President Michael D Higgins’ €3,000 a night hotel stays

DickSwiveller Returns

bobbyss wrote: »

A bit of perspective though. Many people would find TDs' and Senators expenses exorbitant and unjustifiable.

Why doesn't he set an example?? He's in his 80s and doesn't need the fat salary he's on or the huge expenses. Plus he's a socialist. Surely if anyone should set an example it's a rich socialist.

badtoro

seamus wrote: »

and securability

The list of international bad actors wanting to kidnap him is endless. I hear Kim Jong Un throws poison tipped darts at a photo of MDH reading poetry at NUIG.

yermanoffthetv

Im not one for thinking we should be miserly to our national representatives but I dont see why he couldn't stay in a 4 star hotel if its not a high importance event, its not exactly slumming it and hes no more than a glorified ambassador. he was going to speak at an event hosted by the International Labour Organisation, the irony. It comes across as being quite hypocritical and detached from reality's of the people hes supposed to be representing.

Ash.J.Williams

DickSwiveller Returns wrote: »

The man is a charlatan. Because he looks and speaks like a Teletubby we are all supposed to think he's great. The incessant fawning from journalists is becoming disturbing at this stage. Why does the avowed socialist need the huge salary he's on? No doubt he has a few pensions from his time in the Dáil. Just get rid of the presidency and put an end to this circus

does anyone need the money they're on?

ArchXStanton

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

It could easily do so yes. I'd like to think I;d be seen a little quicker if it did.

But the point is that not every person on a waiting list is suffering and so to use it as a metric is not constructive.

No,but I'd be pretty pissed off with paying such exorbitant taxes and government not fulfilling their side of the deal/social contract.Its not acceptable

Lux23

RobertKK wrote: »

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/ras-silence-on-claims-higgins-stayed-in-3000anight-hotel-37198861.html

I know some people worship the ground the man walks on and mistakenly thinks he does a good job representing us as a nation.

How is he not doing a good job representing Ireland? Can you provide an example of when he has caused a diplomatic incident or embarrassed us as a nation?

Annasopra

seamus wrote: »

Gerard "the elites have it all sown up" Craughwell still sore that nobody would nominate him I see.

Until someone can point to another more obvious hotel that's considerably cheaper, and equivalent in terms of location and securability, then I'm going to assume that the person who booked it didn't go off on one.

He's still the president. We might be pretty laid back and inoffensive, but a bog standard double room in a four star hotel can't be adequately secured.

We also have no idea how much the room cost and who paid for it.

Yeah this "it cost €3000" is pure drivel

xi5yvm0owc1s2b

Lux23 wrote: »

How is he not doing a good job representing Ireland? Can you provide an example of when he has caused a diplomatic incident or embarrassed us as a nation?

His fawning tribute to the dictator Fidel Castro was a complete embarrassment to the country.

mariaalice

Luka Broad Bassist wrote: »

The article points out that the office of the president is exempt from freedom of information legislation, even after 2014 reforms to same, so there is no way for people to determine these costs.

Regardless of what one thinks of Higgins, it seems difficult to dispute that citizens and taxpayers should be allowed to know how his office is spending their money.

Yes but that is not what the article is about as such, it tries to link him personally to spending the money implying he directed the department of foreign affaire to book the most expensive rooms.

seamus

badtoro wrote: »

The list of international bad actors wanting to kidnap him is endless. I hear Kim Jong Un throws poison tipped darts at a photo of MDH reading poetry at NUIG.

Sure, let's just stick him into a shared dorm in a hostel then, what's the worst that can happen?

There's overkill, like driving around in an armor-plated car with 12-inch doors, and then there's good sense, like minimising the number of people on the same floor as the president.

The president of any EU country is a potential target for any lone fringe loony, no matter how soft a target they may be. No need to make it easy for them.

Keepaneye

Like I said before, the mountain of morons that inhabit this country deserve the politicians they vote for. This guy is the biggest champagne socialist I've ever seen in any capacity.

