Government Globetrotting - Paddy's Day Junkets Announced

vicwatson · 18-02-2014 11:53PM

Never heard of half the fúckers, what are they at in the Dail eh? Minister of State me árse

vicwatson · 19-02-2014 12:02AM

And Hogan off to his favoured Middle East wha', might even take the wife this time.

That's gonna be an expensive trip - he knows how to spend

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/phil-hogan-runs-up-9000-expenses-on-oneday-trip-26880879.html

olliesgirl55 · 19-02-2014 12:14AM

I don't know why we have to send ministers overseas to promote Ireland for Paddy's day since we probably have ambassadors in most of those countries. Since they are already there why can't they promote Ireland

I don't see why we have to go through the expense in sending all the ministers bar 2 on holiday at the taxpayers expense since the country is in such bad shape as it is. My 2 cents anyway

The Th!ng · 19-02-2014 12:39AM

Me, I always see these trips junkets of theirs overseas as full of possibilities - shot down with a surface to air missile, hijackings, ditching in the ocean, crash on landing, lost in the Bermuda triangle, etc.

user2011 · 19-02-2014 12:49AM

Lapin wrote: »

Government programme for St Patrick's Day 2014:

Attorney General Máire Whelan - Washington DC, USA

Anyone care to fill me in on why she gets to gets a free piss up?

Adamantium · 19-02-2014 01:06AM

List reads like the worst Age of Empires game ever created.

I'd await news that Lt Commander Shatter has created a beach head in the Gulf of Mexico after successfully deflating his dinghy.

donegal__road · 19-02-2014 01:36AM

why wasn't anyone sent to Argentina? Very big Irish connections there..

and not to mention Montserrat, which is the only place outside of Ireland where Paddy's day is an official holiday... and lasts for a week

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QHYFXDGf4Y

Lou.m · 19-02-2014 01:50AM

sawdoubters wrote: »

how come no one going to poland

VERY good point.

Manach · 19-02-2014 01:55AM

Worth every penny. We just need to close the borders to ensure they do not re-enter the country.

JohnMearsheimer · 19-02-2014 02:16AM

donegal__road wrote: »

why wasn't anyone sent to Argentina? Very big Irish connections there..

and not to mention Montserrat, which is the only place outside of Ireland where Paddy's day is an official holiday... and lasts for a week

Much of Montserrat has been abandoned due to volcanic activity. Two thirds of the population left the island. There's only roughly 5000 still living there. Awful shame what happened there.

I don't mind the St. Patrick's day trips abroad as long as our politicians are plugging the country for investment and drumming up good will. I think Ireland is the only country in the world that has an annual engagement with the US president. Lots of other countries would kill for something like that.

The Diabolical Monocle · 19-02-2014 02:48AM

Pick us up an oversize toblerone on the way back lads.

oh yeah and a couple thousand jobs too.

donegal__road · 19-02-2014 11:19AM

JohnMearsheimer wrote: »

Much of Montserrat has been abandoned due to volcanic activity. Two thirds of the population left the island. There's only roughly 5000 still living there. Awful shame what happened there.

I don't mind the St. Patrick's day trips abroad as long as our politicians are plugging the country for investment and drumming up good will. I think Ireland is the only country in the world that has an annual engagement with the US president. Lots of other countries would kill for something like that.

I suppose on the flip side, America realises the importance of keeping its connections with Ireland strong because of our our corporate tax rate, and the large number of voters in the US of Irish heritage.

Fratton Fred · 19-02-2014 11:29AM

donegal__road wrote: »

why wasn't anyone sent to Argentina? Very big Irish connections there..

and not to mention Montserrat, which is the only place outside of Ireland where Paddy's day is an official holiday... and lasts for a week]

They view it slightly differently though.

That documentary isn't very accurate. A lot of the Irish who ended up in the Caribbean went to Montserrat and set up a large Irish/Catholic colony there, taking on slaves to work the fields etc.

Every year st Patrick's day was a huge celebration, so the slaves knew their best chance fir rebellion was when their masters were inebriated. The rebellion failed and the leaders executed, but today St Patrick's day is remembered for both events, not just the traditional one.

tigger123 · 19-02-2014 11:41AM

I think it's a good idea, it's an invaluable opportunity for us to promote our global brand, encourage tourism and push for foreign investment. Can't see exactly what peoples difficulty with it is (other than venting anger at the Government).

donegal__road · 19-02-2014 11:51AM

tigger123 wrote: »

I think it's a good idea, it's an invaluable opportunity for us to promote our global brand, encourage tourism and push for foreign investment. Can't see exactly what peoples difficulty with it is (other than venting anger at the Government).

yes, most of the negative sentiments are from people venting anger at the government. What I am wondering is why are Irish representatives being sent to Vietnam and Romania.

Valetta · 19-02-2014 11:52AM

user2011 wrote: »

Anyone care to fill me in on why she gets to gets a free piss up?

careto fill us in on how you know she drinks? :rolleyes:

Government Globetrotting - Paddy's Day Junkets Announced

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