No Expenses Spared?

It is not just in the UK that politicians have been found to have had their snouts firmly in the expenses trough. More details about expenses incurred by Irish Politician John O ‘Donoghue have been disclosed this morning as the Ceann Comhairle (Speaker of the Irish Parliament) gives in to mounting public pressure and outrage and resigns. The news comes after considerable public outrage at an expenses scandal at another Irish Government, FAS, which say the “disgraced” chief executive leave with a Euros 1.1 million pay off and a side deal where a prestige car was secretly given to him as a leaving gift. In addition the Irish Taxpayer has been left holding a Euros 90 Bn. Bill for toxic property loans made by Irish Banks. The construction and property industries in Ireland have virtually collapsed leading to severe economic contraction and the wry joke that the children’s character “Bob the Builder” has to be renamed, he is now just called Bob. Public stoicism at the economic downturn has turned to widespread anger as the lifestyles of now bankrupt property plutocrats are laid bare and by revelations that Sean Fitzpatrick, the MD of the now nationalised Anglo Irish Bank had illegally and covertly borrowed more than 100 m Euros from the bank. He invested this in a whole rag bag of businesses including a bar in Las Vegas. He is now not paying the interest on the loan and like many of the loans made in Boomtown it is now largely irrecoverable.


John "Loadsamoney" O'Donoghue

Against this background the public has been very unforgiving as details of O’Donoghue’s taxpayer funded lifestyle have been exposed by requests under Ireland’s Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation. Reports this morning say documents released under the Freedom of Information Act show that Horse Racing Ireland picked up bills of more than €20,000 on behalf of ministerial delegations led by Mr O’ Donoghue to nine international race meetings between 2003 and 2007. Horse Racing Ireland is partly funded by a direct grant from the taxpayer. The latest revelation follows several weeks of Sunday newspaper articles detailing lavish expenses claims by Mr O’ Donoghue while he was Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. The Ceann Comhairle also revealed last Friday that he has claimed more than €100,000 in expenses since taking on his new job in 2007, including more than €90,000 incurred during trips abroad.

The move comes after months of high-profile media coverage of his expenses. A total of €216,334 was claimed for expenses between June 2007 and June 2009, including about €89,000 on foreign travel. On St Patrick’s Day 2008 and 2009, Mr O’ Donoghue attended celebrations in Washington, Houston, New Orleans, Savannah and Charleston in the US at a cost of €27,074. He also spent €13,227 on flights between his constituency in Kerry and Dublin and more than €124,800 was claimed for adverts in local Kerry newspapers, phone calls and secretarial services and miscellaneous expenses. The cost of VIP lounges in Dublin and other airports such as Paris, Lisbon, Hong Kong and Singapore, totalled €4,461.


One of the Irish Government's executive jets - so handy for going to the races!

Mr O’ Donoghue claimed €3,474 for gifts while abroad - a “proportion” of which were used on the official visit, according to his record. More than €2,930 was spent on official entertainment, including €330 for a party of five at the Butte Chaillot bistro in Paris and €705 on a lunch in honour of Tourism Ireland and France Group. In a statement from the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament), a spokesman repeated earlier claims from Mr O’ Donoghue that his office should carry the same privileges as a Government minister. “Similarly, items of expenditure including use of executive facilities or security are the customary courtesies that Ireland provides whenever it hosts an incoming parliamentary delegation,” the statement said.


Butte Chaillot Bistro Paris - Good enough for an Irish Minister?

“When the Ceann Comhairle travels abroad, it is normal that arrangements made are on the recommendation of the host, giving due regard to criteria such as security and proximity to the venues or to accommodate meetings.”

Details of his claims (including reclaiming a £1.00 contribution to UNICEF) are on this excellent Irish Blog.

http://www.gavinsblog.com/

The craw thumping justification on his resignation today issued by the official Parliamentary Press Office is a worthy sick making example of the genre;

“In indicating his intention to step down from the office of Ceann Comhairle, John O’ Donoghue TD, acted in the best interests of Dáil Éireann, and the office of Ceann Comhairle. He has been a most effective and fair Ceann Comhairle who has acted with commitment and integrity to ensure that the members of Dáil Éireann could debate freely and fairly the issues of the day.”

“The Ceann Comhairle has indicated that he wishes to make a statement to the House next week, I respect his right to do that. I thank him for his contribution to this Dáil as Ceann Comhairle and I wish him well for the future.”

Or as the long suffering Irish Taxpayer would summarise it; “Good riddance to bad rubbish!”


John O'Donoghue arriving home in his Kerry constituency after his resignation to count his money.