PlaneSpeeking

ArchXStanton wrote: »

No,but I'd be pretty pissed off with paying such exorbitant taxes and government not fulfilling their side of the deal/social contract.Its not acceptable

I'm pissed off paying my taxes and them going to fund those who do not contribute - but apparently we can do nothing but cough up.

Annasopra

DickSwiveller Returns wrote: »

The man is a charlatan. Because he looks and speaks like a Teletubby we are all supposed to think he's great. The incessant fawning from journalists is becoming disturbing at this stage. Why does the avowed socialist need the huge salary he's on? No doubt he has a few pensions from his time in the D. Just get rid of the presidency and put an end to this circus

He took a voluntary pay cut of 75,000 a year and does not currently draw down his Dail Pension.

ifElseThen

Snout. Trough.

Earleybird

dudara wrote: »

Prices in Switzerland can be extremely expensive. Pizzas for dinner can cost €40-50. So likewise a room in a 5* hotel for a country’s president will be also expensive.

Not defending excessive expenditure here, but putting it into a bit of context.

And he ordered a pizza as well!?! How dare he eat when there are starving kids back home!

Hande hoche!

mikemac2 wrote: »

Is Craughwell going to stand on the sidelines sniping for the next three months?

Well there will be frequent breaks, to pat himself on the back for helping to foster democracy...

RobertKK

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

So where should the head of the country stayed ? The Geneva Premier Inn ???

I looked up 5 star hotels in Geneva and one could pay a small fraction of the price.
If people think that all 5 star hotels in Geneva are €3,000 a night then they need to look it up. A lot around the €400 a night, some much cheaper and other more expensive, but not anywhere near the price of where Michael D stayed.

xi5yvm0owc1s2b

DickSwiveller Returns wrote: »

He's in his 80s and doesn't need the fat salary he's on or the huge expenses.

He's actually 77, but the rest of your point is accurate. The large salary, the €3,000-per-night hotel stays, and his use of the government jet to fly to football matches and poetry readings make his "man of the left" shtick ring hollow.

DickSwiveller Returns

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

He took a voluntary pay cut of 75,000 a year and does not currently draw down his Dail Pension.

He's paid 250,000 a year. Does he have a teachers pension too?

DickSwiveller Returns

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

does anyone need the money they're on?

Well, he's a public servant, so everyone else his paying his salary. I don't understand why he needs 250,000 when he has pensions etc.

super_furry

This thread reminds of that old saying about the people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

DEFTLEFTHAND

The Swiss socialist party should have put him up at one of their bunkhouses.

It's a crying shame when a man is forced to sell out his principles like this.

Lux23

Luka Broad Bassist wrote: »

His fawning tribute to the dictator Fidel Castro was a complete embarrassment to the country.

I wouldn't agree.

Edgware

Posters will have to accept that our betters (Socialists or not) deserve to be treated with respect and that our taxes could not be better spent. Robinson McAlleese Higgjns etc are well able to bleed the system while spouting ****e about equality and "having a national conversation" about the greed of the capitalist system

Keepaneye

Lux23 wrote: »

I wouldn't agree.

You got the example you were looking for and thats your response. How surprising.

How about you list what difference he has made?

RobertKK

I found rooms in the same hotel for two people for €435 a night, it is only when one wants to really pamper themselves does the price rise into the thousands as wasted on our president.
It is always nice to get pampered when someone else is paying...

xi5yvm0owc1s2b

Lux23 wrote: »

I wouldn't agree.

