St Patrick's Day foreign trips

Mr. Presentable · 11-03-2010 12:34PM #1

How many of our politicians are on trips to far flung shores for out national day?

How much does it cost to have Ms Harney in New Zealand for two weeks!?

What about, in future, they all stay at home and we, as a nation, invite representatives from USA, New Zealand, Japan etc to spend St Patrick's Day with us, as our guests?

Show them a good, Irish, time. Bring them to the parade. Buy them a pint in The Sackville Lounge. Tour the Arran Islands.

Jaysoose · 11-03-2010 12:49PM

Is there not enough work in ireland for these idiots that they have to swan off on a paid holiday?

This country is going down the tubes and the dail seem to think sending harney off to New Zealand for a bull****ting session is more important than actually doing her JOB.

Sit back folks sure at least cowen will hand some shamrocks to Obama before he tucks into a steak dinner at our expense.

ClayDavis · 11-03-2010 12:52PM

How much does it cost to have Ms Harney in New Zealand for two weeks!?

To be fair if she spends the time checking out their healthcare system, regarded as one of the best in the world, it'd be worth it.

Jaysoose · 11-03-2010 01:01PM

ClayDavis wrote: »

To be fair if she spends the time checking out their healthcare system, regarded as one of the best in the world, it'd be worth it.

Most likely out there telling a load of lies about how great the irish system is....they do say if you tell the same lies enough times you start to believe them.

SLUSK · 11-03-2010 01:07PM

Bertieism is running wild in Ireland

whippet · 11-03-2010 01:17PM

SLUSK wrote: »

Bertieism is running wild in Ireland

i'd call it begrudery.

I think it is vitally important that our politicians use the worldwide recognition of our national holiday to promote all things irish.

But I suppose the notion of getting out there and selling yourself and your products is alien to the flowing tide of socialism and protectionism that seems to be making a rebirth in this country.

Jaysoose · 11-03-2010 01:23PM

What exactly are they out selling? Our broken banking system? our broken healthcare system? it must be our top notch ideas about public transport...get real..the only thing they are selling is BS and nobody is buying.

whippet · 11-03-2010 01:27PM

Jaysoose wrote: »

What exactly are they out selling? Our broken banking system? our broken healthcare system? it must be our top notch ideas about public transport...get real..the only thing they are selling is BS and nobody is buying.

eeehhh .... tourism, irish exports, the stuff that brings money in to our economy. Why would you even think that Public transport would be discussed? Get back to reading the irish daily star, full of useless headlines!!!

Jaysoose · 11-03-2010 01:30PM

whippet wrote: »

eeehhh .... tourism, irish exports, the stuff that brings money in to our economy. Why would you even think that Public transport would be discussed? Get back to reading the irish daily star, full of useless headlines!!!

Tourism? oh so thats why they introduced the €10 travel tax..to encourage tourism..i see.

whippet · 11-03-2010 01:33PM

Jaysoose wrote: »

Tourism? oh so thats why they introduced the €10 travel tax..to encourage tourism..i see.

yeah ... the irish government don't want any tourists in the country.

And the fact that you have to pay about twice that to exit NewZealand had decimated their tourism market, nobody ever goes there.

If you listen to O'Leary you'll form the opinion that the drop in passengers through Dublin Airport is all down to the €10 tax, nothing to do with a world wide recession, weakness in the Dollar and Sterling and a massive reduction in business travel, but don't let the facts stand in the way of a good story.

Jaysoose · 11-03-2010 01:36PM

whippet wrote: »

yeah ... the irish government don't want any tourists in the country.

And the fact that you have to pay about twice that to exit NewZealand had decimated their tourism market, nobody ever goes there.

If you listen to O'Leary you'll form the opinion that the drop in passengers through Dublin Airport is all down to the €10 tax, nothing to do with a world wide recession, weakness in the Dollar and Sterling and a massive reduction in business travel, but don't let the facts stand in the way of a good story.

No problem...world wide recession caused our issues..sure.

Mr. Presentable · 11-03-2010 01:36PM

whippet wrote: »

I think it is vitally important that our politicians use the worldwide recognition of our national holiday to promote all things irish.

.

This is my point. They should, however, be celebrating and demonstrating it in Ireland.

Bring them in, show them what we are and can do.

OhNoYouDidn't · 11-03-2010 01:37PM

whippet wrote: »

i'd call it begrudery.

I think it is vitally important that our politicians use the worldwide recognition of our national holiday to promote all things irish.

But I suppose the notion of getting out there and selling yourself and your products is alien to the flowing tide of socialism and protectionism that seems to be making a rebirth in this country.

You were doing so well until there.

The issue isn't politicians going overseas and networking etc. London, Washington, Brussels, Berlin, Bejing, Tokyo; crack on lads and try not to disgrace us.

The issue is where and for how long some go. It is very hard to justify NZ for a fortnight.

