Pitchforks ready?- Ministers entitled to €3,500 in unvouched laundry expenses!

gurramok · 18-01-2012 09:45PM #1

I think this is the most serious taking the mick expense. Vouch it all but then again its a gravy train :mad:

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has revealed that Ministers from outside Dublin who need to stay in hotels while in the city are entitled to thousands of euros to cover their laundry bills.

Michael Noonan's admitted that Ministers and Junior Ministers are entitled to claim €3,500 in unvouched expenses for cleaning.

It is one of the many tax write-downs Ministers can claim under the second homes allowances.

The system has been in place since 1998 and has cost the public more than €1m, with between 14 and 19 Ministers claiming each year.

The information came to light after a parliamentary question was tabled by Sinn Féin's Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty.

"Anyone's who's been to Leinster House you'll know that when you come through the gate, in Kildare Street, there's a wee dry cleaning service.," he said.

"And I think it's about €13.50 for a suit to be dry-cleaned.

"A Minister would have to be changing three or four times a day..."

Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/ministers-outside-dublin-entitled-to-3500-in-unvouched-laundry-expenses-536447.html#ixzz1jqQs7b9S

earpiece · 18-01-2012 09:49PM

Yeah.... it's an old thing - I mean can you imagine the size of Mary Harney's knickers?

Seanergy · 18-01-2012 09:50PM

Pitchforks might go threw the suit and god only knows the expenses they could claim for that! I would be thinking more rotten fruit and veg, maybe even the classic egg? You free in the morning, who we aiming at?

phog · 18-01-2012 09:51PM

Old news but they (govt ministers) keep telling us we're broke but can still pay out this sort of money to themselves. DeRossa retires with a pension of nearly €90K, I'd love if I was earning that no to mind retire with it.

They have no concept on what it's like for the majority of the population to survive these days.

ilovesleep · 18-01-2012 09:57PM

That is 291.66 a month or 72.90 a week.

Do they all claim this?

Many people are required to wear suits/uniforms for work but cleaning and laundry expenses are coming out from their own pockets.

Edit: this expense is adding to their already over inflated pay packs.

gurramok · 18-01-2012 10:00PM

ilovesleep wrote: »

That is 291.66 a month or 72.90 a week.

Do they all claim this?

Many people are required to wear suits/uniforms for work but cleaning and laundry expenses are coming out from their own pockets.

Ministers have to look their best in their Armani's:rolleyes::)

Unless they all getting their laundry done in the Hilton style laundries?

Or maybe they stink too much of BS in that they need to change their clothes often?

Doc Ruby · 18-01-2012 10:01PM

Fair play to Pearse. If he wasn't a shinner he'd have my vote.

Pedro K · 18-01-2012 10:02PM

It's not shocking at all at this point.

As I pointed out in a thread regarding former taoisigh expenses, No expenses should be unvouched for.

Not a penny should be paid without a receipt. No Exceptions.

minidazzler · 18-01-2012 10:07PM

ilovesleep wrote: »

That is 291.66 a month or 72.90 a week.

Do they all claim this?

Many people are required to wear suits/uniforms for work but cleaning and laundry expenses are coming out from their own pockets.

Edit: this expense is adding to their already over inflated pay packs.

Laundry and uniform expenses etc can be claimed as tax credits no? Under uniforms and upkeep.

That doesn't excuse what this shower are doing, (given they probably claim the credits simultaneously) but it's there for everyone I think.

ygolometsipe · 18-01-2012 10:08PM

but of course, only the best for our overlords!:D

earlyevening · 18-01-2012 10:09PM

Shocking that the poor Dublin ministers had to pay for their own dry cleaning. Why does it only apply to rural ministers? Are they dirtier folk or something?

:rolleyes:

force eleven · 18-01-2012 10:09PM

On a day when a new tax to prop up the bloated insane salaries of Marion Finucane et al at RTE is proposed as well as the reality of harsh septic tank penalties for us poor sods who live in the country and doesn't meet someone in Brussels idea, sorry requirements of manure management, this is just typical.

Just remember at the heart of everything, Dail deputies are public servants and make the rules to suit public servants.

iamstop · 18-01-2012 10:38PM

They should all be wearing the state issued orange jumpsuits with their number on the back. Shower of...(mutters obscenities under breath)

44leto · 18-01-2012 10:40PM

Politics its a dirty business.

Sindri · 18-01-2012 10:43PM

Can we not just do away with politicians in general and be ruled by robots.

Oh wait, Kenny is still the Taoiseach.

Pitchforks ready?- Ministers entitled to €3,500 in unvouched laundry expenses!

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