Has your opinion of Mary Robinson changed?

SafeSurfer

Mary Robinson is seeking a tax break for the donation of her presidential papers of 2 million euro. Traditionally presidential papers have been donated freely by former Irish presidents. Mayo county council is buying her brothers house in Ballina for 600k to house the papers with the whole scheme set to cost taxpayers up to 8 million euro.
Does this damage her reputation? Would you visit Ballina to view her papers? Is she a further example of the greed of politicians regardless of their position on the political spectrum?

biko

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mary-robinson-lands-2m-tax-break-on-paper-j7l22kgr9

Michael Noonan, the finance minister, has given approval for the former president Mary Robinson to receive a tax break worth €2m for donating her archive to Mayo county council.

Documents released under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act show Noonan has added the Mayo authority to the list of bodies that can accept donations under a scheme set up to keep important works of art and historical manuscripts in public ownership in Ireland.

Harry Palmr

I always regarded her as an ambitious self serving type. The fact she was not P Flynn happened to be enough to make her acceptable and even an apparently fresh alternative in 1990

lazybones32

No, but I never thought highly of her before.

SEPT 23 1989

600k for a derelict house in Ballina

seamus

SafeSurfer wrote: »

Traditionally presidential papers have been donated freely by former Irish presidents.

This was her intention, but Mayo Co. Co. bugged her continually to give the papers to their new tourist attraction.

Would you visit Ballina to view her papers?

No. But then I haven't even seen the Book of Kells. I enjoy museum exhibits while I'm there, but I never wake up on a Saturday thinking that going to a museum today is going to light my fire.

9or10

Harry Palmr wrote: »

I always regarded her as an ambitious self serving type.

Isn't that true for all our political leaders? Otherwise it would be enough recognition just to get a few thanks for a post on Boards

StupidLikeAFox

I think anybody here who says they wouldn't avail of the tax break in these circumstances is lying. Why would you voluntarily pay money when there is a mechanism for you to avoid it?

The merits of that mechanism being there in the first place is a different story.....

SafeSurfer

StupidLikeAFox wrote: »

I think anybody here who says they wouldn't avail of the tax break in these circumstances is lying. Why would you voluntarily pay money when there is a mechanism for you to avoid it?

The merits of that mechanism being there in the first place is a different story.....

Previous presidents didn't seek tax breaks for their papers. She is setting a precedent.

SafeSurfer

seamus wrote: »

SafeSurfer wrote: »

Traditionally presidential papers have been donated freely by former Irish presidents.

This was her intention, but Mayo Co. Co. bugged her continually to give the papers to their new tourist attraction.

Would you visit Ballina to view her papers?

No. But then I haven't even seen the Book of Kells. I enjoy museum exhibits while I'm there, but I never wake up on a Saturday thinking that going to a museum today is going to light my fire.

There is nothing preventing Mary Robinson from donating papers to Mayo county council without seeking to gain financially from the donation.

Your Face

If an opportunity came along to pay less tax I'd take it.

Ferrari3600

Harry Palmr wrote: »

I always regarded her as an ambitious self serving type. The fact she was not P Flynn happened to be enough to make her acceptable and even an apparently fresh alternative in 1990

It was Brian Lenihan senior, not P Flynn who stood against her in 1990. P Flynn was embroiled in a controversy due to remarks during a radio interview debate during the campaign.

I agree with your assessment of Robinson.

Del2005

StupidLikeAFox wrote: »

I think anybody here who says they wouldn't avail of the tax break in these circumstances is lying. Why would you voluntarily pay money when there is a mechanism for you to avoid it?

The merits of that mechanism being there in the first place is a different story.....

She's getting a tax break for papers when she was employed by the State, should they not be State documents already?

Harry Palmr

Ferrari3600 wrote: »

It was Brian Lenihan senior, not P Flynn who stood against her in 1990. P Flynn was embroiled in a controversy due to remarks during a radio interview debate during the campaign.

I agree with your assessment of Robinson.

Indeed that interview holed Flynn before the actual election (sure it was years ago and I'm lucky to remember breakfast time).

Dyr

I still think she's only a carpet bagger so my opinion of her hasn't changed

Canis Lupus

A great big meh from me.

gramar

Is anyone else wondering what the hell presidential papers are and why would anyone want to see them?

Harry Palmr

gramar wrote: »

Is anyone else wondering what the hell presidential papers are and why would anyone want to see them?

Well, historians writing long, dust dry books about the Presidents of Ireland will want access to the papers. Niche market.

Winterlong

What ever happened to that Mary Robinson tapestry rug in the window of that shop on dame street?

Tilikum

I recently read somewhere that she was in receipt of 5 pensions. Is that true?

gramar

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Well, historians writing long, dust dry books about the Presidents of Ireland will want access to the papers. Niche market.

