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Free food and Coffee for the Gardai in some establishments.

MidlandsM

...and yes, it's the establishments choice to award food and/or drinks to a member of the Gardai but my question is, should a member of the Gardai accept such like?

I was in a very busy Topaz filling station where I always see lots of member of the force having their "break" the other day. There was a long Queue waiting to pay for stuff at the tills, which I was in. I know the girl at one of the tills and I noted a discreet exchange between her and a Garda who just got a coffee and some sort of snack.....she said "you're grand,no charge" ....and he just said "thanks" .......lots of people noted the Freebie, and lots of eye's rolled to heaven....

Personally I think he should insist on paying for it.....it look like a "Stroke" Freebie to me......

what do you think?

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kollegeknight

Its not just coffee. I used to work in a well known chipper. A guard came i one day and got about 2 or 3 bags of food. I charged, he paid. And the shift manager ran after him and gave back the money. I got the "We don't charge the guards so they will come faster when we need them" speech

unimpressed

Honestly I agree with most people who say its just a coffe and these guys do a hard job. It is not our fault or their fault they get the abuse they do its the system.
it all boils down to percetion
If you are a teenager in a f****d up area whose parents spend all the money on anything but food for you and you go into a shop and rob (yes rob) a carton of milk what happens?
Would you as that teenager not feel a little angry :mad:that the person called to punish you openly takes theses freebies:eek: ?? would it not seem like you were not going to be heard just the voice of the shop owner

??

Bit heavy I know but I think it gets the point accross, how can we stop the corruption at the top when WE ALL do little thing every day that could be seen as corupt / cheating / small stroke /scam / tax dodge etc ????

I say they deserve the free coffe but thats not the problem is it:(

Boombastic

girl in the striped socks wrote: »

Which topaz is obviously happy to hand out free of charge!
It's entirely their business if they give out free cups of coffee to certain people or they can pour it down the sink if they want because it's their product to do as they please.

When there's a road safety campaign going on & they offer a free cup of tea or coffee to a driver in order to refresh them on a journey, do you have an issue with that?

Any links to show it's coming out of Topaz's budget?

From GardaReview (You couldn't make this sh1t up!)

CuP OF TEA
Wet heat damages the body more than dry heat. Steam has the capacity to carry up to 4,000 times more heat than dry air. Inhalation
injuries normally present down to the vocal chords; inhaling steam penetrates to the base of the lungs and may cause internal bleeding. Thicker liquids retain heat longer than thin liquids and do more damage.
..............................................
Bourke said, “A cup of tea is poured at 85°C; at this temperature a spill onto human skin may result in surgery. Superficial burns start at around 44°C; the tissue beneath the skin starts to break down and the burns are quite painful. Partial thickness burns start at 60°C, and automatically blister. If you have blisters you are in trouble. If you have partial thickness burns you also have
superficial burns. Partial thickness burns are excruciatingly painful.
............................ Psychological pain increases the agony. This type of burn happens at around 69°C, so every cup of tea or coffee requires care:pac::pac:

T^he bill probably works out cheaper than paying an allowance to head kettle boiler in the Garda Station or claims:D

SuperInfinity

DwightSchrute1 wrote: »

Seeing as Gardaí are getting free/discounted coffee from some establishments, do any of ye have any proof that in return the Gardaí are giving these establishments preferential treatment?

Or maybe ye are just using it as an excuse for some Garda bashing

Any form of money changing hands between politicians and civilians is highly suspicious. There is no possibility of giving "gifts" or "donations" without a good reason.

The OP is questioning whether this should also apply to the level of gardai obtaining free coffee, and I believe that 100% yes it should.

I wasn't aware they would do this, I find it disgusting and ridiculous. I hate the gardai, but that's not why I'm saying this. Any proof that I'm prejudiced?

At least ask for "evidence", not "proof" which is an enormously higher standard.

girl in the striped socks

Boombastic wrote: »

girl in the striped socks wrote: »

Which topaz is obviously happy to hand out free of charge!
It's entirely their business if they give out free cups of coffee to certain people or they can pour it down the sink if they want because it's their product to do as they please.

When there's a road safety campaign going on & they offer a free cup of tea or coffee to a driver in order to refresh them on a journey, do you have an issue with that?

Any links to show it's coming out of Topaz's budget?

From GardaReview (You couldn't make this sh1t up!)

