Six TD's and senators forced to refund illegitimate expense claims

Mokuba

In a shocking and out of character development, Maria Bailey was found to have the 2nd highest number of illegitimate expense claims out of those audited. She doesn't play offside.

https://www.thejournal.ie/tds-senators-expenses-dail-maria-bailey-4845883-Oct2019/

NIMAN

Refund them?

Isn't it time people got the heave-ho for filing dodgy claims?

pablo128

Ah it just gets better and better. We have glorified fraudsters running the country unhindered.

James Brown

SIX POLITICIANS HAVE had to refund almost €10,000 in expenses this year after an audit found they could not provide supporting evidence to justify claiming such allowances.

Two Fine Gael TDs – Alan Farrell and Maria Bailey – and Fine Gael senator, Michelle Mulherin accounted for the bulk of the ineligible claims.
https://www.thejournal.ie/tds-senators-expenses-dail-maria-bailey-4845883-Oct2019/

Seeing as the claims didn't pan out they needed free money from somewhere

Bailey and Farrell A.K.A. Swings and roundabouts.

Enter the plucky Blue Shirt Squad, (or BS'ers) to ask us are we 'still on this?' Or 'sure others do worse so they do'. :rolleyes:

suicide_circus

illegitimate? you mean fraudulent?

refund? they should be pilloried in the town square.

purifol0

Timely reminder that in other countrues including the one next door they actually jail people for this. After swing-gate Maria Bailey was simply annoyed that she had to step down as a committe chair - not resign in disgrace or get booted by the party. Nope Leo kept her on and kept the reults of FG's "internal investigation" a secret!

jam_mac_jam

That's nice. I would be sacked.

riffmongous

1 – TD Alan Farrell (FG) – €4,214.79
2 – Senator Michelle Mulherin (FG) – €2,006.73
3 – TD Maria Bailey (FG) – €1,977.11
4 – Senator Lynn Ruane (Ind) – €978.81
5 – Senator Colette Kelleher (Ind) – €245.85
6 – Senator Jerry Buttimer (FG) – €227.16.

The clean TDs and Senators

Finian McGrath (Ind)
Clare Daly (I4C)
Noel Rock (FG)
Niall Collins (FF)
Kate O’Connell (FG)
Danny Healy-Rae (Ind)
Seán Fleming (FF)
Simon Coveney (FG)
Martin Ferris (SF)
Martin Kenny (SF)
Michael Moynihan (FF)
Michael Lowry (FG)
Michael Collins (Ind)
The senators audited were:

Rónan Mullen (Ind)
Catherine Ardagh (FF)
Tom Neville (FG).

So 4 out of 9 FGers were found to be dodgy, that's fairly shocking tbh

James Brown

suicide_circus wrote: »

illegitimate? you mean fraudulent?

refund? they should be pilloried in the town square.

When we do it it's fraud when FG does it it's 'inappropriate' or 'oversight'.

Peatys

Wonder how much it adds up to after fines and interest?

banie01

If this was a report into a private companies expense practices it would quite legitimately be lauded as exposing a corporate culture of fraud and malfeasance.

I wonder what it says about Fine Gael as a body corporate?
Where are the standards?
What's the line between honest mistake, and a culture of fraud and pocket lining?

weemcd

They should be sacked and prosecuted.

James Brown

In my job you justify the spend before you get the money, then you better have an invoice.

Peatys

Matt Barrett wrote: »

In my job you justify the spend before you get the money, then you better have an invoice.

I didn't think there were different setups.
I presumed you spent your own money, sent the receipts to work, they pay you back outside of your salary so you are not taxed on it for a second time.

TDs seem to just claim without receipts and hope no one notices

McMurphy

Two Fine Gael TDs – Alan Farrell and Maria Bailey – and Fine Gael senator, Michelle Mulherin accounted for the bulk of the ineligible claims.

3 names that are by no means strangers to the newspapers for questionable practices.

One for a suspicious insurance claim.

The other for lodging a suspicious insurance claim after an earlier shake down of the same business for twenty grand didn't work.

The other for expecting tax payers to pick up the tab for her fornicating phonecalls to her African Prince.

Bailey, a TD for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown was removed as chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing in July as a result of her controversial personal injuries claim after falling from a swing in a Dublin hotel.

Farrell was also criticised for making a €15,000 claim for whiplash for neck and shoulder pains he claimed he suffered for up to 18 months following what a judge said were “minor injuries” sustained in a collision with a van.

During court proceedings last year in which he was awarded €2,500 in damages, the court was shown photos of Mr Farrell at the top of a ladder with an election poster four months after the accident.

