Enda Kenny USA visit flight cost €66,325 euro

the culture of deference · 02-04-2012 12:46PM #1

The cost of flying Taoiseach, Enda Kenny to the United States on the Government Gulfstream IV - under the Ministerial Air Transport Service provided by the Air Corps - was an estimated €66,325. This cost was borne by the Department of Defence.

So there you go, the equivalent of 660 households who paid tax.

What a waste

statss · 02-04-2012 12:48PM

why is it a waste? do you know what was achieved in the US and the relative value of it compared to the flight cost?

Dyr · 02-04-2012 12:48PM

You know how many govts would pay 5 times that for the opportunity of a PR event like this with Presidente Obama?

Our lot waste money on lots of things but this is not one of them

forfuxsake · 02-04-2012 12:48PM

the culture of deference wrote: »

The cost of flying Taoiseach, Enda Kenny to the United States on the Government Gulfstream IV - under the Ministerial Air Transport Service provided by the Air Corps - was an estimated €66,325. This cost was borne by the Department of Defence.

So there you go, the equivalent of 6,600 households who paid tax.

What a waste

Not a fan of Fine Gael, not a fan of Enda, not a fan of the household tax.

but in fairness if it brings inward investment of €66,326+ then it won't have been a waste

Tipsy McSwagger · 02-04-2012 12:48PM

Trying to get american businesses to invest in Ireland and create much needed jobs is hardly a waste.

AngryBollix · 02-04-2012 12:49PM

Still cheaper than delta

44leto · 02-04-2012 12:51PM

Not really, it was an official state visit, he would fly there with a full staff of about 20 people and you can't expect him to hop off a budget carrier in JFK to get a link to Washington to meet a president who is on a very tight schedule.

These trips are good for promoting Ireland this was not a waste of tax payers money and a responsible way to use the government jet.

paddy147 · 02-04-2012 12:51PM

Why did Enda take a normal economy class plane flight and then a train to Europe last year then for a big fancy meeting???

Sky King · 02-04-2012 12:53PM

the culture of deference wrote: »

The cost of flying Taoiseach, Enda Kenny to the United States on the Government Gulfstream IV - under the Ministerial Air Transport Service provided by the Air Corps - was an estimated €66,325. This cost was borne by the Department of Defence.

So there you go, the equivalent of 6,600 households who paid tax.

What a waste

66,000 / 100 = 660

mikemac1 · 02-04-2012 12:53PM

Councillors taking their wives and husbands to Boston and Chicago and elsewhere for St Patricks weekend is a waste of money, rate payers paying for their holidays while the councils go broke

This however OP was not a waste of money and was very high profile, seen around the world

kraggy · 02-04-2012 12:53PM

Just because it may bring new investment does not negate the fact that even if he had flown First Class with Virgin Atlantic we'd still have saved thousands of euro as a country.

The invesment can still come if he flies with an airline.

Johnny Bitte · 02-04-2012 12:54PM

Hold on what the **** cost €66+????

Not complaining about the trip over but **** me is there some break down of that?

Feeona · 02-04-2012 12:55PM

the culture of deference wrote: »

So there you go, the equivalent of 6,600 households who paid tax.

What frigging pisses me off is the amount of people who said they wouldn't pay the household charage but did in the end because well 'you never know'.

These were probably the same people who told everyone in college 'Yah I don't go to lectures or study' while all the time they were furiously studying.

A portion of people I do not like to be around.

Pompey Magnus · 02-04-2012 12:56PM

Yes but OP the rich American investors will have seen David Cameron arrive in America a few days earlier on a run of the mill BA flight and will compare that to Inda and his entourage arriving in our very own Government Jet and that will definitely fool them into thinking we are super rich again and hey presto $$$$ for us!

Isn't that the whole point of the waste of money that is the Government jet?

partyatmygaff · 02-04-2012 12:57PM

Of all the things to complain about this has to be the most ridiculous and poorly thought out.

€66,325 is not a lot of money to spend to organise a meeting with the president of one of the world's most economically powerful countries. Coming in with a state-owned private jet gives off a much different image than flying in with an airline. For a small country like Ireland image can mean quite a bit in attracting investment.

admiralofthefleet · 02-04-2012 12:57PM

statss wrote: »

why is it a waste? do you know what was achieved in the US and the relative value of it compared to the flight cost?

