Paschal Donohoe expenses controversy

Looks like it's going to drag into next week now

So he did not appoint him to either board? I thought that was the crux of this whole controversy?

I think the crux of the issue is why he accepted a donation from this individual, didn't declare it and is now trying to reengineer the figures to make it fit in the only box under which he could of accepted it.

Maybe his second statement will shed some further light on it.

Sorry you're right. Was only counting the Dáil statements.

I rarely publish on this forum. But I have to weigh in.

This whole story is a complete and absolute waste of time. We are talking about a puny amount of money.

Should he have declared it? Yes.

Should he update the record? Yes.

Is he aligned with vested interests? Most definitely, but they all are. Coveney tried to give Zappone a job. Leo gave a contract to a friend. there is no difference. Most politicians have vested interests.

Donohoe is a good minister. He has managed the finances prudently, probably too prudently but that is a policy choice. He is widely respected by business. he has a string reputation in Europe that is to our collective benefit. If this were a question of how using ministerial office for private gain, then he should resign. But we are talking about a few poxy posters when our health service is in the gutter and at a time when we have a housing crisis.

So let's move on. If any ministers should be resigning, it should be on the basis of failed policy or serious indiscretion, not a few posters.

You're missing the point. The speculation is that he couldn't have declared it because it was a corporate donation above the legal threshold. This is why people believe he is trying to be cute with the figures to minimise the size of the donation so it fits in the only heading under which he could have accepted it.

2016. Dublin Central was a four seater, becomes a three seater. Pascal and every other sitting TD was under pressure to retain their seat.

It was only a few poxy posters. The spend was quite possibly the difference between him being elected or not and then not going on to have the career you referred to in your post.

Really funny to see all the crude attempts to downplay Donohoe not declaring the donation. FFers must be absolutely seething at this stage. It is getting hard to keep up with this rapidly changing story.

Regards...jmcc

Getting worse for Donohoe. FGer (Peter Burke) on RTE's Prime Time all but admitted that Stone was involved in Donohoe's 2020 campaign. The best little FGer in FF only provides limited support while waiting to see what Tuesday will bring. The Indo keeps putting the boot in:

Regards...jmcc

I think he’s a poor finance minister- I need only look at my monthly payslips to confirm. Middle income earners are paying extortionate taxation and getting nothing in return. Yet this lad is lauded as some kind of messiah. Truly mind boggling

The same Indo that are buddies of FF/FG we're constantly told by some here ?

What you may be seeing are market forces in action. The Sindo and Indo have been losing readers and previously Dinny O'Brien had been the largest shareholder in IN&M. He was forced to sell his 500 million Euro worth of shares for a loss of about 450 million and Mediahuis, a Belgian company, now owns IN&M. The effectiveness of The Ditch can't have gone unnoticed and this may be an attempt to gain readers by the Indo. The Ditch got two government ministers. The Indo wants to get one too. If the removal/resignation of Donohoe brings on a GE then FF and FG may be in trouble and a majority SF government is not unthinkable as a result of the next GE.

Regards...jmcc

I just can't see FG/Varadkar getting rid of Donohue. He is too important for them to get rid off and if they did have to get rid of him I think the government would collapse. There is no way that FG can get rid of him, they will just have to brazen it out and probably have to make some concessions to FF and the Greens to keep Donohue in his position. If you look at his statement the other evening in the Dáil there were very FF'ers there to support him.