So spending 8m on a centre in Ballina doesn't seem like a great idea especially when you take into account the costs of keeping it open for the handful that would go and all because Mary can leave her legacy.

endacl

SafeSurfer wrote: »

There is nothing preventing Mary Robinson from donating papers to Mayo county council without seeking to gain financially from the donation.

There's also nothing that says she should. She's a private citizen now. None of my business what she legally does. Mayo coco could decline to accept them.

jobless

gramar wrote: »

So spending 8m on a centre in Ballina doesn't seem like a great idea especially when you take into account the costs of keeping it open for the handful that would go and all because Mary can leave her legacy.

exactly, pure waste of money.... they were saying last on tv they would expect 50,000 visitors a year and make 425k... my arse they will... They would be lucky to get a handful of people a week...

a pure ego trip

Sleeper12

Doesn't change my opinion of her at all. She wasn't my choice of president but I thought she did a great job of it. She was always looking for an angle for herself & that obviously hasn't changed.

BrokenArrows

Tilikum wrote: »

I recently read somewhere that she was in receipt of 5 pensions. Is that true?

Probably, but its not like she is getting a full 5 pensions (but its still probably a decent amount of money being an irish politician!!).
If she worked in multiple roles throughout her political career then she will get partial pensions for each of the roles depending on how long she worked in each role.

Just like me. I have 3 separate pensions at the moment and probably a few more by the time i retire. So when i retire i will receive multiple pensions.

Edit: This link describes the pension entitlement of Irish politicians. Jesus, i should have become a politician.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/just-how-are-ministers-pensions-worked-out-1.559289

Agent Coulson

I always preferred the other Mary anyway.

McAleese that is.

Ferrari3600

Ferrari3600 wrote: »

It was Brian Lenihan senior, not P Flynn who stood against her in 1990. P Flynn was embroiled in a controversy due to remarks during a radio interview debate during the campaign.

I agree with your assessment of Robinson.

She only got the gig because of the Flynn remarks.

Now the Lenihan campaign was thrown by the revelations about his contact with Hilary in 1982, but he would have won. And then Peeeee waded in with what, even for that time, were ugly comments based on rumours doing the rounds.

SafeSurfer

endacl wrote: »

SafeSurfer wrote: »

There is nothing preventing Mary Robinson from donating papers to Mayo county council without seeking to gain financially from the donation.

There's also nothing that says she should. She's a private citizen now. None of my business what she legally does. Mayo coco could decline to accept them.

Past practice, tradition, precedent. She continues to be handsomely rewarded for her tenure as president, which of course she cut short to take up a more prestigious position.
I think it's a grubby, fumbling in the greasy till business. Unbecoming of the position she held.

Sam Kade

Tilikum wrote: »

I recently read somewhere that she was in receipt of 5 pensions. Is that true?

True, and that is on top of her climate change high priestess wage.

Sam Kade

They could also make a little bobbing head doll of noddy just like the dogs they had on the back window of cars in the 70's.

B0jangles

Winterlong wrote: »

What ever happened to that Mary Robinson tapestry rug in the window of that shop on dame street?

I had forgotten all about the fabled Robinson Rug! Just dug out my old copies of The Slate; they had a running gag about it as I remember but I could only find the end of the saga:

ChikiChiki

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

600k for a derelict house in Ballina

That's the real scandal. How is the house remotely worth that.

jippo nolan

SafeSurfer wrote: »

Mary Robinson is seeking a tax break for the donation of her presidential papers of 2 million euro. Traditionally presidential papers have been donated freely by former Irish presidents. Mayo county council is buying her brothers house in Ballina for 600k to house the papers with the whole scheme set to cost taxpayers up to 8 million euro.
Does this damage her reputation? Would you visit Ballina to view her papers? Is she a further example of the greed of politicians regardless of their position on the political spectrum?

I wouldn't give €60000 for it!

jippo nolan

Ferrari3600 wrote: »

It was Brian Lenihan senior, not P Flynn who stood against her in 1990. P Flynn was embroiled in a controversy due to remarks during a radio interview debate during the campaign.

I agree with your assessment of Robinson.

She wasn't called "Big Bird" for nothing!

jacksie66

This post has been deleted.

RobertKK

She thinks she is a US president with her presidential library.

I always thought she was self serving. But this is a new low for her.

Special Circumstances

Sam Kade wrote: »

climate change high priestess

LOL'd. Well more of a shnort like but close enough.

Claw Hammer

She is despicable. Most of the documents she is donating are only trash. The money being sought for the house is ludicrous. Even Ivor Callelly wouldn't be so brazen. Any politician who goes along with this nonsense needn't come to me looking for a vote again.

