Government withdraws expenses for former taoisigh (That looks weird to me. Did they spell it incorrectly?!) PAUL CULLEN, Political Staff THE ENTITLEMENT of former taoisigh to a range of perks has ended, a move that will particularly hit Bertie Ahern, who has claimed €367,000 for secretarial services since 2008. The expenses relate to secretarial assistants, computer equipment, telephone costs and airport VIP facilities paid for by the State. The Department of the Taoiseach stopped paying for these services in respect of former taoisigh yesterday. The provision of secretarial services for Mr Ahern since 2008 is more than all other former taoisigh combined. He has also run up mobile phone bills of almost €11,000. Before the cutback announced by Taoiseach Enda Kenny last month, Mr Ahern and other former taoisigh were entitled to two secretarial assistants in the five years after stepping down, and one thereafter. The arrangement was put in place in 2001 to facilitate former holders of the office to carry out public roles and deal with correspondence as well as “co-operating with researchers in various areas such as history, administration and political science”, according to the department. Mr Ahern incurred secretarial costs of €75,000 in 2008, €114,000 in 2009, €107,000 in 2010 and €71,000 last year. His phone bills peaked at €3,500 in 2009 and amounted to €2,200 between January and August last year. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is among those who have said the expenses paid to his former cabinet colleague under the scheme are too high and should be reduced. The provision of secretarial services for Brian Cowen cost €32,000 last year, while the bill for the late Dr Garret FitzGerald amounted to €30,000 for the period last year up to his death in May. The department also paid €25,000 in respect of a secretary for Albert Reynolds and €16,000 for John Bruton. Dr FitzGerald also got €2,000 and Mr Cowen got almost €1,500 to buy computer equipment since the scheme started. Another former taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, is not recorded as having claimed under the scheme. The entitlement of former taoisigh to a State car, other than on important State occasions, was withdrawn last June, while their pensions, along with those of other high earners in the public service, were cut by 20 per cent last month. The Dublin Airport Authority said it had been informed last month that the department would no longer be paying for VIP facilities for former taoisigh at Irish airports. A VIP package at Dublin airport, including assistance with customs and immigration and retrieval of baggage, costs at least €160 plus VAT. Latest figures show the State spent almost €4,000 on this service in 2009. Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs have traditionally provided assistance to former taoisigh at foreign airports on request, according to the department.
chin_grin wrote: » Wow. Sums up the state of threads not actually quoting the article they're linking to. :pac:
Mr Ahern and other former taoisigh were entitled to two secretarial assistants in the five years after stepping down, and one thereafter.
Cookie_Monster wrote: » why, just why? One is bad enough, but two
Mr Cowen got almost €1,500 to buy computer equipment since the scheme started.
Freddie59 wrote: The Greeks go out, protest, throw a few rocks around and hey presto - a 50% reduction.
Biggins wrote: » Mr Cowen got almost €1,500 to buy computer equipment since the scheme started. Now unless Mr Cowan is an avid gamer and needs a suped-up one, an excellent pc with software can be got for 500/600+. €1,500 Himmm...
Biggins wrote: » Now unless Mr Cowan is an avid gamer and needs a suped-up one, an excellent pc with software can be got for 500/600+. €1,500 Himmm...
Freddie59 wrote: » It's Ireland. That's why. We moan on fora such as this one, but do little else (myself included). The Greeks go out, protest, throw a few rocks around and hey presto - a 50% reduction. I know it's been done to death but the situation is completely surreal and GUBU: * Private, bankrupt, business entities bailed out by the taxpayer (while the taxpayer was not at fault). * No-one prosecuted (or ever will be). * A bankrupt State which insists that "contracts must be honoured with its employees" - while using money that should be protecting our most vulnerable in order to do so. * The current Government's slash and burn policies supported by a so-called "Labour Party".The list is truly endless. It is incredible to believe that all this has happened, and, for a country which would hold a referendum at the drop of a hat for the most ridiculous things, we weren't even asked if it was OK. FFS.:mad:
Mark200 wrote: » What about a printer/photocopier, detective?
