Six TD's and senators forced to refund illegitimate expense claims

liosnagceann75

Muahahaha wrote: »

Wasnt it Michael who had his son or nephew in his office ringing a premium rate telephone thousands of times to vote for Michael to win some reality tv show? Blatant misuse of taxpayers money right there so it wouldnt surprise me if he has given the fob to someone else who works for him and they just sign him in every day.

Isnt is amazing how this whole expenses thing was supposedly reformed with the introduction of signing in by electronic fob but the politicians who reformed it left just enough room for the system to still be gamed. What is needed now is fingerprint recognition and for them to sign in twice a day- on arrival and on departure, this would stop the likes of Enda Kenny gaming the system by signing in and then heading off to Switzerland to make money giving speeches in a private capacity while at the same time claiming expenses from the taxpayer. Politicians have proved themselves to be untrustworthy so what is needed is a system design that begins by assuming all of them are on the take and work backwards from there.

The telephone calls originated in leinster House and from what I can recollect they couldn't be narrowed down to 1 office in leinster House. Healy Rae said it was nothing to do with him. Talk about a joke.

Still waiting here on the Gardaí s investigation into interference with the voting register in South kerry at the last local elections. Bet you the politician involved gets off Scott free. By the way the politician wasn't one of the local election candidates

malinheader

blanch152 wrote: »

If we want to increase the quality of our public representatives, that is one sure way of achieving it.



Defending SF even when they are not accused of anything! Loyalty has no boundaries.

Are you suggesting that no people on the minimum wage, living in a block of flats or in emergency accommodation would not have the qualities to become a public representative.
I think these people would have a better idea of what needs to be done to mend a broken housing system, a broken healthcare system etc etc.

WishUWereHere

is_that_so wrote: »

It's allowed. He can show up any time until the Dail closes.

Not doubting you OP, but if that’s the case, it’s TOTALLY wrong.

is_that_so

WishUWereHere wrote: »

Not doubting you OP, but if that’s the case, it’s TOTALLY wrong.

It's actually in the rules for the TAA, which I linked to at one point. This is a systems problem and they are not doing anything illegal. I do think it's wide open to abuse and looks pretty poor all round especially when politicians can effectively do whatever they like outside as long as they "fob in" before the Dail closes.

Info is about halfway down this page after the mileage calculations.

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/salaries-and-allowances/parliamentary-standard-allowances/

blanch152

malinheader wrote: »

Are you suggesting that no people on the minimum wage, living in a block of flats or in emergency accommodation would not have the qualities to become a public representative.
I think these people would have a better idea of what needs to be done to mend a broken housing system, a broken healthcare system etc etc.

That isn’t what I am saying. Read it again.

Muahahaha

Muahahaha wrote: »

Wasnt it Michael who had his son or nephew in his office ringing a premium rate telephone thousands of times to vote for Michael to win some reality tv show? Blatant misuse of taxpayers money right there so it wouldnt surprise me if he has given the fob to someone else who works for him and they just sign him in every day.

Isnt is amazing how this whole expenses thing was supposedly reformed with the introduction of signing in by electronic fob but the politicians who reformed it left just enough room for the system to still be gamed. What is needed now is fingerprint recognition and for them to sign in twice a day- on arrival and on departure, this would stop the likes of Enda Kenny gaming the system by signing in and then heading off to Switzerland to make money giving speeches in a private capacity while at the same time claiming expenses from the taxpayer. Politicians have proved themselves to be untrustworthy so what is needed is a system design that begins by assuming all of them are on the take and work backwards from there.

Forgot completely about that. He was the clown when the smoking ban was coming in years ago who threatened that "the people of Kerry South" would go into "rebellion" against "this dictate from Dublin". Ah, "the people of Kerry South" - weren't they the ones who elected one John O'Donoghue? Troglodytes.

Anyway, he's making the front page of The Irish Times this minute:

Michael Healy-Rae urged to explain how he claimed Dáil expenses when he was in Kerry

This is a scandal that must grow.

Pintman Paddy Losty

A lot of the honchos here are obviously not involved in international business. Not unusual to take a flight to Heathrow in the morning, give a speech, have lunch and be back by the afternoon to check in to the dail. Wise up chicos.

Pintman Paddy Losty

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Forgot completely about that. He was the clown when the smoking ban was coming in years ago who threatened that "the people of Kerry South" would go into "rebellion" against "this dictate from Dublin". Ah, "the people of Kerry South" - weren't they the ones who elected one John O'Donoghue? Troglodytes.

Anyway, he's making the front page of The Irish Times this minute:

Michael Healy-Rae urged to explain how he claimed Dáil expenses when he was in Kerry

This is a scandal that must grow.

Spoken like a true "Dublin gael". Someone with a planter surname who doesn't know any jigs or reels.