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Post by Papa C. on Jul 4, 2008 14:57:01 GMT
Over the past decade, the country's political leaders have consistently raised their own expenses levels -- and despite a series of 'tighten your purse-strings' statements, the current expenses bill for our 166 TDs and 60 Senators stands at a massive €10m for last year.
Currently, TDs are paid a bare minimum salary of €95,000 a year, with those in ministerial and other official positions or long-serving members receiving marginally higher salaries.
High
However, despite the high-level figure, TDs also feel the need to claim an average of €40,000 in expenses -- with the figure in some cases being as high as €90,000.
If a TD lives within 15 miles of Leinster House they are entitled to a daily allowance of €61.53 for travel and subsistence costs, while any member of the Oireachtas living outside this distance can claim a flat overnight allowance of €144.45.
For travelling between the Dail and their constituency, these TDs can also claim between €2,700 and €8,800, while for other mileage they can claim at €1.16 a mile up to 4,000 and €0.54 when more than this.
Allowance
TDs are also entitled to a one-off payment of €8,900 to set up a constituency office and the same amount for every year they run it, while they also receive a 'miscellaneous allowance' of €5,500.
Plans for a new allowance system making it compulsory for TDs and Senators to clock their Leinster House working hours each day before they can claim the series of generous publicly funded expenses, currently being considered by an Oireachtas Commission.
However, with the latest expenses rise for Ireland's politicians this year, the current €10m overall expenses fee looks set to increase even further over the next 12 months.
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Post by anticapitalist on Jul 4, 2008 22:24:46 GMT
Those salaries, allowances, and perks, are a disgrace, how can they claim to represent the people while they are enjoying such huge overpayments for what they do in return, lets be honest, not one of them would know what a good days work was if it hit them on the face,
when the amount of poverty in some families is considered, the homelessness and, so called lack of funds to treat and care for the sick, it is mind boggling to see the greed of our rulers, and it unexceptable that this is not looked at as a priority, considering the crises in the economy at the moment.
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Post by Papa C. on Jul 5, 2008 10:18:56 GMT
Those salaries, allowances, and perks, are a disgrace, how can they claim to represent the people while they are enjoying such huge overpayments for what they do in return, lets be honest, not one of them would know what a good days work was if it hit them on the face,when the amount of poverty in some families is considered, the homelessness and, so called lack of funds to treat and care for the sick, it is mind boggling to see the greed of our rulers, and it unexceptable that this is not looked at as a priority, considering the crises in the economy at the moment. The economic crisis (which will only affect the poor) was created by the Government thanks to their filthy greed. I'm sure, though, they'll find a way to blame working people as they always do.They've even put in place a body to review how much they can increase their wages on an ongoing basis. Don't forget these scumbags get like 4 months holidays (and get paid for it). I think there's not much outcry because not enough people know. We can make our voice heard at election time but we only get to do that once every 5 year so so. Some democracy! We should have the oportunity to vote every day because decisions are made every day. What's that you say? nobody's going to vote every day? Well if you don't use your vote you lose your voice. It's your choice. Fight for a real democracy - fight for the workers' republic! |
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Post by anticapitalist on Jul 5, 2008 12:36:45 GMT
It's very frustrating to have to put up, with how they operate the system to suit themselves and their cronies,
if there was a good plan of action to counter them i would give it 100 percent, voting does not seem to be effective enough, it just puts one shower of greedy self centered robbers in charge, after another,
it would be a dream to see the workers gain real control, and watch those rulers have to join the ordinary ranks, like the rest of us.
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Post by Papa C. on Jul 6, 2008 8:59:18 GMT
Very well said comrade. I agree. I would like to start a 'campaign for democracy in Ireland'. A campaign that would demand more voting rights for Irish people and give the Irish electorate more input into decisions made in the country.
If it gained steam, I'm sure it would stun the ruling class at first but then they would do their best to start a dirty tricks campaign. But I think it would show people in Ireland that the Government doesn't want democracy at all. They want power to control the wealth of Ireland and I think that is very important.