Mr Ahern incurred secretarial costs of €75,000 in 2008, €114,000 in 2009, €107,000 in 2010 and €71,000 last year. His phone bills peaked at €3,500 in 2009 and amounted to €2,200 between January and August last year.
ilovesleep wrote: » Don't forget about Bertie renotvating his office for 200,000 plus euro The same price as a fcuking mortgage for a house and that was for one office. When we did up a room here at home it cost us 3000 euro. Bertie's office should have cost more than 5000. 10,000 at the very most and that's being generous. One would have to wonder where did the other 190,000 go to.
Biggins wrote: » Mark200 wrote: » What about a printer/photocopier, detective? A printer/photocopier can be bought now for far less than €100 - even less than €50 - will that do? Example: * http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/9040418/Trail/searchtext%3EPRINTER.htm * http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/9040425/Trail/searchtext%3EPRINTER.htm * http://www.harveynorman.ie/computing?cat=1129&def_system_producttype=2228 Even a top range one at €99 is cheap! * http://www.harveynorman.ie/canon-mg-5250.html Its not rocket science! Jeeze, some people really have to be lead/informed to everything by the hand! I can get a VERY good PC and printer/copier for 700/800 Euro! I would have saved €700+ for the state. Now if all those that was getting those payments added up the money left over, it could be quite a considerable amount.
Mark200 wrote: » What if he got a laser printer so that he wouldn't have to wait 20 minutes for your top of the range printer to print one report?
Biggins wrote: » Mark200 wrote: » What if he got a laser printer so that he wouldn't have to wait 20 minutes for your top of the range printer to print one report? Are you for real? Are you seriously that badly informed as to the capabilities of STANDARD printers today and as to their speeds? Christ man, you need to go back to school or at least to to the computer section here and get an education! O' and by the way, Samsung colour laser printers alone (for example) can be bought for €160.
Mark200 wrote: » Anyway my point was that you were gently implying that Cowen was either pocketing expenses or spending 3 times the cost of something for no reason, when in fact you don't have a clue what it was actually spent on. For no reason assuming 'Computer Equipment' means one single computer.
Downlinz wrote: » ...I'm sure if he skimped and got cheap **** and had documents of national importance leaked you'd be the very same people to complain about a lack of professional?
Biggins wrote: » Mark200 wrote: » Anyway my point was that you were gently implying that Cowen was either pocketing expenses or spending 3 times the cost of something for no reason, when in fact you don't have a clue what it was actually spent on. For no reason assuming 'Computer Equipment' means one single computer. I implied what? I did not. I allowed anyone to possibly think that they might in the current times, think about reducing the amount actually given out OR have those that need these items, to apply for them, submit the paperwork with a quote from a business, have an exact cheque issued for such items - and guess what, the reminder of the possible €1500 can stay with the state! ...And if Cowen and co is retired what in gods name do they want with more than one machine? Cowen has only one pair of hands as does any single secretary they already have working for them - on we can assume a pc that they already have? Assuming one needs to be updated (do they HAVE to be updated yearly?) even then, it a huge amount that is left over! Downlinz wrote: » ...I'm sure if he skimped and got cheap **** and had documents of national importance leaked you'd be the very same people to complain about a lack of professional? Can ANYONE produce any reports, etc that they have produced of ANY national importance since retiring?Anyone? Anything?
Mark200 wrote: » So what are you thinking that they did with the supposed leftover money?
Downlinz wrote: » Load of BS, head office in the land and you seriously expect him to be using Lidl printers? 1,500 is not an excessive amount to spend on computing equipment for matters of national importance. Good software and network security for a start isn't cheap. People need to cop on and realise that while these people were no saints they're not the comic book villain yielding a big with the dollar sign on it that you'd like them to be. Sick of all you moaners, just bear in mind there are children out there who'll have got more expensive computing equipment than that this very christmas. And sure I'm sure if he skimped and got cheap **** and had documents of national importance leaked you'd be the very same people to complain about a lack of professional?
Biggins wrote: » Mark200 wrote: » So what are you thinking that they did with the supposed leftover money? Good question! Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Mark200 wrote: » Yeah clearly not implying anything improper without knowing any of the facts...
Biggins wrote: » Mark200 wrote: » Yeah clearly not implying anything improper without knowing any of the facts... As the saying goes (or words to the effect)... I've forgotten more facts than you can possibly now even remember or know. Don't attempt to put words in my mouth. You will only end up looking foolish. Read what I have actually wrote - not what you want to read!