CuP OF TEA
Wet heat damages the body more than dry heat. Steam has the capacity to carry up to 4,000 times more heat than dry air. Inhalation
injuries normally present down to the vocal chords; inhaling steam penetrates to the base of the lungs and may cause internal bleeding. Thicker liquids retain heat longer than thin liquids and do more damage.
..............................................
Bourke said, “A cup of tea is poured at 85°C; at this temperature a spill onto human skin may result in surgery. Superficial burns start at around 44°C; the tissue beneath the skin starts to break down and the burns are quite painful. Partial thickness burns start at 60°C, and automatically blister. If you have blisters you are in trouble. If you have partial thickness burns you also have
superficial burns. Partial thickness burns are excruciatingly painful.
............................ Psychological pain increases the agony. This type of burn happens at around 69°C, so every cup of tea or coffee requires care:pac::pac:

T^he bill probably works out cheaper than paying an allowance to head kettle boiler in the Garda Station or claims:D

It's usually run by participating petrol stations. Some topaz stations may be involved, some may not. I assume it's up to the discretion of the manager/ franchise holder.

suicide_circus

ScumLord wrote: »

I don't think it's a case of buying their favour, even if the guards were completely incorruptible it would make logical sense for them to incentivise the guards to be regularly calling to the shop for services and food. If the criminals know that at any minute a guard could show up looking for a cup of coffee their less likely to want to rob the place.

So some businesses lure gardai to their premises with free stuff in order to increase security and then other businesses or citizens who don't or can't offer such enticements have reduced policing. great system.

MidlandsM

Clarehobo wrote: »

It is thankless. Imagine having a job where some people have an irrational dislike for you and judge you without getting to know you. People don't judge me on my job. They don't judge me when someone makes me tea. And I don't put myself in harms way to protect those same people.

Do you take the same exception to paramedics or fire fighters or nurses being given a cup of tea?

I don't have to imagine, my brother is in the force.....he tell me it s great job and career.

MidlandsM

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

The level of begrudgery in this country is unreal. Talk about some people putting the 'cnut' into country.

are you calling me a cnut?

unimpressed

I personnaly know of a builder who does work on saturdays that he calls investments??
the work is in the houses of *****s and free. this guy drinks like a demon localy and somehow never gets stoped around the town. he wont drink when not local ??
bit further down the line from coffee but it all starts some where:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Local-womanizer

SuperInfinity wrote: »

I hate the gardai, but that's not why I'm saying this

You hate the gardai, all gardai, that's prejudice.

I know some gentlemen in the guards, I know some idiots too, like any profession but I don't judge everyone I meet from a profession because if a few idiots.

Why are you saying its disgusting?

DwightSchrute1

How come the OP complains about the Gardaí getting free coffee?

Why not complain about paramedics and fire services getting the same treatment?

Seems a lot of people will look for any reason to complain about Gardaí

MagicSean

Brilliant thread. I particularly like the suggestion that a regular Garda makes the decision on who supplies the fuel to the fleet and that he'd put his job on the line for a few cups of coffee on nightshifts.

SuperInfinity

Local-womanizer wrote: »

Why are you saying its disgusting?

Because they should have to pay for their own damn coffee just like every other working stiff.

Let me ask you this: Why would the managers give free coffee to these people if it weren't for special diligence and privileges in promoting the area? It's clear bribery.

Now don't tell me you don't see the problem with people paying gardai extra money to pay more attention to their property and possessions.

Local-womanizer

SuperInfinity wrote: »

Local-womanizer wrote: »

Why are you saying its disgusting?

Because they should have to pay for their own damn coffee just like every other working stiff.

Let me ask you this: Why would the managers give free coffee to these people if it weren't for special diligence and privileges in promoting the area? It's clear bribery.

Now don't tell me you don't see the problem with people paying gardai extra money to pay more attention to their property and possessions.

They don't, these places usually give concessions to all emergency staff and some places even to members if Defence Forces. As someone pointed out truck drivers get free tea and coffee.

The op said the guard tried to pay but his offer was refused.

A few places I have been have given me free tea when buying items, usually as I'm a regular there, so I give good business.

There is no evidence suggesting the AGS have been "bought off" by shops with tea so they respond quicker, seriously, anyone who thinks this is the case is deluded, especially managers who have told employees this....

Richard Hillman

Garda stations close to shops and service stations have tabs. I was in a shop a few months ago and the Garda asked for a roll for a prisoner. Needless to say the deli assistant put all the stuff about to be thrown out onto the roll

Anyhow if shops are giving free cups of tea/coffee or food to our Gardai then good on them. We should support out brave men and women out on the streets trying their best to protect us.

humbert

Richard Hillman wrote: »

We should support out brave men and women out on the streets trying their best to protect us.

