Nice little junket for Stephen Donnolly and Robert Watt

28-01-2022 9:58am #1

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/robert-watt-jets-out-to-dubai-for-wellness-conference-amid-295k-wage-storm-41286217.html

There is a very big controversy over children being inappropraitely medicated and the State is going to have to fork out millions in compensation.

We will also be spending millions fixing up the damage caused by the cyber leak that affected the HSE.

We are still wearing masks and children are sitting masked up all day and in freezing cold classsrooms because, well,there is still a dangerous pandemic all around us.

And the Minister for Health and the Sec general of the Department of Health think its appropriate to jet off to Dubai for a physical and mental health conference.

Dubai whose attitude to Human Rights is to say the least questionable.

Do these people not have any idea of how bad this looks, do they not care.

Fandymo · 28-01-2022 10:03am

Why would they care. There is zero accountability in Ireland. If the public pressure did get too much, he'd be fired in a blaze of publicity and quietly placed on a few boards to ensure he didn't lose out financially. Ireland is a cesspit.

Montage of Feck · 28-01-2022 10:08am

Wat?

28-01-2022 11:02am

Whilst I see a massive issue with the salary increase, I don't see the issue with travelling to a conference.

Its a part of working in a Strategic Role in any large organisation. I don't see them as holidays.

28-01-2022 11:06am

You dont see an issue with travelling to a country with a questionable record on Human Rights.

A country where women are second class citizens.

A conference on mental and physical health while children are masked all day in freezing cold classrooms because of a dangerous virus!!!

Packrat · 28-01-2022 11:12am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118544551#Comment_118544551

See it's not really about how 'you' see it, - it's about how they see it, and how the public in general see it.

If you think they see it as anything but a holiday and an escape from accountability then you're very very naive, and if you think the public see it as anything other than the same then you're utterly deluded

One eyed Jack · 28-01-2022 11:13am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118544573#Comment_118544573

Dubai, or not Dubai, that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles

I’m sure the optics occurred to them alright, and they decided it was worth it.

Podge_irl · 28-01-2022 11:37am

If you think they see it as anything but a holiday and an escape from accountability then you're very very naive

If you think they see it as a holiday and an escape from accountability you're pathetically conspiratorial.

It is a bog standard part of the job to attend events/conferences etc.

Brucie Bonus · 28-01-2022 2:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118544551#Comment_118544551

Not sure if you heard about it but we had a pandemic there. Still hanging around. I'm sure it was essential personal only.

Look it up, it was an expo not a government meeting of minds.

It was a beano for the jolly boys.

28-01-2022 2:44pm

The salary increase was massive but I suppose when you see what Paul Reid earns you can see some justification for it.

We have a very serious mental health crisis in this country and children in Kerry have suffered serious damage due to being over medicated.

You would think with a crisis of such severity affecting our youngest citizens the Most Senior offical in the Department of Health and the Minister for Health would be at their desks being fully informed as to what led to this debacle.

But no, they are gone to Dubai, to a country where women are chattels,the wife of the ruler has fled her husband taking her children with her. Two of her husbands daughters tried to flee too and both were forced back to Dubai.

The optics of this are dreadful.

Packrat · 28-01-2022 2:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118545984#Comment_118545984

Just to correct a minor point, - these children weren't overmedicated, they were wrongly medicated - given the wrong drugs, and given drugs they didn't need at all.

That's far more serious.

I happen to know personally some of the families affected by this.

Children's lives have been destroyed here and these bastards are on a jolly in the sun?

The phrase is totally overused for every little thing, but as this country gets worse for this crap every day, - "swinging from lampposts" is the only expression that comes to mind.

Amirani · 28-01-2022 3:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118545984#Comment_118545984

This idea that people need to be "at their desks" to be doing their jobs is stupid, regardless of any other merits of this expo.

Sounds like what you'd get middle managers saying. Or the sorta stuff that politicians would do for a photoshoot to look busy.

Atlantic Dawn · 28-01-2022 3:31pm

For 2 bonus points can anyone name the modest hotel they will be staying in?

StupidLikeAFox · 28-01-2022 3:36pm

Would it have made a difference if the expo was in London or Belfast?

Should they have cancelled the trip to sit in an office and read a report, instead of reading it on the plane or whatever?

Should they have belted down to kerry for some photo ops?

