Has your opinion of Mary Robinson changed?

ChikiChiki · 28-10-2016 11:07AM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

600k for a derelict house in Ballina

That's the real scandal. How is the house remotely worth that.

jippo nolan · 28-10-2016 11:12AM

SafeSurfer wrote: »

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?

I wouldn't give €60000 for it!

jippo nolan · 28-10-2016 11:14AM

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 wasn't called "Big Bird" for nothing!

jacksie66 · 28-10-2016 11:14AM

This post has been deleted.

RobertKK · 28-10-2016 11:16AM

She thinks she is a US president with her presidential library.

I always thought she was self serving. But this is a new low for her.

Special Circumstances · 28-10-2016 11:18AM

Sam Kade wrote: »

climate change high priestess

LOL'd. Well more of a shnort like but close enough.

Claw Hammer · 28-10-2016 11:28AM

She is despicable. Most of the documents she is donating are only trash. The money being sought for the house is ludicrous. Even Ivor Callelly wouldn't be so brazen. Any politician who goes along with this nonsense needn't come to me looking for a vote again.

Ted111 · 28-10-2016 11:39AM

She's lived in splendor and opulence her entire privileged life.
Ever and always pontificating to the serfs on how they should
conduct their miserable lives. Now we are lucky enough that we
can buy her toilet paper or whatever shes discarding from one of
her mansions.

pumpkin4life · 28-10-2016 11:43AM

Ted111 wrote: »

She's lived in splendor and opulence her entire privileged life.
Ever and always pontificating to the serfs on how they should
conduct their miserable lives. Now we are lucky enough that we
can buy her toilet paper or whatever shes discarding from one of
her mansions.

Aye. Throw in MacAleese and Michael D Higgins in there as well. Cut from the same cloth the lot of them.

Claw Hammer · 28-10-2016 11:56AM

pumpkin4life wrote: »

Aye. Throw in MacAleese and Michael D Higgins in there as well. Cut from the same cloth the lot of them.

Higgins was brought up in poverty. In fact his mother sent him to live with an uncle because she couldn't afford to feed him, small and all as he is. He grew up with pigs in his livingroom.
While Robinson was in Trinity he father bought a house for her in Westland Row and hired a domestic servant for her so she wouldn't have to waste her valuable studying time washing her knickers and cleaning up after herself.

pumpkin4life · 28-10-2016 12:01PM

Claw Hammer wrote: »

Higgins was brought up in poverty. In fact his mother sent him to live with an uncle because she couldn't afford to feed him, small and all as he is. He grew up with pigs in his livingroom.
While Robinson was in Trinity he father bought a house for her in Westland Row and hired a domestic servant for her so she wouldn't have to waste her valuable studying time washing her knickers and cleaning up after herself.

Fair enough.

I was more referring to Higgins' holier than thou, socialist tell the little people how to live bent.

He was part of that old labour/stickie marxist group of lads in the 70s and all of that.

Though I have far more respect for him than Robinson or MacAleese. A man that can claw himself out of all of that has a lot to respect/admire about him.

28-10-2016 12:23PM

Claw Hammer wrote: »

He grew up with pigs in his livingroom.

It would of course be highly offensive to observe that he now has a few guarding his front door, one driving his car etc. etc., and I hope no one does it.

jimgoose · 28-10-2016 12:24PM

No. I never thought much of her. She's one of these people who achieves much, all for herself.

Grayson · 28-10-2016 12:26PM

Just been reading about it. For some reasons her papers from her time in office are actually her papers. As in she owns them all, not the state. And this is apparently perfectly normal. That's really weird. I would have imagined they belonged to the state or to the office of the president.

However having said that, when she donates them it's counted as a charitable donation. Since it's a charitable donation she's entitled to get tax back which is 80% of the value of the donation. The collection was valued at 2.5 mil by independent auctioneers so the tax credit is 2 mil.

It seems like what she's doing isn't wrong. It's her property and she's donating it freely. She's not asking for a penny for it. But since it's a donation she can get tax back and she's just getting clarification about how much that is.

The only issue I have with it is why they weren't the property of the state in the first place. And is this the case with all documents? Would Berties or Endas papers be considered their property too? Do all politicians just bring all their paperwork with them when they leave office?

Grayson · 28-10-2016 12:27PM

jimgoose wrote: »

No. I never thought much of her. She's one of these people who achieves much, all for herself.

Like the time she brought Irelands homophobic laws to the European court of Human rights and has homosexuality decriminalised. All so she could have a lesbian romp.

Claw Hammer · 28-10-2016 12:31PM

Grayson wrote: »

Like the time she brought Irelands homophobic laws to the European court of Human rights and has homosexuality decriminalised. All so she could have a lesbian romp.

Yes and like the time she took the Airey case to the European Court of Human Rights over legal aid and then ignored Mrs Airey afterwards.

Ted111 · 28-10-2016 12:35PM

I always liked MacAleese. I wouldn't associate her in any way
with Robinson.

jackofalltrades · 28-10-2016 01:01PM

The Presidential library is to be located in Robinson’s family home which is currently owned by her brother Adrian Burke.
It has not yet been purchased by Mayo County Council with the proposed purchase price set at €660,000

The documents she is donating to the library have been independently valued at €2.5 million.

Mayo County Council has pledged to “cover any unforeseen additional expenditure that may arise during the course of construction.”

