Paschal Donohoe expenses controversy

TipsyMcStagge

This is the most drawn out resignation in history.

JDD

The Indo is still quite a conservative paper. Even if it has new owners I don't think they are turning the wheel to get a Sinn Fein government. However, I do think they are publishing it to get more readers - maybe something that they might not have done to an FG minister in the past. Paschal must have really pissed off someone.

This seems to me to be a drip drip story. Publish something fairly innocuous and make into a big deal. Then the Minister comes out and tries to minimise it, basically laughing it off as nonsense. The electorate agree - total nonsense, but they remember the Minister's explanation. Then the media come out with a slightly bigger story, which makes the explanation for the first indiscretion look like a lie. The bigger story, on the scale of things, wouldn't ordinarily get someone fired. But now the narrative is about how the Minister lied about the first non-story, and how he cannot be trusted. If you really want to dig the boot in, you then release something else that "has just come to light" and then the Minister is scuppered. When in fact the media had all the details of the whole story all along.

Now, if this is just about not registering a donation of 5k-10k, I couldn't give a rat's *rse about it. That's not to say that I have an acceptance threshold for corruption. Any breach, even a technical breach, of disclosure regulations should be investigated. But unless there is a proven link between a non-disclosure and a benefit for the other party, then it should be just a warning. There is no proven link here. Technical breaches happen constantly. in all walks of life, of all laws.

Unless there is some kind of horrendous corruption yet to come to light, this looks to me like an orchestrated campaign to get Paschal to resign. I expect someone somewhere wanted a tax break, or some redirected spending, and Paschal is not playing ball.

Floppybits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120132990#Comment_120132990

As I said I can't see that happening especially over something like this, I mean Varadkar survived the leaking of confidential documents to his mate and attending the Zappone party where the AG had to change the restriction rules to save him, Coveney survived the farce that was Zappone and the cack handed way that was handled. Infact this Donohue farce is very similar to the Zappone one in the way it has been handled. I think if FF and Greens force FG hand into getting rid of Donohue then I can see the government collapsing, FG cant afford to lose someone as important to them as Donohue, now if it was a Harris or English then they could afford that loss but not Donohue

Cluedo Monopoly

Throughout all this episode there is still no commitment from Fine Gael to bring in much needed reform or strengthen SIPO. Speaks volumes. The 2015 reform bill still gathering dust.

deirdremf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120129746#Comment_120129746

Politicians have ways of getting around the rules. So if a TD can't appoint a spouse to their staff, it is completely legal to appoint another pol's wife, and vice versa. A political party is not all about the individual TD or councillor - it's a network. And it looks a whole lot better if you don't appoint the guy who did you a favour to some sinecure or other, but there is nothing to stop a colleague from doing so, at your behest.

deirdremf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120132880#Comment_120132880

Mediahuis might know of a good Belgian candidate to take over Paschal's job in Europe.

deirdremf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120132983#Comment_120132983

Personally I think Paschal is the brains behind the Toryboy takeover of FG, which would much prefer a more traditional FG type like Coveney.

But Paschal doesn't have the same glibness to him that Leo does, so he has stayed in the background, relatively, and Leo goes out and takes the limelight. It would be an enormous blow to the Toryboy network if Paschal was forced out of his job, and even more so if he has to resign his EU job too.

road_high

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120132983#Comment_120132983

It won’t be up to FG as they do t have the numbers. FF are not exactly rowing in behind him. Rightly so too. Perfect replacement for saint paschal in McGrath who’ll be more than happy to step into the breach

jmcc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120133349#Comment_120133349

Eamon Ryan is asleep. :)

Regards...jmcc

CarProblem

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120127201#Comment_120127201

Oh dear

Never change Blanch - the world needs comedy

jmcc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120132892#Comment_120132892

It is looking like Donohoe has become a liability and it is the damage that he is causing Varadkar and Martin that is the issue now. If their positions come under more threat, they'll be quicker than a rat up a drainpipe to get rid of him. If there's a poll at the weekend that shows FF and FG down then he's history.