Ted111

She's lived in splendor and opulence her entire privileged life.
Ever and always pontificating to the serfs on how they should
conduct their miserable lives. Now we are lucky enough that we
can buy her toilet paper or whatever shes discarding from one of
her mansions.

pumpkin4life

Ted111 wrote: »

She's lived in splendor and opulence her entire privileged life.
Ever and always pontificating to the serfs on how they should
conduct their miserable lives. Now we are lucky enough that we
can buy her toilet paper or whatever shes discarding from one of
her mansions.

Aye. Throw in MacAleese and Michael D Higgins in there as well. Cut from the same cloth the lot of them.

Claw Hammer

pumpkin4life wrote: »

Aye. Throw in MacAleese and Michael D Higgins in there as well. Cut from the same cloth the lot of them.

Higgins was brought up in poverty. In fact his mother sent him to live with an uncle because she couldn't afford to feed him, small and all as he is. He grew up with pigs in his livingroom.
While Robinson was in Trinity he father bought a house for her in Westland Row and hired a domestic servant for her so she wouldn't have to waste her valuable studying time washing her knickers and cleaning up after herself.

pumpkin4life

Claw Hammer wrote: »

Higgins was brought up in poverty. In fact his mother sent him to live with an uncle because she couldn't afford to feed him, small and all as he is. He grew up with pigs in his livingroom.
While Robinson was in Trinity he father bought a house for her in Westland Row and hired a domestic servant for her so she wouldn't have to waste her valuable studying time washing her knickers and cleaning up after herself.

Fair enough.

I was more referring to Higgins' holier than thou, socialist tell the little people how to live bent.

He was part of that old labour/stickie marxist group of lads in the 70s and all of that.

Though I have far more respect for him than Robinson or MacAleese. A man that can claw himself out of all of that has a lot to respect/admire about him.

Claw Hammer

Claw Hammer wrote: »

He grew up with pigs in his livingroom.

It would of course be highly offensive to observe that he now has a few guarding his front door, one driving his car etc. etc., and I hope no one does it.

jimgoose

No. I never thought much of her. She's one of these people who achieves much, all for herself.

Grayson

Just been reading about it. For some reasons her papers from her time in office are actually her papers. As in she owns them all, not the state. And this is apparently perfectly normal. That's really weird. I would have imagined they belonged to the state or to the office of the president.

However having said that, when she donates them it's counted as a charitable donation. Since it's a charitable donation she's entitled to get tax back which is 80% of the value of the donation. The collection was valued at 2.5 mil by independent auctioneers so the tax credit is 2 mil.

It seems like what she's doing isn't wrong. It's her property and she's donating it freely. She's not asking for a penny for it. But since it's a donation she can get tax back and she's just getting clarification about how much that is.

The only issue I have with it is why they weren't the property of the state in the first place. And is this the case with all documents? Would Berties or Endas papers be considered their property too? Do all politicians just bring all their paperwork with them when they leave office?

Grayson

jimgoose wrote: »

No. I never thought much of her. She's one of these people who achieves much, all for herself.

Like the time she brought Irelands homophobic laws to the European court of Human rights and has homosexuality decriminalised. All so she could have a lesbian romp.

Claw Hammer

Grayson wrote: »

Like the time she brought Irelands homophobic laws to the European court of Human rights and has homosexuality decriminalised. All so she could have a lesbian romp.

Yes and like the time she took the Airey case to the European Court of Human Rights over legal aid and then ignored Mrs Airey afterwards.

Ted111

I always liked MacAleese. I wouldn't associate her in any way
with Robinson.

jackofalltrades

The Presidential library is to be located in Robinson’s family home which is currently owned by her brother Adrian Burke.
It has not yet been purchased by Mayo County Council with the proposed purchase price set at €660,000

The documents she is donating to the library have been independently valued at €2.5 million.

Mayo County Council has pledged to “cover any unforeseen additional expenditure that may arise during the course of construction.”

This has future PAC hearing written all over it.
Do Mayo County Council and the state not have better things to be spending their money on.

jobless

Grayson wrote: »

Just been reading about it. For some reasons her papers from her time in office are actually her papers. As in she owns them all, not the state. And this is apparently perfectly normal. That's really weird. I would have imagined they belonged to the state or to the office of the president.

However having said that, when she donates them it's counted as a charitable donation. Since it's a charitable donation she's entitled to get tax back which is 80% of the value of the donation. The collection was valued at 2.5 mil by independent auctioneers so the tax credit is 2 mil.

It seems like what she's doing isn't wrong. It's her property and she's donating it freely. She's not asking for a penny for it. But since it's a donation she can get tax back and she's just getting clarification about how much that is.

The only issue I have with it is why they weren't the property of the state in the first place. And is this the case with all documents? Would Berties or Endas papers be considered their property too? Do all politicians just bring all their paperwork with them when they leave office?

how on earth are they worth 2m?... she must be slipping the valuers a right few quid

Ted111

Who employed the auctioneers. Was it from her side or revenue?