Michael D's daughter attends Newgrange Solistice

bifl

Confab wrote: »

OP, you're forgetting something. It was cloudy on the 21st.

Oh great she will be looking for tickets again next year :eek:

bifl

imitation wrote: »

C'mon, walk into any major places of employment in this country (or in many other countries) and you'll find plenty of nephews, nieces, cousins & buddys of higher ups. Its the way the world works.

That's fine, a lot of counter arguments are being made similar to this, oh it's the way thins are, they do it in other countries etc etc .

I'm surprised how many just are prepared to roll over and take it from our lords and political masters...We seem to be immune to this type of behavior by the looks of it sadly.

I do not think she was in any way entitled to this.

Saila

TheZohan wrote: »

Really?

She's on the left btw.

what! the one on the right is the IMAGE of my cousin :eek:



this is in fact true

saa

Ah come on so what some other middle to upper class probably live live listener didn't get to go.

If my da was the president I would hope there would be some perks.
All is good as long as perks affect the rest of us.

Eve_Dublin

MungBean wrote: »

I dont really see it as a big deal, we all know that given his position we'd use it to our advantage. I dont think anyone actually thought Michael D was anything other than a greedy politician looking for a higher wage and more perks.

I did and still do.


Anyway, I'll be honest, as much as I love Michael D. I'm a little annoyed about this. I went to Newgrange during the Summer and entered the lottery after my visit. I've been to that place numerous times in my life and I'd love the opportunity to go there during the Solstice. If it was Michael himself who got to go, then I suppose I wouldn't have a problem with it but getting his daughter an entry into it doesn't seem consistant with what he preaches. It doesn't seem very fair.

al28283

bifl wrote: »

That's fine, a lot of counter arguments are being made similar to this, oh it's the way thins are, they do it in other countries etc etc .

I'm surprised how many just are prepared to roll over and take it from our lords and political masters...We seem to be immune to this type of behavior by the looks of it sadly.

I do not think she was in any way entitled to this.

I really don't think an elected president getting his daughter tickets to something equates with the entire country rolling over and taking it from our "lords and political masters"

gk5000

@bifl
You need to tailor this better to your audience here.

So it's not like MDH shagged your girlfriend or wife, or even got in there with the tongue.

It's more like a cheeky little peck, when you weren't looking, but just as you turned around to catch it. Is it innocent or should you make a scene? Is he coming back next week when you are away to roide you girlfriend senseless...and yore ma!

oppenheimer1

al28283 wrote: »

I really don't think an elected president getting his daughter tickets to something equates with the entire country rolling over and taking it from our "lords and political masters"

I think a major part of the issue people have with this is that there are only 24 tickets, and that only 6 of those were available to the general public. If MDH had not undertaken this action 33% more "ordinary" people would have been in the tomb for the solstice. It is also very bad form that so many of the other great and the good were present as well.

This is not like the all Ireland where there are thousands of tickets and anyone who wants one can get one. It would be tolerable if the tickets were used by himself, but they weren't.


Most people will never experience a winter solstice in Newgrange, and by all accounts it is a special event. Why should those elected (and unelected civil servants) by the people to a high office have more of a right to be there than the ordinary person? It is a personal perk - and no element of national service can be attributed to attendance.

No its not a huge thing, but is symptomatic and emblematic of a larger problem of entitlement and nepotism in our political classes. Its the optics as they say. MDH is no better than the rest of 'em... He is just more of the same.

Pride Fighter

The simple explanation is that Michael D can hardly walk, he broke his kneecap in Columbia about a year ago. He very recently underwent surgery to fix it. Therefore he got his daughter to represent him at the solstice event, cause he would not have been able to crawl through the narrow passages with his current mobility level.

I am pretty sure Michelle Obama has done some minor functions representing Barack, Carla Bruni for Sarkozy etc...

Nothing to see here, move on.

UglyBolloxFace

I'm more outraged by how non-pretty she is, and not about her getting to see the solstice.

She's on the left - http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6202/6115560907_9999507574_b.jpg

Must have been taken during takes of Lord of the Rings judging by the hairy lad in the middle.