Has your opinion of Mary Robinson changed?

SafeSurfer · 28-10-2016 09:42AM #1

Mary Robinson is seeking a tax break for the donation of her presidential papers of 2 million euro. Traditionally presidential papers have been donated freely by former Irish presidents. Mayo county council is buying her brothers house in Ballina for 600k to house the papers with the whole scheme set to cost taxpayers up to 8 million euro.
Does this damage her reputation? Would you visit Ballina to view her papers? Is she a further example of the greed of politicians regardless of their position on the political spectrum?

biko · 28-10-2016 09:47AM

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mary-robinson-lands-2m-tax-break-on-paper-j7l22kgr9

Michael Noonan, the finance minister, has given approval for the former president Mary Robinson to receive a tax break worth €2m for donating her archive to Mayo county council.

Documents released under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act show Noonan has added the Mayo authority to the list of bodies that can accept donations under a scheme set up to keep important works of art and historical manuscripts in public ownership in Ireland.

Harry Palmr · 28-10-2016 09:50AM

I always regarded her as an ambitious self serving type. The fact she was not P Flynn happened to be enough to make her acceptable and even an apparently fresh alternative in 1990

lazybones32 · 28-10-2016 09:52AM

No, but I never thought highly of her before.

SEPT 23 1989 · 28-10-2016 09:52AM

600k for a derelict house in Ballina

seamus · 28-10-2016 09:53AM

SafeSurfer wrote: »

Traditionally presidential papers have been donated freely by former Irish presidents.

This was her intention, but Mayo Co. Co. bugged her continually to give the papers to their new tourist attraction.

Would you visit Ballina to view her papers?

No. But then I haven't even seen the Book of Kells. I enjoy museum exhibits while I'm there, but I never wake up on a Saturday thinking that going to a museum today is going to light my fire.

9or10 · 28-10-2016 09:55AM

Harry Palmr wrote: »

I always regarded her as an ambitious self serving type.

Isn't that true for all our political leaders? Otherwise it would be enough recognition just to get a few thanks for a post on Boards

StupidLikeAFox · 28-10-2016 09:57AM

I think anybody here who says they wouldn't avail of the tax break in these circumstances is lying. Why would you voluntarily pay money when there is a mechanism for you to avoid it?

The merits of that mechanism being there in the first place is a different story.....

SafeSurfer · 28-10-2016 10:01AM

StupidLikeAFox wrote: »

I think anybody here who says they wouldn't avail of the tax break in these circumstances is lying. Why would you voluntarily pay money when there is a mechanism for you to avoid it?

The merits of that mechanism being there in the first place is a different story.....

Previous presidents didn't seek tax breaks for their papers. She is setting a precedent.

SafeSurfer · 28-10-2016 10:04AM

seamus wrote: »

SafeSurfer wrote: »

Traditionally presidential papers have been donated freely by former Irish presidents.

This was her intention, but Mayo Co. Co. bugged her continually to give the papers to their new tourist attraction.

Would you visit Ballina to view her papers?

No. But then I haven't even seen the Book of Kells. I enjoy museum exhibits while I'm there, but I never wake up on a Saturday thinking that going to a museum today is going to light my fire.

There is nothing preventing Mary Robinson from donating papers to Mayo county council without seeking to gain financially from the donation.

Your Face · 28-10-2016 10:06AM

If an opportunity came along to pay less tax I'd take it.

Ferrari3600 · 28-10-2016 10:08AM

Harry Palmr wrote: »

I always regarded her as an ambitious self serving type. The fact she was not P Flynn happened to be enough to make her acceptable and even an apparently fresh alternative in 1990

It was Brian Lenihan senior, not P Flynn who stood against her in 1990. P Flynn was embroiled in a controversy due to remarks during a radio interview debate during the campaign.

I agree with your assessment of Robinson.

Del2005 · 28-10-2016 10:09AM

StupidLikeAFox wrote: »

I think anybody here who says they wouldn't avail of the tax break in these circumstances is lying. Why would you voluntarily pay money when there is a mechanism for you to avoid it?

The merits of that mechanism being there in the first place is a different story.....

She's getting a tax break for papers when she was employed by the State, should they not be State documents already?

Harry Palmr · 28-10-2016 10:11AM

Ferrari3600 wrote: »

It was Brian Lenihan senior, not P Flynn who stood against her in 1990. P Flynn was embroiled in a controversy due to remarks during a radio interview debate during the campaign.

I agree with your assessment of Robinson.

Indeed that interview holed Flynn before the actual election (sure it was years ago and I'm lucky to remember breakfast time).

