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President Michael D Higgins’ €3,000 a night hotel stays

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24567…17

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    #32
    Tipsy McSwagger
    Registered Users Posts: 9,065 ✭✭✭Tipsy McSwagger


    RobertKK wrote: »
    https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/ras-silence-on-claims-higgins-stayed-in-3000anight-hotel-37198861.html

    I know some people worship the ground the man walks on and mistakenly thinks he does a good job representing us as a nation.
    But as a nation with a homeless problem, waiting lists to have health conditions treated now at the 1 million mark and many other issues that need dealing with, it looks like our President and the Department of Foreign Affairs have lost the run of themselves when they waste so much money on luxury hotels and this carry on doesn’t represent us a nation.
    It is nothing more than abuse of the system for personal gain. There is no need for taxpayers money to be wasted like this. It shows if one has some power or status in society it is there to be abused. Time for change...

    Bla Bla Bla homeless Bla Bla Bla


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    #33
    mattser
    Registered Users Posts: 2,203 ✭✭✭mattser


    Hande hoche! wrote: »
    President Sharky can't arrive soon enough.

    :D:D:D Then again, we had a turkey represent us a Eurovision


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    #34
    PlaneSpeeking
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,106 ✭✭✭PlaneSpeeking


    RobertKK wrote: »
    So was he held at gunpoint that he needed to stay at such an expensive hotel paid for by taxpayers?

    So where should the head of the country stayed ? The Geneva Premier Inn ???


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    #35
    PlaneSpeeking
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,106 ✭✭✭PlaneSpeeking


    mattser wrote: »
    :D:D:D Then again, we had a turkey represent us a Eurovision

    And I still think Dustin would make a better President than that pox Sharkey!


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    #36
    WoollyRedHat
    Registered Users Posts: 10,462 ✭✭✭✭WoollyRedHat


    Abolish the monarchy.


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    #37
    DickSwiveller Returns
    Closed Accounts Posts: 752 ✭✭✭DickSwiveller Returns


    The man is a charlatan. Because he looks and speaks like a Teletubby we are all supposed to think he's great. The incessant fawning from journalists is becoming disturbing at this stage. Why does the avowed socialist need the huge salary he's on? No doubt he has a few pensions from his time in the Dáil. Just get rid of the presidency and put an end to this circus


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    #38
    Hande hoche!
    Registered Users Posts: 7,452 ✭✭✭Hande hoche!


    Ulysses Gaze wrote: »
    If you think other candidates would not do the same if they became President, you are deluded.


    Would argue that any other candidate would cost more to be fair to El- Presidente.

    PlaneSpeeking wrote: »
    Over my dead body.


    Kinky.


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    #39
    Liamario
    Registered Users Posts: 2,094 ✭✭✭Liamario


    I'm pretty sure having Michael D Higgins staying at the Premier Inn isn't going to solve homelessness.
    Direct your problems at management, rather than the mascot of the company.


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    #40
    mariaalice
    Registered Users Posts: 12,365 ✭✭✭✭mariaalice


    RobertKK wrote: »
    So was he held at gunpoint that he needed to stay at such an expensive hotel paid for by taxpayers?

    You are still not getting it, he does not book his own hotel rooms complain to the department of foreign affairs and as someone pointed out Switzerland is very expensive.

    It's a scurrilous article full of innuendo and the indo should be called out for that.


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    #41
    Westernyelp
    Registered Users Posts: 2,371 ✭✭✭Westernyelp


    Stop sending people to Geneva would be more like it! How can they justify prices like that?


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    #42
    PlaneSpeeking
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,106 ✭✭✭PlaneSpeeking


    Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »
    Bla Bla Bla homeless Bla Bla Bla

    Plus - apparently a quarter of the entire population of the country are on a waiting list ?

    Even if true - and I doubt it - this does not mean everyone is suffering!

    I'm waiting to see a surgeon, my condition - whilst annoying and painful - is manageable by medication.

    I'm on a waiting list but so what ? If the President sleeps in a tent will I go from number 751,002 to 750,967 ????