Regards...jmcc

CarProblem

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120130517#Comment_120130517

Prudently? I take it you haven't seen our level of expenditure, national debt etc (see

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120017683#Comment_120017683

Posted this elsewhere, from Cormac Lucey, the only positive was "He has avoided any significant scandals". Not true anymore

http://cormaclucey.blogspot.com/2022/12/farewell-to-paschal-donohoe-feeblest.html

road_high

Prudent me arse- he kept the high taxation/out of control public spending model They’re all now hooked on.

And absolutely nothing to show for it but a crumbling infrastructure and dire public services.

Floppybits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120133709#Comment_120133709

Leo Varadkar has said that corruption cannot be accepted in any form. Is this one of these things for an internatonal audience but doesn't apply at home.

https://twitter.com/dylancongolf/status/1616209382164905985?t=7v-dpKiwGQ0oqhOaYjhhJg&s=19

CarProblem

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120134394#Comment_120134394

Corruption - bad

Leaking confidential documents - fine

Crony appointments - fine

Changing one's story repeatedly - fine

Markus Antonius

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058279942/paschal-donohoe-expenses-controversy

It's not about the quantity or the offense, it's about being held to account by the media and opposition - something that Pascal has evaded for too long now. I am delighted to see him being grilled at last, long overdue.

Made this thread back in 2021 dedicated to the man who thinks he's untouchable:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058168382/you-cannot-criticize-finance-ministers

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120133349#Comment_120133349

Not sure how Paschal's dodgy dealing becomes a reason for beating up the Greens.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120134715#Comment_120134715

Every opportunity to beat up the Greens needs taking.

An election now is not desirable, but in 2025, it is desirable that this version of the Greens needs to disappear from national politics.

It is further desirable that the people have a clearly defined option of two choices, two clear power blocks; high taxing, Eurosceptic, marxist-socialism or low taxing, progressive centrism, fiscally responsible and socially liberal.

Both of these blocks will have green proofed policies anyway, given the pre-eminence of our EU collective responsibilities and so there is no need for the Green Party of Eamon Ryan to exist anymore.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120134835#Comment_120134835

It's funny to see the determination to get rid of the Greens. It's almost like some people are worried about how much they are achieving, given their fairly small numbers overall.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120134849#Comment_120134849

Its not worry at what they are achieving, its dismay at what they are stunting.

For example, just yesterday, we see Ryan out announcing a €100 million electric vehicle infrastructure scheme, only weeks after a new BIK model he introduced effectively killed the fleet car market, including EVs, and ensured that from now on, newer and more efficient company cars and CVs won't be seen on the roads, but instead employees will claim mileage expenses on cars and vans they own themselves, which are by their nature, older, less safe and more polluting. And of course all that will seriously dent the momentum towards the national EV targets.

Nice job Eamo.

Their presence in Government is an empty formula and it will be for people like me to convince others of their drag on progress and their superfluousness before the next election. Thanks to Eamon Ryan's own performance, I'm off to an easy start.

road_high

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120134668#Comment_120134668

I’m not as bothered about his obvious cronyism and corruption as I am about how poor he was as a finance minister.

And I’ve thought that for some time. There’s absolutely no innovation or different thinking- he’s basically a bureaucratic box ticker. No attempt made to reward work or small enterprise. All about keeping the corporation taxes up to reward the “vulnerable” and the NGO bottom feeders. The past decade should have been used to really build up infrastructure like the Dublin metro. Instead the complete opposite happened. But yea, Paschal a great lad altogether

Markus Antonius

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120134920#Comment_120134920

Let us not forget a very short few years ago he was on long haul flights to and from Egypt to rescue Ibrahim halawa from his "oppressors". He's nothing but an eco-warrior socialist who somehow managed to keep a suit on long enough to get voted in. And to keep it somewhat on topic, he draws parallels with Prodigy Paschal - brings in damaging policies but is never held to account by the media or opposition.

Calahonda52

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120134920#Comment_120134920

Completely misrepresenting the CC model here, but then when why let facts interfere with an anti green, anti ryan agenda..

