Just heard on RTE radio that some of this data will be online today.
The figures are of no use. They simply provide a total without giving any indication as to to what they are for. Many TDs and Senators have the exact same expense claims down to the cent.
It seems obvious to me that the whole politician expenses thing needs to be scrapped. Irish politicians simply can not be trusted.
'Unvouched' expenses need to be axed now!
We really need to fight back against the government. They truly are our enemy.
+1. At a minimum, he should have to repay the expenses including the mileage claimed from his holiday home address.Dear Brian Cowen...
Could Ivor Callely's situation be deemed as fraud - ie claiming for expenses that were not valid & subsequently get charged. If that happened where I work, you'd be fired without getting any state pension!
Its time the gubberment gets serious on this once and for all and stop trying to patch it up. If you take something that you shouldn't have & start bending the rules then you are out straight away - no question!
Sort out the mess & get rid of the free loading gangsters who deem it a right to pocket the tax payers money fraudulently.
Resigning and/or retiring is the ultimate get out of jail free card in Ireland. It can be used by senior bankers, politicians, civil servants or state appointees. Once they retire or resign all previous transgressions are forgiven. It’s the secular version of going to confession.
If they are smart and retire before they have to resign they get to keep their pensions and golden handshakes.
The reason for this is simple; the government is not interested in justice and honesty, they simply want the problem to go away and they know that out of sight is out of mind.
I don’t know why anyone is surprised and please don’t think this is just a Fianna Fail issue, it applies across every facet of the state.
The attitude to expenses within the PS seems to be one of entitlement.
I worked for the CSO one year & I was submitting my expenses. I was out for about 5 hours one day which would mean I was entitled to subsistance (from recollection about €13....rediculous amount for a lunch) for being over 4 hours. But I had gone home and had a sambo so I didn't claim. My manager insisted I submit it or "I'd be ruining it for everyone"?!?!?!
If a fraud has been commited they should definately have to repay and face charges