Coveney's Merc's & Perks

HeidiHeidi

thomas 123 wrote: »

Befitting like the new ministers of state and their swollen salaries? Like last years TD salary increase? Like this years “no less than 2%” pay rise? Like the council pay rise? Where does it stop?

His role does not carry that “perk”, well it didn’t until he asked for it.

I agree completely about there being other much worse things to complain about but this is the topic of the thread we are on.

Are you sure about that?

thomas 123

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Are you sure about that?

Pretty sure - https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ministerial-perk-of-merc-with-garda-driver-ends-1.559941

He would be entitled to an allowance - but we are talking about the reinstatement of a state car here.

ChikiChiki

thomas 123 wrote: »

Yawn - for the third time he is a politician who’s position did not carry that perk(at my/our expense as the taxpayer)

Why should he now get that perk?

If you have nothing constructive to add why comment or is that you Simon?

Minister for Foreign Affairs at a time when there are huge global challenges is not something to be sniffed at. Brexit, Covid 19, various disharmony emerging across the EU are all huge issues that exist and reunification talks are on the horizon at some point.

The role deserves that perk now. And before you accuse me of being Simon Coveney, feel free to go back through my post history to see how critical I have been of Government waste in the past, especially from Fine Gael.

thomas 123

ChikiChiki wrote: »

Minister for Foreign Affairs at a time when there are huge global challenges is not something to be sniffed at. Brexit, Covid 19, various disharmony emerging across the EU are all huge issues that exist and reunification talks are on the horizon at some point.

The role deserves that perk now. And before you accuse me of being Simon Coveney, feel free to go back through my post history to see how critical I have been of Government waste in the past, especially from Fine Gael.

Firstly I’d have no reason to make a comment as such towards you - you are discussing the post.

I understand your points completely and upon further reading it appears that the Gardaí have recommended it(independent).

However I do feel these sorts of decisions should be brought before the dail and voted on and not be decided behind closed doors.

Cyrus

thomas 123 wrote: »

However I do feel these sorts of decisions should be brought before the dail and voted on and not be decided behind closed doors.

how are you setting the bar for "these sorts of decisions"

it would be a monumental waste of government time voting on everything that was going to cost the exchequer 50-100k a year

whippet

thomas 123 wrote: »

Firstly I’d have no reason to make a comment as such towards you - you are discussing the post.

I understand your points completely and upon further reading it appears that the Gardaí have recommended it(independent).

However I do feel these sorts of decisions should be brought before the dail and voted on and not be decided behind closed doors.

so all operational matters of government should be voted on in the dail? get a grip ... if this were the case the government would never be able to do anything and would be a complete waste of time and money.

Heres Johnny

Eric Cartman wrote: »

BMW actually do specialised police and government models, they came in cheaper than Hyundai for the contract back in the recessionary times, so It was decided that the gardai 'can't be seen to be driving round in new luxury cars in a recession' and the bog ball enthusiasts favourite Hyundai was chosen.

Have you a link for that? Can't see how BMW came in cheaper than the fleet of i40s from hyundai. I presume its 3 or 5 series the police would use.

onedmc

I though it was just the taoiseach and minister for justice that got Garda drivers. Why does it need to be a Garda driver any cab company that signed a secrecy agreement should do. Seems a waste of an expensive resource.

Snow Garden

Tabnabs wrote: »

So many snouts, such a big trough...

Classic. FFG will gorge the biggest trough ever seen before the whole thing falls apart.

By the way, this is New Politics.

The 2011 document from FG is always a great read...

We will cut the number of quangos by at least 150 was another promise

thomas 123

Cyrus wrote: »

how are you setting the bar for "these sorts of decisions"

it would be a monumental waste of government time voting on everything that was going to cost the exchequer 50-100k a year

I would like to see any public pay or anything that could be considered a perk or financial benefit affecting our TD’s or senators pay or compensation debated on and voted on in the dail.

They are public officials after all.

thomas 123

whippet wrote: »

so all operational matters of government should be voted on in the dail? get a grip ... if this were the case the government would never be able to do anything and would be a complete waste of time and money.

The increase in pay, benefits or other compensation should absolutely be voted on in the dail.

Sure they voted on Barry Cowen being allowed not to have to answer questions yesterday ... I can’t see how this would be less important.

Cyrus

thomas 123 wrote: »

I would like to see any public pay or anything that could be considered a perk or financial benefit affecting our TD’s or senators pay or compensation debated on and voted on in the dail.

They are public officials after all.

you cant see the wood from the trees if thats your thinking.

CarPark2

thomas 123 wrote: »

The increase in pay, benefits or other compensation should absolutely be voted on in the dail.

