Higgins: Queen 'should pay bed and board'

Gummy Panda · 20-04-2011 04:48PM

walshb wrote: »

Forget paying for board, why doesn't she just claim rent relief for a day or two, like the countless thousands from all over the globe. She is a foreigner after all, there shouldn't be a problem getting it.

Higgins is a tit.

This is a new and exciting post from you

Wolfe Tone · 20-04-2011 04:49PM

In fairness he said the same about Obama and his main point was that it was retarded to invite these people when we have no cash.

Can you think of nothing better that the money could be spent on?

KeithAFC · 20-04-2011 04:50PM

Gummy Panda wrote: »

Did he come down from heaven on put it on her head?

Yep.

UglyBolloxFace · 20-04-2011 04:54PM

KeithAFC wrote: »

Well she did get gods blessing when she was given the crown....

Your monarch's a cúnt.

There, I said it.

dvpower · 20-04-2011 04:55PM

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

Can you think of nothing better that the money could be spent on?

Tourism promotion?

UglyBolloxFace · 20-04-2011 04:57PM

dvpower wrote: »

Tourism promotion?

How? I am sick of people saying that and not backing it up in any way.

So, again, how will the visit of the British Head of State help Irish tourism?

Killer Pigeon · 20-04-2011 04:58PM

That crowd of parrots (a reference to the wide non-uniformity of their collective attire) perched together in the corner of the Dáil (the likes of Boyd-Barrett, "Ming" Flanagan, Mick Wallace & Higgins, etc..) who refuse to wear stately attire, come out with the most blatant obscurities and reject to conform with Dáil procedure, need not be listened as their ideas are so far from reality that they would be rejected on the grounds of implausibility in the wildest dimensions of fantasy.

GerM · 20-04-2011 05:02PM

A chunk of those that elected Higgins will fully agree with him. He's playing up to his voters.

He's also thick as sh*t.

ejmaztec · 20-04-2011 05:04PM

dvpower wrote: »

Tourism promotion?

Potential tourists will say "If Ireland's good enough for that old bat, it's good enough for us".

The only difference will be that they'll get robbed blind when they arrive, and she won't, her being a bit of a free-loader.

Orando Broom · 20-04-2011 05:17PM

Joe Higgins is a pantomime fückwit.

dvpower · 20-04-2011 05:17PM

UglyBolloxFace wrote: »

How? I am sick of people saying that and not backing it up in any way.

So, again, how will the visit of the British Head of State help Irish tourism?

I thought it was self evident, but...

The visit will be covered by the British media. It will show some of Ireland's tourist attractions to large numbers of Britons. Goodwill will be generated by images of the Queen being warmly welcomed by Irish leaders and individuals. Britons will be more inclined to come and visit.

I hope this clarifies matters.

UglyBolloxFace · 20-04-2011 05:23PM

dvpower wrote: »

I thought it was self evident, but...

The visit will be covered by the British media. It will show some of Ireland's tourist attractions to large numbers of Britons. Goodwill will be generated by images of the Queen being warmly welcomed by Irish leaders and individuals. Britons will be more inclined to come and visit.

I hope this clarifies matters.

Dear Mr. Power,

Thank you for the clarification.

Kind regards
UglyBolloxface

:pac:

Yeah I see what you mean, and that is your opinion, but in mine that wouldn't incline Britons towards visiting any further than an episode of Harry Enfield and Chums prancing around Dublin City Centre would!

dvpower · 20-04-2011 05:27PM

UglyBolloxFace wrote: »

Yeah I see what you mean, and that is your opinion, but in mine that wouldn't incline Britons towards visiting any further than an episode of Harry Enfield and Chums prancing around Dublin City Centre would!

Don't take my word for it. The people tasked with promoting tourism here are very positive about the visit.

Tourism Ireland CEO Niall Gibbons said the visit presented a very welcome opportunity to showcase Ireland's positives.

"Many people will see are all the positive images about Ireland - our people, our culture, our scenery…It will showcase Ireland in a very positive way to the world," he said.

Edit: He's much more explicit about the benefits in this quote

Niall Gibbons wrote:

“A state visit by Queen Elizabeth II will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase the island of Ireland to a huge audience of potential holidaymakers across Britain and has the potential to deliver a major boost to Irish tourism in 2011 and beyond.

“We expect a large media contingent will travel to Ireland to cover the visit, bringing the story to millions of people in Britain and elsewhere around the world and providing a truly unique opportunity to highlight the island of Ireland as a wonderful holiday destination.”

RichieC · 20-04-2011 05:29PM

Fk off, Joe.

orourkeda · 20-04-2011 05:37PM

Oranage2 wrote: »

I do wonder how some politicians get elected -

Dont be surprised. This is the nation that has elected Jackie Healy Rae, Bertie Ahern, Beverly Cooper Flynn, Jim McDaid, Charles Haughey, Michael Lowry, Willie O'Dea..........

My name is URL · 20-04-2011 05:53PM

dvpower wrote: »

I thought it was self evident, but...

The visit will be covered by the British media. It will show some of Ireland's tourist attractions to large numbers of Britons. Goodwill will be generated by images of the Queen being warmly welcomed by Irish leaders and individuals. Britons will be more inclined to come and visit.

I hope this clarifies matters.

Can you honestly say that you'd be more inclined to visit the UK just because our own head of state was there on a visit? I doubt the veracity of the claims being made about increased levels of tourism. Maybe around the time of the visit there will be a small increase but overall I don't think it will make a huge difference to the numbers. Only time will tell.

Either way though, it's ridiculous of Higgins to suggest that she pay for it herself.