Michelle Mulherin, a former TD for Mayo, paid €3,295 to the Oireachtas in 2015 after it emerged she had made a large number of calls to Kenya from her Dáil office

Not surprised at all.

Pintman Paddy Losty

It seems that the refunded amounts only seem to be a small percentage of the overall spend (2.6%) and were based on accounting inaccuracies (claiming outside the period).

Anyway - good that we have a bit of transparency in the system and that mistakes like this are rectified.

Also the poster who suggested a system where you justify the spend first, then are given the money is totally impractical. It would cost far more to administer a system like that.

Plumbthedepths

Maria and Alan involved in fraud again, colour me shocked.
Michelle ran up a large phone bill again?

I presume these figures are all on top of the €20,355 per year that TDs can (and do) claim with no receipts.

Harvey Weinstein

The bottom line is most Irish people feign outrage and ultimately accept this type of corruption.

In fact most would be horrified if the likes of Bailey were arrested, charged, brought to trial and imprisoned.

c.p.w.g.w

Jaysus Ronan Mullins was clean...the ones who filed fraudulent claims should feel even worse

Plumbthedepths

Harvey Weinstein wrote: »

In fact most would be horrified if the likes of Bailey were arrested, charged, brought to trial and imprisoned.

Speaking for myself I would be quite happy to see a TD no matter what political ideology they have spend time locked up for this type of behaviour and banned from ever holding public office again. One can only dream I guess....

Odyssey 2005

Maria Bailey making an illegitimate claim !!! Well I never. Humanity has been crossed...again.;)

Quelle surprise, the cream rises to the top. Michelle Mulherin, an unqualified senator with a dubious track record caught out once again. And Maria Bailey never falters in her entitlement quest.

Petty chancers, not one iota of contrition.

James Brown

Pintman Paddy Losty wrote: »

It seems that the refunded amounts only seem to be a small percentage of the overall spend (2.6%) and were based on accounting inaccuracies (claiming outside the period).

Anyway - good that we have a bit of transparency in the system and that mistakes like this are rectified.

Also the poster who suggested a system where you justify the spend first, then are given the money is totally impractical. It would cost far more to administer a system like that.

An early 'nothing to see here' from m'lud.

Here's how it works..

A: I want money.
B: Why?
A: Here's why.
B:Okay.
A: Here's an invoice.
B: Thanks.

Or

A: I spent money and I want it back.
B: Why?
A: Here's why.
B: Okay.
A: Here's an invoice.
B: Cula bula

Terrible complex I know but oddly very common practice.

Dubh Geannain

When's she appearing on Seán o Rourke to defend herself?

I can give here a couple of quality lines she could use in her defence -
"Seán, I am not doing trial by media over the airwaves here"
"I have done nothing wrong here. Seán…"
"Seán, I am a citizen of this State too"
"Humanity has been re-crossed"
"Humilty has been crossed out"
"Seán, Seán, Seán"

LiamoSail

Maria Bailey is a crook. The only reason her transgressions have been relatively minor is that her power of influence is relatively minor.

Harry Palmr

The obvious shortcoming of this auditing system is that TDs and Senators only need to account for the most recent audit period of a year so with about 10% likelihood of being caught in a given year many will be willing to chance it. So clearly it should be like a revenue tax audit where up to 6 years of paperwork can be checked.

McMurphy

In fairness like, with all the negative press recently with Bailey and Madigan basically trying to shake down a Dublin business for a handy twenty k, and that story reminding the public or Farrell's claim.....

The odds on them two (along with the phantom dialler to Africa just for added effect) being "randomly selected" for an audit must be astofcukingnomical.

Plumbthedepths

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

In fairness like, with all the negative press recently with Bailey and Madigan basically trying to shake down a Dublin business for a handy twenty k, and that story reminding the public or Farrell's claim.....

The odds on them two (along with the phantom dialler to Africa just for added effect) being "randomly selected" for an audit must be astofcukingnomical.

I suspect all 3 will be private citizens after the next GE.

Richard Hillman

The Journal have a direct line to Lynn Ruane, did they not ask for a comment?

I'm sure she will be clearing it up during her near weekly column

Underground

How do you even rack up 4k in expenses that you can't account for? In the private sector, 250 quid in expenses you can't account for is taking the p*as, but four fcucking grand? How?? Do you expense absolutely everything?

Little surprise to see Maria and Alan top of the pops again and FG all in all accounting for 8k of the 10k headline figure.

They would be arrested in most other countries or at the very least removed from office.

rafatoni

Jesus Bailey is vermin, sure leo is looking after the people that get up in the morning.. Just the ones that get up to claim back hairdressers and coffees no doubt.