Not sure how much value they could add by sitting in Dublin - I'm also not sure how much value attending the expo has but I don't think you really care about that OP

gmisk · 28-01-2022 3:39pm

Well I suppose they didn't go on a private plane.....

whisky_galore · 28-01-2022 3:42pm

What does this king of the civil servants actually do to justify his salary?

28-01-2022 3:44pm

Homosexuality is illegal in Dubai too.

Why would you fly to an country that treats women, gay people,poor immigrant workers so badly and then stand around using your privilege to talk about Physical and Mental health.

y

Boggles · 28-01-2022 3:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058230177/nice-little-junket-for-stephen-donnolly-and-robert-watt

You are over reaching and basically ranting and raving trying to shoehorn in all sorts.

This story could easily be "Men do their Jobs".

The real question is why are these 2 roles expected to attended events like this.

In a statement, the department of health said Mr Donnelly and Mr Watt were attending and participating in the Expo and "supporting Irish companies in the region"

Surely that is Leo's job if even that.

Brucie Bonus · 30-01-2022 9:21pm

"It is the expo. It is a major world event,” Mr Martin said. “They are there with Irish healthcare companies and Enterprise Ireland. We were at a summit this morning on startups and entrepreneurship where the whole emphasis was on international connectivity and Ireland exporting abroad.

The health service has absolutely no business getting involved in trade shows to promote private Irish business and entrepreneurs abroad in Dubai or anywhere.

How many ministers of health and top health civil servants from other countries attended I wonder? And what did Donnelly and Watt bring that Enterprise Ireland didn't?Chancers.

StupidLikeAFox · 30-01-2022 9:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118556731#Comment_118556731

No need to wonder - Stephen Donnelly is meeting with other health ministers, discussing the future of covid, and even speaking at an event, it's no secret:

Bilateral engagements were also planned with other health ministers while Mr Donnelly was scheduled to be a speaker at the ‘Expo on Building a Culture of Health at Work’.

silver2020 · 30-01-2022 9:45pm

I love how some people are so sucked in by the sensationalism of a rag like the indo.

I used to have to go to trade fairs and so called learning expos.

Some friends thought I was having a great life. I feckin hated them. Most people I know who still go on these trips hate them too.

Early flights in the airport, having to small talk constantly, staying in boring hotels, listen to people go on and on thinking they were god on a subject.

No private time.

Of course you will smile and laugh and in a way show you are enjoying it, the truth is that they are utterly boring and pain in the butt.

As for Watt's salary. Note how they won't mention the massive PAYE, USC and prsi deductions

Lillyfae · 31-01-2022 8:20am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118556786#Comment_118556786

The attendees should ask for their money back if Stephen Donnelly is the calibre of the speakers 🙄

is_that_so · 31-01-2022 8:35am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118546349#Comment_118546349

It's a bit like the Paddy's Day exodus that people get very irked about, where Ministers show up in far flung places as an opportunity to promote Ireland. The health theme of this suggests these two were the right fit and if there was some conference or discussions on COVID and pandemics it's not illogical to have both out there.

Pawwed Rig · 31-01-2022 8:51am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118556860#Comment_118556860

When I was younger I loved these trips but now see them as nothing more than a pain in the arse which infringe on my personal time more than anything else. The last trip I was on was to a meeting in London that could just have easily been done on Skype. Had to fly in the night before and hang around the city on my own. Up the next day killing time until the 11 am meeting. Back to airport where the plane was cancelled after me waiting there for 7 hours. Ended up having to stay the night again and a 6 am flight the Saturday morning. So weekend and I am wrecked. The airline refunded my flight to the company.

No thanks

31-01-2022 9:48am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058230177/nice-little-junket-for-stephen-donnolly-and-robert-watt

It’s all part of the job. I sincerely doubt that it’s a barrel of laughs. If you think that you could do the job or do it better, stand in the next election.

31-01-2022 11:06am

We have just come out of what is supposed to be a pandemic and employers and employees are being told they should take care as people go back to the office.

I am still required to wear a mask while I pay for fuel for my car.

My GP is still not seeing people in person.

My daughter who is triple vaccinated had to pay 29 euros to get a negative antigen test to fly to Italy.

And you are telling me that less than a week after we open up it is prudent for a Civil Servant and a Minister for Health to fly to a country that has a very bad record on human rights,to talk about mental health, to meet up with delegates from all over the world while there is a pandemic going on.

And this is when the Irish Government is ready to pay millions of euros to Irish children who went to the HSE to source help for mental health issues and they were inappropriately medicated.

Who is going to accept responsibility for this.

