Outside the new Bord Gais offices at 1 Warrington Place. Workers unbox hundreds of new Herman Miller Aeron chairs (list price: $970 – $1250) and wheel them into the lobby. 2 weeks after increasing electricity prices by 12%. The pile of boxes in the first pic are *all* empty Aeron boxes. The second pic is of the lobby, with about €100,000 of chairs waiting to be taken upstairs. Taken literally 70 mins ago.
Standard Toaster wrote: » Oh I'm sitting on one of them right now.....very comfortable
jimmmy wrote: » typical semi-state / government mentality. You would'nt see Ryanair wasting 980,000 printing something in to a language nobody reads, or spending 100k on chairs.
The basic Aeron, by Herman Miller, costs around $700, and many office workers swear by them. There are also researchers who doubt them. "The Aeron is far too low," says Dr. A.C. Mandal, a Danish doctor who was among the first to raise flags about sitting 50 years ago. "I visited Herman Miller a few years ago, and they did understand. It should have much more height adjustment, and you should be able to move more. But as long as they sell enormous numbers, they don't want to change it." Don Chadwick, the co-designer of the Aeron, says he wasn't hired to design the ideal product for an eight-hour-workday; he was hired to update Herman Miller's previous best-seller.
TheZohan wrote: » Also they're not €900 over here, you'd pick them up for around €660 (+ VAT which they can claim back). If they were buying in bulk I have to agree with Yakult, they'd get a better price on them.
chin_grin wrote: » Rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble. Wow a new low of rabbling. Chairs. What have we come to!? "I'm shocked Joe", etc.
woodoo wrote: » Because so many people don't give a damn. We tolerate it. Even belittle those that object.
TAXPAYERS have been forced to fork out nearly €270,000 to cover Bertie Ahern's expenses since he stepped down as Taoiseach. Mr Ahern, whose government fuelled the property bubble, is entitled to two secretarial assistants, free mobile phone use and VIP services at airports. He is also allowed the use of a State car for official engagements. Mr Ahern has claimed far more money than other retired taoisigh, according to a report by the Department of the Taoiseach. He has been paid just over €264,000 in expenses since he stepped down in May 2008, including €7,500 on mobile phone bills. The money is separate from his pension, which stands at €150,000 a year. His secretarial expenses amounted to €106,838 last year and €114,369 in 2009. He claimed €42,890 for secretarial expenses in the first six months of this year. This compared to €24,731 for Albert Reynolds and €13,562 for John Bruton. Brian Cowen claimed €15,260 for secretarial assistance until the end of June. Under the current regime, former taoisigh can employ two secretarial assistants -- with a maximum annual salary of €55,415 -- for up to five years after leaving office. They are entitled to keep on one assistant indefinitely after the initial five-year period ends.
Alisa Chilly Mainframe wrote: » Agree,long list of stuff taxpayer coughs up for freely,this was in papers during the week,why are taxpayers still looking after this former minister expenses?-http://www.herald.ie/news/sure-hes-laughing-on-euro264k-expenses-sham-2860387.html
Under the current regime, former taoisigh can employ two secretarial assistants -- with a maximum annual salary of €55,415 -- for up to five years after leaving office. They are entitled to keep on one assistant indefinitely after the initial five-year period ends.
Yakult wrote: » Who thought a new office would need chairs and lots of them.. :rolleyes:
Yakult wrote: » That's the retail price for everyday consumers. I doubt that a company will be paying full whack for these chairs considering their a business (excl-vat) and the fact they bought in bulk which again would drive the average price of the chair down.
ShadowHearth wrote: » Jesus.... My pc chair coated 90 quid... Still same as 5 years ago... 1k per chair? Holy ****, you can buy a whole leather couch set for that money...
listermint wrote: » Its because theyve been getting away with this crap for years
Freddie59 wrote: » They key to all that is wrong in this country. No-one to answer to. No accountability. Even though we're heading for debt of €250bn.:rolleyes: It will never, ever change. And the laughable thing is that, if 'competition' had not been introduced in the energy sector, prices would more than likely be lower than they are today.
ilovesleep wrote: » 100,000k for office chairs (900 euro a chair is it) is far too much. If a private company spent that kind of money on chairs alone they would be more than likely very much fail as a company. They just wouldn't survive. And in this current climate with many companies closing, they could have sourced chairs secondhand. Sickening.