The Avengers?

Richard Hillman

humbert wrote: »

The Avengers?

They are only interested in the fancy stuff. The Garda are more like a young Batman.

billyhead

SuperInfinity wrote: »

Because they should have to pay for their own damn coffee just like every other working stiff.

Let me ask you this: Why would the managers give free coffee to these people if it weren't for special diligence and privileges in promoting the area? It's clear bribery.

Now don't tell me you don't see the problem with people paying gardai extra money to pay more attention to their property and possessions.

I don't begrudge the guards getting a free coffee, bag of chips or sambo. The amount of ****e they have to put up with in their job is unreal. Its the least they deserve having to deal with public in this day and age.

Pumpkinseeds

MidlandsM wrote: »

are you calling me a cnut?

I don't recall addressing you directly, however should you choose to take my comment personally I won't argue with you:p

MidlandsM

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

I don't recall addressing you directly, however should you choose to take my comment personally I won't argue with you:p

reported.

Odysseus

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Garda stations close to shops and service stations have tabs. I was in a shop a few months ago and the Garda asked for a roll for a prisoner. Needless to say the deli assistant put all the stuff about to be thrown out onto the roll

You think that is acceptable/OK/funny? Why is it needless to say? I used to get my lunch is a few shops where they had accounts and they never engaged in behaviour like that.

Anyway I think this is a bit of a tall tale, or does that deli keep a selection of foodstuffs just out of date on display?

MagicSean

MidlandsM wrote: »

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

I don't recall addressing you directly, however should you choose to take my comment personally I won't argue with you:p

reported.

To the Gardai? Better put the kettle on.

Corvo

Or maybe, just maybe, she sucks the Guard's willy on the weekends.

Pumpkinseeds

Griffin1988 wrote: »

Or maybe, just maybe, she sucks the Guard's willy on the weekends.

Grow up.

Boombastic

MagicSean wrote: »

Brilliant thread. I particularly like the suggestion that a regular Garda makes the decision on who supplies the fuel to the fleet and that he'd put his job on the line for a few cups of coffee on nightshifts.

So it's a few cups of coffee per shift is it

I've done some sums (yes I am bored:D)

Cup of coffee 0.1 (if cost price of the coffee is 10c as another poster suggested)
Days worked 227 (34 days holidays and 104 days off)
total members 13559
A few cups 3.5 (I take a few to mean between 3 and 4)
Total 1,077,262.55

Quite a bill for coffee we're racking up here:)

latenia

Boombastic wrote: »

Cup of coffee 0.1 (if cost price of the coffee is 10c as another poster suggested)

More like 25c when you include the cup, lid, milk, heating the water etc.

yore

ScumLord wrote: »

I don't really see the problem. The golf course is adding value to the deal at minimal cost to themselves but what would be a big cost to client if they tried to buy it. Businesses do this all the time. Free refills of soft drinks at american fast food restaurants would be a prime example. Even a free or discounted pastry with your coffee is another example. throw in something that will cost the company little as an incentive to buy the expensive thing.

Are you serious? In my theoretical example the people making the decision have a choice. in choice (A) They organise for the taxpayer to pay 8 million for the necessary services. In choice (B) they also get the same services officially but the get personal benefits on the side totaling 1 million. Cost to the taxpayer is 10 million. And your opinion is that that is a good deal???

What are your thinking on the optics of James Reilly's addition of the site owned by a FG supporter to that Primary care priority list? Even if it's totally above board and completely justified and innocent, it doesn't look good does it? To make the analogy more accurate, suppose you found out that he was to get some kickback from the project? *

* I'm in no way suggesting anything like this happened. Just a theoretical scenario

Boombastic

latenia wrote: »

More like 25c when you include the cup, lid, milk, heating the water etc.

Cup of coffee 0.25
Days worked 227
total members 13559
A few cups 3.5
Total 2,693,156.375

Figures adjusted:D

yore

MagicSean wrote: »

Brilliant thread. I particularly like the suggestion that a regular Garda makes the decision on who supplies the fuel to the fleet and that he'd put his job on the line for a few cups of coffee on nightshifts.

I must have missed that suggestion or else it has been deleted. I'd appreciate it if you gave me a link to it.

Or is a typical example of garda-esque "logic" ?

Melion

Jesus the OP would blow a gasket if he knew guards got into nightclubs for free when they flash their badges. Ooops, probably shouldn't have let that out of the bag.