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Post by anticapitalist on Jul 6, 2008 13:05:55 GMT
I think you have a great read on the whole situation, about their alternative reasons for decisions that do the people out of what is ours, and that you have the corrupt system well sussed out.
you also seem to have the drive and determination to make change, if there was ever a time to make any impact, then i would say it is now, with the way the country is in limbo, people are crying out for information and guidance,
Last week it was in the media about dole money being cut, now there was no truth in it according to that Mary Hannifin, but who put it in the media in the first place,
all it done was give
her a platform to end the scaremongoring, which made her look good,
would'nt be suprised if she put the rumour out in the first place, just so she could come on and say it was not true,
this is just one example of what they are doing, she went onto say that they needed 500 million to meet the demand for the new unemployed,
why don't they start with taking pay cuts themselves, i also agree that it could all be just to push a Lisbon 2 in a few months, all very confusing.
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Post by Stallit 2 de Halfo on Jul 6, 2008 13:42:42 GMT
They could do with cutting down on their army of special branch. There are more SB cars than cop cars by the looks of things. Is it really necessary....
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Post by anticapitalist on Jul 6, 2008 15:20:38 GMT
They could do with cutting down on their army of special branch. There are more SB cars than cop cars by the looks of things. Is it really necessary.... They are just the same as he securocrats in the North, they feel they have to protect the monopoly, and the likes of us from revealing the truth, about what they are really there for. I know it's a bad rag but the herald had an article during the week that the garda were to cut down on the use of patrol cars to save petrol, i broke my heart laughing never read such bullshit in my life, they are robbing thousands every day through false overtime bills |
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Post by Stallit 2 de Halfo on Jul 6, 2008 22:59:52 GMT
I read today they are asking the Garda to cut down on using the 'air conditioning' in the cars to save fuel. I didnt think AC came as standard in mondeo's - unless theyv been splashing out for some expensive extra's..... ;D
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Post by Papa C. on Jul 7, 2008 10:44:00 GMT
I know people who have worked for TDs and have told me that sometimes they will leak stories to the media on purpose in order to rat on the TDs. These people are doing a good service if you ask me. This kind of thing may have forced Hannifin to back track on ideas they had. Or she may be keeping a lid on things to come. If there is any cut backs, the poorer people will be hit first I'm sure.
Confusing the public is a great way for the Government to gain dependancy from the public. If everyone is confused, they will look for direction from someone and that is when TDs are suddenly your best mate, telling you if you vote for Lisbon 2 everything will be fine, telling you if you listen and trust in the Government (yeah right), everything will be okay for you.
I've yet to see signs of a recession. A couple of companies have closed and moved operations to India but that was also happening at the height of the so-called 'celtic tiger'. I don't think Europe would allow Ireland to fall into a serious recession as they will lose investment. Like a business giant they will put money in to get even more money out and the tax payer will be funding all of this.
The Government made 4bn in 'fuel duty' (another tax) alone in the first 4 months of this year. They are so greedy that they won't even drop it a little so smaller businesses can break even. For motorists that tax is on top of VRT,
Car Tax, NCT (VAT), insurance (VAT), and money for fixing up the car. Squeezing every penny out of our pockets!
I saw about 5 unmarked cars in my local town in one day and no marked cars at all (I think there are only 2 in all but rarely see them). I think the pigs are going underground, blending into the public only to emerge when people step out of line. Nice way of keeping people in line out of fear of what might happen if they don't. They are cutting down patrol cars and sending out more unmarked spy-type/ plain clothes cars. They are everywhere.
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Post by dangeresque on Jul 10, 2008 1:44:33 GMT
saw the story about this on RTE. sounds like they're going to single out one or two individuals to punish, last I heard.  |
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Post by Papa C. on Jul 12, 2008 12:23:49 GMT
Punishment? Their punishment will probably be having their expense accounts only set to €50,000 a year! Government out! Democracy Now! Lock them all up for crimes against the people and squandering our tax revenue that's what I say! Over €10million a year to have these cats constantly rob us?
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