BlaasForRafa wrote: » the unions will be demanding leather couch sets next.
seamus wrote: » Imagine the amount of sick leave and compensation claims that would be put in if they installed 380 argos specials @ €50 a pop.
Dear Minister Rabbitte, It saddens me after the last few years of turmoil in this country, that we still have these stories rolling out nearly once a week in relation to extraodinary expenditure from both Government Departments and Semi State entities. The most recent saddening reflection on this governments control for me has to be the revelation of Bord Gais spending an inordinate +250 K on a low volume of office chairs said to be in the region of 350 units. This coupled with the in dispute 'disturbance payment' that some of the staff are seeking from this localised office change. One begs to wonder what level of other funds were spent on this move, new desks? Flat Screens? Gold plated pens perhaps? All this comes at a time of unprecedented energy prices in this country when all around us have lower levels of cost in this sector. The Regulator has given the green light to increases and still we see zero notion of cost savings displayed from this entity. Where is the independent central purchasing body? An organisation such as this might have limited powers in a semi state for all i know, but it would set a bench mark for all others to be measured. Someone needs to get these people in line. And frankly your department has not succeeded in this matter. I dont know how you can gladly walk around Tallaght, seeking votes from people who will be hit with 20% increases this winter with news such as this leaking out. Lets be honest all would be normal business in Bord Gais today if some passerby hadnt taken a snapshot of these chairs being unloaded. Was there something wrong with the items from their old office? I feel my vote for you was wasted, and I will be encouraging my social circle to really examine their options based on your record so far. Yours Cordially, Listermint Continually Disappointed.
seamus wrote: » The chairs are €600 ex VAT and you get significant discounts when you buy them in large numbers. But don't let the facts get in the way of a good rant lads. Imagine the amount of sick leave and compensation claims that would be put in if they installed 380 argos specials @ €50 a pop.
listermint wrote: » So sent an email to the officeminister.rabbitte@dcenr.gov.ie All this internet chatter is no use, if you dont direct your annoyance directly at the man in charge. Let them know that your p*ssed off. Because someone needs to make a bloody change in the attitudes, and giving out on the internet and being annoyed when you read it in the newspaper wont do a think. Let them know.
Mr. Presentable wrote: » Well done you. What is broadsheet.ie - how reliable a source? But never mind, you got an opportunity to go on a rant. I'm with seamus on this one - the costs quoted are way over estimated and the benefits under-appreciated. On a side note, I observe all but six of the posts on this thread were made during office hours. Are ye all stealing from your employers or are ye all in receipt of taxpayers money?
mconigol wrote: » Good to see the rabble are still alive and well and talking ****e as usual based on no facts...:rolleyes:
listermint wrote: » We have facts, The chairs where photographed, and they appeared on national TV, We know the RRP of the chairs is anything FROM 600 - 900 Euro. Accounting for a 20% discount on the chairs on the minimum RRP of 600 Euro, that is still 177,000 Euro on office chairs. This all comes at a time when they are people taking over hotels to transform into schools because the schools are waiting years on a land grant to build one. Ive no idea how anyone with any sense can call this smart spending. Realistically how is this smart spending. Let me tell you exactly what is going on here. The staff in the old office have chairs that are perfectly fine. They are all moving to the new office up the road and joining up the remaining staff with them from smaller offices dotted around the place. Now rather than bringing the perfectly good chairs with them, and maybe buying in a small amount of new ones (that wouldnt do) because theyre are ars*holes in the office that would kick up sh&t about not getting an new chair etc etc etc. So they have to replace all of them. Because lets face it everyone has to be treated equally in regardless...... Go off and defend it... Lunacy....
srsly78 wrote: » Bah fookers! I've been trying to get one of these chairs (or the Mirra one) but I can't find ANYONE that will deliver to Ireland Gotta buy in UK and then arrange courier myself, £150 with DHL. Anyone know where I can just order one?
