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So Michael D IS running again!

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Comments

  • #5552
    expectationlost
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,962 ✭✭✭✭expectationlost


    Hotblack Desiato wrote: »
    It's as if people expect our embassies to be little kips furnished with secondhand Ikea or something.

    At least they didn't go on about the DFA's vintage wine cellar, this time.


    the point is to show the expenditure and the officials should be able to stand over it and if they can't they should spend less.


  • #5553
    marieholmfan
    Registered Users Posts: 2,744 ✭✭✭marieholmfan


    expectationlost wrote: »
    the point is to show the expenditure and the officials should be able to stand over it and if they can't they should spend less.
    Maybe ...
    Provided that there is no suspicion that the money is being retained by Higgins or funneled to some friends of his the sum is small enough that it can just be reconciled every seven years.


  • #5554
    expectationlost
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,962 ✭✭✭✭expectationlost


    one of the interesting things highlighted during the campaign was Ahern increased the allowance twice
    A source familiar with the McAleese presidency said one of the reasons Ahern increased the entertainment allowance was to fund monthly cross-border peace dinners for 60 guests, many of them prominent loyalists and unionists from Northern Ireland.
    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-blew-up-the-aras-expenses-budget-admits-bertie-ahern-7q9bqhh2s

    Reading First Citizen, Patsy McGarry's book about McAleese as President, he says Martin McAleese met the Orange Order numerous times to see if anything could be done for Orange Lodges in the south and then, eventually The Grand Lodge officers were invited to the Aras in order to have lunch with Martin at his home, 'Mary just "happened" to be there' :) The visit did get a mention in the papers which the Grand Lodge officers weren't happy with and I bet they got some criticism from some when they went back home up north.

    Anyway it could be said that these not secret but quite efforts of diplomacy could be spoiled by expenses but viewed and further questions being asked, but maybe things are different now even from 2000's and it harder to keep things low key.
    They will often claim security considerations but things could become politicised if people press or politicians are arguing over costs, it would harm the ability of the president to (stay) above party politics.

    I for more transparency as there a lot more curious things about money being used to keep some people happy about the peace process but the above are the arguments for delayed info and less details.


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