The president's sycophantic eulogy, which called Castro a "giant among global leaders" and made no mention of the numerous executions of dissidents and other human rights abuses that took place under his long dictatorship, was rightly ridiculed around the world. It cast Ireland in a very negative light, and was most definitely seen as an embarrassment by many.

kilns

Irish people sure known how to complain.  Its Geneva where you would struggle to get a 2 star hotel for 200 a night.  what do you expect, go on Air BNB and get a deal?
Its probably the same people who complained about paying their water bills and giving out about Irish water and are now complaining about hose pipe bans.
Honestly, the country is full of moaners

Thud

Suites there are €3k a night but you can get a room there for €520, maybe he was upgraded.

https://www.trivago.ie/?aDateRange%5Barr%5D=2018-08-24&aDateRange%5Bdep%5D=2018-08-25&aPriceRange%5Bto%5D=0&aPriceRange%5Bfrom%5D=0&iPathId=48050&aGeoCode%5Blat%5D=46.20919&aGeoCode%5Blng%5D=6.149954&iGeoDistanceItem=16231&iGeoDistanceLimit=20000&aCategoryRange=0%2C1%2C2%2C3%2C4%2C5&aOverallLiking=1%2C2%2C3%2C4%2C5&sOrderBy=relevance%20desc&bTopDealsOnly=false&iRoomType=7&cpt=1623102&iIncludeAll=0&iViewType=0&bIsSeoPage=false&bIsSitemap=false&

PlaneSpeeking

RobertKK wrote: »

I found rooms in the same hotel for two people for €435 a night, it is only when one wants to really pamper themselves does the price rise into the thousands as wasted on our president.
It is always nice to get pampered when someone else is paying...

Then bon voyage!

PlaneSpeeking

Thud wrote: »

Suites there are €3k a night but you can get a room there for €520, maybe he was upgraded.

https://www.trivago.ie/?aDateRange%5Barr%5D=2018-08-24&aDateRange%5Bdep%5D=2018-08-25&aPriceRange%5Bto%5D=0&aPriceRange%5Bfrom%5D=0&iPathId=48050&aGeoCode%5Blat%5D=46.20919&aGeoCode%5Blng%5D=6.149954&iGeoDistanceItem=16231&iGeoDistanceLimit=20000&aCategoryRange=0%2C1%2C2%2C3%2C4%2C5&aOverallLiking=1%2C2%2C3%2C4%2C5&sOrderBy=relevance%20desc&bTopDealsOnly=false&iRoomType=7&cpt=1623102&iIncludeAll=0&iViewType=0&bIsSeoPage=false&bIsSitemap=false&

Perhaps he had a suite for the protection detail, that's normal.

Mutant z

No one does hypocrisy quite like Michael D.

Edgware

Luka Broad Bassist wrote: »

The president's sycophantic eulogy, which called Castro a "giant among global leaders" and made no mention of the numerous executions of dissidents and other human rights abuses that took place under his long dictatorship, was rightly ridiculed around the world. It cast Ireland in a very negative light, and was most definitely seen as an embarrassment by many.

The people executed werent dissidents They were "enemies of the proletariat"

Yer Da sells Avon

I'm a big fan of Miggledy Higgins, and I find that most of his detractors are the kind of right-wing bores who have horrible opinions about everything and will never be happy.

However...

Why shouldn't he stay in a budget hotel?

Hitman3000

Yer Da sells Avon wrote:

Why shouldn't he stay in a budget hotel?

Budget hotels are for the plebs, not champagne socialists.

dirtyden

super_furry wrote: »

This thread reminds of that old saying about the people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Explain what you mean by that?

Put a value on Higgins attending Castro’s funeral?

Put a value on him attending this international labour convention?

Mebuntu

seamus wrote: »

Sure, let's just stick him into a shared dorm in a hostel then, what's the worst that can happen?

There's overkill, like driving around in an armor-plated car with 12-inch doors, and then there's good sense, like minimising the number of people on the same floor as the president.

The president of any EU country is a potential target for any lone fringe loony, no matter how soft a target they may be. No need to make it easy for them.

To be fair, it's always the expensive/luxury hotels that are targetted.

flookdgates

The media enforced censorship over this man's personal life is ridiculous. Why can't we mention the big gay elephant in the room?