This has future PAC hearing written all over it.
Do Mayo County Council and the state not have better things to be spending their money on.

jobless · 28-10-2016 02:27PM

Grayson wrote: »

Just been reading about it. For some reasons her papers from her time in office are actually her papers. As in she owns them all, not the state. And this is apparently perfectly normal. That's really weird. I would have imagined they belonged to the state or to the office of the president.

However having said that, when she donates them it's counted as a charitable donation. Since it's a charitable donation she's entitled to get tax back which is 80% of the value of the donation. The collection was valued at 2.5 mil by independent auctioneers so the tax credit is 2 mil.

It seems like what she's doing isn't wrong. It's her property and she's donating it freely. She's not asking for a penny for it. But since it's a donation she can get tax back and she's just getting clarification about how much that is.

The only issue I have with it is why they weren't the property of the state in the first place. And is this the case with all documents? Would Berties or Endas papers be considered their property too? Do all politicians just bring all their paperwork with them when they leave office?

how on earth are they worth 2m?... she must be slipping the valuers a right few quid

Ted111 · 28-10-2016 02:32PM

Who employed the auctioneers. Was it from her side or revenue?

DuMorph · 28-10-2016 02:45PM

Claw Hammer wrote: »

Higgins was brought up in poverty. In fact his mother sent him to live with an uncle because she couldn't afford to feed him, small and all as he is. He grew up with pigs in his livingroom.
While Robinson was in Trinity he father bought a house for her in Westland Row and hired a domestic servant for her so she wouldn't have to waste her valuable studying time washing her knickers and cleaning up after herself.

:pac::pac::pac:

Cervantes2 · 28-10-2016 03:02PM

She's history's greatest monster!

Claw Hammer · 28-10-2016 03:06PM

Grayson wrote: »

The collection was valued at 2.5 mil by independent auctioneers so the tax credit is 2 mil.

?

The Revenue Commissioners have not accepted that valuation. Some of the "documents" are just notebooks with nothing of any interest in them. Furthermore why if she is donating to the state, how come state bodies are being tapped for millions? It is disgusting.

Ted111 · 28-10-2016 03:14PM

How can she claim ownership of the papers anyway.

They were written, signed etc as part of her presidential function. She was
in receipt of a generous salary and pension for performing that function. She
was obliged under the constitution having taken office to perform these
presidential tasks. This wasn't a favour or a choice she had.

The actual stationary would belong to the state also.

McDermotX · 28-10-2016 03:20PM

Claw Hammer wrote: »

The Revenue Commissioners have not accepted that valuation. Some of the "documents" are just notebooks with nothing of any interest in them. Furthermore why if she is donating to the state, how come state bodies are being tapped for millions? It is disgusting.

Example -
Mon 21st.....Woke up at 10am. Decided to have a piece of toast for breakfast. Rang bell for civil servant lackey to get to work. Watched TV. Had dinner. Went to bed.
Tues 22nd....Woke up at 10am. Decided to have a piece of toast for breakfast. Rang bell for civil servant lackey to get to work. Watched TV. Attended function at public's expense. Had dinner. Went to bed.
Weds 23rd....Woke up at 10am......etc etc etc. Got civil servant lackey to formalise my holiday itinerary. Got husband's civil servant lackey to do his etc etc

Who wouldn't want to hand over public money and tax breaks for such insight ???

A bygone, entitled position which has no value-added function in modern Ireland. Ridiculous that it's allowed to continue, but that's our own fault.

demanufactured · 28-10-2016 03:23PM

Jaysus...havnt heard of her since the 90s

.what's she at now.

pwurple · 28-10-2016 03:23PM

What a thread, the Irish sure like to tear down their high achievers instead of applauding them.
She's used everything she had available to her (background, intelligence, education)... worked hard and did extremely well. Good for her I say. I wouldn't begrudge her a thing.

And I much prefer to see that than the moaners who have every advantage living in Ireland brings to them, but still manage to flush their lives down the loo (or stick it up their noses).

jobless · 28-10-2016 03:30PM

pwurple wrote: »

What a thread, the Irish sure like to tear down their high achievers instead of applauding them.
She's used everything she had available to her (background, intelligence, education)... worked hard and did extremely well. Good for her I say. I wouldn't begrudge her a thing.

And I much prefer to see that than the moaners who have every advantage living in Ireland brings to them, but still manage to flush their lives down the loo (or stick it up their noses).

horse****.... most of the posts here haven't torn down any achievements...they are just pissed that their taxes are wasted on stuff like this.... especially giving tax breaks to an already very wealthy person...

so much tax money is thrown around like confetty when it could be spent on worthwhile causes...its time it stopped!...

on the one hand you have enda saying there is no money in the pot for public servants yet there is for follys like this... its not good PR

Ted111 · 28-10-2016 03:35PM

pwurple wrote: »

What a thread, the Irish sure like to tear down their high achievers instead of applauding them.

Nobody can tear her down as you dramatically put it. She has it
all set up. If only we could tear her down. A small consolation is that she can be objectively criticised for her sanctimonious hypocrisy and because she is an odious leach.
You can applaud her to your hearts content if you want to be the type of
obedient, lick spittle, minion that she would only laugh at.

Del2005 · 28-10-2016 05:03PM

jobless wrote: »

how on earth are they worth 2m?... she must be slipping the valuers a right few quid

It's worth €2.5 million. I'd like to know how the documents from a mainly figure head president of a not very important country can be worth anything never mind €2.5 million. If they went to auction who would be bidding for them?

Has your opinion of Mary Robinson changed?

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