Guramoogah · 11-03-2010 02:15PM

The Dáil will be adjourned this afternoon (Thurs 11th March) until Tuesday 23rd March for the St Patrick's break. Huh? I get ONE DAY off for St Patrick's Day. Is it any wonder that the country is going down the jaxx.

Pappy o' daniel · 11-03-2010 02:32PM

nipplenuts wrote: »

How many of our politicians are on trips to far flung shores for out national day?

How much does it cost to have Ms Harney in New Zealand for two weeks!?

What about, in future, they all stay at home and we, as a nation, invite representatives from USA, New Zealand, Japan etc to spend St Patrick's Day with us, as our guests?

Show them a good, Irish, time. Bring them to the parade. Buy them a pint in The Sackville Lounge. Tour the Arran Islands.

Whats worse is that we'll have to pay for 2 seats, one for each of her cheeks.

JonathanAnon · 11-03-2010 03:53PM

Why do we send politicians? Why dont we send Irish trad musicians or Irish dancers, something symbolic of the country? Or famous recognised Irish actors/musicians/business people who have profile.

The last thing that people in New Zealand to see is a another dull politician like Mary Harney clearing out the fridge for the two weeks. I'm sure they have enough dull politicians themselves.

whippet · 11-03-2010 03:59PM

JonathanAnon wrote: »

Why do we send politicians? Why dont we send Irish trad musicians or Irish dancers, something symbolic of the country? Or famous recognised Irish actors/musicians/business people who have profile.

The last thing that people in New Zealand to see is a another dull politician like Mary Harney clearing out the fridge for the two weeks. I'm sure they have enough dull politicians themselves.

because a bowl of shamrock or shane mcgowan would have trouble articulating the advantages of Foreign Direct Investments, tax implications, market opportunities, work force skills & availability or many other subjects that could gain business or opportunities for ireland etc .. .

But I suppose its far to easy to be critical and mock rather than actually think about it.

JonathanAnon · 11-03-2010 04:19PM

whippet wrote: »

But I suppose its far to easy to be critical and mock rather than actually think about it.

I was being facetious about Mary Harney, but I am 100% serious about sending cultural icons. We can see from the last few years how well we have been served by foreign investment.. Dell, Gateway, etc etc... The IDA fawn all over them to get them here, and then they f**k off when they find somewhere with lower labour costs. We should be looking at indigenous industry instead of this unsustainable foreign investments. Not that anybody wants to invest here anymore anyway.

There certainly should be some representation on behalf of Bord Fáilte, and this would be served by sending cultural icons/ musicians / respected Irish people. . But more importantly, we need our Ministers HERE, to do the jobs they are being paid for..

conorhal · 11-03-2010 04:30PM

Jaysus, is it time for the 'annual faux outrage thread' surrounding St Patrick's Day junkets already?

Two words, 'Brand Ireland'.
If half the world wants to throw you a parade it would be rude not to turn up and take advantage of the opportuntites to promote the country that St Patrick's Day represents. You simply can't buy that kind of publicity and you'd be a fool not to take advantage of it.
That won't stop the petty begrudgers moaning of course.... :rolleyes:

PS. My only qualifier would be that the above is only applicable if they lock 'sweary' Mary Hanafin in the dail basement for the duration.

JonathanAnon · 11-03-2010 04:47PM

conorhal wrote: »

PS. My only qualifier would be that the above is only applicable if they lock 'sweary' Mary Hanafin in the dail basement for the duration.

Coughlan.. I was just imagining where she might be going, and what he language would be like after a few green pints..

Jaysoose · 11-03-2010 04:54PM

conorhal wrote: »

Jaysus, is it time for the 'annual faux outrage thread' surrounding St Patrick's Day junkets already?

Two words, 'Brand Ireland'.
If half the world wants to throw you a parade it would be rude not to turn up and take advantage of the opportuntites to promote the country that St Patrick's Day represents. You simply can't buy that kind of publicity and you'd be a fool not to take advantage of it.
That won't stop the petty begrudgers moaning of course.... :rolleyes:

PS. My only qualifier would be that the above is only applicable if they lock 'sweary' Mary Hanafin in the dail basement for the duration.

What they are selling the rest of the world aint buying. Wasters on free holidays doing more damage than good, leave them at it i say if they are away from ireland who will notice the difference.

Petty begrudgers...are you for real?

Southsider1 · 11-03-2010 05:07PM

whippet wrote: »

because a bowl of shamrock or shane mcgowan would have trouble articulating the advantages of Foreign Direct Investments, tax implications, market opportunities, work force skills & availability or many other subjects that could gain business or opportunities for ireland etc .. .

But I suppose its far to easy to be critical and mock rather than actually think about it.