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    #43
    mikemac2
    Registered Users Posts: 2,926 ✭✭✭mikemac2


    Is Craughwell going to stand on the sidelines sniping for the next three months?


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    #44
    Hitman3000
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,596 ✭✭✭Hitman3000


    Great to be a socialist especially when someone else is paying.


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    #45
    Allinall
    Registered Users Posts: 6,542 ✭✭✭Allinall


    RobertKK wrote: »
    https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/ras-silence-on-claims-higgins-stayed-in-3000anight-hotel-37198861.html

    I know some people worship the ground the man walks on and mistakenly thinks he does a good job representing us as a nation.
    But as a nation with a homeless problem, waiting lists to have health conditions treated now at the 1 million mark and many other issues that need dealing with, it looks like our President and the Department of Foreign Affairs have lost the run of themselves when they waste so much money on luxury hotels and this carry on doesn’t represent us a nation.
    It is nothing more than abuse of the system for personal gain. There is no need for taxpayers money to be wasted like this. It shows if one has some power or status in society it is there to be abused. Time for change...

    Failing to see where the personal gain is, OP?


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    #46
    ArchXStanton
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,912 ✭✭✭ArchXStanton


    PlaneSpeeking wrote: »
    Plus - apparently a quarter of the entire population of the country are on a waiting list ?

    Even if true - and I doubt it - this does not mean everyone is suffering!

    I'm waiting to see a surgeon, my condition - whilst annoying and painful - is manageable by medication.

    I'm on a waiting list but so what ? If the President sleeps in a tent will I go from number 751,002 to 750,967 ????

    Would you be saying that if it was something that developed into something more serious?


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    #47
    bobbyss
    Registered Users Posts: 5,190 ✭✭✭bobbyss


    A bit of perspective though. Many people would find TDs' and Senators expenses exorbitant and unjustifiable.


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    #48
    PlaneSpeeking
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,106 ✭✭✭PlaneSpeeking


    ArchXStanton wrote: »
    Would you be saying that if it was something that developed into something more serious?

    It could easily do so yes. I'd like to think I;d be seen a little quicker if it did.

    But the point is that not every person on a waiting list is suffering and so to use it as a metric is not constructive.


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    #49
    King of Kings
    Registered Users Posts: 1,695 ✭✭✭King of Kings


    what has a labour conference got to do with his role as President??

    this man is a fraud and a spoofer.

    On another note, if I spend company money on a trip abroad unrelated to my actual job the revenue would be on my case..


    I hope Sharkey gets on the ticket.


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    #50
    mattser
    Registered Users Posts: 2,203 ✭✭✭mattser


    mikemac2 wrote: »
    Is Craughwell going to stand on the sidelines sniping for the next three months?

    Never heard of this guy until a few months ago. Bit like Gallagher the last time. These fellas just appear, and want to be president.


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    #51
    xi5yvm0owc1s2b
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,325 ✭✭✭xi5yvm0owc1s2b


    mariaalice wrote: »
    You are still not getting it, he does not book his own hotel rooms complain to the department of foreign affairs and as someone pointed out Switzerland is very expensive.

    The article points out that the office of the president is exempt from freedom of information legislation, even after 2014 reforms to same, so there is no way for people to determine these costs.

    Regardless of what one thinks of Higgins, it seems difficult to dispute that citizens and taxpayers should be allowed to know how his office is spending their money.


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    #52
    DickSwiveller Returns
    Closed Accounts Posts: 752 ✭✭✭DickSwiveller Returns


    bobbyss wrote: »
    A bit of perspective though. Many people would find TDs' and Senators expenses exorbitant and unjustifiable.

    Why doesn't he set an example?? He's in his 80s and doesn't need the fat salary he's on or the huge expenses. Plus he's a socialist. Surely if anyone should set an example it's a rich socialist.


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    #53
    badtoro
    Closed Accounts Posts: 482 ✭✭badtoro


    seamus wrote: »
    and securability

    The list of international bad actors wanting to kidnap him is endless. I hear Kim Jong Un throws poison tipped darts at a photo of MDH reading poetry at NUIG.


