic housing estate)

Megastar

SafeSurfer wrote: »

Should our president pay benefit in kind on his rent free accommodation at Aras an Uachtarain in addition to tax on his €250,000 salary? Certain employees and trades are exempt from BIK in regard to accommodation provided by their employer such as prison governors and night watchmen. Should the president be exempt from paying?

Thanks for spelling "accommodation" right.

Yellowblackbird

Has his water meter been installed yet?
I saw a bin outside his gaf last week(aras)

There was no bin tag on it.

Lapin

No.

The Aras is a grace and favour residence fulfilling the stipulation set aside in the constitution the the President must reside in or close to Dublin.

Aras an Úachtarain is a fitting location for the office and a dignified place for receiving foreign heads of state, hosting state events and welcoming groups from all over the country.

The building is as much part of the presidency as the office holder and therefore it would be wrong for the state to effectively punish the president with taxes for residing in the place he is obliged to, and carrying out the duties we expect him to there.

Sir Arthur Daley

Does md have a company car?

kneemos

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Does md have a company car?

What company does he work for?

Sir Arthur Daley

kneemos wrote: »

What company does he work for?

Sorry bad choice of words, i mean a state car?

mickdw

He has a modest enough 8 year old S Class Mercedes mostly.

Manach

Given Mr Higgins must deal with undesirables such as Kenny and Gilmore, surely we can write it off as hazard pay.

Cookie_Monster

mickdw wrote: »

He has a modest enough 8 year old S Class Mercedes mostly.

does he pay BIK on that, do any of the rest (gov) of them either?

EyeSight

Ah now, talk about stinge.
Sure we could make a couple of thousand off him, but there are way bigger areas we should be focusing on. Jobs for the boys, a terrible but expensive health service, overpaid politicians, bloated seanad, expensive reports and public enquirys(why do these always cost so much?) etc.

Hootanany

Yes he is a very very very rich Socialist?

Antar Bolaeisk

kneemos wrote: »

What company does he work for?

Ireland Inc.

Arthur Beesley

He should be subject to a Hobbit Levy also.

Arthur Beesley

Manach wrote: »

Given Mr Higgins must deal with undesirables such as Kenny and Gilmore, surely we can write it off as hazard pay.

Maybe he should resign the post if it is really so bad. It's not as if he was elected after the last General Election. Oh wait, he was, so his own fault. And he smells of Hobbit.

Arthur Beesley

Hootanany wrote: »

Yes he is a very very very rich Socialist?

Champagne anyone?

ryan101

Hootanany wrote: »

Yes he is a very very very rich Socialist?

I'll that over the the very very very rich scumbags any day.

mickydoomsux

EyeSight wrote: »

..Jobs for the boys....

The Irish Presidency is the very definition of one of those Jobs For The Boys.

ryan101

mickydoomsux wrote: »

The Irish Presidency is the very definition of one of those Jobs For The Boys.

Except this time the baldy bag boy didn't get it

RobbingBandit

Can't charge him now can we, he's a little short...

mickydoomsux

OSI wrote: »

Please explain how a democratically elected head of state, as voted for by the people he represents, is "one of those Jobs For The Boys."

It's almost guaranteed to be an ex-politician/party member or political hanger-on of some kind because of the nature of the candidates put forward.

humanji

No he shouldn't, but he should be forced to fight crime dressed as Batman.

kneemos

humanji wrote: »

No he shouldn't, but he should be forced to fight crime dressed as Batman.

Robin surely.