Dyr · 28-10-2016 10:11AM

I still think she's only a carpet bagger so my opinion of her hasn't changed

Canis Lupus · 28-10-2016 10:13AM

A great big meh from me.

gramar · 28-10-2016 10:14AM

Is anyone else wondering what the hell presidential papers are and why would anyone want to see them?

Harry Palmr · 28-10-2016 10:16AM

gramar wrote: »

Is anyone else wondering what the hell presidential papers are and why would anyone want to see them?

Well, historians writing long, dust dry books about the Presidents of Ireland will want access to the papers. Niche market.

Winterlong · 28-10-2016 10:23AM

What ever happened to that Mary Robinson tapestry rug in the window of that shop on dame street?

Tilikum · 28-10-2016 10:25AM

I recently read somewhere that she was in receipt of 5 pensions. Is that true?

gramar · 28-10-2016 10:26AM

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Well, historians writing long, dust dry books about the Presidents of Ireland will want access to the papers. Niche market.

So spending 8m on a centre in Ballina doesn't seem like a great idea especially when you take into account the costs of keeping it open for the handful that would go and all because Mary can leave her legacy.

endacl · 28-10-2016 10:28AM

SafeSurfer wrote: »

There is nothing preventing Mary Robinson from donating papers to Mayo county council without seeking to gain financially from the donation.

There's also nothing that says she should. She's a private citizen now. None of my business what she legally does. Mayo coco could decline to accept them.

jobless · 28-10-2016 10:29AM

gramar wrote: »

So spending 8m on a centre in Ballina doesn't seem like a great idea especially when you take into account the costs of keeping it open for the handful that would go and all because Mary can leave her legacy.

exactly, pure waste of money.... they were saying last on tv they would expect 50,000 visitors a year and make 425k... my arse they will... They would be lucky to get a handful of people a week...

a pure ego trip

28-10-2016 10:31AM

Doesn't change my opinion of her at all. She wasn't my choice of president but I thought she did a great job of it. She was always looking for an angle for herself & that obviously hasn't changed.

BrokenArrows · 28-10-2016 10:32AM

Tilikum wrote: »

I recently read somewhere that she was in receipt of 5 pensions. Is that true?

Probably, but its not like she is getting a full 5 pensions (but its still probably a decent amount of money being an irish politician!!).
If she worked in multiple roles throughout her political career then she will get partial pensions for each of the roles depending on how long she worked in each role.

Just like me. I have 3 separate pensions at the moment and probably a few more by the time i retire. So when i retire i will receive multiple pensions.

Edit: This link describes the pension entitlement of Irish politicians. Jesus, i should have become a politician.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/just-how-are-ministers-pensions-worked-out-1.559289

Agent Coulson · 28-10-2016 10:34AM

I always preferred the other Mary anyway.

McAleese that is.

28-10-2016 10:41AM

Ferrari3600 wrote: »

It was Brian Lenihan senior, not P Flynn who stood against her in 1990. P Flynn was embroiled in a controversy due to remarks during a radio interview debate during the campaign.

I agree with your assessment of Robinson.

She only got the gig because of the Flynn remarks.

Now the Lenihan campaign was thrown by the revelations about his contact with Hilary in 1982, but he would have won. And then Peeeee waded in with what, even for that time, were ugly comments based on rumours doing the rounds.

SafeSurfer · 28-10-2016 10:42AM

endacl wrote: »

SafeSurfer wrote: »

There is nothing preventing Mary Robinson from donating papers to Mayo county council without seeking to gain financially from the donation.

There's also nothing that says she should. She's a private citizen now. None of my business what she legally does. Mayo coco could decline to accept them.

Past practice, tradition, precedent. She continues to be handsomely rewarded for her tenure as president, which of course she cut short to take up a more prestigious position.
I think it's a grubby, fumbling in the greasy till business. Unbecoming of the position she held.

Sam Kade · 28-10-2016 10:44AM

Tilikum wrote: »

I recently read somewhere that she was in receipt of 5 pensions. Is that true?

True, and that is on top of her climate change high priestess wage.

Sam Kade · 28-10-2016 10:46AM

They could also make a little bobbing head doll of noddy just like the dogs they had on the back window of cars in the 70's.

B0jangles · 28-10-2016 11:01AM

Winterlong wrote: »

What ever happened to that Mary Robinson tapestry rug in the window of that shop on dame street?

I had forgotten all about the fabled Robinson Rug! Just dug out my old copies of The Slate; they had a running gag about it as I remember but I could only find the end of the saga:

Has your opinion of Mary Robinson changed?

Comments