Most Hypocritical Thing You've Ever Heard?

A fat skanger calling me fat.

Charles J Haughey "... as a nation, we are seriously over-spending"

This is how you justify a €400+ limo ride from one terminal of an airport to the other :

John O'Donoghue Letter
Monday, 14 September 2009 11:17

Dear

I am writing to you and to our other colleagues in the Dáil in the context of recent extensive media coverage concerning costs incurred by me as an office holder.

Much of that coverage has also included strong criticism of my decision not to make any public comment or statement on these matters.
Advertisement

When you elected me in 2007 to the position of Ceann Comhairle, I was chosen, as a member of a "House of public representatives" (as the Constitution describes Dáil Éireann) on the basis that I would be an impartial Chairman of Dáil Éireann holding office under the Constitution.

The importance of having an impartial Chairman of Dáil Éireann who stands back from matters of public and party controversy is reflected in the Constitution itself in the form of provision for automatic re-election. One of my predecessors, in September, 1994, ruled that "the Ceann Comhairle is the neutral officer in the House who is impartial and should be seen to be above politics and controversy".

Save from making representations in my capacity as a public representative and from forwarding representations made to me to office holders (whose function it is to deal with those representations), I have carefully refrained from becoming involved in party or national controversy. This has been the position since my election as Ceann Comhairle and is in accordance with the well established tradition of my predecessors.

For these reasons, it simply would not be proper, however tempting, for me, whether inside the House or outside the House, to become involved in public debate concerning my previous roles as Minister. Nor would it be proper for me to become involved in matters of public controversy concerning Departments for which, as Minister, I have had previous accountability to Dáil Éireann.

The Department of Arts, Tourism and Sport issued a statement in response to the media comment and criticisms which have been recently published. I do not propose to add to it or to comment on it and enclose a copy for your information.

I want to reassure you that I have at all times acted in good faith and with probity. As Members who have been office holders will be aware the incurring of costs by Ministers and office holders is a
standard and common feature of holding such offices.

This has been the case for decades. Such costs are incurred and paid in compliance with a statutory framework.

The provision of underlying services is arranged, organized and audited, on their behalf, in accordance with well established procedures that include independent arrangements in respect of the review of and accountability for those costs.

Moreover, and most importantly, all of these costs are paid, not to the Minister or office holder, but to the service provider.

Travel Expenditure as Ceann Comhairle

As regards recent media comment and criticism of travel undertaken by me as Ceann Comhairle, I would ask you to bear in mind the following.

It has, as you know, long been recognised that the Ceann Comhairle, as Chairman of Dáil Éireann, is the main representative of the Oireachtas, our parliament, in the outside world and in its relations with other parliamentary institutions.

Foreign travel undertaken from the Houses of the Oireachtas by the Ceann Comhairle is either in response to an official invitation as Ceann Comhairle or in his capacity as Chairman of the Irish Parliamentary Association and as part of Ireland's obligations to be present at and to take part in Inter Parliamentary Union events.

Ireland has been a member of the Inter Parliamentary Union since 1928. The Ceann Comhairle has represented the Houses of the Oireachtas and led Inter Parliamentary delegations at foreign events since then.

It is standard practice throughout the Inter Parliamentary Union that the speaker of a parliament is treated with the same level of courtesy as a Minister of Government. Items of expenditure including use of lounges, courtesy cars or security are the customary courtesies that we provide whenever we host an incoming parliamentary delegation to Ireland.

When the Ceann Comhairle travels abroad, the arrangements are made in keeping with whatever is recommended by the hosts, giving due regard to criteria such as security and proximity to the venues for conferences or meetings.

Reform

You will be well aware of the issue of reform in respect of parliamentary costs which is of ever greater importance in the current economic climate as everyone in the House fully appreciates.

In particular, you will be aware that I have been at the forefront of efforts by colleagues to reform our procedures, particularly in relation to costs. In that regard, all aspects (and I emphasise all) of costs are being examined on an ongoing basis.

Earlier this year, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, of which I am Chairman, produced a set of proposals which will result in an overall saving of up to €4 million in the running of the Oireachtas and outlined an initiative to reform members' costs by introducing a single all-encompassing allowance. This is to be verified by members' attendance, with deductions for non-attendance.

Given the State's current financial situation, I believe we all share in common the view that as Public Representatives, we should give a lead in ensuring that greater transparency and economy are achieved.

I had not intended to draw any attention to the fact that I unilaterally and voluntarily took a 10% reduction in my salary since October, 2008. But I feel that you should be aware of it in the context of the recent media coverage to which I have referred.

As Ceann Comhairle, I have dedicated myself to achieving efficiency in the running of our modern democratic institutions and to doing so in a transparent and open way. This is designed to enhance public confidence in the democratic system and to increase public trust for parliament, politics and politicians.

As I have mentioned, the nature of the position of Ceann Comhairle as impartial Chairman of Dáil Éireann under the Constitution prevents me from becoming embroiled in public controversy in the media or on the floor of the House.

This is why I am writing to you personally to assure you that, despite these constraints and the natural desire to cross swords with critics in my own defence, I intend to uphold the very high standards rightly expected of the holder of the office of Ceann Comhairle. I will therefore refrain from becoming involved in public debate and public controversy in my own defence in response to the recent media comment and criticism concerning me.

I intend to work with you and all of my colleagues, in a dedicated and impartial way, to pursue reform and efficiency in the functioning of our democracy and, in particular, our parliamentary institutions.

I assure you that I will at all times endeavour to act in good faith and with probity as I have always sought to do in the past.

Conclusion

Finally on a personal level, I wish to acknowledge that some of the costs incurred appear high. I sincerely regret, in so far as I am concerned, that some of these high costs occurred, although a Minister or an office-holder would not be apprised of such expenditure at this level of detail either on an ongoing basis or at all in fact. It has to be borne in mind also that while some costs of the arrangements appear high and have caused disquiet, they were legitimate and in accordance with the Department of Finance guidelines.

In considering the extent of the costs, I am of course concerned but equally determined to ensure that, in future, such costs are reduced to the minimum and most reasonable level attainable. We all learn from the events of the past and I commit myself to ensuring that this costs level does not recur in so far as I am concerned.

Kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

John O'Donoghue T.D.
Ceann Comhairle

inforfun wrote: »

Last Saturday: Adebayor's apology.

good one!

Well, this is something very hypocritical I've seen, rather than heard.

Shortly before, Vaclav Klaus had said, "claiming that the EU in its present institutional form is a dogma which cannot be criticised is a mistake". Watch what happens when someone give an opinion to the EU parliament which is not in line with their own.....




.

liah wrote: »

So what's the most hypocritical thing anyone's said to you?

when i was caught smoking at 16 my stepmother lectured me on "fags are bad for you- they will kill you" all the while puffing on a john player

Saw a poster once in Dublin once that said "Anarchist march on Saturday, starts at 3pm sharp" or something to that effect.

:facepalm:

surely Irish people complaining about the "arrogant English media" whilst simultaneously buying The Sun / Mirror.

Photi wrote: »

Our old friend..

This one has you beat:

http://punditkitchen.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/political-pictures-protester-vandaling-education.jpg