American companies have no interest in Ireland, and never have. they set up here because of a low tax base then once incentives run out they move to another country where they can pay lower wages

mikemac1 · 02-04-2012 12:59PM

The pilots are already employed

I also would like to see a breakdown of that figure
Fuel, landing fees, what else?

44leto · 02-04-2012 01:02PM

Barack this is Enda I am delayed at customs in JFK so don't put the kettle on yet but I'lll probably see yah before the "tend" of Paddy's day,

"Cool Enda, I will just put off the meeting with the joint chiefs and wait for yee!"

suicide_circus · 02-04-2012 01:02PM

kraggy wrote: »

Just because it may bring new investment does not negate the fact that even if he had flown First Class with Virgin Atlantic we'd still have saved thousands of euro as a country.

The invesment can still come if he flies with an airline.

Nonsense, enda kenny is a VERY important man, he cannot be expected to take a normal flight along with us sh¡t munchers. And sure, isnt it only tax payers money? Sure didnt they invented a 'household charge' there recently? Loads of cash to splash so there is!

Fart · 02-04-2012 01:02PM

Could he not have used Skype?

suicide_circus · 02-04-2012 01:03PM

44leto wrote: »

Barack this is Enda I am delayed at customs in JFK so don't put the kettle on yet but I'lll probably see yah before the "tend" of Paddy's day,

"Cool Enda, I will just put off the meeting with the joint chiefs and wait for yee!"

Unlikely he would get delayed by customs with his diplomatic immunity.

rgmmg · 02-04-2012 01:04PM

forfuxsake wrote: »

Not a fan of Fine Gael, not a fan of Enda, not a fan of the household tax.

but in fairness if it brings inward investment of €66,326+ then it won't have been a waste

I think it was a single ticket, so we're quids in already

44leto · 02-04-2012 01:05PM

suicide_circus wrote: »

Unlikely he would get delayed by customs with his diplomatic immunity.

Really, put your irony radar on.

suicide_circus · 02-04-2012 01:08PM

44leto wrote: »

Really, put your irony radar on.

My irony radar? Dont have one I'm afraid. My arsehole radar is going off like crazy though....

poisonated · 02-04-2012 01:09PM

It is fairly pricey. I don't see how it could cost that much money. It could be a worthy investment but I think that it could have been done on a much smaller budget.

the groutch · 02-04-2012 01:11PM

44leto wrote: »

Barack this is Enda I am delayed at customs in JFK so don't put the kettle on yet but I'lll probably see yah before the "tend" of Paddy's day,

"Cool Enda, I will just put off the meeting with the joint chiefs and wait for yee!"

he didnt even visit Barack on Paddy's Day

johngalway · 02-04-2012 01:13PM

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

American companies have no interest in Ireland, and never have. they set up here because of a low tax base then once incentives run out they move to another country where they can pay lower wages

That would be their interest then :rolleyes:

SEPT 23 1989 · 02-04-2012 01:16PM

The current American administration is no friend of Ireland

problemchimp · 02-04-2012 01:17PM

the culture of deference wrote: »

The cost of flying Taoiseach, Enda Kenny to the United States on the Government Gulfstream IV - under the Ministerial Air Transport Service provided by the Air Corps - was an estimated €66,325. This cost was borne by the Department of Defence.

So there you go, the equivalent of 6,600 households who paid tax.

What a waste

Link?

44leto · 02-04-2012 01:17PM

Originally Posted by admiralofthefleet
American companies have no interest in Ireland, and never have. they set up here because of a low tax base then once incentives run out they move to another country where they can pay lower wages

The last figure I heard was 120,000 people in Ireland work directly for American companies in Ireland. That is a lot of employment even if what you say was the case.

partyatmygaff · 02-04-2012 01:19PM

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

American companies have no interest in Ireland, and never have. they set up here because of a low tax base then once incentives run out they move to another country where they can pay lower wages

Surely one of the only reasons for a business being interested in opening in a foreign country is for reduced tax expenditure?

I mean, what other reason would a company commit to foreign investment. It's not as if our culture will interest them.

Enda Kenny USA visit flight cost €66,325 euro

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