Allinall · 31-01-2022 11:16am

"Who is going to accept responsibility for this"

The government are responsible. Is there anyone refusing to accept responsibility?

Just to add: I am beside myself with indifference. Government doing government business. Whatever next?

Boggles · 31-01-2022 11:39am

My outlier of a GP won't see people so no one should travel abroad apart from my daughter

Absolute incoherent ranting and raving.

31-01-2022 11:50am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118558864#Comment_118558864

Whats incoherent about pointing out the public health issue is still with us and maybe those in leadership positions should not organise delegates from all over the world to meet up while a pandemic is still going on.

Boggles · 31-01-2022 12:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118558929#Comment_118558929

So your problem is just with people in "leadership positions" travelling, everyone else is fine, including your family.

Good stuff.

Brucie Bonus · 01-02-2022 6:18pm

The victims of the Kerry CAHMs need wait a bit because the government talks on compensation have stalled because, Donnelly is away.

Dempo1 · 01-02-2022 6:26pm

Makes my blood boil , I've already posted elsewhere on this matter so I'll avoid raising my blood pressure by keeping it brief.

Scandal after Scandal, failure after failure rewarded by outrageous salaries and junkets, what these two buffoons are doing at a trade show escapes me. The Photo in the OP exudes breathtaking smugness 😡

Sickens and disgusts me what's going on in the DOH and at very senior level at the HSE generally.

01-02-2022 8:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118566909#Comment_118566909

This post is beneath contempt. Using innocent children to further your dislike of the government.

By all means, have a go at TDs, ministers or any other politicians, but leave off innocent, vulnerable children.

Pawwed Rig · 01-02-2022 8:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118567523#Comment_118567523

I realised on the Ashling Murphy thread that people will use any tragedy if they can get a dig in that helps their agenda. Beneath contempt is right. Never mind that the State will take years before anything is ever paid out

Brucie Bonus · 01-02-2022 9:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118567679#Comment_118567679

Yes I flagged those posts myself.

Why are you using her here in an unrelated thread?

Brucie Bonus · 01-02-2022 9:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118567523#Comment_118567523

Which part of the report I cited from RTE Radio is beneath contempt? I plainly posted what was broadcast on RTE. Relevant to the thread, discussing Donnelly being in Dubai during a crisis.

Kerry CAHMS scandal - Drivetime February 1st: 1:40:00.

"This morning the cabinet discussed the issue of compensation. No real movement was made with the cabinet minister Stephen Donnelly still away"

I posted this in a thread about Donnelly being away:

"The victims of the Kerry CAHMs need wait a bit because the government talks on compensation have stalled because, Donnelly is away."

Would using the victims to try further your defence of government be beneath contempt? It's shamesless to misrepresent my comment in such a manner. I didn't mention any children.

Here you go:

https://www.bai.ie/en/viewers-listeners/complaints/#:~:text=If%20you%20require%20help%20or,on%20(01)%20644%201200.

Did you hear the young lady interviewed on Drivetime? She spoke very well on how both herself and her doctors agreed dealing with the health service would only make her issues worse and how she was surprised Minister Harris said he was shocked at what happened when it's been common knowledge with staff and patients for years that there are such issues. You should have a listen. All they offered her when she was a minor was a bed in an adult mental health hospital or tranquilizers. This was a number of years ago. Still no changes. And Harris is shocked?

Ten of Swords · 01-02-2022 9:56pm

Mod - can we stay on topic please

blue5000 · 06-02-2022 3:58pm

Just how exactly did Robert Watt get appointed and what does he actually do as secretary of health?

I came across this quote from him;

“The proposed salary for this role is higher than my current salary. I don’t think it is appropriate to take such an increase in pay given the current difficult economic conditions the country faces. It had always been my intention that, if I were to be appointed to this role, I would waive this increase until the economy begins to recover and unemployment falls.''

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/a2088-robert-watt-appointed-secretary-general-at-the-department-of-health/#:~:text=Robert%20Watt%20appointed%20Secretary%20General%20at%20the%20Department%20of%20Health,-From%20Department%20of&text=The%20Minister%20for%20Health%2C%20Stephen,of%20Health%2C%20following%20Cabinet%20approval.

Brucie Bonus · 06-02-2022 6:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118590948#Comment_118590948

Wasn't he filling the spot and they gifted him the position? I remember something about the process not being an open competition?

Nice little junket for Stephen Donnolly and Robert Watt

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