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    #54
    yermanoffthetv
    Registered Users Posts: 625 ✭✭✭yermanoffthetv


    Im not one for thinking we should be miserly to our national representatives but I dont see why he couldn't stay in a 4 star hotel if its not a high importance event, its not exactly slumming it and hes no more than a glorified ambassador. he was going to speak at an event hosted by the International Labour Organisation, the irony. It comes across as being quite hypocritical and detached from reality's of the people hes supposed to be representing.


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    #55
    Ash.J.Williams
    Registered Users Posts: 20,929 ✭✭✭✭Ash.J.Williams


    DickSwiveller Returns wrote: »
    The man is a charlatan. Because he looks and speaks like a Teletubby we are all supposed to think he's great. The incessant fawning from journalists is becoming disturbing at this stage. Why does the avowed socialist need the huge salary he's on? No doubt he has a few pensions from his time in the Dáil. Just get rid of the presidency and put an end to this circus

    does anyone need the money they're on?


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    #56
    ArchXStanton
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,912 ✭✭✭ArchXStanton


    PlaneSpeeking wrote: »
    It could easily do so yes. I'd like to think I;d be seen a little quicker if it did.

    But the point is that not every person on a waiting list is suffering and so to use it as a metric is not constructive.

    No,but I'd be pretty pissed off with paying such exorbitant taxes and government not fulfilling their side of the deal/social contract.Its not acceptable


  • Options
    #57
    Lux23
    Registered Users Posts: 7,134 ✭✭✭Lux23


    RobertKK wrote: »
    https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/ras-silence-on-claims-higgins-stayed-in-3000anight-hotel-37198861.html

    I know some people worship the ground the man walks on and mistakenly thinks he does a good job representing us as a nation.

    How is he not doing a good job representing Ireland? Can you provide an example of when he has caused a diplomatic incident or embarrassed us as a nation?


  • Options
    #58
    Annasopra
    Registered Users Posts: 40,815 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    seamus wrote: »
    Gerard "the elites have it all sown up" Craughwell still sore that nobody would nominate him I see.

    Until someone can point to another more obvious hotel that's considerably cheaper, and equivalent in terms of location and securability, then I'm going to assume that the person who booked it didn't go off on one.

    He's still the president. We might be pretty laid back and inoffensive, but a bog standard double room in a four star hotel can't be adequately secured.

    We also have no idea how much the room cost and who paid for it.

    Yeah this "it cost €3000" is pure drivel

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



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    #59
    xi5yvm0owc1s2b
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,325 ✭✭✭xi5yvm0owc1s2b


    Lux23 wrote: »
    How is he not doing a good job representing Ireland? Can you provide an example of when he has caused a diplomatic incident or embarrassed us as a nation?

    His fawning tribute to the dictator Fidel Castro was a complete embarrassment to the country.


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    #60
    mariaalice
    Registered Users Posts: 12,365 ✭✭✭✭mariaalice


    Luka Broad Bassist wrote: »
    The article points out that the office of the president is exempt from freedom of information legislation, even after 2014 reforms to same, so there is no way for people to determine these costs.

    Regardless of what one thinks of Higgins, it seems difficult to dispute that citizens and taxpayers should be allowed to know how his office is spending their money.

    Yes but that is not what the article is about as such, it tries to link him personally to spending the money implying he directed the department of foreign affaire to book the most expensive rooms.


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    #61
    seamus
    Registered Users Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    badtoro wrote: »
    The list of international bad actors wanting to kidnap him is endless. I hear Kim Jong Un throws poison tipped darts at a photo of MDH reading poetry at NUIG.
    Sure, let's just stick him into a shared dorm in a hostel then, what's the worst that can happen?

    There's overkill, like driving around in an armor-plated car with 12-inch doors, and then there's good sense, like minimising the number of people on the same floor as the president.

    The president of any EU country is a potential target for any lone fringe loony, no matter how soft a target they may be. No need to make it easy for them.


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