Sure they voted on Barry Cowen being allowed not to have to answer questions yesterday ... I can’t see how this would be less important.

I view it as a security issue rather than a benefit. In that case, it doesn't concern the Dail.

thomas 123

CarPark2 wrote: »

I view it as a security issue rather than a benefit. In that case, it doesn't concern the Dail.

Valid argument.

Bob the Seducer

Eric Cartman wrote: »

BMW actually do specialised police and government models, they came in cheaper than Hyundai for the contract back in the recessionary times, so It was decided that the gardai 'can't be seen to be driving round in new luxury cars in a recession' and the bog ball enthusiasts favourite Hyundai was chosen.

I'd say "sure what would we look like if we were seen driving around in those yokes?" is unlikely to have been on the tender spec list.

Chances are if they did bid, they scored lower than Hyundai on the actual criteria. Things like vehicle size, engine capacity, luggage capacity, mpg, length of warranty, servicing cost etc.. are likely to be taken into account alongside the basic price before a decision is made.

ChikiChiki

Bob the Seducer wrote: »

I'd say "sure what would we look like if we were seen driving around in those yokes?" is unlikely to have been on the tender spec list.

Chances are if they did bid, they scored lower than Hyundai on the actual criteria. Things like vehicle size, engine capacity, luggage capacity, mpg, length of warranty, servicing cost etc.. are likely to be taken into account alongside the basic price before a decision is made.

You would like to think so but it's possible it's the same procurement team that signed off on a million euro printer that doesn't even fit into the space designated for it.

markodaly

The guy is one of the most senior politicians in the country (arguably number 3 behind Martin and Leo), taking on one of the most powerful executive ministries in the state, the Dept. of Foreign Affairs, who is also the Minister for Defence for good measure.

What do people want, him driving up to Belfast from Cork in his own, to attend any variety of meetings when any dissident who wants to make a name for himself can have a go?

If anything did happen, the same people giving out, would give out that we are a disgrace not to protect our own.
One of the few that deserves this 'perk'.

antimatterx

Oh come off it. He's one of the highest ranking ministers in cabinet, one of the most important people in this country. He's entitled to his "perks".

Shefwedfan

ChikiChiki wrote: »

You would like to think so but it's possible it's the same procurement team that signed off on a million euro printer that doesn't even fit into the space designated for it.

Do you understand how procurement works?

SlowMotion321

We pay for them, ergo we're entitled to bitch about them, that's one of our perks

maestroamado

KiKi III wrote: »

Has anyone notified Joe Duffy?

I think if i was on his salary i would skip that one...

sligojoek

KiKi III wrote: »

Has anyone notified Joe Duffy?

SSSSSSSHHHHHH. He'll want one as well.

Shefwedfan

sligojoek wrote: »

SSSSSSSHHHHHH. He'll want one as well.

I think you will find Joe is doing a lot better out of the Irish than anyone in government

Poor_old_gill

"The bleedin guberment wasting our money on themselves, blah, blah, blah, fat cats, troughs, etc"

Your money? So you pay tax Mr. 'always outraged at everything'?

"Well I gets me social, is that taxed"

This same old hackneyed crap about a rented Gov car - you want to tackle wasted money? Trust me there are much better & more logical places to go - but you wont because it's not populist enough

JP Liz V1

All the government could do with pay cuts and perks taken away, too generous is Ireland

Poor_old_gill

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

All the government could do with pay cuts and perks taken away, too generous is Ireland

Everyone living off the tax payer could

Grab All Association

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

Everyone living off the tax payer could

Not all welfare claimants are spongers though. I think most people would agree that a lot of Lone parents claimants are really taking the piss having children to avoid working 7 years per child and it should be capped to two children maximum up to each child turns 2 years of age.

But note that there are people on Disability Allowance with very severe mental health problems, intellectual disabilities or physically disabled. These poor people deserve a hell of a lot more. People on jobseekers benefit too have contributed to the state and it’s not fair that it’s only marginally more than the Jobseekers allowance payment.

Fianna Fáil and the Greens shamefully cut these poor people’s DA by €18. The Labour Party tried to cut this allowance for the under 25s.

reubenreuben

If the germans use mercs, brits use jags, french use renault then here you go

The shamrock

https://img2.thejournal.ie/inline/3284093/original/?width=630&version=3284093

McMurphy

Didn't Simon vow not to accept a car/driver if he was kept on as a minister?

Shefwedfan

McMurphy wrote: »

Didn't Simon vow not to accept a car/driver if he was kept on as a minister?

Quick check his expenses