Plumbthedepths

Got to love the Indo's introduction to MB 'Swing gate TD Maria Bailey' in their article about the fraudulent claims by Maria her Dail and Seanad colleagues.

Doc07

Pintman Paddy Losty wrote: »

It seems that the refunded amounts only seem to be a small percentage of the overall spend (2.6%) and were based on accounting inaccuracies (claiming outside the period).

Anyway - good that we have a bit of transparency in the system and that mistakes like this are rectified.

Also the poster who suggested a system where you justify the spend first, then are given the money is totally impractical. It would cost far more to administer a system like that.

I’m going to give the benefit of doubt that you are genuine for a moment.
A ‘Pay now and reclaim back later ‘ system is used in lots of public service and semi state for expenses and works perfectly fine.
I worked for universities and other public sector, I paid and then could claim for certain things. If I didn’t have receipts or correct paperwork, guess what ,no expenses. Problems with inappropriate or exaggerated claims dry up very quickly with a pay first and claim back later system. And it doesn’t cost a penny or a minute more.

kenmc

Pintman Paddy Losty wrote: »

Also the poster who suggested a system where you justify the spend first, then are given the money is totally impractical. It would cost far more to administer a system like that.

Except that's how it works in the real world, in any company I've worked in, including one of the biggest in the world. Either you get a quote, file a p.o.request form, get it signed by someone higher with authorization and submit the po, or claim it back on expenses. With a receipt.and authorization.

ChikiChiki

Maria Bailey and Alan Farrell again. Why the **** did that other thread get shut down. The mod excuse was the weakest I have ever seen.

Credibility of the site has dropped a lot.

McMurphy

ChikiChiki wrote: »

Maria Bailey and Alan Farrell again. Why the **** did that other thread get shut down. The mod excuse was the weakest I have ever seen.

Credibility of the site has dropped a lot.

The tail wagging the dog.

Pintman Paddy Losty

Try not to spend your time b1tching and moaning and whinging and this one might stay open lads.

Plumbthedepths

Pintman Paddy Losty wrote: »

Try not to spend your time b1tching and moaning and whinging and this one might stay open lads.

It will stay open if you and your buddies refrain from dragging it repeatedly off topic and making ad hominem attacks on other commentators instead of responding to the actual comments.
Play fair, play nice wise words to live by.

Atlantic Dawn

That's over 25% non compliance from the 22 selected, the entire lot of them need to be audited, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Fann Linn

And Leo only goes after SW fraudsters.
Hypocrite of the highest order.

JeffKenna

This is just depressing. How Farrell and Bailey are in the party I don't know. It must be very disappointing for the honest party folk like PintmanPaddy seeing this happen.

Varik

Fann Linn wrote: »

And Leo only goes after SW fraudsters.
Hypocrite of the highest order.

He's a hypocrite but just not about that, he didn't do ****e to SW fraudsters in the end and he'll do the same against his own crowd now.

banie01

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

That's over 25% non compliance from the 22 selected, the entire lot of them need to be audited, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

45% non compliance by the FG members

McMurphy

Pintman Paddy Losty wrote: »

Try not to spend your time b1tching and moaning and whinging and this one might stay open lads.

Remember what I said in the feedback thread losty?

Here, I'll just quote the last sentence, and you can tell me I was correct.

Just because the thread is shut definitely doesn't mean the subject of discussion is.

Snow Garden

Matt Barrett wrote: »

Seeing as the claims didn't pan out they needed free money from somewhere

Bailey and Farrell A.K.A. Swings and roundabouts.

Unbelievable news. The absolute chancers. Have they no shame? What will Leo say now?

I wonder when the FG contingent will try and get this thread shut down

Roll on General Election 2020!

kevthegaff

The question is did some of her expenses relate to her swing claim in terms of transport or phone calls, that really would be a double whammy

mikemac2

Farrell and Bailey at the top

Nobody would be shocked by this

sabat

I'd love to know what Lynn "influenced by Tupac Shakur" Ruane spent a grand on that she thought the public should pay for-it didn't take long for her to get her snout in the trough.

Portsalon

sabat wrote: »

I'd love to know what Lynn "influenced by Tupac Shakur" Ruane spent a grand on that she thought the public should pay for-it didn't take long for her to get her snout in the trough.

Elected to the Seanad by Trinity Graduates - what more can you expect from such a rotten borough?

Portsalon

The only one that surprises me in that list of minor vermin is Jerry Buttimer - and in fairness, his disallowed claim is pretty small.