Dj Stiggie · 20-04-2011 06:04PM

My name is URL wrote: »

Can you honestly say that you'd be more inclined to visit the UK just because our own head of state was there on a visit? I doubt the veracity of the claims being made about increased levels of tourism. Maybe around the time of the visit there will be a small increase but overall I don't think it will make a huge difference to the numbers. Only time will tell.

Either way though, it's ridiculous of Higgins to suggest that she pay for it herself.

I don't think the Queen's visit will generate as much tourism as people are claiming, and no I wouldn't go somewhere because McAleese or Kenny did.

But this is different. The UK is our biggest tourist market and tourists from there are declining. People in Britain think there is anti-British sentiment in Ireland (and there is a fair bit) so the Queen coming here, being welcomed and treated with respect will show British people that Ireland has matured, and is welcoming towards them.

Either way, I'm quite indifferent towards the whole thing. I'm not living there right now so it won't affect me. I just hope it passes off smoothly and that the scumbags are kept away.

Dionysus · 20-04-2011 06:07PM

dvpower wrote: »

The benefits in terms of increased tourism, goodwill etc of the royal visit will far exceed any costs.

Serious question: has anybody actually provided evidence to support this oft-mentioned claim?

YFlyer · 20-04-2011 06:11PM

MagicMarker wrote: »

How much are swans these days anyway?

Will she sell us some?

Dionysus · 20-04-2011 06:11PM

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

That crowd of parrots (a reference to the wide non-uniformity of their collective attire) perched together in the corner of the Dáil (the likes of Boyd-Barrett, "Ming" Flanagan, Mick Wallace & Higgins, etc..) who refuse to wear stately attire, come out with the most blatant obscurities and reject to conform with Dáil procedure

hehe. Very good. You are taking the piss, of course?

Yours,

Somebody who wouldn't be seen dead in a stuffy pointless tie. *shudder*

De Nada · 20-04-2011 06:13PM

Surely, the Queen is entitled to the same treatment as the tens of thousand of un-invited foreigners who find their way to our shores each year.

They get free houses, rent allowances, free car, road tax and insurance, free medical card, the dole or Old Age Pension, free translation services, and countless other benefits that this burst and broken country can ill afford.

All the Queen is asking for is a bed for the night and, hopefully, a full Irish next morning. Not too much is it ?

After inviting her, that's the least we could do

Dionysus · 20-04-2011 06:15PM

prinz wrote: »

Halfwit thieving looting opportunist little scrotes rarely are whenever there's a bandwagon event on. I'd take the Queen anyday over that shower of inbred runts.

We cannot, alas, choose our fellow citizens. They are as much a reality as any other section of our society. We can't wish them away and pretend they won't be there on the day just because we don't want them to be there. For the state to make any plans based on its wishes/without taking security issues into consideration would be silly.

Xivilai · 20-04-2011 06:34PM

If she was half-way decent she'd at least let us sell one of her solid gold shoes :pac:

Trooperboyo · 20-04-2011 06:39PM

I really can't wait until the Queens visit is over, really sick of this been brought up all the time.

Gavin "shels" · 20-04-2011 06:43PM

Pauleta wrote: »

More populist crap from that loon Higgins.

WE INVITED HER! :rolleyes:

Joe Higgins, a populist? Never would have thought it!:D He's some gob****e, I agreed with him on Lisbon, but Christ has he seriously lost the plot since.

AckwelFoley · 20-04-2011 06:43PM

Joe Higgins.

I have no words to describe my feeling for that man.

Trooperboyo · 20-04-2011 06:45PM

snyper wrote: »

Joe Higgins.

I have no words to describe my feeling for that man.

"Silly old man" comes to mind

Bottle_of_Smoke · 20-04-2011 06:51PM

Its Joe Higgins, he was joking ffs.

He's in opposition, he has to criticise the government and hold them to account.

He doesn't expect Queen Elizabeth to pay, he's making a point about how islly it is we are splashing the cash on security for high risk heads of state when we're beyond broke.

Also, which is politically correct - " The Queen of England" or "The British Queen" ?- have heard/read both the last few days.

My name is URL · 20-04-2011 06:57PM

Joe Higgins is definitely far more deserving of people's ire than those responsible for all of our woes.

The man is anti-establishment and a socialist.. I'd be more surprised if his opinion on the costs of the Queen's visit was one of a welcoming acceptance to pay.

He also said earlier that the government should step in to renege on the bonuses which are due to be paid to former bankers in the near future, but nobodies calling him a lunatic over that.

Dave! · 20-04-2011 07:30PM

My name is URL wrote: »

Can you honestly say that you'd be more inclined to visit the UK just because our own head of state was there on a visit? I doubt the veracity of the claims being made about increased levels of tourism. Maybe around the time of the visit there will be a small increase but overall I don't think it will make a huge difference to the numbers. Only time will tell.

Either way though, it's ridiculous of Higgins to suggest that she pay for it herself.

When I watch a Coca Cola ad on TV I don't feel like having a Coke either, but decades of marketing through the mass media would suggest that, even if I don't notice it, it is having an effect. I may not want a Coke at that particular time, but maybe it puts a particular idea in my head of why I might enjoy a Coke, and then when I go to the shops, without thinking, I might pick up a Coke instead of a Pepsi. Do you think that Failte Ireland are wasting their time and money by displaying ads to attract tourists?

I'm sure it's hard to quantify how much of an effect it will have, but given that the Queen is going to be visiting a bunch of famous tourist sites (Trinity, Garden of Remembrance, Rock of Cashel, Croke Park, Dublin Castle, Guinness, etc.), and it's going to be broadcast around the world due to its historical significance, it will be a good opportunity to show off the various sites, and it will represent the Irish people in general in a good light.

Higgins: Queen 'should pay bed and board'

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