CCs should only be for business and if you are doing the business mileage, then the bik goes down as far a 6%.

This new BIK model was flagged in 2019 so its disingenuous to suggest Ryan pulled it out last week, so the current bleating by vested interests is complete boxxol. They had plenty time to plan and many companies have done so.

The exorbitant CC insurance premiums paid by employers is testament to the huge claims associated with CCs, particularly with accidents in mainland europe while folk are on holiday.

I have been in several senior finance functions in the past 50 years of working and all my employers who had CCs ceased using them once the true cost was spelled out.

CCs are an ever decreasing slice of the market and their elimination will much reduce mileage incurred because it is" free".

Their presence in Government is an empty formula and it will be for people like me to convince others of their drag on progress and their superfluousness before the next election. Thanks to Eamon Ryan's own performance, I'm off to an easy start.

If the above is anything to go by in terms if intellectually rigorous debate,

then you are not off to an easy start once your biased blather is found out.

https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/income-tax-capital-gains-tax-corporation-tax/part-05/05-01-01b.pdf

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120134920#Comment_120134920

I'm not sure why you think that one of the Minister of Transport's priorities should be subsidising executive cars for high earners? This may sound hard-left revolutionary stuff to you, but perhaps company car buyers shouldn't be getting subsidised at all, and should be funding their own Mercs and perks? Time for less carrot and more stick for those who want to continue to pollute. I'm not quite sure why the Government is subsidising fuel stations for better off people either, but that's probably for another day/thread.

Indeed, you can keep pointing out his performance, which ironically, will probably get him more votes.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120135004#Comment_120135004

If you think Ryan is a socialist, you're in for a nasty shock if you ever meet a real one.

Larbre34

Your assumption that company cars are an executive perk for higher earners and not a tool in constant use for sales, merchandising, technical services, delivery and on-call duties, shows your complete misunderstanding of their worth and maybe betrays the Green Party's misunderstanding too.

Of the top of my head, I know 15 people with company vehicles, in my own industry and socially. Just one of those is part of a remuneration package, the rest are necessitated by their duties.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120135450#Comment_120135450

BIK doesn’t apply to those who need the vehicle to do their job. BIK only applies to company cars given as a perk, which really is for higher earners. Your complaint was about BIK.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120135529#Comment_120135529

Thats completely inaccurate.

Case study: My mate works in communications as a systems engineer. He has a company vehicle, a 4x4 pickup truck, a Toyota Hilux to be precise.

His job includes the fitting, maintenance of and emergency response to weather related and other damage to the secure radio comms systems of organisations like the national ambulance service and Iarnród Éireann.

Due to the heavy on-call nature of the work, he has permanent possession of the vehicle, so he can travel straight from home to any callout. He also has a private family car that he and his wife use.

Simply having habitual use of the Hilux, for practical purposes, makes him liable for BIK, which just went through the roof.

The VAST majority of company cars have a practical purpose to be used in direct execution of the employee's duties. Having staff use their own transport to attend a site, just to pick up a company vehicle and return it at the end of the day, is absolutely wasteful, impractical, uneconomical and bonkers.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120135911#Comment_120135911

You’re spoofing. No BIK applies if they only use the vehicle to travel to and from work.

https://www.revenue.ie/en/employing-people/benefit-in-kind-for-employers/private-use-of-company-vans/exemptions-from-bik.aspx

road_high

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120135450#Comment_120135450

Pretty sad view alright but fairly typical of the naked hard left poisonous begrudgery that is sadly rampant in this country for anyone that might want to better themselves in any way ie a company car. You can taste the taste the bile in the Mercedes reference (vast majority of company cars are ordinary majea) and the Vast majority actually need the car as part of their work too.

They dress this rubbish up as “climate change” mitigation as it all fits with the big government big regulation big tax agenda they are addicted to.

jmcc

And now there's an issue with Donohoe's 2020 GE expenses.

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2023/0120/1349756-paschal-donohoe/

Regards...jmcc