Paschal Donohoe expenses controversy

Don't really think this is the big scandal the shinners are making it out to be compared to what came out about English last week who knew full well what he was doing was wrong.

Donohoe always struck me as an honest enough skin.

Okay maybe a sweeping statement made in haste on my part. However a large percentage of them are. I actually don't think PD is one of them. He is highly intelligent and did well as minister for finance.

However, there is little to no accountability in vast areas of the public sector and this is seen in our political class more and more. It is has become a massive problem in all areas. I work in education and see it on a daily basis. It's maddening what it going on. Years of brushing things under the carpet are coming to the fore and I honestly can't see the political will address them.

I do think that SF are trying to turn this into something it's not in a points gaining exercise. They should be concentrating on the many bigger issues, we are facing right now.

If SF were in power and one their TDs was in exact same position as PD, it would be a mountain out of a molehill. And I have no doubt FG would be piling on the pressure as well.

Actually it will take something like that to free our politics from these destructive sideshows.

A properly resourced SIPO with enhanced powers is the only answer.

All returns and declarations will have to be audited and worked through by a set deadline.

After that any discrepancies will attract graduated penalties.

Leave Dail Eireann to deal with only seriously egregious corruption.

Oh and the much neglected task of running the country in the best interests of it's citizens.

Of course they would that's what the opposition do look to hold a government to account and bring them down. I don't see why this is such a thing for some people posting on here to understand. People are sick of the sleeveen carry on of FFG that SF are at 34% in the polls. This is a party that would normally scrape 15 to 16%. FFG have only themselves to blame.

barry cowen on VM at the moment saying he wasn't there.

Just caught the Prime Time bit on this. Coveney out shilling for Ffg, did not come across well. Still pushing the line it was just a few posters and not a big deal. Asked where they get their figures from, "Stone told us."

Coveney especially didn't seem convincing, even looked a bit embarrassed when saying he'd a long chat with PD and believed him.

Hit back then at Louise O Reilly about donations from Dowdall. I'm guessing not something SF are too happy having thrown back but it does seem they declared the donations in full.

Won’t be an issue for SF.

Write nothing down, record nothing and the culture of omerta within the organisation, something like this would never come out.

Good to see more dirt coming out. Elections need to be whiter than white regardless of who the party is.

Unfortunately the only penalty appears to be amend your declaration and move on.

Not every critic of Pascal or FG is a sinn fein cheerleader.

The fuss over a lad putting up a few posters must be small beer compared to a political party scamming a state institution and not paying their bills. Not like they can't afford it.

What is the inference? Has PD ever appointed Stone to a paid position, after the posters stuff? It doesn’t seem credible that he would do so after a minuscule posters “bribe”? The whole thing seems utterly daft to me.

Paschal is my local TD, and I think he seems decent enough on a personal level. There is still no way I can vote for him, as a person under 40 who cares about housing. No way. So it’s not like I’m out defending Fine Gael.

Nadhim Zahawi paid a hefty fine to HMRC because he avoided paying millions of pounds of tax linked to offshore accounts, while he was Chancellor of the Exchequer. A little perspective wouldn’t go amiss here. Anyone I know who I’ve spoken to about it doesn’t get the outrage at all. Michael Stone also seems like a decent, genuine guy.

Stones companies got 8 million in government contracts. I don't know the timelines and he may well have won those contracts fairly but I think it's worth mentioning.