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/apology-as-forbes-withdraws-homosexual-claim-about-president-michael-d-higgins-29443643.html

Yer Da sells Avon

flookdgates wrote: »

The media enforced censorship over this man's personal life is ridiculous. Why can't we mention the big gay elephant in the room?

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/apology-as-forbes-withdraws-homosexual-claim-about-president-michael-d-higgins-29443643.html

Probably because there's no evidence whatsoever that he's gay.

flookdgates

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

Probably because there's no evidence whatsoever that he's gay.

Lol you obviously don't rub shoulders with Ireland's political class.
Here's a question for you: Did you know that Varadkar was gay before he officially came out of the closet to RTE?

PlaneSpeeking

flookdgates wrote: »

The media enforced censorship over this man's personal life is ridiculous. Why can't we mention the big gay elephant in the room?

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/apology-as-forbes-withdraws-homosexual-claim-about-president-michael-d-higgins-29443643.html

Low. Very low.

Even if he is who f**king cares ?

Yer Da sells Avon

flookdgates wrote: »

Lol you obviously don't rub shoulders with Ireland's political class.
Here's a question for you: Did you know that Varadkar was gay before he officially came out of the closet to RTE?

No, I don't, oddly enough, rub shoulders with Ireland's political class. Do you? Also, do you have any evidence, apart from tedious innuendo, that he's gay?

flookdgates

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

No, I don't, oddly enough, rub shoulders with Ireland's political class. Do you? Also, do you have any evidence, apart from tedious innuendo, that he's gay?

You remind me of the clueless naive young wans who were falling head over heels in love with Stephen Gately of Boyzone back in the 1990s. Some people are very innocent, god bless them.

The entire county knew Varadkar was a homosexual for years but there was a silent agreement amongst the media not to out him. Taxi drivers and hotel receptionists all over Dublin could have told you he was gay. Eventually the pressure became to much for Varadkar so he gave his infamous coming out interview to RTE.

If any journalist wants to ring up that Swiss hotel they should ask if Michael D and Sabina got separate beds

DEFTLEFTHAND

Always got that vibe off him myself.

I couldn't care less though, he wouldn't be the first politician to stay in the closet. He came up in a different era, I can understand why he kept it hidden.

PlaneSpeeking

flookdgates wrote: »

You remind me of the clueless naive young wans who were falling head over heels in love with Stephen Gately of Boyzone back in the 1990s. Some people are very innocent, god bless them.

The entire county knew Varadkar was a homosexual for years but there was a silent agreement amongst the media not to out him. Taxi drivers and hotel receptionists all over Dublin could have told you he was gay. Eventually the pressure became to much for Varadkar so he gave his infamous coming out interview to RTE.

If any journalist wants to ring up that Swiss hotel they should ask if Michael D and Sabina got separate beds

And your problem with a gay President would be .... ???

Yer Da sells Avon

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Always got that vibe off him myself.

A bit too fond of the auld bukes, if you ask me...

Hitman3000

flookdgates wrote:

If any journalist wants to ring up that Swiss hotel they should ask if Michael D and Sabina got separate beds

My mother and father in law sleep in separate rooms and have done for several years. Should I assume one or both of them is gay?

Taytoland

Sean Gallagher should have been President. Higgins was a terrible choice.

mariaalice

flookdgates wrote: »

You remind me of the clueless naive young wans who were falling head over heels in love with Stephen Gately of Boyzone back in the 1990s. Some people are very innocent, god bless them.

The entire county knew Varadkar was a homosexual for years but there was a silent agreement amongst the media not to out him. Taxi drivers and hotel receptionists all over Dublin could have told you he was gay. Eventually the pressure became to much for Varadkar so he gave his infamous coming out interview to RTE.

If any journalist wants to ring up that Swiss hotel they should ask if Michael D and Sabina got separate beds

What a creepy post.

Technocentral

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

"Claims"

He represents us as a country. He's our president

Where do you want him to stay? At the Travel lodge.

People have little to be offended by these days.

Or "After Hours" as I call it.