And sadly, I think you probably believe what you're saying. I had the misfortune to be present during the visit of Ms Harney to Cape Town four years ago for St Patricks day. Embarrasing is a fairly conservative way of putting it. She was rude, ignorant and disrespectful and that was to the Irish people there. She ignored the locals. I never met her before that and thankfully never since. So Yeah. It's well worth sending her around the world.:rolleyes:

conorhal · 11-03-2010 05:25PM

Jaysoose wrote: »

What they are selling the rest of the world aint buying.

Tell that to Obama, last year he was ordering some strange Paddy off his lawn and wondering what he was doing standing there with a bowl of weeds in the first place. One lost senate seat in Boston later and he's organizing a trip to Moneygall in this summer and inviting every second Irishman alive to the Whitehouse to admire his green tie.

Jaysoose, begrudgery be thy name!

Perhaps we should send (as was mentioned above) a selecton of cultural and business ambasadors instead of politicos.

Jaysoose · 11-03-2010 06:10PM

conorhal wrote: »

Tell that to Obama, last year he was ordering some strange Paddy off his lawn and wondering what he was doing standing there with a bowl of weeds in the first place. One lost senate seat in Boston later and he's organizing a trip to Moneygall in this summer and inviting every second Irishman alive to the Whitehouse to admire his green tie.

Jaysoose, begrudgery be thy name!

Perhaps we should send (as was mentioned above) a selecton of cultural and business ambasadors instead of politicos.

You are deluded.

DeVore · 11-03-2010 07:11PM

I think they SHOULD go abroad, genuinely. But 2 weeks is madness.

DeV.

danman · 11-03-2010 07:45PM

Of course they should be going. If fact I'd send most of the opposition as well

every State should have a representitve for their parade.

If none of you understand the significance of 1 small Island nation having 1 day in the year that the whole world recognises, there are some very small minded and bitter people posting on here.

We should try to send representitiveS to as many countries and regions in countries as we can.

Some one suggested bringing people here. Would that not cost more?
Send a TD to Boston. He will get to meet many more business people than we could invite here for Paddies day.

Get real posters. Instead of begrudging, incourage them to send as many as possible to get any type of job into this country.

IrishTonyO · 11-03-2010 07:50PM

danman wrote: »

Of course they should be going. If fact I'd send most of the opposition as well

every State should have a representitve for their parade.

If none of you understand the significance of 1 small Island nation having 1 day in the year that the whole world recognises, there are some very small minded and bitter people posting on here.

We should try to send representitiveS to as many countries and regions in countries as we can.

Some one suggested bringing people here. Would that not cost more?
Send a TD to Boston. He will get to meet many more business people than we could invite here for Paddies day.

Get real posters. Instead of begrudging, incourage them to send as many as possible to get any type of job into this country.

No problem with them going, but 2 weeks is ridiculous and why the hell should we pay for her leech of a husband to go????

Shea O'Meara · 11-03-2010 08:31PM

There has been a rise in the use of words like 'Begrudgery' & 'Leftist' of late. The idea is that being associated with either should scare you away from casting any opinions or making seemingly negative points against the mindset/view of the Government. This is not the U.S., (mostly not). We shouldn't be brainwashed into dismissing alternate views by right-wing scare mongers spouting 'communism!'. All views should be given a listen.

As regards St. Patrick's holidays. We should send representatives, but for a limited period, people who are articulate and knowledgeable. It just seems every Government official gets to go on a free (to them) holiday and the only matter is who gets to go where. Harney should remain until her house is in order, concerning the most current scandal. It would be the classy thing to do and go a little way to instilling confidence...which would be a nice little present to the Irish people for St. Patricks day.

expectationlost · 12-03-2010 02:32AM

JonathanAnon wrote: »

Why do we send politicians? Why dont we send Irish trad musicians or Irish dancers, something symbolic of the country? Or famous recognised Irish actors/musicians/business people who have profile.

The last thing that people in New Zealand to see is a another dull politician like Mary Harney clearing out the fridge for the two weeks. I'm sure they have enough dull politicians themselves.

they do, dervish!! nobody is against trips, or trade missions, but do these all need politicians? i know when there making big country to country deals they do but is that case in all these trips?

expectationlost · 12-03-2010 02:34AM

danman wrote: »

Of course they should be going. If fact I'd send most of the opposition as well

If none of you understand the significance of 1 small Island nation having 1 day in the year that the whole world recognises, there are some very small minded and bitter people posting on here.

.

we do, but why do these particular politicians have to be there? patrick day can go on without them

oppenheimer1 · 12-03-2010 02:37AM

Jaysoose wrote: »

Tourism? oh so thats why they introduced the €10 travel tax..to encourage tourism..i see.

Do you really think €10 on a transcontinental flight that cost upwards of €500 will be noticed? Only the low cost carriers oppose the tax because they have to absorb the charge to advertise fares below €10.

Think about it? would €10 really make you think twice about your holiday destination?

St Patrick's Day foreign trips

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